St. John Bosco’s mother Margherita transferred him to a new school in the city of Chieri. John Bosco was sixteen then and visibly older than his classmates of eleven and twelve, but he rose two grades within four months to study Grade 8. His new teacher, Joseph Cima, was a strict disciplinarian, and on first seeing John Bosco, he joked, “He’s either a simpleton or a genius.” John Bosco calmly replied, “I am neither—merely determined to study.” Over time, the teacher was impressed by John Bosco’s dedication and maturity. Once, John Bosco forgot to bring his Latin book to class and pulled out a grammar book to hide the fact. When the teacher finished the Latin lesson, he noticed the entire class giggling at John Bosco, so he ordered him to repeat the lesson. Holding only the useless grammar book, John Bosco recited the lesson flawlessly, moving the entire class to applause. The teacher’s initial anger turned to awe when he discovered the truth. He forgave John Bosco and said, “My boy, God has given you an incredible gift—make sure not to waste it.” John Bosco would later use his memory well in service of the youth.
Spiritual Talk – Fr Ho talks about St. John Bosco (22)
