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St. John Bosco Photo

My Companions
From the Autobiography of St. John Bosco

All this time I had to use my own initiative to learn how to deal with my companions.
I put them in three groups: 1. the good, 2. the who didn’t care, and 3. the bad. As soon as I spotted the bad ones, I avoided them absolutely and always. I associated with the ones who didn’t care, only when necessary, but I was always courteous with them. I made friends with the good ones, and then only when I was sure of them. Because I knew few people in the town, I made it a rule to keep to myself. I sometimes had to discourage people I did not know too well. Some wanted me to go to a show, others into some gambling, and still others, to go swimming. (swimming was very dangerous because of the cold rapids in that area) And there were suggestions that I should steal fruit from the town gardens or country orchards. One companion was so bold as to suggest that I should steal a valuable object from my landlady so that we could buy some sweets. Gradually I got to know the undesirables and firmly avoided their company. Usually I had a way of avoiding these suggestions. I used to tell them that my mother had asked my landlady to look after me, and out of love for my mother I did not want to go anywhere nor do anything without good Lucy’s consent. This firm obedience to the good woman led to a very happy and practical conclusion. With much pleasure, Lucy asked me to take charge of her only son, a lively youth, more interested in games than in schoolwork. She depended on me to check his homework even though he was in the class above me. (the boy was six years older than Don Bosco) I took him in hand as if he were my brother. I used little prizes as bribes to get to him. I played indoor games with him and helped him to be faithful to his religious duties. Little by little he became more tractable, obedient, and studious. After six months be had become so good and diligent that his teacher was satisfied and he won honors in class. His mother was so delighted that she refused to accept my monthly rent. Since the companions who tried to tempt me into their escapades were the most careless about everything, they began to come to me for help because I did them the kindness of lending them my homework or dictating it to them. The teachers did not like this. They said that it was a false kindness that only encouraged laziness, and they strictly forbade me to do it. I then resorted to less obvious ways of helping them, such as explaining problems to them and lending a helping hand to those who needed it. Thus I made everyone happy and won the goodwill and affection of my companions. At first they came to play, then to listen to stories or to do their homework, and finally for no reason at all, just as the boys at Murialdo and Castelnuovo used to do. That these gatherings might have a name, we called ourselves the Society for a Good Time. There was a reason for the name, because everyone was obliged to look for such books, discuss such subjects, or play such games as would contribute to the happiness of the members. Whatever would induce sadness was forbidden, especially things contrary to God’s law. Those who swore, used God’s name in vain, or indulged in bad talk were turned away from the club at once. So it was that I found myself the leader of a crowd of companions. Two basic rules were adopted: 1. Each member of the Society for a Good Time should avoid language and actions unbecoming a good Catholic. 2. Exactness in the performance of scholastic and religious duties. All this helped my reputation, and in 1832 my companions respected me like the captain of a small army. I was much in demand for entertainment’s, for helping pupils privately, or for giving lessons or reviews at home. So, Divine Providence enabled me to supply my own clothes, school necessities , and other things without having to disturb my family in any way.

A Tired St. John Bosco

After such a strenuous day, with only a scanty meal to give him strength, Don Bosco was so tired he could hardly move.
The young apprentices who were the last to leave, (the younger boys went home a little earlier than the apprentices) would ask Don Bosco, “walk us to the gate.”
“I can’t,” Don Bosco would reply.
“It’s only a few steps…
” They were so insistent that he complied.
After walking a short distance, he would try to excuse himself, but the boys would not hear of it.
“Just a bit farther, only as far as those trees.”
Patiently Don Bosco would move on. When he reached the spot he would stop, and 300 or more boys, big and small, would crowd around him, begging for a story.
Don Bosco would plead, saying: “No more! Let me go home. I’m very tired!”
“No, no,” they answered. “We’ll sing a hymn and you can rest a little. Then you tell us a nice story.”
“Really, I can’t.”
“Just one! That’s all.”
“But, don’t you see I can hardly even talk?”
“Just a short one!”
Meanwhile, the crowd would grow around him, including many soldiers who were then coming out of the saloons, would also stop. Curious, the soldiers stood waiting to hear what the priest would say. After the boys had sung two or three stanzas of the hymn “Lodate Maria.” (Let’s praise Mary)
Don Bosco would climb on a stone bench or a pile of gravel and say: “Well, I’ll tell you just one more story, and then you will have to go home.”
He would end the story, saying: “That’s all! Good night!”
The boys and the curious who had gathered would reply, “Good night!” and then they would let off one last deafening “Viva Don Bosco,” after which they would scatter toward their homes or wherever they lodged. First, though, they all wanted to get near Don Bosco to say goodbye once more.
At this point several of the bigger boys would raise him on their shoulders and carry him home while loudly singing their well known song “Andiamo, compagni, Don Bosco ci aspetta.” (Let’s go, boys, Don Bosco waits for us)
When he got to his room, Don Bosco was usually so exhausted, that when his mother, (Mamma Margaret) called for supper, he generally replied: “Let me rest awhile,” and would fall asleep so soundly that no amount of shaking could wake him up. Sometimes, even while eating, after one spoonful of soup he would fall asleep with his head on the table.