Saint Who?
Saints Who Promoted Eucharistic Devotion
Saint John Bosco
Priest and founder († 1888) Feast: January 31
“My dear ones, the visit to the Blessed Sacrament is an extremely necessary way to conquer the devil. Therefore, go often to visit Jesus.” John Bosco, founder of the Salesian order, had a number of prophetic dreams. His vocation to care for poor boys was prompted by one such dream. Another came while he was in the midst of that work.
In this dream, a great sea battle was taking place. A large ship, piloted by the pope, and its convoy were being attacked by a fleet of savage smaller ships. Two majestic pillars stood in the sea. On one stood a statue of Our Lady Help of Christians. The other, taller than the first, bore a large Host. Whenever the great ship suffered damage, a gust of wind from these pillars would repair it. And although the pilot-pope was slain, a successor was quickly chosen who guided the ship to the two pillars and attached it to them with chains. The enemy ships, dismayed, began to depart.
John Bosco explained to his boys that the Church would suffer attack, but security would be found in devotion to Our Lady and frequent Holy Communion. “The devil,” he would say, “is deadly afraid of fervent Communions and frequent visits to the Blessed Sacrament.” He died in 1888 and was canonized in 1934.
Heavenly Father, through the prayers of
Saint John Bosco, may we conquer the enemy
through devotion to the Blessed Sacrament.
