On May 30, 1862, Father Don Bosco narrated a dream in which he saw the Roman Pontiff standing at the helm of a great flagship (the Church) steering it amidst the attack from many enemy ships ( persecutions against the Church) between two solid columns soaring high into the sky. One column is surmounted by a statue of the Immaculate Virgin at whose feet a large inscription reads: Help of Christians ; and the other column, loftier and sturdier, supporting a large (Eucharistic) Host and bearing beneath it the inscription; Salvation of Believers; these two columns signifying the only two things that can save mankind in such a great hour: Devotion to the Blessed Sacrament And, devotion to Mary.
Public Message From Our Lady of Emmitsburg
To the World through Gianna Sullivan January 31, 2005 The Feast of St. Don Bosco
Little children, praised be Jesus!
Little ones, I wish you could see the Joy that God has when He looks into your souls and sees the beauty and tranquility there, and when He receives the praise you give to the Triune God.
Even in the midst of your turmoil, little ones, the trivial things that you make bigger than they really are, these are nothing in the eyes of God. God looks into your hearts and souls and at all your good actions, your intentions, your prayer, and your incentives. So be at peace, and know that you are blessed by the Hand of God. All your intentions are taken by me and laid at the Foot of my Son’s Cross, where He then in His One Salvific Act presents them to His Father.
With all the pain that has occurred through the events in the world, yet there is nothing that has not been previously foretold. In fact, I have cautioned and invited all to be prepared so that when these things happened, all would be in the proper frame of mind, one of preparation, and with their hearts at peace. Continued on back...
The prophecy** of my son, Saint Don Bosco, is now unfolding; and you living within this time period are witnessing its Truth with your own eyes. Within this unveiling, there too you shall see unfold the prophecy of my most blessed Saint Anthony’s (of Padua) precious words.
I know, little ones, that all can rise above levels of interior conflict and external pressures to be able to be a people of Peace.
"So fly away, you evil spirits! The Lion of the Tribe of Juda, the Root of David has conquered."***
All the evil ones shall be silenced and cast into the Lion’s mouth. Peace to you, little ones. My Joy is with you, and my prayer is that your joy may be complete.
FOOTNOTES:
**On May 30, 1862, Father Don Bosco narrated a dream in which he saw the Roman Pontiff standing at the helm of a great flagship (the Church) steering it amidst the attack from many enemy ships (persecutions against the Church) between two solid columns soaring high into the sky. One column is surmounted by a statue of the Immaculate Virgin at whose feet a large inscription reads: Help of Christians; and the other column, loftier and sturdier, supporting a large (Eucharistic) Host and bearing beneath it the inscription: Salvation of Believers; these two columns signifying the only two things that can save mankind in such a great hour: Devotion to Mary and to the Blessed Sacrament.
(Brown, Eugene M., Rev., Dreams, Visions & Prophecies of Don Bosco, Don Bosco Publications, New Rochelle, New York, 1986.)
***Our Lady quoted these words from the Prayer or Blessing against Storms, which has appeared for 33 years in the PIETA prayer book, and which in the new 2005 edition is attributed to a pilgrim priest who in the 13th century anonymously visited a convent and church near Lisbon, Portugal, that had been devastated almost yearly by storms, causing severe loss of property and life. This pilgrim priest left a written copy of this prayer with the gatekeeper of the convent, and then he disappeared. It was posted and carried by the monks, and since that time storms have caused no damage to either the convent or the religious there. Subsequently, it was ordered to be published by Pope Innocent III (1198-1216). On January 15, 2005, Our Lady of Emmitsburg shared with mystic Gianna Sullivan that this mysterious pilgrim priest had been St. Anthony (of Padua), and she encouraged the use of this prayer during these current times.
PIETA, MLOR Corporation, Hickory Corner, MI, USA, [269] 731-4490, 2005.)
Novena Prayers to St. Don Bosco
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FIRST DAY Saint John Bosco always had a firm and lively faith in all the truths revealed by God and proposed for our belief by the Catholic Church. By assiduous study he sought ever to understand them better. By word of mouth and by writing, as well as by his works, he spread them in the world and defended them against the assaults of the wicked and heretics.
Let us pray O Saint John Bosco, obtain for me that I may always be firm in believing whatever the Church teaches; that I may promptly reject every doubt; that I may guard myself against bad reading and irreligious companions; that I may willingly hear the word of God and practice it with simplicity, without ostentation or human respect. Help me always to hold the Bishops and priests in honor and give perfect obedience to the Pope, the infallible teacher of faith and morals, Help me not only to have and preserve the priceless gift of faith, but also to follow your example in teaching its truths and defending them, as occasion arises. Finally, assist me to accept both blessings and adversity at the hand of God, and to conform my will to His most holy Will ~ Amen. Our Father..., Hail Mary..., Glory be...
