Don Bosco, teach us to pray

Thanks to Fr. Ian Doulton for his beautiful recollection talk on "Don Bosco, teach us to pray." It was basically a summary of the text that he has translated from the Italian Don Bosco, insegnaci a pregare written by Claudio Russo, a Salesian Cooperator from Colle Don Bosco. (A small book, but with thirteen chapters!) Particularly, I liked the questions that Fr. Ian posed for our reflection at the end of each chapter. For instance, Am I convinced of praying? What is my way of praying? Am I eager to go for prayers?

Another inspiring thing was about Don Bosco's prayer life itself. It is said that Don Bosco prayed in silence more often than by using words. But how do we know he prayed in silence? And this is what I liked: We know that Don Bosco prayed because of what happened immediately after that. A gentle touch, a healing word, an encouraging smile, a prodigious initiative, an insightful advice... these are the things that point towards the prayerful recollectedness, the practical living of the union with God... An unperturbed calm and serenity despite the heavy schedule of work. A word said not to hurt, but to heal. Beautiful. Isn't that beautiful? Prayer like sleep is seen only by its effects. Don Bosco's life bears this testimony.