The Mom Weekly Volume 129: January 27, 2025
You can read this, or any other previous Mom Weeklies, by going to the home page here. https://themomweekly.com/
Notes:
This is Catholic Schools Week, which always reminds me of pancake breakfast and other events at parishes over the years. Also, tomorrow is the feast of St. Thomas Aquinas, who is the patron saint of students and of Catholic schools, among other things. And that got me thinking about St. John Bosco, who is also a patron of students.
Remember how much I love you,
Mom
Love is Patient, Love is Kind, or, St. John Bosco’s advice to anyone in relationship with others
St. John Bosco’s feast day is January 31, and he along with St. Thomas Aquinas is a patron of young people and education. The more I read about him, the more impressed I am with him! Connected to last week, he had a great devotion to St. Francis de Sales, even naming the congregation he founded the Salesians after St. Francis. (Of course, we have no idea whether St. John Bosco found St. Francis funny like I do, but let’s hope he does).
The Office of Readings for saint feast days often includes a writing by or about the saint, and the feast of St. John Bosco features “A letter by St. John Bosco.” It is really worth reading in its entirety, so check out the Universalis app Office of Readings for January 31. But I’m going to excerpt a few lines for you:
First of all, if we wish to appear concerned about the true happiness of our foster children and if we would move them to fulfill their duties, you must never forget that you are taking the place of the parents of these beloved young people. I have always labored lovingly for them, and carried out my priestly duties with zeal. And the whole Salesian society has done this with me.
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.
“It is more fitting to be persistent in punishing our own impatience and pride than to correct the boys.”
Yes! Absolutely.
I thought, why haven’t I read more about St. John Bosco, or writings of him? So I did a little research and found a website from the Australian Salesians offers downloads of a number of the writings of St. John Bosco. This essay about his “preventative method” of working with children is so forward thinking!
One thing I appreciate about St. John Bosco is he stresses more than once that kids can do heedless things because they are kids, and adults need to give them some grace. Can I just say that that can be a difficult part of parenting? It does get easier the older you get, fortunately.
St. John Bosco wants us to understand that kids doing dangerous, mean, foolish, or goofy things is not a reflection on their character, or your work as a parent, but just a feature of kids! He doesn’t write it this way, but he is describing the undeveloped prefrontal cortex in young people before their mid-20s. Lots of impulse control issues! It’s fine, everything is fine, and you can keep being gentle and instructive with kids, and eventually some of it will stick.
Let me close with the Scripture that St. John Bosco uses frequently when he talks about our life with others, especially children: (1 Corinthians 13: 4-7)
Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Interesting/Notable:
Want a Free Luxury Trip? Talk to a Credit Card Rewards Consultant—WSJ gift link
Once again, my hobby is ahead of the curve! I have started sharing posts every weekday on LinkedIn about travel rewards, with the specific goal of showing people how flexible traveling with points & miles can be. If you’re on LinkedIn, make sure to follow along!