MARY, OUR MOTHER

Today is the Feast of St. John Bosco (1815-1888), who grew up on a Piedmont farm in Italy.
His early years were most difficult! While still a student-priest at Turin, he began his mission for the abandoned boy apprentices of the early industrial era, who roamed uncared for on the streets of the city. Priests and Brothers gathered about John Bosco as his work developed and formed the Salesian Order, named in honor of St. Francis of Sales. He also founded a community of Sisters to aid needy girls. He composed pamphlets for the support and defense of the Catholic Faith.
Today, the missionaries of John Bosco carry on his ideals of gentleness and charity among poor children in Asia, Africa, and North and South America, as well as in Europe.


For sixty years St John Bosco received remarkable dreams which were almost visions. Probably his best-known dream vision was that of the Catholic Church like a ship taking refuge between two pillars in the sea. [Picture above]

In May 1862 he shared his experience of this dream.
He could see a very big ship in the sea which he understood as the Catholic Church. There were many smaller ships drawn up to do battle against the big ship, they were the enemies of the Catholic Church and persecutions She would endure.

Two pillars or columns were protruding from the sea a little distant from each other. On the top of one was a statue of Our Lady with 'Help of Christians' written beneath.
On top of the other pillar was a Host beneath which was written 'Salvation of the Faithful.'

The commander of the ship was the Pope. He was directing all his energies to steering the ship between those two columns or pillars. All the enemy ships moved to attack. Sometimes the large ship, the Catholic Church, got large, deep holes in its sides but no sooner was the harm done than a gentle breeze blew from the two columns and the cracks closed up and the gaps were stopped immediately. In a battle the Pope fell gravely wounded. Immediately those who were with him helped him up. [Sounds like Pope John Paul II, when he was shot at the Vatican] A second time the Pope was struck, this time he fell and died. A new Pope was promptly elected [Pope Benedict XVI?] that the enemies begin to lose courage. The new Pope overcame all obstacles and enemies and guided the ship [Catholic Church] right between the two columns. He fastened a chain from the bow of the ship to the column on which stands the Host, and fastened a chain from the ship's stern to the column on which stands a statue of Our Lady. All the ships which had fought against the Pope's ship were scattered and broken to pieces and other smaller ships which had fought for the Pope's ship now bound themselves to the same two columns.
[Reunion of all Christian Churches?]

St. John Bosco is one of my favorite Saints, especially because he worked with children and inspired me to teach Religious Education [CCD] for many years. I felt it was a calling and God's Will and a mandate from the Lord, so wherever I lived, I always volunteered to teach.

Prayer

O God, You made your confessor St. John a father and teacher for the young and willed that he should found in Your Church flourishing new communities under the protection of the Virgin Mary. Enkindle in us the same fire of love to seek after souls and serve You alone. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.