working boys, “who cannot receive the holy sacraments so often on weekdays”.920For this reason there are many ' Strenne’ on this topic. The 'Strenna' given on 31 December, 1860, for the following year, says: “A sincere confession and frequent communion”.921

The ‘Strenna' (more of a parable in this case) given 31 December 1863 presented the two columns with these striking terms written on them: Regina mundi, Queen of the world and Panis vitae, Bread of life.922

As he was giving out the 'Strenna' for l868 on 31 December l867, Don Bosco ended one of his usual dream-stories he was telling, with these words:" Let this be the Strenna: “frequent communion is the most efficacious means to have a good death... Honor Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and the Blessed Virgin: with these two safeguards, everything will be obtained; without them nothing is obtained”.923

7. Sin and the sacrament of reconciliation

The administration of the Sacrament of Penance with its various benefits, seems more evidently pedagogical: it is a grace-happening, an occasion for spiritual direction, and moral therapy for the corruption produced by sin.

Besides the concept it is the massive reality of sin, both original and actual sin, that stands out in Don Bosco’s mentality and spirituality, as well as in the sleepless nights he spent fighting against the one who is the personification of sin, the Devil. Thre is plenty of evidence of this in his writings, words and actions. Don Bosco multiplied his warnings, teachings and exhortations to arouse horror for sin, to point out “the ugliness of sin”, “the greatest enemy of the young”924 in contrast to grace, and “the beauty of virtue”.

"Oh, how unfortunate are those who fall into sin, but how more unfortunate are those who live in sin”. “Oh sin! Oh Sin! What a terrible scourge you are to those who allow you to enter into their hearts”. These are the words Don Bosco has the young Michael Magone say after his general confession.925 It is absolutely essential “to break the horns of the devil, who would like to become the Lord and master of some individuals”.926 For Don Bosco sin is a source of anxiety which he supports be recounting his threatening dreams and when faced with the most frequent forms of evil affecting the young: impurity, blasphemy, theft, bad talk, scandal, intemperance and sloth regarding religious duties. The youngsters’ enemy number one, as already stated, is impurity, “the ugliest of sins” 927“wallowing in the mud of degradation”, feeding on “poisonous meat” 928(Animalis homo non percepit quae Dei sunt, A man who acts like an animal does not perceive what pertainsto God.929

Exposing a white handkerchief, symbol of the Queen of virtues to hail and snow930 is like offering Our Lady”a piece of pork, a cat, a dish of toads, instead of flowers”.931

In the 'Dream’ on Hell, Don Bosco singles out the main snares which capture the young, who are

920G. Bonetti, Memoria di alcuni fatti..., p. 35.

921D. Ruffino, Cronache dell'Oratorio di S. Francesco di Sales, No. 2 1861, p.2: G. Bonetti, Memoria di alcuni fatti..., pp.

68-69.

922D. Ruffino, Le doti frandi e luminose..., pp. 10-12.

923G. Berto, Fatti particolari I, pp. 8-10.

924Letter to artisans at the Oratory, 20 Jan. 1874 E II 339.

925G. Bosco, Cenno biografico sul giovanetto Magone Michele..., p. 22, OE XIII 176.

926Letter to young people at Mirabello, beginning July 1864 Em II 58.

927G.B. Lemoyne, Cronaca, 1864ff, good night 14 Deember 1864, pp. 47-49.

928G.B. Lemoyne, Cronaca, 1864ff, good night 2 Deember 1864, pp. 33-34.

929F. Provera, Cronaca,good night 22 August 1862, dream of the snake (l'Ave Maria), p. 5; other version D. Ruffino,

Cronaca 1861 1862, 1863, pp. 118-121.

930D. Ruffino, Cronaca, 1861 1862 1863.

931G.B. Lemoyne, Cronaca 1864ff, dream at end of May 1865, pp. 137-139. Lemoyne's diary is full of evening talks on

the topic: 16 Jan. 1865, pp. 72-74; 6 Feb. 1865, pp. 85-86; 13 Feb. 1865, ''-92-94.