DREAM OF TWO PILLARS [Fr. John Bosco]

DREAM OF TWO PILLARS
BY FR. JOHN BOSCO

"Imagine yourself to be with me on the seashore, or better, on an isolated rock and not to see any patch of land other than that under your feet. On the whole of that vast sheet of water you see an innumerable fleet of ships in battle array. The prows of the ships are formed into sharp, spear-like points so that wherever they are thrust they pierce and completely destroy. These ships are armed with cannons, with lots of rifles, with incendiary materials, with other firearms of all kinds, and also with books, and advance against a ship very much bigger and higher than themselves and try to dash against it with the prows or burn it or in some way to do it every possible harm."

"As escorts to that majestic fully equipped ship, there are many smaller ships, which receive commands by signal from it and carry out movements to defend themselves from the opposing fleet. In the midst of the immense expanse of sea, two mighty columns of great height arise a little distance the one from the other. On the top of one, there is the statue of the Immaculate Virgin, from whose feet hangs a large placard with this inscription: Auxilium Christianorum - "Help of Christians"; on the other, which is much higher and bigger, stands a Host of great size proportionate to the column and beneath is another placard with the words: Salus Credentium - Salvation of the Faithful (Believers).

"The supreme commander of the big ship is the Sovereign Pontiff. He, seeing the fury of the enemies and the evils among which his faithful find themselves, determines to summon around himself the captains of the smaller ships to hold a council and decide what is to be done.

All the captains come aboard and gather around the Pope. They hold a meeting, but meantime the wind and the waves gather in storm, so they are sent back to control their own ships. There comes a short lull; for a second time the Pope gathers the captains around him, while the flag-ship goes on its course. But the frightful storm returns. The Pope stands at the helm and all his energies are directed to steering the ship towards those two columns from whose summits hang many anchors and strong hooks linked to chains.

"All the enemy ships move to attack it, and they try in every way to stop it and to sink it: some with books and writings or inflammable materials, of which they are full; others with firearms, with rifles and with rams. The battle rages ever more relentlessly. The enemy prows thrust violently, but their efforts and impact prove useless. They make attempts in vain and waste all their labor and ammunition; the big ship goes safely and smoothly on its way. Sometimes it happens that, struck by formidable blows, it gets large, deep gaps in its sides; but no sooner is the harm done that a gentle breeze blows from the two columns and the cracks close up and the gaps are stopped immediately.

Meanwhile, the guns of the assailants are blown up, the rifles and other arms and prows are broken; many ships are shattered and sink into the sea. Then, the frenzied enemies strive to fight hand to hand, with fists, with blows, with blasphemy and with curses.

"Suddenly the Pope falls gravely wounded. Immediately, those who are with him run to help him and they lift him up. A second time the Pope is struck, he falls again and dies. A shout of victory and joy rings out amongst the enemies; from their ships an unspeakable mockery arises.

But hardly is the Pontiff dead than another takes his place. The pilots, having met together, have elected the Pope so promptly that the news of the death of the Pope coincides with the news of the election of the successor. The adversaries begin to lose courage.

"The new Pope, putting the enemy to rout and overcoming every obstacle, guides the ship right up to the two columns and comes to rest between them; he makes it fast with a light chain that hangs from the bow to an anchor of the column on which stands the Host; and with another light chain which hangs from the stern, he fastens it at the opposite end to another anchor hanging from the column on which stands the Immaculate Virgin.

At this point, a great convulsion takes place. All the ships that until then had fought against the Pope's ship are scattered; they flee away, collide and break to pieces one against another. Some sink and try to sink others. Several small ships that had fought gallantly for the Pope race to be the first to bind themselves to those two columns. Many other ships, having retreated through fear of the battle, cautiously watch from far away; the wrecks of the broken ships having been scattered in the whirlpools of the sea, they in their turn sail in good earnest to those two columns, and having reached them, they make themselves fast to the hooks hanging down from them and their they remain safe, together with the principal ship, on which is the Pope. Over the sea their reigns a great calm."

