Vigils Reading – St John Bosco

GENTLE AND HUMBLE OF HEART

From a letter by St John Bosco

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My sons, in my long experience very often I had to be convinced of this

great truth. It is easier to become angry than to restrain oneself, and to threaten

a boy than to persuade him. Yes, indeed, it is more fitting to be persistent in

punishing our own impatience and pride than to correct the boys. We must be

firm but kind, and be patient with them.

See that no one finds you motivated by impetuosity or willfulness. It is

difficult to keep calm when administering punishment, but this must be done if

we are to keep ourselves from showing off our authority or spilling out our

anger.

Let us regard those boys over whom we have some authority as our own

sons. Let us place ourselves in their service. Let us be ashamed to assume an

attitude of superiority. Let us not rule over them except for the purpose of

serving them better.

This was the method that Jesus used with the apostles. He put up with their

ignorance and roughness and even their infidelity. He treated sinners with a

kindness and affection that caused some to be shocked, others to be scandalized,

and still others to hope for God’s mercy. And so he bade us to be gentle and humble

of heart.