DECEMBER 8th 1841 Don Bosco was getting ready to say Mass, from the cold outside a boy slipped into the sacristy for a bit of warmth. The sacristan realized he was not one of the servers and chased the boy out. “Call that boy back. He’s my friend!” Don Bosco shouted. The boy was an orphan, out of work and an easy target for some swindler. For such lads the prison gates swung wide open. But just now a friendly work coaxed a smile from the lad. A Hail Mary together and the boy asked could he come back.
The following week there were seven boys. Then week by week they increased in number, coming to Don Bosco every Sunday for a short catechism lesson, for confession and Mass, and then out for the day into the countryside.
That’s how Don Bosco’s work for boys began. Like all beginnings it was hard and painful. He and his boys were pushed from pillar to post. The work was misunderstood by the clergy and looked upon with suspicion by the police. There were bills for the bread and clothing. There were harsh words and even insults at times. But Don Bosco smiled and kept going. His Bishop and also his confessor (now St. Joseph Cafasso) kept encouraging him. The “Lady” of his first dream continued to appear and point the way. He trusted that God would not let him work in vain.
