Don Bosco's Memoirs

by John Bosco

These memoirs were written by Saint John Bosco towards the end of his life. His own words are - "Now, what purpose can this chronicle serve? It will be a record to help people overcome problems that may come in the future by learning from the past. It will serve to make known how God himself has always been our guide. It will give my sons some entertainment to be able to read about their father’s adventures. Doubtless they will be read much more avidly when I have been called by God to render my account, when I am no longer among them.
Should they come upon experiences related maybe with complacency or the appearance of vainglory, let them indulge me a little. A father delights in speaking of his exploits to his dear children. It is always to be hoped that the sons will draw from these adventures, small and great, some spiritual and temporal advantage.
I have chosen to divide my account into ten-year periods, because each decade saw a notable development of our work.
So, my dear children, when you read these memoirs after my death, remember that you had a loving father who left these memoirs as a pledge of fatherly affection before he abandoned this world. And remembering that, pray for the happy repose of my soul."

Genres: Biography

228 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1986

About the author

Saint John Bosco (Italian: Giovanni Melchiorre Bosco), popularly known as Don Bosco, was an Italian Roman Catholic priest, educator and writer of the 19th century.

Reviews

[Jeannette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Saint John Bosco tells the story of his life, beginning with his childhood in Italy and progressing through his ordination as a priest and the beginnings of his work teaching the young boys of Turin. I had no idea that he was such a character as a child, and it was interesting to see how he turned his talents from learning tricks and playing games to teaching and charity. I wish he'd been able to finish it, because I sensed there was so much more to learn, but it was a quick and interesting read nonetheless.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a quick read. Interesting and inspiring. It’s fascinating how Bosco was good in everything he tried. Whether it was charities, studying and his memory, acrobatic tricks, tailoring… anything you can think of he was good at.
The most interesting part of the book is definitely his childhood (1st/3 book parts)

[Juan Guillermo · Rating 3 out of 5]

No está mal. Te cuenta bastante su vida, te das cuenta que era una persona como tú y yo, que siempre fue justo y fiel a sus ideales, lucho por lo niños, se me queda un poco seco el final, habla del perro y ya, fin, me parece que podían haber explicado como surge Salesianos, se está viendo por donde van los tiros, pero me hubiera gustado que lo explicara y se extendiera, nombró a un montón de gente que la verdad un buen número se muere en la historia, es un poco trágico que te metes con Bosco y te acaba pasando algo malo, o al contrario te alias con él y te pasan cosas buenas sobretodo los niños. Mi pregunta es,¿ sólo niños?, ¿no había niñas?, y lo de que si no te haces cristiano vete por donde has venido, un poco extremista.

Me ha servido para aprender más del Santo, y saber que no hay que rendirse, caer, tentar antes las adversidades, hay que luchar por lo que queremos y creemos.

[J. D. Román · Rating 4 out of 5]

Es un libro inspirador sobre un modelo a seguir como lo era San Juan Bosco. En estas memorias, San Juan Bosco nos cuenta su apasionante vida, desde su nacimiento en una familia de campesinos pobres hasta su labor en el Oratorio de San Francisco de Sales.

En este libro, Bosco va directo a los hechos, aunque de una manera sencilla logra enternecer el corazón del lector hablando sobre la influencia de su madre, sacerdotes que tuvo como tutores y otras personas en sus valores cristianos.

Sin embargo, el libro termina abruptamente con la anécdota del perro gris, sin llegar a una adecuada conclusión o una reflexión sobre cómo él manejó su vida hasta entonces.

[Maite · Rating 5 out of 5]

No tenc paraules que serveixin amb exactitud per expressar el sentiment que em provoca cada vegada aquesta lectura. És un llibre llegit per jo unes quatre vegades. Aquest gener de nou m’ha tornat a connectar amb el sentit profund de la meva vocació educadora, m’ha commogut novament i m’ha servit de lectura espiritual. Ben pensat, les paraules goig i gratitud em podrien servir per expressar-me. =)

[Marco Moysén · Rating 5 out of 5]

Me sentí como el niño de la historia sin fin en esta lectura. Me emocionaba leer cómo la Providencia iba asegurando los pasos de Don Bosco. Me hubiera gustado haberme encontrarme a Santo Domingo Savio en esta lectura o que hubiera sido más larga, es lo único que le exigiría.

[José Martínez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Muy buen libro. Es especial cuando habla sobre su etapa como seminarista y como recien ordenado.

[Elena Botti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Il mio Santo. I suoi ricordi sono ottimi spunti pedagogici ancor prima che religiosi applicabili e validi ancora oggi, pur considerando i cambiamenti del tempo.