Remembering St. John Bosco

“There must be no hostility in our minds, no contempt in our eyes, no insult on our lips. We must use mercy for the present and have hope for the future, as is fitting for true fathers who are eager for real correction and improvement.” These are the words of Saint John Bosco.

Hatred. Scorn. Vile. People tend to be unaware of the brutality that is happening in our world today. Adding up to the world’s greatest problems is disdaining the good, but having the ability to know one’s limit when it comes to deeds, words and ways of thinking may lessen up the burden. Every man is a rational being, meaning one does know what is vital from what is not. Being rational makes use of reason to make the world better. A better world is what man wants, but the opposite of better is what man does. And its effect? Disorder and Misery.

Disorder and Misery, these are the things that Saint John Bosco experienced in the hands of our cruel world; like him all of us experience this unending system in our daily lives. We want it to end but are we doing enough to shut it off? John in his own little ways helped the poor and the homeless youth by educating them and giving them shelter as his own way to bring positive change in this world.

Honored as “The Father and Teacher of Youth”, John focused his ministry not only to the unfortunate youth and street children but also he founded a movement of the laity and began to publish Salesian Bulletin with the same mission of education to the poor, he was also able to establish a teaching method which focuses in showing love and not punishment and fear; for he believed that it is necessary that people will see that sin is ugly and there is beauty of living virtuous lives.

As mortal beings, we should always be merciful and hopeful as we carry on to this battle we call life. It may never be easy but just like what Saint John Bosco did, we, as followers of Christ should always be thankful and courageous enough to carry our own crosses until we finish the race that we are into.

As we remember Saint John Bosco, may we be reminded to be humble enough to accept whatever correction God instills in our lives and see to it as a lesson so that we may improve ourselves and become ready to whatever circumstances we will face in the future. Bring the message of Love wherever you are just as what Saint John did, just as what our Lord Jesus Christ did. (AJ Cyril Chaves | HCDC MassCom Intern)