Saint of the Day (Friday, January 31, 2014) - St. John Bosco

Friday, January 31, 2014 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© 1996-2013 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. William Thursday, January 30, 2014 Brothers and Sisters, Please pray for me to our Lord Jesus Christ and all the Angels and Saints :that positive resolution is brought to my situation and struggle with my employer regarding my wrongful discharge. I pray that my employer recognizes the error in decisions made and rectifies this unfortunate event by Restoring my Job without any more hesitation or delay. Lord Jesus Christ please, please help resolve my problem with positive outcome and put and end to this anxious and stressful time for me and my family. Thank you and God Bless you All. SalemOregon Thursday, January 30, 2014 Please, Lord, my husband needs a permanent job. He's been unemployed for almost two years, had interviews, submitted hundreds of job apps and all he's gotten are "Dear John" letters and emails. Please have a company in Salem look into his app and give him a chance. I ask this in Jesus' name. Amen Chinonso Thursday, January 30, 2014 God favour and divine blessing..forgiveness of sins,to increase my finances , to bless my mother , brothers and sisters to put all my enemies to shame, good health and 7 gifts of the holy spirit Brenda Thursday, January 30, 2014 My 13 year old daughter was living with her grandfather and grate grandmother where I thought she was getting the best schooling and being well taken care of.Monday Cps sent papers saying they have taken due to her grandfather beating her along with other things. It turns out that it was getting so bad she ever tried to kill her self at one time.All of this was keeped secret from me.Her father and my self along with her grandfather go to court tomorrow Friday 2/1/2014. We are hoping that ether me or her father will be able to take her and that the court dose not send her back to her grandfathers home. I ask for healing for my daughter, so she can move forward with her life after this. I also ask for pray to let court go easy tomorrow and to let her come home with ether me or her father lee, and that the court dose not let her go back to that house. Krystal Thursday, January 30, 2014 I have a 22 year old friend who just found out today, that she has a 8 inch tumor on her ovary. The doctors don't know if the tumor is cancerous or not yet. Tomorrow she is having more blood work done and will probably have surgery next week. I please please request that you pray that her surgery goes well and that the tumor is benign. Thank you so so much! Terri Thursday, January 30, 2014 Please pray that my son speaks and has diagnosis removed John Thursday, January 30, 2014 Dear Lord, Thank you for your blessings of happiness, health, and safety for my family, friends, loved ones, and me. I am so grateful for everything that you have given me in my life. Please bless Natalie and show her how much You love her. Help her to love herself. Please heal her of her addiction and health problems tonight. Heal her heart, her soul, her mind, and her body. Please change her heart and help her find a comprehensive treatment program to save her life this very moment. Please bless her with a very long, happy, healthy, safe and love-filled life. Please restore her faith and bring her closer to You Lord. Please bless Triston and help him recover quickly from his surgery next Tuesday. Please help his dad, Devin, be able to provide for his family. Please look after Drake so that he may have a wonderful happy childhood. Please bless Tiphany, her baby, and her daughter Ava. Please keep Tiphany and the baby healthy and free of complications during the pregnancy. Please help Tiphany to find her dream job. Please bless Maggie's family, especially Jazzy. Bless Jazzy with infinite health and happiness and a wonderful childhood. Thank you for hearing all my prayers. Thank you for blessing, healing, and saving all those family, friends, and loved ones who mean the world to me. I know it only could have been You who saved Jenna on 9/3/2012. Thank you! I need you Lord. Amen. d. Thursday, January 30, 2014 My friend's polyps are benign and not cancerous, and his health improves. AN Thursday, January 30, 2014 That Al is okay and returns to me. I pray that I can be free of a damaging OCD problem. Keep me safe in my travels. Anonymous Thursday, January 30, 2014 Dear Lord,I'm afraid please spare my life, I pray that I am not HIV positive.I put all my faith in you Lord help me, amen. 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