The Unbroken Reverie

Saint John Bosco, who founded the Salesian order to care for the destitute boys, has been called the greatest miracle worker of the 19th century.

His most famous miracle took place in 1860 at a Salesian house in Turin. The baker who supplied bread to the house had refused to send more until his bill was paid. For breakfast that day, there were only 15 small rolls to divide among 300 hungry boys.

When Bosco heard of the situation he directed that the rolls be put in a basket. He would hand them out himself.

Up stepped each boy, one by one, to take his roll. All 300 were given their breakfast, and 15 or 20 rolls still remained in the basket. So impressed was one young boy, who counted the rolls both before and after, that he vowed then and there to join the Salesian order.

This was by no means the only time that such miracle occured for Bosco. In 1849, on the Sunday after All Souls' Day, he took some 600 boys to pray at the local cemetery, promising all of them a treat of hot chestnuts afterward. Bosco's mother was cooking the chestnuts, and she prepared only a few of the treats because she thought that only a few boys had gone. After their return from the cemetery, Bosco ignored the boys' cries of disappointment and proceeded to hand out large handfuls to everyone.

Members of the Salesian houses throughout the world today always celebrate All Souls' Day with a feast of boiled chestnuts.

"Don Bosco thy children, on many ashore, shall love and revere thee till time be no more..."