Overview:

The Memorial of St. John Bosco, Priest

A Reflection for the Memorial of St. John Bosco, Priest

“He woke up,
rebuked the wind, 
and said to the sea, ‘Quiet! Be still!’
The wind ceased and there was great calm.
Then he asked them,’Why are you terrified?
Do you not yet have faith?’” (Mark 4:39-40)

Find today’s readings here.

St. John Bosco must have led an interesting life. A little research into his biography will reveal him as the patron saint of publishers and editors—obviously very applicable to the work done at America—but perhaps more eye-catchingly as the patron of magicians. As a child, he watched and learned from local street performers, becoming a skilled magician, juggler and acrobat. As an adult, John used this gift of performance to evangelize and help local troubled youth grow in both their faith and maturity (eventually leading to the many Don Bosco schools still around today). 

It’s intriguing to me, hearing of a saint using such a niche type of art to evangelize and help the youth. It also deeply reminds me of my own spirituality. John’s skills could have been used to make money and give people a momentary burst of dopamine, but instead he used the tricks and talents to help inspire and uplift struggling people in the long term. 

It’s no secret that I love comedians. Anyone who’s talked to me for any long stretch of time knows about my interest in the craft and the world surrounding it. I love talking about niche Saturday Night Live sketches or jokes from some long forgotten stand-up comedy special I found scrolling through YouTube. I studied through college to eventually work in entertainment and maybe even leave my own stamp on the comedy world—perhaps to be talked about by some other aspiring comedian years down the road. However, I often find myself struggling with finding meaning in this career path. Yes, I know I love the stuff, but how do I use it to really make a difference in the lives of others?

The Gospel reading today provides some guidance for this, and it feels somewhat serendipitous that it would fall on the feast day of someone who was so obviously guided by his passions and inspired to use them to help those around him. 

I find myself relating to the disciples in the Gospel passage. They fear the unknown—in this case, what will happen as they travel into a raging sea. They forget to trust in Jesus and have faith. 

Although I don’t know for certain if St. John Bosco had doubts or faced uncertainty on how to use his passions, I assume he did at some point. Maybe there was even a time where he thought about being a full-time magician. However, if he did face these doubts, he was able to put them aside and be guided by his faith to a clear path. 

By letting go of the fear and embracing both his talents and faith, he was able to find a way through the storm.

William Gualtiere is an O'Hare Fellow at America.