SECOND DAY Saint John Bosco always cherished an unlimited and unshaken trust in God, in His wisdom, in His power, in His goodness and mercy, and in His fidelity to His promises. He always asked of God, through the merits of Jesus Christ, life everlasting and the means to merit it by good works. All his labors, all his sacrifices, all his reunification of the goods of this world and the comforts of life, he directed to the salvation of his soul.
Let us pray O Saint John Bosco, help me, so that I, too, may never lose sight of paradise; that I may direct to its attainment prayers and sacrifices and all the works of my life. Aid me to recognize my nothingness and my need of divine grace. Assist me to be humble in prosperity and patient in tribulations; to guard myself against sin; ever to keep in my heart a holy fear of God, without mistrusting His mercy; and in all the vicissitudes of life to have a filial trust in Divine Providence ~ Amen Our Father..., Hail Mary..., Glory be...
THIRD DAY Saint John Bosco's heart, great as the ocean and tender as a mother's, always beat with the most ardent love of God and of neighbor. Hence, for the glory of God and the good of his fellow-men, he undertook manifold and marvelous works, subjecting himself to unheard of sacrifices. He founded the Society of St. Francis de Sales (Salesian Fathers and Brothers), the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (Salesian Sisters), the lay society of Salesian Cooperators, associations of the alumni of his schools, and foreign missions, that good might be spread in the world and continue through the centuries; that God might be better known and loved and his neighbor more effectively helped and sanctified.
Let us pray O Saint John Bosco, by your intercession obtain for me the grace to love the Lord above all creatures, observing His law perfectly, directing all my labors and all my sacrifices to His being better known and loved, and to prevent His being offended. Help me also to love my neighbors as myself, not in words only, but also in works, so that I may sacrifice myself and my own interests to assist him, to counsel him wisely, and to comfort him; to give him good example, and to pray for him, seeking above all else his eternal salvation and my own. ~ Amen Our Father..., Hail Mary..., Glory be...
FOURTH DAY Saint John Bosco was most prudent throughout his life. Calm, serene, self possessed, he directed everything to the greater glory of God and the salvation of his own soul. Before undertaking anything of importance, he considered whether the means were good and efficacious, and then, having recourse to prayer, he bravely put his hand to the work, and carried it out perseveringly, without being discouraged by obstacles and difficulties. Thus he accomplished his many wonderful works.
Let us pray O Saint John Bosco, obtain for me the most important virtue of Christian prudence. Help me to be calm and self-possessed, to guard myself against hasty action, to be constant in doing good, and to avoid being overcome by discouragement. Fill me with a horror of worldly prudence, which is egotistical, sensual, unjust and intent upon doing evil with cunning cleverness to escape punishment. Help me to seek all my actions naught but the glory of God and the salvation of my soul; for it will profit me nothing to gain the whole world if I lose my soul. ~ Amen. Our Father..., Hail Mary..., Glory be...
FIFTH DAY Saint John Bosco practiced justice in a truly heroic degree, giving to everyone what belonged to him. To God he gave a lively faith and profound reverence, internal and external worship. At home, at college, and in the Seminary, he showed respect and obedience to his superiors. He was submissive to all lawfully constituted authority. Toward his subordinates he was just in the distribution of offices, in corrections and rewards. He practiced justice towards his enemies by loving them and recognizing their talents and merits. He was grateful to benefactors, and never willfully injured anyone.
Let us pray O Saint John Bosco, help me to be just to all: to God, by adoring Him, loving Him, and observing His Commandments; to superiors by loving them; respecting them, and obeying them; to the Church, by observing her precepts and supporting her; and to all legitimate authority, by being duly submissive. Assist me to be just toward all, friends and enemies alike. And may I, by your help, never injure, never defraud anyone, but rather be generous with all as far as my means permit. ~ Amen Our Father..., Hail Mary..., Glory be...
SIXTH DAY Saint John Bosco had a truly exceptional strength of mind. Difficulties of every kind stood in the way of his studies. But he wished to become a priest. He succeeded in becoming one of the most holy and learned priests. He wished, despite a thousand obstacles, to found an Institue of Religious which would care for poor abandoned youth. The Institute spread and continues to spread every day. In addition Saint John Bosco established the Sisterhood known as the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, to do for girls what the Salesians do for the boys. These communities were soon extended to the nations nearest the country of their origin (Italy), and later even to remote parts of the world. Today, due to the fortitude of Saint John Bosco, everywhere there are found oratories, colleges, professional, trade and industrial schools, infant homes, orphan asylums, hospitals, churches and chapels. Many thousand spiritual children of Saint John Bosco labor after his example and are trained according to his wise methods. To his virtue they owe their preparation for material and spiritual success.
