Don Bosco Confronts Liberal Priest | Ep. 95

The day after the infamous opinion given by the King’s theologians, there was a canon from a provincial town who encountered Don Bosco at the Rondò in Valdocco. Don Bosco greeted him. The canon returned the greeting and asked,

“Are you Don Bosco?”

“Yes.”

“Are you the one who wrote those insolent letters to the King?” the canon demanded.

“Yes, it is I,” Don Bosco replied, “but they were not insolent. A faithful subject must write to his King to warn him about a bad step he is about to take.”

The canon went on, “And was it you, then, who dared to impose your opinions and to dictate laws, when you should instead obey? I am amazed that you were so brazen.”

“Did the King follow my advice?” Don Bosco asked.

“The sovereign was within his rights,” the canon said. “It was a privilege of the Crown.”

“Did you advise the King of this right?”

“Absolutely!” the canon replied.

“Did you advise him to sign?” Don Bosco asked.

“Without a doubt.”

Don Bosco said, “Pardon me, but before I go on, I would like to ask you a question. Did you celebrate Holy Mass this morning?”

The canon protested, “That has nothing to do with how I must reproach you.”

“Please,” Don Bosco insisted. “Did you celebrate Mass this morning or not?”

The canon answered, “Yes, I did celebrate. Why?”

“Before celebrating, did you go to confession?” Don Bosco asked.

“What a question you ask! Why?” asked the canon.

Don Bosco scolded him. “How could you dare to approach the sacred table without asking the Lord’s forgiveness for the unjust advice given to the King? Without repairing as much damage as you could, damage that the Church has received through your fault?”

The canon was offended by Don Bosco’s denunciation. As his excuse, he offered all the arguments that the University of Turin spread without reproach, that the King possessed full supremacy concerning certain rights that the Church claimed for itself. Don Bosco rebutted all those false propositions one by one and left the canon confused and stunned.


Become a Promoter of Saint John Bosco: https://saintjohnbosco.net/promoter-o...


New episodes every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8:00 AM EST. #donboscostories