Don Bosco: Father and Friend of the Young
Published on Jan 30, 2025
By EMN
- A Different Kind of School
- In the bustling corridors of a Don Bosco school, a perplexed
father of a new student shared his bewilderment with a neighbour: “Your
Principal and the priests here are seen running about, even playing with the
children. Where is their decorum? Surely, priests and pastors should carry
themselves with dignity!”
- But the neighbour, a longtime friend of the school, smiled
knowingly. “This is no ordinary school,” he said. “Here, education is not
confined to books or rules. They strive to create a family. Don Bosco himself
believed in loving the young, and more importantly, letting them feel that they
are loved.”
- Intrigued, the father sought to uncover the story of this
man, Don Bosco. What he found would forever change his perspective on education
and the art of shaping young hearts.
- Who was Don Bosco?
- Don Bosco -- a priest, a visionary, and above all, a friend
to the lost -- lived in Turin, Italy, during the throes of the Industrial
Revolution. It was an age of relentless progress but also of pain. Factories
arose like great chimneys of opportunity, drawing masses from the countryside.
Yet the promises of prosperity turned sour for many as overcrowded slums and
harsh labour conditions became the grim reality.
- Amid this despair, young souls wandered aimlessly, exploited
by merciless employers, or lost to the allure of gangs and street violence. Don
Bosco’s heart broke for these children of misfortune. He ventured into
factories, meeting the boys where they toiled, pleading with their employers
for fair wages and humane working hours. On Sundays and holidays, he would
gather these weary spirits, offering them moments of joy, play, and the solace
of faith. For those who could not read or write, he became their teacher,
gently introducing them to the “three Rs” (Reading, Writing and Arithmetic).
- These gatherings evolved into what he called “Oratories” --
places of learning, prayer, and belonging. In prisons and correction centres,
where young offenders languished alongside hardened criminals, his presence
became a beacon of hope. Wherever he went, his compassion and gentle demeanour
won hearts. The children trusted him implicitly, following him not out of fear,
but love.
- The Generala: The Great
- Prison
- Among his many missions, Don Bosco’s visits to “Generala”, a
notorious state prison, became legendary. In those cold, dark cells, young
offenders, barely more than boys, languished in despair. The sight of them,
broken and forgotten, haunted him. His determination to bring light into their
lives led him to an audacious idea: a picnic for the prisoners.
- When he approached the authorities with his request, they
laughed in disbelief. Surely, this priest was mad. Take prisoners out for a day
of freedom? But Don Bosco’s persistence wore them down. Finally, he turned to
the minister in charge, who regarded him with a mixture of awe and scepticism.
“How many guards will you need?” the minister asked.
- “None,” Don Bosco replied, his voice steady.
- The minister’s laughter echoed in disbelief. “None? Not one
of them will return!”
- But Don Bosco’s eyes burned with conviction. “They will all
return. If even one is missing, I will take his place.”
- And so, with trepidation and wonder, the authorities allowed
him. On the appointed day, the prisoners’ joy was boundless. They sang, they
danced, they revelled in the taste of freedom—all under the watchful yet loving
eyes of Don Bosco. And when the day ended, every single boy returned to his
cell, as promised. The astonishment of the prison staff and the minister was
surpassed only by their admiration for the man who had achieved the impossible.
- The Preventive System: Don Bosco’s Gift to Education
- From these humble beginnings, Don Bosco built a legacy. With
the support of kind benefactors, he established workshops, vocational training
centres, and schools. Over time, these blossomed into technical institutions
and academic colleges. But his true genius lay in his approach—a method he
called the “Preventive System”.
- Unlike the “repressive system” prevalent in his time, Don
Bosco’s method was rooted in Reason, Religion, and Loving-Kindness:
- • Reason:
Be just and fair in your expectations. Demand not obedience for obedience’s
sake, but because the request is reasonable and meaningful.
- • Religion:
Guide the young to nurture their innate sense of the divine. Help them embrace
their faith and fulfil their spiritual duties.
- • Loving-Kindness:
Love them as a parent loves a child. Accept them as they are with their flaws
and all. Enter their world—whether through games, music, or sports. By loving
what they love, you earn their trust and inspire them to embrace discipline,
learning, and virtue.
- “It is not enough to love them,” Don Bosco often said, “they
must know that they are loved.” His system demanded much of the educators, for
it required not authority, but authenticity. Only a heart truly brimming with
love could guide the young in this way.
- His goal was noble yet simple: to raise God-fearing men and
women who would become honest citizens and compassionate souls. Today,
educators in Don Bosco’s institutions around the world carry forward this
mission, striving to make every school a home, a playground, and a sanctuary.
- The Early Life of Don Bosco
- Born on August 16, 1815, in a modest village called Becchi,
near Castelnuovo in Turin, Italy, little Johnny Bosco’s life was marked by
hardship. His father Francis Bosco died when he was just two, leaving his
mother, Margaret Occhiena, to raise him and his two brothers in poverty.
- Though bright and eager to learn, Johnny’s path to education
was fraught with struggle. He worked tirelessly to support his studies,
labouring as a baker’s assistant, a tailor’s helper, and even a tutor. Despite
these challenges, his kindness and intellect won him the love of those around
him.
- On June 5, 1841, Johnny was ordained a priest and became
known as Don Bosco or Father Bosco -- a name that would become synonymous with
hope for countless youths. To sustain his mission, he founded the Salesian
Society of priests, brothers, and sisters, dedicated to serving the young and
the poor.
- Don Bosco passed into eternal rest on January 31, 1888,
leaving behind a legacy of love and service. Today, his feast day is celebrated
worldwide as a joyful occasion, a time to honour the man who taught the world
the transformative power of kindness.
- In Don Bosco’s story, we find not just the tale of a man,
but the embodiment of a truth: to shape the future, we must first touch the
hearts of the young. His life remains a hymn of hope, a melody that continues
to resonate in the lives of those who follow his path.
-
- MP. Thomas SDB