Let us pray O Saint John Bosco, how different I am from you! How weak and inconstant in doing good! Help me, I beseech you, to be faithful to the good intentions and resolutions with which God inspires me, that I may be courageous in fulfilling my duties, in bearing the labors and tribulations of life. Help me to be preserving in the practice of virtue. ~ Amen Our Father... Hail Mary... Glory be...
SEVENTH DAY Saint John Bosco’s practice of the virtue of temperance was heroic. He mortified himself in eating and drinking, in bearing heat and cold, in overcoming physical and moral repugnance, and in sustaining every kind of discomfort without complaint. He practiced mortification in standing, in walking, in resting, in the desire to learn, and in curiosity; he was patient in bearing with troublesome persons and in pardoning offenses, affronts and calumnies. His life, it may be said, was constant practice of the precept of Saint Paul that the true Christian "should always bear in his body the mortification of Jesus Christ," crucifying his senses, repressing his evil tendencies.
Let us pray How weak I am in a practice so necessary! O Saint John Bosco, who practiced temperance in so heroic a degree, inspire in me a sincere and constant love of this virtue, to the end that, by imitating you in mortifying myself here upon earth, I may guard myself from falling into sin and come one day to rejoice with you eternally in Heaven. ~ Amen. Our Father..., Hail Mary..., Glory be...
EIGHTH DAY At the Most Holy Eucharist is the center of Catholic worship, so was It truly the center of Saint John Bosco’s devotion and life. As a child and a young man, and later as a cleric, he delighted in assisting at Holy Mass and, when possible, serving it. Very often he received Our Lord in Holy Communion and visited Him in the Blessed Sacrament. When he was raised to the priesthood, Saint John Bosco had more opportunities of practicing his devotion, for he was able to celebrate Holy Mass. His priesthood also gave him many favorable occasions to spread the devotion among the people and the young in his charge. This he did, not only by his good example, but also by his preaching and writing. He often spoke of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and of His Most Sacred Heart. His books were designed to lead people to receive Our Lord, to visit Him, to make reparation for injuries inflicted upon Him by the wicked and to console Him for the neglect He often suffers.
Let us pray O Saint John Bosco, obtain for me a great love for Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. Help me to love Him ardently, to receive Him as often as possible, and to visit Him frequently. May I often assist at Holy Mass, and may Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament be truly my love and my All on this earth, so as to become my Joy and my Happiness in Heaven. ~ Amen Our Father... Hail Mary... Glory be...
NINTH DAY After Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and His Most Sacred Heart, the object of Saint John Bosco’s tenderest devotion was the Blessed Virgin Mary, invoked under the title "Help of Christians." He loved her ardently, and placed in her the greatest confidence. Unceasingly he prayed to her, making fervent acts of love and petition. Especially in the most desperate cases Saint John Bosco had recourse to her. He strove by means of his preaching and writings to inculcate devotion to her in the hearts of the people, and particularly in the hearts of his beloved youthful charges. He was zealous in erecting alters, chapels and churches in honor of the Blessed Virgin. Under her powerful patronage he placed all his works, and to her he attributed every successful outcome of his undertakings. And how many, many graces and favors he obtained from her! It was by way of thanksgiving that he built and dedicated to her the now famous Shrine in Turin. The Sisterhood which he founded, he named "The Daughters of Mary Help of Christians," in order that, as he said, "it might be a monument of perpetual thanksgiving for the singular favors obtained from so good a Mother". Following in his footsteps his spiritual children have not neglected to make their houses centers from which devotion to Mary is spread throughout the world.
Let us pray O Saint John Bosco, obtain for me a ray of your love toward our Heavenly Mother. May I love her ardently. May I honor her at all times by acts of filial service and by imitating her virtues, especially her humility, purity, charity, and obedience. Let me, by word and work, and if not otherwise, at least by example, spread devotion to her. O Saint John Bosco, inspire me with gratitude for the many graces she has obtained and is even now obtaining for me. Help me to be faithful in having resource to her in all my needs, to the end that, by her assistance, I may lead a good life, die a happy death, and come with you to glorify her forever in Heaven. ~ Amen Our Father..., Hail Mary..., Glory be...
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The information on this web site contains excerpts from Private Revelations 12:1, The Prophecies of Our Lady of Emmitsburg.
So fly away you evil spirits! The Lion of the Tribe of Juda, the Root of David has conquered. All the evil ones shall be silenced and cast into the Lion's mouth.
