Marta Sniezko
May 7, 2019
The secret he used that made them feel loved
St John Bosco and his outreach to young people
I’ve always thought about how was it possible that St John Bosco was able to reach the young people of his time so profoundly. My first automatic explanation would be that those were different times, different people who would respond to a priest since they were brought up differently. I would think that in this day and age, not very many young people would ever get interested in such a thing. But was that really the case? Or was there more?
These young adults, teenagers, and maybe even children of 19th century Italy, heard of Fr Bosco, came to listen and followed his instructions, amended their lives, and became responsible and righteous humans, let alone true children of God. But what was it? What drew them to him? What made them listen to him?
Don Giovanni Bosco, aka St John Bosco, lived in Italy in the 1800s. Born and raised by pious Catholic parents, he soon wanted to become a priest and serve the Lord with his life. When working in Turin, he was appointed to tutor a rich family’s children. This was to be a very good opportunity for Don Bosco, given he did come from a poor family and would then be able to help out his mother and brothers he left behind. However, God had other plans for him. The Lord soon showed him that there were others who needed his help and talents more than the rich family; the needy youth of Turin.
After receiving a blessing from his superior, he set out to help the boys of the streets. It was those who had no one, no one wanted to do anything with, those that got a little lost in their lives or had no other sources of help. He started inviting them to different meetings where he would incorporate Catholic teachings while doing different activities. Yes! They would have fun, but they also had time for prayer. They played soccer, or sang by a fire, but then had time for Confession and Holy Mass as well. He tried to show that new ways are not always bad ways. On the contrary, new ways may at times be a lot better since the world and its people with their ways of life are changing too.
Don Bosco had that gift, the gift of letting young people be themselves, not feeling stifled and forced to be a certain way. Those young boys, but then later on, girls as well, felt God’s Love through Don Bosco. The way he spoke to them, treated them, taught them. It wasn’t from an older authority that looked down on them and condemned their every wrong decision. It was the authority of Love and Mercy. Looking to build another up, and not drag the other down. Understanding where they are coming from and trying to help them understand others as well. His view that it wasn’t only the old way that was right. That there may be other ways of doing things, as long as it doesn’t offend God, or break any Church Commandments. He taught them how to have respect to others and to earn respect in return.
That is the key. Love.
Love that does not condemn. Love that builds and does not tear down. Love that is patient, kind, and so on, as St Paul states in 1 Corinthians 13. That Love makes miracles happen.
So, loving parents, grandparents, etc., the next time you want to complain about our youth, stop and think for a second. Step in their shoes and try to see their world in their view. Say a short prayer to God to help and find something positive to say. Something constructive. We need a little more of that these days. Especially when a lot that we hear these days is negative and destructive.
And you, young people, don’t give up, but don’t get angry as well when elders say certain things. We have to try to remember that they grew up in a different society. We have to try to understand that they are usually saying certain things because they love us and want the best for us, the best that they know. They don’t want us to get hurt, even though it may seem kind of hurtful and harsh on the outside at times. So maybe talk through and hash everything out. I’m sure the Lord will help smoothen out any differences.
May St John Bosco pray for us and help us in everyday of our lives!
