For the Memorial of St. John Bosco, priest

As a catechist, I have a special place in my heart for St. John Bosco, and the Catechetics Department at FUS holds him up as one of the premier models of what we are called to be as teachers of the Faith. Bosco had a very Christ-like ability to draw all people to himself (even the rowdiest street kids) so as to change their lives and convert their hearts to Christ. The boys under his care loved him so much that they couldn't stand the thought of doing anything to disappoint him, and they knew that all he wanted for them was that they live good and holy lives.

What we learn from Bosco's approach and methodology is that the person of the catechist is just as important as orthodox teaching. You can have all of your facts straight, but if the children don't see that the Truth is something that enlivens you and informs every decision that you make --if they don't see that you are committed to the very salvation of their souls-- then they won't give your words any more than a passing thought. Street kids know when they're getting fed a line. They know who the phonies are, the teachers who just clock in for their 9 to 5 and could give 2 cents about them. In St. John Bosco they saw someone different, someone who truly loved and cared for them.

If I could only have half the passion, zeal, and charisma that St. John Bosco had....

St. John Bosco, "Apostle of Youth"....pray for us.

Pax Christi,
phatcatholic

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RESOURCES:

• Liturgical Calendar: Memorial of St. John Bosco, priest
• New Advent: St. John Bosco
• Patron Saints Index: John Bosco
• Widipedia: John Bosco
• Iuvenum Patris (On the Centenary of the Death of St. John Bosco)
  [also here]
• The Blessed Friend of Youth: St. John Bosco by Neil Boyton, S.J.
• Don Bosco: Seeker of Souls
• Pope Urges Salesians to Study Founder
• The Four Pillars of Salesian Spirituality
• The Life and Work of St. John Bosco
• The Secret of St. John Bosco
• Unholy Anger: Disciplining Ourselves Before Disciplining Our Children
• Youth Ministry and Parenting: Guiding Principles
• St. John Bosco's Pastoral Approach
• Don Bosco's Preventative System
• The Preventative System
• Memoirs of Don Bosco
• Getting to Know Don Bosco: Parts One -- Two -- Three -- Four -- Five