On St. John Bosco

Yesterday marked the feast of St. John (Don) Bosco. He spent much of his life working with school boys and forming their Catholic sensibilities through his wit. A remarkable work entitled Forty Dreams of St. John Bosco has some remarkable and relevant stories that frighten the unfaithful and bolster those who believe. On the death of Pope John Paul II, some recalled the last dream in this book which prophesied to the enth, the coming of Joseph Ratzinger as the new Pope.

One of the more horrifying dreams is when he visualizes the demise of several of the boys in his own care, due to their carelessness with their souls. He describes the path to hell being smooth and beautiful and many souls falling that way, sliding to their doom and his frustration in not being able to save them. Then he describes the thorny path towards heaven.

What remarkable lessons can we learn from St. John Bosco today. As with St. Alphonsus de Liguori and others, St. John reminds us, through the love of Christ, the importance of our souls. He urges us to be faithful stewards of it in this earthly life. He cautions us against laxity that could result in our eternal damnation. St. John Bosco, pray for us!