THE APOSTLE OF YOUTH
the people. He sought to instruct, to convince, to persuade. And right here I may digress a little and tell you that he succeeded and later put forth burning doctrinal and moral treatises that ran up into the thousands and hundreds of thousands. He wrote about a hundred volumes in his own name and many others anonymously.
His studies finished Don Cafasso questioned him as to the future. "I am ready to do what ever you appoint," replied the young priest, with the docility of a child.
"Three appointments await your choice," said his director; "a curacy at Asti, a professorship of moral theology here in the Institute, or chaplaincy of the Hospital near the Refuge. Which do you prefer?"
"Whichever you think best, Father. I have only one preference—to dedicate myself to the young; but your decision will be to me the will of God."
A few weeks of vacation, and on Don Bosco's return to Turin, his guide had determined upon the chaplaincy, where he was to assist Don Borel in the management of an institute of four hundred girls. His friends still urged him to accept a benefice offered by the Archbishop. But Don Bosco replied: "And who will take care of my poor children?"
By this time they had increased to three hundred, and he had initiated the famous evening classes. The society was known as "The Oratory
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