The Church Pondered and Remembers
St John Bosco
Sunday, January 31, 2016
I was touched by St John Bosco's
story a few years ago when I watched a movie about his life on EWTN. St John
Bosco was a poor priest that rescued criminal street kids and orphans during a
time in history, it was an impossible task..
We were so blessed last May 2015,
we had the opportunity to visit up close and personal where the story began in
Turin, Italy.. with Steve and Janet Ray "Footprints of God
Pilgrimage."
Amazing 200 years later the
"Religious Order" he founded is all over the world, still rescuing
children who are on the streets and opening doors for them with education and a
hope in this life and eternity by introducing them to the author of their
lives, Jesus Christ..
I've attached screen shots of my "keepsake
book" from out trip.. Was a very touching moment to witness this special
place our Lord began a ministry with a poor priest that had the "faith and
hope" in his Lord to feed, cloth, educate and give hope to the children of
his time, in which society had harmed and abused and in many cases turned them
into criminals with no hope..
When I watched the movie about his life a few
years ago...never dreamed we would see where it began.. God is good and what a
blessing! I really recommend everyone watch the movie.. It is available online
at EWTN catalog..
St. John Bosco (1815–1888) was born
in Italy to a poor farming family. His father died when he was two, leaving his
religious instruction to his pious mother. At the age of nine he had his first
of many powerful visions which would come throughout his life. In it Jesus and
the Virgin Mary showed him that he was to instruct poor, wayward boys and bring
them back to God. John eventually joined the priesthood, paying his way through
school with odd jobs. As a priest he began ministering to the poor and
neglected boys of Turin, Italy, who were driven to desperate conditions in the
wake of the Industrial Revolution. Many of these street boys ended up in prison
as teenagers. Don Bosco became a mentor and spiritual director to them,
inspiring them to a life of virtue and saving many from a future of crime and
poverty. He met with them as a group - called the Oratory of St. Francis de
Sales - and catechized them as a kindly spiritual father. He also established
the Salesians of Don Bosco, priests who minister to and educate boys under the
patronage of the great spiritual director, St. Francis de Sales.
