Grigio, Don Bosco's protector for many years

Grigio, Don Bosco’s protector for many years

By Fr. Tarcizio Odelli, with the use of AI

As recounted at the beginning of Chapter 2 in the Biographical Memoirs of St. John Bosco, vol. 16, Grigio, a faithful dog, protected Don Bosco and other members of the Salesian Family for many years.

In 1883, Don Bosco went to speak with the bishop of Ventimiglia to clarify certain matters. The conversation lasted until almost midnight. It was then that he had a joyful and unexpected encounter. It had rained heavily during the day. As he had to walk back, the darkness was compounded by the mud on the road, making it difficult to walk.

When Don Bosco, his eyesight now failing, could no longer see where to put his feet, an old friend of his appeared: the famous Grigio, whom he had not seen for many years. The dog approached him joyfully; then he began to walk ahead of him, just far enough to be seen in the dark. The dog walked at a slow, steady pace, so that anyone having difficulty walking could follow him, taking care to help him avoid the puddles by walking round them. When he reached the house, he disappeared.

Three further appearances of Grigio

The archives of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (Salesian Sisters) preserve 3 accounts concerning the appearances of Grigio.

On November 2, 1893, two sisters, while walking back from Assisi to their school in Cannara, were caught unawares by the fog and darkness, in an uninhabited area far from home. Fear took hold of them. One of them said to her companion: “Ah, if only Don Bosco would send us his Grigio!” “That’s right!” exclaimed the other. Barely 2 minutes had passed when a large dog began walking along with them. He was tall, with gray fur. He looked at them as if they were old acquaintances, wagging his tail. When they reached the school, the animal turned sharply and ran through the gate. The sisters rushed to stop him; but in the vast square and the adjacent street, they saw no sign of him.

In 1930, the sisters were building the house in Barranquilla, Colombia. Every day they received news of thefts and violence in the city and the surrounding area. Before work began, thieves had broken into the house on about 4 occasions. The sisters then prayed to Don Bosco to send his Grigio to protect them. Well, one night a pack of dogs, never before seen in the neighborhood, entered the corridor of the old house. There were 6 of them: they settled in the courtyards and the most remote corners. Once their fear had subsided, the sisters approached them and realized they were docile. The following day the dogs left one after the other just as they had entered, and so they did for a whole month. In this way they continued to stand guard until there was no longer any danger.

A 3d episode took place in Navarre, France, between 1898 and 1902. The sisters used to go into the woods to gather chestnuts, but they were afraid of being attacked. One day they heard some noises, but suddenly a huge dog approached, wagging its tail, circling round, and bringing its muzzle close to their backs as if to say: “Don’t be afraid, here I am!” “Could it be Don Bosco’s Grigio?’” the two remarked to each other. Just before reaching a village, they met some ladies they knew, traveling in a carriage, and stopped to chat; the dog disappeared, and they heard no more of him.

Source: boletimsalesiano.org.br