The Venerable Don Bosco, the Apostle of Youth/Chapter V
CHAPTER V
MARGARET BOSCO IN VALDOCCO. SUCCESS OF THE ORATORY. ATTEMPTS ON THE LIFE OF DON BOSCO
We must not overlook those of the gentler sex who contributed of their means and labors to Don Bosco's work, the ladies who clothed such numbers of his poor children, made and mended their garments and nursed them when they were sick. But it was Margaret Bosco, his saintly mother, who led the way. Poor Margaret! She was already fixed in the home of her son Joseph and loved and was beloved by his children; she seemed, indeed, settled in repose for the rest of her life when one day during his convalescence at Becchi, he seemed unusually serious as he sat down to talk with her. She noticed it and asked the cause.
"Madre mia," he said caressingly, "I need a mother for my poor boys, some one to care for them and love them, some one to manage my large household. Ah, if I could only bring the most precious treasure I have here in Becchi—my mother—to Turin!"
Margaret started. The tears sprang to her eyes; a few words of grief at such a separation—final and complete, she saw it must be—from her lifelong home; a little word of the great sacrifice demanded of her, escaped her lips; but in a moment, calm and resolute and brushing away the tears, she said simply: "My son, Joseph and the children do not need me; but you do. If you think such a step will be pleasing to our Lord I am ready to go with you to Turin."
And she went, the brave woman, and never flinched or failed Don Bosco during the ten years that she lived in dire poverty, in toils and sacrifices, the extent of which even Don Bosco's passionate love did not suspect—she was too skillful in hiding her sufferings. Five hundred children, think of it! Margaret washed and ironed for them, made and repaired their clothes, cooked, swept and did the menial work of the house, besides cultivating a vegetable garden and keeping a poultry yard. She was never idle and no religious was ever poorer. Mamma Margaret, as she was called, was so beloved that she had a host of little self-constituted helpers who took delight in relieving her. Other kind women, too, came to her assistance in the sewing and laundry work, or she would have fainted under her burden. And, amid all these activities, she was leading the most beautiful interior life of union with God, with the Divine Sufferer on Calvary, and with His Blessed Mother, her model from childhood.
You will think I have said much in praise of this heroic mother; but the present Archbishop of Bologna, Monsignor Gusmini, lately raised to the Sacred College of Cardinals by his Holiness, Benedict XV, in his eloquent pastoral, delivered to the "Salesian Co-operators" at the celebration of the centenary of Don Bosco's birth, speaks of her as a holy and admirable woman who not only had a share in the individual life, but also in the social life of Don Bosco; and placing around Margaret the aureole of sanctity, he compares her to St. Teresa, St. Jane Frances de Chantal and the Blessed Sophie Barat.
With his noble and self-sacrificing mother Margaret at the household helm, guiding and ordering all with the prudence of the valiant woman, Don Bosco was now able to give his whole attention to the development of his great ideal. The studies were carried on with such ardor and assiduity that soon the Oratory of St. Francis of Sales had its own professors in the various scholastic departments; and wonderful vocations to the priesthood became evident, so that a college and seminary grew within the Oratory. There were day schools for those who had leisure and night schools for those who had to work; for Don Bosco would educate, as far as possible, every member of his Society and give him a better hope of success in life. Here might be seen Savoyards, Swiss, Lombards and several other nationalities, all living together in harmony and brotherhood, though they had their trained regiments and bands and fought many sham battles: all was activity, but tempered and seasoned with rare and solid piety.
They were taught to repress nature, to overcome their passions and bad inclinations, to be mutually considerate and helpful toward the neighbor, as well as to unite in prayer, to hear holy Mass, and approach the Sacraments. Day by day the character was formed and strengthened by such loving guidance, perfect prudence and divinely inspired watchfulness, that good Christian citizens were being trained for society, and pure-hearted Levites for God's Church. A majority of the boys were engaged in employments of various kinds during the day, and alas! too often under wicked masters or among vicious companions, so that to the keen, far-seeing eyes of Don Bosco, their future was full of peril; for the good wrought in their hearts by the restraining influences and pious practices of the Oratory might even be neutralized by the evil atmosphere which surrounded them.
Don Bosco considered deeply all phases of the psychical problem, so momentous for time and eternity, and prayed fervently for light. He visited and made gentle but forceful remonstrances to the masters, which were met only with hatred and threats of violence. Their enmity became so bitter, indeed, that his life was often in danger; he was shot at several times, twice while vesting for Mass, but the bullet turned aside and left him unharmed. More than once he was brutally insulted, knocked down and roughly treated. Once he was attacked with a butcher's knife by an apparent madman, but escaped almost by miracle. A friend of Don Bosco asked the assassin what motive had urged him to attempt the life of so good a man.
"I had none at all," he answered coolly, "except the eighty francs paid me to feign madness and stab him."
"Eighty francs to kill a man?" echoed Don Bosco's friend. "Well, if I give you one hundred and sixty not to injure him?"
"Just double," said the bandit; "then I promise to guard him." And he kept his word.
Don Bosco was called one night to hear the confession of a dying woman. Margaret sent four pupils armed with sticks to escort him. No sooner was Don Bosco within the room of the supposed patient than a blow from a cudgel was dealt him on the shoulders; but his faithful boys, alert on the watch, rushed to his aid and rescued him from the would-be murderers. A touching story is told of one of Don Bosco's most devoted disciples, afterward Monsieur Buzzetti, Inspector of the School of Arts and Sciences, that when a boy, he imperilled his life for his kind benefactor, receiving into his right hand the ball levelled at his master; part of the thumb and forefinger was torn away; and but for this Buzzetti would have been a priest.
"Mamma Margaret," Don Bosco's Saintly Mother.
"Die my dear son, rather than ever commit a mortal sin."
The Farm-House where Don Bosco was born, 1815.