Don John Bosco was a different kind of Don Juan. He was a juggler, tight rope walker, jongleur de Dieu in the Franciscan tradition. When the northern Italian cities were like something out of a Dickens novel, Don Bosco worked with the Oliver Twists–bringing them homes, hilarity and hope.
Like a cavalier for Christ he stood up to the rich and crossed swords with knaves. Like a little Italian Don Quixote he tilted at the windmills of socialism and showed the bureacrats what it really meant to love the poor and provide for them. Like all the saints, he is an example of grace at work in the world to change the world.
Don Bosco is one of our mentors, models and brothers at St Joseph’s Catholic School. We follow his Bosconian model for discipline–‘Love, Explain, Prevent.’ It works!
When we celebrated his life at Mass today I, for one, could sense a benevolent, powerful and totally joyful presence. He is there as part of that ‘great cloud of witnesses, and we praise God for Don Juan Bosco.
I couldn’t help but notice the Bosconian model for clerical collars.
Howdy, Father -Can you elaborate on Don Bosco’s “love, explain, prevent” method? I’m a father of 5 kids ages 10 to 2, and am interested in learning more about this.Many thanks -Bill Whitehttp://minutiae.stblogs.org
don bosco’s approach is basically summed up in a quote i often find posted in my alma mater: “Run, shout and play; but do not sin”a Bosconian
Don Bosco distinguishes two types of discipline: Repression and prevention. The first gives rules and punishes when they are broken. The first is always looking therefore, for wrongdoing. The second is built on love and a positive approach. It seeks to develop a relationship of love and trust with the child, so the child wants to please. Discipline is conducted with explanations, discussions and warnings in order to prevent wrong doing before it happens. Don Bosco says if the boy or girl loves the parent/teacher they will not want to displease them, and a mere look or slight word of correction will put the child right. The first form of discipline is easy, but ultimately doesn’t form the child in love. The second is difficult. It is more risky and more challenging, but is ultimately more effective in building not only good behaviour, but a soul.Bosco’s method complements the principles of the Rule of St Benedict. I have written a book called ‘Listen My son’ which applies the rule of St Benedict for the task of fathering. You can check it out in the ‘books’ section of my website.
There was a little boy at noon Mass (on Wednesday?) whose birthday it was. He was 6. He was dressed up as Don Bosco, complete with cassock and little black hat. It was priceless…