24 JANUARY

Canon Anfossi narrates that in his time he was struck to the heart by a little talk which Don Bosco gave one evening when he spoke of a person already advanced in age whom he had rescued and who, for so long had given proof of piety; and on the other hand, it had come to be known that he was a wolf in sheep's clothing. He had secretly stolen a soul from God; and this person had been sent away from the Oratory at once. After he had made the matter clear with much prudence, Don Bosco spoke of the grave harm which scandal caused in the ruin of souls; then he wept Don Bosco spoke like this because he had come to know of this affair from others. At other times, if circumstances so demanded that he suspend the execution of an order, he would advise the scandal giver only once and then rigorously isolate him from the company of the boys. He would take care that he was continually watched; but if he fell again he would send him away from the house no matter what might happen. On coming to know that a boy had tried to hide this from him, or had some book not properly expurgated he would call the boy, admonish him and make him hand over the book and if he would not desist from such reading he would send him away from the Oratory although he was endowed with the finest intelligence. 

Don Bosco was mindful of the victim. Foreseeing how the youngster who returned to the world would have worsened his moral and religious condition, (and perhaps even have lost his faith and have a bad death) counseled him to do all he could to keep him near himself. If he did not succeed in his charitable intent to put him on the good path he was not slow to send for him. "From a basket full of good fruits" - he said -"bad fruits must be taken out to avoid the corruption of the others."

In these delicate circumstances his prudence always stood out The saintly Leonard Murialdo asked him one day what his method of procedure was when anything happened against morality in the institute. Don Bosco told him: "in such cases I call the accused boy aside to my room telling him that I am obliged to speak of that matter of which St Paul did not wish to speak so that he would see the seriousness of the evil done. If charity to the others so demanded I would quietly send him back to his parents; but I would not inflict any punishment, thus avoiding the greater evil that the talk which the other boys would naturally make." 

And so, when he could, he saved even the honor of the blameworthy. Sometimes it was seen that someone would suddenly disappear from the

Oratory and no one would notice. The true motive of that departure always remained unknown. It was believed all the more that such was the will of the parents or it was on account of family affairs or sickness. Don Bosco, placed in such dire necessity, quietly held back tears without effort when thinking of the evil lot of the offender and did not let him go without giving him the last reminder: "you have only one soul, if that is saved, all is saved; but if that is lost, all is lost, forever."