The Right Kind of Dreamer

St. John Bosco, also known as “Don” Bosco, a term of respect in Italy, served the street children in Turin, in the 19th Century, as a response to the joblessness and job-dangers created by the industrial revolution. Countless children became homeless and orphaned on the streets of the city, so this holy priest, Don Bosco, dedicated his life to serve them.

Don Bosco received supernatural dreams and visions. In one, he noticed a giant snake, dangerous and angry! An angel appeared and gave him a rope to dangle, into which the snake ensnared itself, then ripped itself to pieces trying to get out. The rope became the Holy Rosary, which the angel said, “with the Holy Rosary, we can strike, conquer, and destroy all of hell’s demons.” Let us not forget this power!

In the second part of the dream, his boys started eating the rotten snake, despite Bosco’s protest. Then they crumpled to the ground, stomachs swollen and hardened.  He asked his angel, ‘why did they keep eating it even though it would kill them?’  The angel replied, “Because the sensual man does not perceive the things that are of God but gorges himself on that which destroys!”  St. John pleaded, there must be some way to save them! The spirit answered, “there is, by anvil and hammer.”  St. John Bosco then put the boys on an anvil and hit them with a hammer.  Most of the boys were then restored to life and recovered.  The angel explained that the anvil and hammer are symbols for Holy Communion and Confession.  By Confession we strike away at sin, and by Holy Communion we are fortified.

Bosco preached the rosary, frequent and devout reception of Holy Communion, monthly confession, and devotion to the saints. For those of you with influence on the youth, what strategy can you employ to instill these in youth?