28 JANUARY

The seminary of the archdiocese of Turin was then at Chieri and Don Bosco went there on October 30, 1835, when he was twenty years old. As he was a ready and keen observer, the young cleric very soon had an exact idea of his duties. The practices of piety were always his earnest inquiry. Here every arrangement was all right for daily Mass, meditation, and rosary, and even for weekly confession. But however arrangements were not quite satisfactory for Communion which could only be received on Sundays and special feast days. To go at any other time during the week one had to commit an act of disobedience. During the breakfast hour cleric Bosco had to make his way to a nearby church and when his thanksgiving was over, there was just sufficient time left to join his companions in going to study and class. On these occasions therefore he had to remain fasting until dinnertime. The infraction of the rule could have been justly prohibited. The superiors however gave their tacit consent. They knew very well that such a thing was going on and very often they saw him, but they said nothing. In this way he was able to frequent Holy Communion whenever he liked and this, he declared, was the most efficacious instrument for his vocation.

Nourished by this Bread of Angels John's ecclesiastical spirit was formed under the sweet influence of his devotion to the Blessed Virgin. The last words of his mother before he had entered the seminary were deeply etched in his mind and heart. Although she was an illiterate woman she possessed in an eminent degree that "'sensus Christi" (Christian Sense) which is found in simple souls. This may be surprising to profane minds but not so to those who know what the gifts of the Holy Spirit are. John received from his mother this great admonition: "When you were born I consecrated you to the Blessed Virgin; when you began your studies I recommended you devotion to Mary our heavenly Mother. Now I beg you to be totally hers, love your fellow students who are devout to her and if you ever become a priest, spread around you devotion to Mary." 

He never forgot this fond advice; he always endeavored to associate with companions who were devotees of Mary and lovers of study and piety. Several of his companions who survived him on this earth attest to his irresistible invitations to follow him to Church in order to recite there the Vespers of the Madonna or other prayers in her honor; some of those friends testify to his fervor in translating and exemplifying the liturgical hymns of Our Lady and to his singing her glories and relating edifying stories during the hours of recreation. Whilst still a student of philosophy he esteemed it a privilege to mount the pulpit and give a sermon on Our Lady of the Rosary. This was the beginning of many a Marian discourse which were his delight right up to his death.