Reposting from 2016:
From a very young age, John had a love for the Faith and felt a desire to teach it to others. His methods were unique for the time and have much to teach us still today. John knew that he needed to get people’s attention before they would listen to what he had to say, and he was determined to develop the skills to help him do so. His creative attention-getters included magic tricks, juggling, acrobatics, and even tightrope walking. Once a crowd had gathered to watch, John found ways to weave teaching the Faith into the show.
Eventually, he was ordained to the priesthood and gathered a growing number of street urchins for his informal oratory – instruction, Mass, and play time. His joyful spirit and love for the Faith was very attractive and soon he had such a large crowd of boys that his “school” needed a permanent home.
John’s creative methods, kindness, love and joy are outstanding examples for Family Formation parents as we strive to pass the Faith on to those in our own little oratories.
Saint John Bosco, patron of catechists, pray for us!
“Raise [your children] with great care in the holy fear of God, because on this depends their health and blessings for your house.”
Today is the feast of Saint Francis Xavier, probably the greatest missionary in the history of the Church since Saint Paul. He was a friend and fellow classmate of St. Ignatius of Loyola and one of the original men in what would eventually become the Jesuit order. One day, St. Ignatius told him that he sensed Francis was being called to the mission field. So great was his zeal that he went home, repaired a hole in his extra pants and was ready to leave the next day! Through his cooperation with the Holy Spirit, Francis was personally responsible for converting and baptizing thousands of people and he is a great intercessor for us as we work to help our families toward deeper conversion.
