Archive for the ‘Saint Articles’ Category
The Life and Ministry of St. John Bosco, part 2
By Marianne Buzzelli
One of the first duties of John Bosco after he was ordained a priest was to accompany another priest to visit young boys in a prison. Fr. John Bosco was appalled at the horrific living conditions for the young boys at the prison and began to work with city officials to improve them. At that time he also had a call by the Holy Spirit to care for young boys living on the streets. He began classes for them within the walls of the seminary and gave them food. Many young homeless boys came to hear Fr. John Bosco preach the Gospel and pray. His ministry grew as he sought assistance to provide shelter and food for the homeless young boys. The group of boys gathered together in the oratory increased from 20 to 400 within 5 years.
Reflection: God calls all of us to serve the poor and needy. And, it is in our every day duties as we follow the will of God, and know Him more through prayer that we become saints. You can learn more about the life of St. John Bosco and his service to the homeless boys in A Story of St. John Bosco.
St John Bosco, Part 1
By Marianne Buzzelli
Today, January 31, is the feast of St. John Bosco. John (Giovanni) Bosco lived 1815-1888. He was born in a little town in Becchi, Italy to poor parents. His father died when he was only 2 years old, so his mother was left to support John and his 2 older brothers. The Bosco family were farmers, and John was expected to work in the fields to help support his family. However, John Bosco loved reading, and was not interested in working as a farmer. He loved to read and was excited to receive instruction from the local parish priest.
He had a call to the priesthood and thought of becoming a priest from a very early age. According to his own personal writings, John Bosco had a series of dreams, beginning at the age of 9, in which he saw a man, who “appeared, nobly attired, with a manly and imposing bearing. The man said to him: You will have to win these friends of yours not with blows, but with gentleness and kindness. So begin right now to show them that sin is ugly and virtue beautiful.”
John left the family farm to join the seminary at the age of 12. However, with no money, he was unable to continue his studies. Two years later he met an elderly priest, Fr. Joseph Calosso, who took young John under his wing, tutored him, and provided support which allowed him to pursue his studies at the seminary.
(life story continued in Part 2)
Reflection: Gentleness, kindness, and virtue – the words John Bosco heard in his childhood dream were the very essence of his being. He devoted his life to the service of young poor, sick, homeless boys.
You can learn more about the life of this marvelous saint as you read A Story of Saint John Bosco.
St Thomas Aquinas and His Contribution to Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
by Marianne Buzzelli.Here are the 5th and 6th verses in Latin:
O salutaris hostia, Quæ cæli pandis ostium, Bella premunt hostilia, Da robur, fer auxilium.
Uni trinoque Domino. Sit sempiterna gloria. Qui vitam sine termino. Nobis donet in patria.
English:
O saving Victim, opening wide, The gates of heaven to man below; Our foes press hard on every side, Thine aid supply, Thy strength bestow.
All praise and thanks to thee ascend, For evermore, blessed One in Three; O grant us life that shall not end, In our true native land with Thee.
To learn more about the philosophy of St. Thomas Aquinas you can refer to Aquinas’s Shorter Summa.