Today January 31

Today is the feast day of St. John Bosco aka Don Bosco ("Father Bosco" in Italian) (1815 - 1888). A juggler, acrobat and musician, this humble Italian farm boy-cum-priest was always a happy man. He always wanted the boys in his Oratory (religious orphanage, in this case) to be happy, to be no "long-faced saints." And yet he had reasons to be unhappy if he'd given in to them. For one thing, he never had any money: no money for rent, no money for food, no money to pay the workmen who built the churches he founded. He simply went ahead and trusted in God. Somehow the money always came. For another, there were anti-Catholic gangs that attacked him physically, verbally, politically, legally. Here, too, he had divine help: when walking about at night in his cassock -- an outfit that screamed "target" -- he was often was seen in the company of a large, mysterious dog who frightened the gangs away (and then disappeared). For yet another, due to his many visions, he was considered unstable and mentally ill. One day two of his friends came with a cab to collect him with the secret plan of dropping him off at a psychiatrist's. He smiled and politely opened the door of the carriage for them, making as if to follow. Instead he slammed the door shut and told the driver "To the lunatic asylum, quick!" The two guys had a heck of a time trying to convince the doctor they weren't insane!

Here, as in many other times and places, he had a preternatural ability to read hearts. It came in handy as a confessor, to be sure, but also in knowing just how to approach and reach people. His ideas were liberal, even in that traditionalist era. He saved many young men from prison and jail -- and due to unfair laws and a rigid societal structure, they were almost all recidivists. "[He] believed that these boys would not be where they were if they had someone to love and care for them" He believed in preventative care: he taught them trades, he gave them an education, he taught them religion by words and example, he amused them. He reached out to girls, too, founding the Salesian Sisters to go along with the Salesian priests and brothers, founded to help the youth of Italy and the world.

He was witness to more than one miracle. Once when there were not nearly enough hosts for Mass, he said a quick prayer and began distributing Communion. To his sexton's amazement, he returned to the altar with one host left in the ciborium!

He lived right among the boys, sharing their joys and their sorrows, their simple meals and humble shelters -- a situation a wise friend of mine pointed out probably wouldn't even be allowed today! But then it was another world, thank God. St. John Bosco, pray for us.