"St" Don Bosco's Dream

 His Vision for Our Times

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"The Two Columns"

Taken from The Biographical Memoirs of St. John Bosco

by Rev. Giovanni Battista LeMoyne, S.D.B.

In 1876, St. John Bosco prophesied that after a Vatican Council would come a great crisis in the world, in which the Catholic Church would seem to be even in danger of foundering. But Don Bosco foretold that before the year 2000 Our Lady would obtain victory for the Church -- the second greatest victory in Christian history, second only to the victory of Lepanto, which saved Christian Europe from the invading Turks. The victory at Lepanto was the result of Pope St. Pius V's Rosary crusade and of the miraculous image of Our Lady of Guadalupe It resulted in the establishment of the Feast of the Rosary on October 7, anniversary of that victory.

Don Bosco recounts his famous dream symbolizing the great struggle and ultimate victory, secured through the "Pillars of Victory": Jesus in the Eucharist and true devotion to Our Blessed Mother.

"Standing at the helm, the Pope strains every muscle to steer his ship between the two columns. . .They [the enemy] ram the flagship again and again, but to no avail, as, unscathed and undaunted, it keeps on its course."

[After the Pope dies, another takes his place.]

"The new Pope steers his ship safely between the two columns and moors it to the two columns; first, to the one surmounted by the Host, and then to the other, topped by the statue of the Virgin . . . Many others . . . head for the two columns, tie up and ride safe and tranquil.

Bosco concludes: "Only two things can save us in such a grave hour: devotion to Mary and frequent Communion."

CHRISTIAN COMMENT

We must reap while we can. The "Blessed Virgin" and the "Blessed Sacrament" are Rome's stay. Mary and the Mass - may we never lose sight of these two as Rome's bulwarks.