St. John Bosco's 9 Resolutions

Today is the feast of Saint John Bosco (d. 1888). Here are the 9 resolutions he made to guide his life:

1. I will take no unnecessary walks. [No walks for mere entertainment]

2. I will make exactingly careful use of my time.

3. When the salvation of souls is at stake, I will be always ready to suffer, to act and to humble myself.

4. May the charity and gentleness of St Francis de Sales inform my every action.

5. I will always be content with the food set before me, unless it is really harmful to my health.

6. I will always add water to my wine and drink it only for reasons of health, that is, on such days and in such measure as health requires.

7. Since work is a powerful weapon against the enemies of my salvation, I will take only five hours sleep a night. During the day, especially after dinner [lunch], I will take no rest, except in case of illness.

8. Every day, I will devote some time to meditation and spiritual reading. During the day, I will make a short visit to, or at any rate offer a prayer to, the Most Blessed Sacrament. My preparation for Mass shall last at least a quarter of an hour and so shall my thanksgiving after Mass.

9. Outside the confessional and save in cases of strict necessity, I will never stop to talk with women.

Happy feast, Saint John Bosco. Pray for us!