Spiritual Talk – Fr Ho talks about St. John Bosco (47)

St. John Bosco recovered from his illness after he prayed for his own recovery, as his friend Fr. Paolo instructed. He returned to his hometown of Becchi to convalesce and Fr. Paolo took his place leading the Oratory. But there was so much work that eventually he needed 5 or 6 priests to barely manage John Bosco’s work. Fr. Paolo took good care of the Oratory’s children, but they grew impatient and journeyed 20 miles to visit him. They had another motive too – they were jealous that John Bosco was growing close to Becchi’s children and worried he would start an Oratory there instead. One child told him, “If you don’t return to Turin, we will move the whole Oratory to Becchi.” But John Bosco replied, “My children, if you behave well and continue to pray for me, I will return before the autumn leaves fall.”