Homily for the Solemnity of Corpus Christi - the Body and Blood of Jesus by Fr. Tommy Lane

Homily for the Solemnity of Corpus Christi - the Body and Blood of Jesus

by Fr. Tommy Lane

John Bosco's Dream For sixty years St John Bosco received remarkable dreams which were almost visions. Probably his best-known dream vision was that of the Church like a ship taking refuge between two pillars in the sea. In May 1862 he shared his experience of this dream. He could see a very big ship in the sea which he understood as the Church. There were many smaller ships drawn up to do battle against the big ship, they were the enemies of the Church and persecutions. Two pillars or columns were protruding from the sea a little distant from each other. On the top of one was a statue of Our Lady with ‘Help of Christians’ written beneath. On top of the other pillar was a host beneath which was written ‘Salvation of the Faithful.’ The commander of the ship was the Pope. He was directing all his energies to steering the ship between those two columns or pillars. All the enemy ships moved to attack. Sometimes the large ship, the Church, got large, deep holes in its sides but no sooner was the harm done than a gentle breeze blew from the two columns and the cracks closed up and the gaps were stopped immediately. In a battle the Pope fell gravely wounded. Immediately those who were with him helped him up. A second time the Pope was struck, this time he fell and died. The new Pope was so promptly elected that the enemies begin to lose courage. The new Pope overcame all obstacles and enemies and guided the ship right between the two columns. He fastened a chain from the bow of the ship to the column on which stands the host, and fastened a chain from the ship’s stern to the column on which stands a statue of Our Lady. All the ships which had fought against the Pope’s ship were scattered and broken to pieces and other smaller ships which had fought for the Pope’s ship now bound themselves to the same two columns.

We can identify with so many elements of that dream vision. We remember Pope John Paul II falling wounded and rising again. The Church is undergoing trials at this time in the western world. Elsewhere the Church is also suffering. A book I purchased recently gives an account of Catholics all over the world who were martyred during the twentieth century, more than in any previous century. In this remarkable dream vision experienced by St John Bosco the Church has two means to save itself in the midst of her persecutions, devotion to Jesus in the Eucharist and devotion to Our Lady. On this feast of Corpus Christi, the Body and Blood of Jesus, we highlight one of those two pillars, devotion to Jesus in the Eucharist.

I ask you to think again about the importance of Jesus in the Eucharist in your life. Make Jesus in the Eucharist the centre of your life once again. In a short while the bread and wine will become the Body and Blood of Jesus during the consecration of the Mass. The bread and wine will not be symbols but will be changed into the Body and Blood of Jesus. Jesus will be really present although under the form of bread and wine. That is why we talk about the “real presence” of Jesus in the Eucharist. Because we love Jesus in the Eucharist so much, in the Catholic Church, we have the privilege of being able to adore Jesus in the Eucharist outside of Mass also. So we have Perpetual Eucharist Adoration in most of the towns of this diocese and most parishes have a period of adoration of the Eucharist sometime each week or month. We all know how popular healing Masses are. Almost always during those healing Masses the healing occurs when people are blessed with Jesus in the monstrance. So let us place Jesus in the Eucharist at the centre of our lives.

A most special moment of Eucharistic Adoration for all of us is when we receive Jesus in Holy Communion. Then as Jesus said in our Gospel (Year A), “he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood lives in me and I live in him.” There are no words to describe that most precious moment when you return to your seat to spend quiet moments with Jesus. You are one with Jesus and he is one with you. It is a moment of intimacy with Jesus, when you and Jesus are ‘all wrapped up in each other’, “he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood lives in me and I live in him.” During healing Masses the healings have also occurred during this moment after receiving Jesus in Holy Communion. Treasure these personal intimate moments between yourself and Jesus, “he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood lives in me and I live in him.” One of the pillars to save the Church in St John Bosco’s dream was the Eucharist. May Jesus in the Eucharist be the centre of the lives of each of us.

St. John Bosco, Priest

Saint John Bosco, Priest
Memorial
January 31st

source unknown

St. John Bosco (1815-1888) founded the Salesian Society, named in honor of St. Francis de Sales, and the daughters of Our Lady, Help of Christians. His lifework was the welfare of young boys and girls, ence his title, "Apostle of Youth." He had no formal system or theory of education. His methods centered on persuasion, authentic religiosity, and love for young people. He was an enlightened educatior and innovator.

Collect:
Lord,
You called John Bosco
to be a teacher and father to the young,
Fill us with love like his:
may we give ourselves completely to Your service
and to the salvation of mankind.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. +Amen.

First Reading: Philippians 4:4-9
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let all men know your forbearance. The Lord is at hand. Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, do; and the God of peace will be with you.

Gospel Reading: Matthew 18:1-5
At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" And calling to Him a child, He put him in the midst of them, and said, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

"Whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me."

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