St. John Bosco had an older brother Giuseppe and a half-brother Antonio. Antonio thought his brothers were taking away his rightful inheritance, so he did not treat them well at all. He loved working in the fields while John Bosco loved to study to become a priest one day. And so, Antonio would get angry whenever he saw John Bosco studying – once, he even threw down his books and shouted, “What use is studying? You ought to work with your bodies and stop being lazy. I don’t study and look how sturdy I am!” John Bosco usually endured this, but this time could not refrain from retorting, “Our donkey doesn’t study and is sturdier than you!” The two brothers almost came to blows until their mother Margherita intervened. Seeing the irreconcilable conflict between the two, she decided one day to send 12-year-old John Bosco away from home to seek work on the fields of a rich farmer. Although devastated to leave his beloved home and mother, he nonetheless bravely set out and found the rich farmer with much difficulty. His request for work was duly granted and although John Bosco was disappointed by his master’s utter callousness, he still courageously applied himself to labour.
Spiritual Talk – Fr Ho talks about St. John Bosco (11)
