The Suffering of St. John Bosco

Fr. Scott Haynes

When Jesus was in the garden of Gethsemane, his human nature recoiled at the suffering of the cross.  Father, if you are willing, let this cup pass from me.  Christ (in his human nature) did not want to drink from that cup of suffering. But, fulfilling the will of His heavenly Father, He was willing to take up His cross and he said, not my will but thine be done.

 

Jesus Christ did not accept suffering passively, He accepted suffering purposefully. So when it comes to dealing with suffering, we should accept it with a holy purpose.

 

We see this lived out in the life of St John Bosco. We know that he suffered terrible migraine headaches especially when he preached. One day, his friend and companion, brother Rua, noticed don Bosco suffering more than usual. Brother Rua, wishing to comfort his friend, begged God,

“Grant me his suffering if only so that his preaching can be more successful.”

 

No sooner had the prayer been said than the creases in don Bosco’s forehead became smooth, his eyes widened and the sweat stopped streaming from his brow. But simultaneously, brother Rua, went down to his knees, pressing clutched fists against his furrowed forehead saying, 

“O Lord, take it away, take it away!” 

Jesus heard brother Rua’s prayer. And the brow of don Bosco became creased once more, his eyes squinted again, and beads of sweat resumed their flow.

 

Afterwards, don Bosco admonished brother Rua,

 

“You ought not ask for suffering you do not understand but rather embrace those which the good God sends you, knowing that this is your proper portion and dosage needed for your perfection.”

 

St John Bosco wisely teaches us,

“Carry your cross on your back and take it as it comes.”