And...cue the trumpets!

Happy Feast Day, bloggers everywhere!

You may or may not know this...BUT...today is a hugely important day for the Salesians of Don Bosco. Why, you may ask? Well, I'll tell you: It all started at the age of 9.


For you regulars, here's the part where you may say: "O here we go..."
For you not so regulars, you may wish to say: "Hm, I could use a little refresh..."
For you irregulars, you may say: "Go on..."
And for you elderly, you may say: "Ah to be 9..."

Whatever your response may be, let's continue...

When John Bosco was only 9 years old, he had a dream that would stick with him for the rest of his life and guide him throughout his ministry with the young and the poor.  And in this dream, both Jesus and Mary appeared to him. (If you don't know this dream, check out the story here...it's really important to the founding of the Salesians.)  One thing that is important is that the Blessed Mother, She whom John Bosco's mother taught him to greet three times a day, remained with John Bosco throughout his life. And this relationship grew stronger.

Through this, his devotion to Mary, the Help of Christians, arose. (Check out the story behind Mary, Help of Christians here!)  And the Blessed Mother, particularly under this title, became so important that not only did he entitle his basilica with this title...but he crowned her under this title as the Patroness of the Salesian Family. So, long story short, today is incredibly important!


So, today, I challenge all of us, including myself, to increase our devotion to Mary, who is the Help of Christians.


Pray to her,  call out to her,  cry with her,  laugh with her,  walk with her,  live with her,  and die with her...that you might live with her for all eternity. 



Dear Mother Mary, ever-Virgin, help us to save our souls...