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January 31
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 under Francis de
Sales.
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, John realized the importance of job-training and the
self-worth and pride that comes with talent and ability so 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).
Patron
Saint of:
Boys
Editors
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