Every year we celebrate the feast of St. John Bosco on 31st January. This year being a Sunday, the Church will celebrate the feast the next day i.e. Monday 1st February 2021.
This is a feast that is celebrated in a big way at the Shrine of Don Bosco in Matunga, Mumbai. Devotees have flocked here with deep faith in this wonderful Saint. Their answered prayers and miracles are being recorded in the “Madonna” which still comes to our homes, free of charge. As children we were great fans of the then comics, but our spiritual food was always the “Madonna”. We didn’t have a Bible in our home in the ‘50s and ‘60s, so the Madonna in its simplicity and charity gave us food for thought. With time, though the simplicity continued the contents had more depth especially for the adults.
Only memory of this magazine now is the unfailing articles on Don Bosco and his tremendous influence on Dominic Savio, and love for the boys who were schooling under him. He was constantly alert about the dangers and temptations his young protégés would succumb to, in their innocence. He was a disciplinarian whom the boys respected deeply.
Surely, it was not easy for Don Bosco to keep a watchful eye on his boys. He did it because he was concerned about their souls and loved them deeply.
Today, with the advance of technology, keeping a watchful eye on the youth is a MUST. Currently every child has to own a mobile in view of online classes. Let us stay alert because the contents in the mobile are much more than online classes, and also very dangerous. We know that these gadgets can give secrecy with passwords & locking systems.
Knowing the love and concern of Don Bosco for the youth, let us call on him daily – morning and night – to protect our children from the wiles of the devil, who is using the Power of secrecy, to ruin their souls. May St. John Bosco protect your children and bring them close you to Jesus.
Here’s wishing one and all a very Happy New Year 2021. It’s a new year, a new start a new beginning. May this year be the best one yet.
J. Rodrigues