On the Feast of the Immaculate Conception in 1841, St. John Bosco began his vocation to the youth. A homeless boy was found loitering in the sacristy of Turin’s St. Francis Assisi Church before Mass, so the sexton beat him out of the church. But John Bosco brought the boy back and met him in the sacristy after Mass. John Bosco discovered that the boy was a 16-year-old orphan named Bartholomew of Asti who now worked as a bricklayer. Bartholomew had not received First Communion, had not gone to Confession since he was little, and dared not attend Catechism classes out of embarrassment. John Bosco asked, “Suppose I were to teach you Catechism here, would you come? Do not be afraid. From now on you are my friend.” Bartholomew agreed. From then on, Bartholomew came every Sunday and brought his friends as well, slowly growing John Bosco’s apostolate to the youth.
Spiritual Talk – Fr Ho talks about St. John Bosco (35)
