THE APOSTLE OF YOUTH
of the Society, and other disciples must have made during those hours of sacred intimacy which saints hold with one another and which help to make life an anticipated heaven. My reward was a beautiful and comprehensive letter, a multum in parvo, which casts such an illumination upon Don Bosco's life that it will edify and interest those who appreciate the work of grace in a soul.
"Dear Sister: The interior life of our founder, in all the booklets about him, as far as I can see, has not been touched upon, because exterior deeds are what impress the world. Yet these marvelous feats of Don Bosco would absolutely have been unattainable had it not been for the divine fire that burnt in his simple heart.
"Don Bosco is remarkable for three characteristics: first, his love for the Holy Eucharist and his constant endeavor to preach and write about frequent and even daily Communion on the part of the children. In this he anticipated years before the decree of the late Pope Pius X on 'Frequent and Daily Communion.'
"The second ideal of Don Bosco was 'to go to Jesus through Mary—' 'Ad Jesum per Mariam.' And thus Mary, Help of Christians, became his polar star, his guide, his protectress, his inspiration, and his all-help in all his trials and vicissitudes. In his dying words, he said to Don Rua: 'Spread with all your might the devotion to Our Lady, Help of Christians.'
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