JANUARY 12

Don Bosco used to inform his clerics of all the dangerous boys he had discovered telling them also of the tricks he used, giving them at the same time, particular advice for each case. He was always multiplying tricks trying in every way to attract the boys to himself for he desired to have an uncontested influence over their hearts for their progress in virtue and Christian perfection. Every Sunday he would invite the boys from each class who had received the best conduct marks to his table; the first student of each class who had received the best conduct marks; the first student of each class would come in turn and then the artisans of every single workshop. In this manner every class and every workshop was represented there at least three times a year in the superiors' refectory. After dinner the boys used to chat with Don Bosco and he would give them a cake or some other sweet or sometimes as a sign of confidence he would invite some of these boys to accompany him through Turin, in order also to be able to speak to them more freely about their vocation. 

During the function of Holy Thursday evening he would wash the feet of thirteen boys selected from among the t, after which he would invite them to dine with him. This act of courtesy n the part of Don Bosco used to please the boys very much. 

In order to show how much he esteemed those boys who served at the altar he would every Sunday (without making the least distinction between the observant and the less observant in their ordinary duties) invite those two boys who had served the Community Mass the preceding week to dine with the clerics. Though these two boys were not presented to Don Bosco at the end of dinner, nevertheless it was a great stimulus to make them strive to gain other signs of affection. At the same time they were witnesses of Don Bosco's mortified behavior and they could not do less than affirm it was one of his more eminent virtues. 

Above all, Don Bosco, in spite of his many grave occupations was always ready to receive very kindly in his room those boys who would ask him for a particular audience. Indeed it was his desire that they should treat him with great familiarity. He would never complain or lament about the indiscreet ways in which they troubled him. 

Since in him signs of surprise, rash judgment or violent anger were never seen but on the contrary always the same calm and unalterable deportment, everyone willingly came and opened his heart to him. One should not therefore be surprised on seeing that he had such an influence over the souls of even the most reluctant