Don Bosco The Lives - DB in action
  • From the “Life of Michael Magone”
  • (11861; 21866)
  • by a cordial and unconditional welcome;
  • by offering help (that responds to the boy’s need);
  • by a cordial offering of himself.
  • The more intense it is, the more it is effective.
  • by indicating a concrete solution to the boy’s need-expectation ;
  • by helping him to “look up”;
  • by offering a new horizon and helping the boy to come out of a dead-end situation.
  • 3. He encourages and motivates
  • the boy’s participation, good will and commitment,
  • until he reaches the point of making a “promise” (which is an expression of “giving oneself” and of confident entrustment),
  • point of departure: an affective relationship and sense of gratitude.
  • rich in values, in human relationships, in activities which are educational and stimulating;
  • varied and dosed in the rhythms of life (duty, recreation, spirituality);
  • through a personalized accompaniment by a friend who is sincere, motivated and mature (who knows how to use “loving kindness, reason, religion”).
  • 5. He leads the boy towards awareness of self and of his situation
  • as he comes in contact with a new educative environment, its values and the quality of the people therein;
  • by paying attention to emotions, sentiments, psychological, moral and spiritual reactions;
  • by simplifying, facilitating, encouraging and offering possible solutions.
  • without taking the boy’s place,
  • Don Bosco directs the boy to accept a higher system of values,
  • to which the boy freely adheres with conviction, totality and “delight”.
  • It is a process of growth, conversion and re-elaboration of oneself and of one’s personal plans.