In early 1872 Don Bosco was recovering in the town of Varazze of the painful disease that had been bedridden for more than three months away, then, of his beloved Oratorio de San Francisco de Sales. Despite having been at death's door, his mind was always in Turin, his heart, in the midst of his boys. In February he wrote to Don Rua expressing his desire to be home soon:
"Next Thursday, God willing, I will be in Turin. I feel a great need to reach. I live here with the body, but my heart, my thoughts and even my words are always at the Oratory, among you. "
"Next Thursday, God willing, I will be in Turin. I feel a great need to reach. I live here with the body, but my heart, my thoughts and even my words are always at the Oratory, among you. "
This is Don Bosco. Always "among young people" while you are away for a thousand reasons. It is true that as the Salesian extended and assumed new fronts for Don Bosco was obliged to be more and more time away from Turin. However, I always longed to return, always a fond memory for all, always the desire to get the pulse of daily life among the tasks of the parent.
Where occupations are permitted, returning to the Oratory Don Bosco. And if he was at home throughout the day was thoroughly used to be with his Salesians and their boys, confessed, was in the yard, had a word for all, was good night, was attending the monthly exercise of good death (retirement), he lectured at the Salesian and young ... Do not stop!
In a good night of March 31, 1876, as recorded in his chronicle Barberis Don, Don Bosco insisted his boys:
"Take this in your head. Although I look like I'm busy, I am always very happy when you come to get me in church or outside it ... "
And is that Don Bosco, despite the years, he was always happy in the midst of their kids. Especially strong was his involvement in the important moments in the life of the house parties of the Virgin, liturgical seasons, the month of May, the spiritual exercises ... His pastoral zeal led him to spend hours in the confessional to prepare sermons, to have "memories" of the spiritual exercises, to engage each other so that everything went well.
"Take this in your head. Although I look like I'm busy, I am always very happy when you come to get me in church or outside it ... "
And is that Don Bosco, despite the years, he was always happy in the midst of their kids. Especially strong was his involvement in the important moments in the life of the house parties of the Virgin, liturgical seasons, the month of May, the spiritual exercises ... His pastoral zeal led him to spend hours in the confessional to prepare sermons, to have "memories" of the spiritual exercises, to engage each other so that everything went well.
I have no doubt that Don Bosco is "here in our midst", in each of our homes. And his experience remains for us Valdocco charismatic criterion of fidelity to the sources. Return to Don Bosco is back to youth. Also physically: present in the court, involved in the life of the house, by word and gesture appropriate to the coming on, with the warm smile and kind eyes to all.
"Near or far, I always think in you ", tell Don Bosco in the Charter of Rome, 1884. It was the expression of his life. As stressed Don Rua, his closest associate and one of his early youth in the Oratorio, "It gave way, did not utter a word, would not commit to any business that did not have as its object the salvation of youth ... I just really interested him were the souls. "
Valdocco Back to us also. Like Don Bosco, always among the young. With the mind, heart, with the word. Regain our homeland.
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