Hajja Salesjana April-June 2022

I let myself be carried away by anger. Since I didn’t have a stick or a chair in my hand, I grabbed one of those young men by the shoulders and, using him as a club, I began to beat the others. Four fell to the ground, the others turned on their heels and ran away screaming.” Later, the good Luigi scolded him for that vehement display of strength. “Enough,” he implored. “Your strength scares me. God did not give it to you to massacre your companions. Forgive and return good for evil, please.” That advice echoed what the Man in the dream had said, "Not with blows, but with sweetness and love you have to gain their friendship." John thus learned not only how to forgive, but also how important it is to gain control over oneself. Hewill never forget it. Hewould always carry the spirit of the meek everywhere, and no one would know how much it always cost him. For this reason, according to the words of Jesus, "He will inherit the earth." The panegyrics of St. Francis de Sales, which were usually held in the seminary, made Don Bosco reflect. According to his Spiritual Testament, Don Bosco’s fourth resolution at the time of his priestly ordination was "May the charity and sweetness of St. Francis de Sales guide me in everything." When the time came for him to choose a name for the nascent Oratory, Don Bosco had no doubts: "It will be called ‘The Oratory of St. Francis de Sales.’" Sometime later, he would say to those first young men who would share his life "We will call ourselves Salesians." Why? "For the part of our ministry that demanded great calm and meekness, we placed ourselves under the protection of this Saint, so that he would obtain for us the grace from God to be able to imitate him in his extraordinary meekness and in winning over many souls." Sweetness—this virtue "rarer than perfect chastity"—is "the flower of charity." “It is photo by Dim Hou - www.unsplash.com "I recommend to you above all the spirit of sweetness for that warms the heart and conquers souls." St. Francis de Sales 33 April - Ġunju 2022 hajja