JANUARY 19

Don Bosco would listen attentively to the complaints of the assistants, he would study the cause of the disorders, he would recommend justice and impartiality. He would ask them not to let themselves be moved by passion or affection and especially to avoid any violent punishment He would consequently reject the idea of general punishments were it only of one whole dormitory, because this irritates the innocent who were always to be found amongst the culprits. The correction in such cases was reserved to him. Sometimes the complaint was that too many pupils had low marks clearly showing negligence in study. Sometimes that the silence prescribed by regulation was easily broken. Some other times that fraternal charity was broken over some trifle or that the assistant’s admonitions were ignored.

Then Don Bosco adopted a means that always obtained its end. He would begin to show himself cold, preoccupied and reticent when he was amongst his boys. He would deprive them of some extraordinary story that have been promised by him and was expected with a great curiosity. More than once after night prayers he would climb the step where he used to address his daily little talk and seriously casting around that look of his that had always a particular weight on the souls of boys he would only utter the words: "I am not satisfied with you; I am sorry that for tonight I cannot say anything else." And then he would climb down the step hiding his hands in the sleeves of his cassock without allowing anybody to kiss them and slowly he would walk towards the staircase that led to his room without saying a word to anyone. Then you would hear amongst the boys here and there, ill-repressed sobbing, you would see tears flow down their faces. The boys would withdraw to the dormitory thoughtful and repentant Indeed to offend and displease Don Bosco was the same as offending God and displeasing him. This was enough to put the house in perfect order and when Don Bosco reappeared all felt glad on seeing him smile. 

If Don Bosco was quick to forgive the faults of the contrite against discipline, charity, obedience and the respect due to the superiors. He supported and put up with patience, some who whilst they were striving for their conversion, he knew to be bad, although they could not do harm to others. He was however rigorous against those who had stolen or grievously offended religion or morality by their way of speaking or of acting. He absolutely did not know how to tolerate offenses against God. 

He was never precipitous in his deliberations. In the charges made against anyone he did not want to pass a sentence without having first heard both parties or as he expressed it: "Without hearing both the bells".