My Name is Johnny Bosco, to everyone else I’m known as Don Bosco, as I became a Catholic priest which was my life goal set when I was only two. I was born on 16th August 1815, in a poor family at Becchi, a hamlet in Italy. My parents: Papa Francis and Mamma Margaret, are farmers; I have two brothers older than I, Anthony and Joseph. I lost my father when I was hardly two. My mother had to feed five.Work in the fields is hard and mamma couldn’t do it alone, so my brothers and I joined to help.
I had a dream when I was nine. I was told to be gentle and kind to the young for whom I would be dedicating my whole life. Jesus and Mary would stand by me and tell me what would take place in my life.
In the kitchen my Mother taught me to share my bread with beggars and the needy. And she made me feel that God was actually present in our home. We learnt to converse simply and profoundly with God, trust, respect and hope in God. God is also involved in the “daily” events that took place around our home.
I had experienced the warmth of maternal and paternal love, and so when I had grown up I realized that I was called to give this love to those youngsters who had no family.
My step-brother wouldn’t allow me to study so I had to flee to study. To achieve my dream I worked at a tailor, shoe designer, baker, in the farm, after my school hours and studied by the light of a candle at night. Later I joined the Seminary to realize my cherished dream.
Time seemed to fly by during the years I was in school and then came the time when MY DREAM began to come true: TO BE A PRIEST. I’ve learned from my spiritual friend Louis that I need to prepare for a better life in heaven. After his death he appeared and told me that heaven is a reality. The aim of life is not to become rich but to become more generous and kind. This, my mother taught me. She in fact told me that she would not step into my house if I ever became rich.
After my studies in the seminary, here I was, a young priest in Turin, with so many youngsters looking for a place to play, have fun and at the same time a place to pray and sing as well… It was a difficult time. It caused me much stress, worry and I shed many tears…but finally one day A man, hearing that I was in need of a place to gather my boys…decided to offer me an old shed…After some work and a little adjustment on Easter Morning in 1846 I finally threw open the doors of the new Oratory to the boys! Every boy felt that it was his “home”; through games, prayer andthe Word of God I sought to convey all that my mother had taught me when I was a little boy. To love, to work, to share, to be united with God and with others, and to share my dreams… Every boy who entered the Pinardi shed would find this
atmosphere!
There was one rule that I followed during this adventure: To love what the boys loved so that they would learn to love what I, the educator loved.
Once I became so ill and was bed-ridden. My Children knew that I loved them and so they prayed and got me well. The rest of my life I owe to them. I made it a point that for them I study, for them I work, for them I live and for them I be ready to give my last.
Many others have continued to offer youngsters a “home” like I did, taking Jesus as their model Many others have chosen to be bearers of the joy and happiness, the beauty of meeting Jesus… Even you will be able to realize your dreams to help others make their dreams come true. You and I are walking together on this journey to holiness… happiness!!!