Solemnity of St. John Bosco

Solemnity of St. John Bosco

(Salesian Central Archives)

Yesterday, January 31, was the solemnity (in the Salesian Family) of St. John Bosco, founder of the Society of St. Francis de Sales (Salesian Society), Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (Salesian Sisters), Association of Salesian Cooperators, Association of Mary Help of Christians (ADMA), and of the entire Salesian Family, which now numbers 31 member groups.

The entire Catholic Church celebrates "Don Bosco," however: father and master of youth, patron saint of editors and publishers, of apprentices, of magicians, and of various other persons and affairs--including, at least unofficially, of umbrella-makers, because of the torrential rain that afflicted the celebrations in Turin following his canonization in 1934.

(Salesian Central Archives)

Several publications and other communicators noted his feast:

Magician Angelo Stagnaro wrote in the National Catholic Register that "Don Bosco was deeply imbued with God's love and inspired by His mysteries." See 

http://www.ncregister.com/blog/astagnaro/the-magic-and-spirituality-of-st.-john-bosco

(Nino Musio)

The saint of the day of Our Sunday Visitor's Sarah Reinhard was Don Bosco, of course:

St. John Bosco, called Don Bosco during his life, is the patron of young people and students for a reason: Educating and guiding young people to the truths of the Catholic faith were his passion and the work of his life.

To learn more about Don Bosco, check out the Salesians' account (complete with audio narration!).

The blog Church Militant posted a short video that may have been intended mainly for youngsters but (with the caveat noted below) is informative for all: https://www.churchmilitant.com/video/episode/st.-john-bosco-jan.-31

Concerning that video, I'll make 2 corrections. (1) The assassination attempts on DB, according to his own testimony (Memoirs of the Oratory) came not from industrialists upset with his attention to young workers but from Turin's Waldensians upset with his writings defending the Catholic faith against their preaching and ministries. (2) His well-known dream of the 2 columns is not about 2 Popes and the Church but about the Eucharist and the Virgin Mary, the 2 columns to which the Church safely anchors in her battle against evil and error.

(Nino Musio)

Serio Mattarella, President of Italy, dedicated a long communique to the figure of Don Bosco:"Today is the 130th anniversary of the death of John Bosco, founding priest of the Salesians and of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, an educator that Italian society has had the opportunity to appreciate for its attention to the young, for his passion, for his commitment in helping countless young people in conditions of degrading poverty and marginalization.

"Humble origins were, in the life of Don Bosco, a root from which he drew permanent guidance. His intelligence, his social skills, his great organizational skills, inspired by evangelical testimony, were directed to the creation of works that have reached a large number of youths, of working children, even very young, offering them precious spaces of welcome , education, formation, solidarity, individual and community growth. He knew how to make the social issue his own and build more spaces for citizenship and belonging.

"In many parts of Italy and of the world, the mark of Don Bosco, and of the congregations promoted by him, is still alive. Many Italians owe the Salesians some of their own culture, of their own formation as citizens. The continuity of Don Bosco's works represents a contribution to social cohesion and progress, values ​​that enrich a country, and help the whole community to face the challenges of the times."

Letter of the Rector Major to Italian President Sergio Mattarella

(ANS – Rome – February 5) - In response to the statement issued by President Sergio Mattarella of Italy on the occasion of the 130th anniversary of the death of St John Bosco, Fr. Angel Fernandez Artime, Don Bosco’s tenth successor, sent a letter expressing the renewed commitment to keep alive the teaching of the Saint of Youth and to collaborate in building the spirit of “brotherhood, solidarity, and cohesion.”

Rome, February 2, 2018

Prot. No. 18/0069

The Right Honorable
Prof. Sergio Mattarella
President of the Republic
Palazzo del Quirinale
Rome

Dear and most illustrious Mr. President of the Republic,

From the media we have learned with joy of the statement you made on the occasion of the liturgical feast of St. John Bosco, January 31, 130 years since his death.

Your words have accurately and affectionately portrayed the figure of our Father and holy Founder. His social commitment and evangelizing passion, primarily addressing the poor and abandoned young people, of whom you, too, have spoken, are alive today in our Congregation and in the different groups of the Salesian Family.

In communion with institutions and the Church, our constant work is to promote spaces and times of humanization, progress, social cohesion, and of encounters with the message of the Gospel. Historically, Don Bosco carried out his mission at a time, both rich and contradictory together, which led to the unification of Italy. With his motto “good Christians and honest Citizens,” we believe Don Bosco has helped to foster that unique feeling of social passion that unifies the Italian people that you represent, and likewise, to make it known in the many countries where the works of his charism have reached.

We fervently hope and work constantly in order not to fail in the task left to us, providing our help to realize that common spirit, European and worldwide, of brotherhood, solidarity, and cohesion, aimed at the progress of each person and consequently of all society.

Cordially in Don Bosco,
Fr. Angel Fernandez Artime