Fatherly love and Correction

At midnight, between October 7 and 8 [1865], Father Victor Alasonatti, first prefect of the Oratory and of the Salesian Society, died at Lanzo where he had gone toward the end of August. One of the things he should be remembered by was his great value for community prayer. Whenever the Angelus bell rang, he invited those around him to kneel and join him in that prayer. One day he noticed a senior pupil make the Sign of the Cross hurriedly. Calling him aside, he asked, "Son, may I tell you something?" "Certainly, Father!" "If Don Bosco saw you making the Sign of the Cross so sloppily, I am sure he would reprimand you." "I'm sorry, Father. Really, I wasn't paying attention to what I was doing, but I thought I was doing it properly." "When you perform a religious act, always mind what you are doing." "Thank you, Father. I'll be more careful from now on." "I hope you don't feel hurt. I correct you because I care for you. I wish others would do the same to me. In fact, I ask you to do so whenever you see the need for it. You couldn't please me more. Tell me," he went on, "have I hurt your feelings?" "Not at all, Father. Really, I am grateful." "Let's always be friends then. Go off and play now." Truthfully, he himself set the example. Despite the rheumatism which rendered every movement of his arm most painful, he always strove to make the Sign of the Cross devoutly. BM Vol. 8, ch. 17, p.106-107

Keep in mind that Don Bosco was the emblem of fatherly love. His first Salesians were very good in imitating this kind of love for the boys, which is especially seen when correcting them. It is worth contemplating that humility is not needed only when you are the one corrected, but more so, when you are the one correcting. Superiors themselves should practice humility as they correct, keeping in mind not self-righteousness nor bossiness, but a genuine concern for the soul of the boys.

Article 52: The confrere in the community “...[The confrere] accepts fraternal correction, fights whatever he discovers in himself which militates against the community, and gives his own generous contribution to the community life and work. He thanks God that he is among brothers who encourage him and help him.”