Saint of the Day (Thursday, January 31, 2013) - St. John Bosco

Thursday, January 31, 2013 St. John Bosco (1815-1888) John Bosco’s theory of education could well be used in today’s schools. It was a preventive system, rejecting corporal punishment and placing students in surroundings removed from the likelihood of committing sin. He advocated frequent reception of the sacraments of Penance and Holy Communion. He combined catechetical training and fatherly guidance, seeking to unite the spiritual life with one’s work, study and play. Encouraged during his youth to become a priest so he could work with young boys, John was ordained in 1841. His service to young people started when he met a poor orphan and instructed him in preparation for receiving Holy Communion. He then gathered young apprentices and taught them catechism. After serving as chaplain in a hospice for working girls, John opened the Oratory of St. Francis de Sales for boys. Several wealthy and powerful patrons contributed money, enabling him to provide two workshops for the boys, shoemaking and tailoring. By 1856, the institution had grown to 150 boys and had added a printing press for publication of religious and catechetical pamphlets. His interest in vocational education and publishing justify him as patron of young apprentices and Catholic publishers. John’s preaching fame spread and by 1850 he had trained his own helpers because of difficulties in retaining young priests. In 1854 he and his followers informally banded together, inspired by St. Francis de Sales [January 24]. With Pope Pius IX’s encouragement, John gathered 17 men and founded the Salesians in 1859. Their activity concentrated on education and mission work. Later, he organized a group of Salesian Sisters to assist girls. Comment: John Bosco educated the whole person—body and soul united. He believed that Christ’s love and our faith in that love should pervade everything we do—work, study, play. For John Bosco, being a Christian was a full-time effort, not a once-a-week, Mass-on-Sunday experience. It is searching and finding God and Jesus in everything we do, letting their love lead us. Yet, because John realized the importance of job-training and the self-worth and pride that come with talent and ability, he trained his students in the trade crafts, too. Quote: “Every education teaches a philosophy; if not by dogma then by suggestion, by implication, by atmosphere. Every part of that education has a connection with every other part. If it does not all combine to convey some general view of life, it is not education at all” (G.K. Chesterton, The Common Man). (This entry appears in the print edition of Saint of the Day.) CLICK HERE FOR PRINT VERSION If you are having difficulty listening to Saint of the Day audio, or need help setting up an audio player, go to our Audio Help page for more information. SHARE THIS EMAIL: Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Google+ Check out all our fine free e-newsletters from Franciscan Media: 28 W. Liberty Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202 Copyright© 1996-2012 Franciscan Media. All rights reserved. Unsubscribe

Pray for Us: Daily Prayer Requests

	Facebook Twitter Newsletters Email Video News Catholic Life Shopping Saints Bible Prayers Mary Prayer Requests Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Philippians 4:6 Together, let us pray for the needs of our brothers and sisters. Please remember these intentions in your daily prayers. Chuck Wednesday, January 30, 2013 please keep my family in your prayers, we are still having stressful times, but they are improving. Please remember my son and his anxiety issue, it seems to be getting alot better! Pray for me and my health too, still have a few issues going on. Pray for my wife too and our marriage that things will get to where they use to be. pray for our troublesome neighbor that she will see the light and stop being the way she is toward people!Thank You and God Bless Christy Wednesday, January 30, 2013 Please pray for Margaret who has pneumonia and is in the hospital. Jason Wednesday, January 30, 2013 Thank you for praying to God for me and all my past prayers. Also thank you God for answering my past prayers. Jason Wednesday, January 30, 2013 Thanks for praying to God that my lymph node on my left side healed and is normal. Thanks. Jo Wednesday, January 30, 2013 Please Pray that the job interview I went to today was successful and that I get the job and am happy and prosperous and successful at that job. Thank you amen. Tomy Wednesday, January 30, 2013 Lord, please help my father, Raudel Ortiz, to be healed from his sickness we don't know what it is neither do the doctors and I'm starting to get worried , he's not getting any better please help!, amen Sylvia Wednesday, January 30, 2013 Please remove the obstacles that stand in the way of John and I Spending physical time together. Maria T. Wednesday, January 30, 2013 That our upcoming trial on February 4th against the bank that is illegally foreclosing on us will be held accountable for their greed and deceptive lending practices. We had a fair, fixed rate loan, and they talked us into a subprime adjustable rate loan that doubled our payments within 3 years and forced us out. Even though the government has tried to force them to make reparation, they are fighting us anyway. Pray that their greed will be shown to them, and that the jury and judge will recognize how their deception has caused over 4600 people in my suburban area to lose their homes to foreclosure. This has harmed more than those who had these loans. The evil of greed has harmed those who tried to sell their own homes. Jobs have been lost, cities and counties have suffered lost revenue and many have been left without enough money to feed their children. Please, please Lord, not for us as we will happily abandon our home. But for those who are being sent out of their homes, left with no hope, for them, please help us show our community that evil thrives ONLY when the good do nothing. Amen. eutropia Wednesday, January 30, 2013 Dear Lord Im sorry for all my sins,,,I let u carry again and again the cross, every time i committed any sins,,, pls forgive me oh Lord so that i will be s worthy to accept the gift graces.. and blessings that i ask from u,, and thank u so much for all the blessings that u bestowed upon me and my family,,,Lord pls guide us always itno the right way,, protect us from any danger jelousy.. hatred,, temptation..help us to be strong always, relay on u,, your my lord and my savior. my jesus.. amen Leticia Wednesday, January 30, 2013 I ask all the Angels and Saint and our Blessed Mother Mary to pray for the soul of John, Thomas, and Marcos Guzman. Lord I beg You to grant them eternal rest. Amen Most Popular Opinion: Time for a New Republican Party and New Republican Party Candidates Read More   Obama would change the way football is played Read More   United States lifts ban on frontline combat roles for women Read More   Almost half of U.S. children not getting vaccinated in timely fashion Read More   Quo Vadis: He Is Out of His Mind! The March for Life and Being Christian in a Neo-Pagan Age Read More     News | Catholic Life | PRWire | Encyclopedia | Bible | Prayers | Vocations | Saints & Angels © Copyright 2012 Catholic Online. This e-mail is never sent unsolicited. You have received this Catholic Online e-mail because you subscribed to it or someone forwarded it to you. To opt out, see the links below. TO ADVERTISE For information on advertising at Catholic Online, please contact Advertising Sales. TO SUBSCRIBE If this email has been forwarded to you and would like a subscription, please sign up for Catholic Online Newsletters. Remove your e-mail address from our list. We respect your right to privacy. View our policy. This e-mail was sent by: Catholic Online, P.O. Box 9686 Bakersfield, CA 93389 USA