a tribute to Don Bosco

“Why it is TEMPERANCE” Every year it was a tradition that during the Novena days in honors of our founder Saint John Bosco. Some of the seminarians were asked to deliver sermonettes. It is what we offered as sign of gratitude to Don Bosco. I was blessed to give that gratitude speech to him using the virtue that he shared in us through his examples and that was the virtue of TEMPERANCE. I supposed to give the sermonette on evening of January 27 2007, four days before the Feast of Don Bosco, but there was an urgent situation that came out so it happened that I was not able to delivered and shared this on the community (Priest and seminarians of Don Bosco) but I just give copy to some seminarians but because of the invitation of the Inside-out staff-the official publication of the Carreño house of formation I think that it is the right time to share this simple reflection of mine about this virtue. It goes like this; the mode is looks like I am still the one who are delivering. Good evening… What is Temperance? It was the first question that came into my mind when I got the topic. I know that it is a virtue, but I do not know if I have it. First of all it is self-control and I guess for many times I failed to live this virtue. Temperance is one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. It is one of the Four Cardinal Virtues considered as our foundation to good Christian behavior. It may be defined as the righteous habit which makes a man govern his natural desire for pleasures of the senses in accordance with the norm prescribed by reason. In one sense temperance may be regarded as a characteristic of all the moral virtues. It is the virtue that is connected to all. There was an incident that happened two weeks ago, it was when we had our class. We discussed several examples with regard to different virtues in connection with the topic the “Modifiers of the Human acts.” Most of the seminarians shared their ideas, beliefs, and personal experiences that had relation to Human Acts. All of a sudden our professor interrupted and said “I admire the seminarians self-control, the virtue of temperance, despite of all the hardships and hectic schedule that they have, they still know how to control themselves.” Suddenly there was Silence in the whole class, I stopped and I reflected on that particular moment. And I remember something, another incident that happened three weeks ago, “there was an incident when the seminarians were all done with their games and I guessed at that time all were tired. All were supposed to take their snacks, and as usual some were late. And as far as I remembered there were still 3 seminarians who did not take yet their snacks. One of the three looked on the food and he already knew that the food was not enough for them, then this one decided not to take his snacks, instead he told the remaining two just take your part and said that he is fine. He just proceeded to the dorm to take his showers, but while he was walking the brother assistant saw him and told him; “will you please get a broom and sweep the floor because some who passed by here left the floor dirty.” And you know what this boy did, he had no reaction, he just obeyed and he got the broom and he swept the floor. After this he took his showers and he just followed the schedule, he proceed to the study hall to study, and when I looked at the facial expression after that incident, it seems that nothing happened he was still smiling and enthusiastic. He knows how to deal with these simple situations; he sacrificed his snacks for others, by not eating it and neglected the pleasures of his senses, as he was requested by the brother assistant to clean the dirt on the floor and he just obeyed. Really temperance will teach us how to become obedient, responsible, and willing to give sacrifice and concern for others. The virtue of temperance will guide us how to become holy. Now I know why our professor said; “that I admired the seminarians’ virtue of temperance, despite of all the hardships and hectic schedule that they have, they still know how to control themselves.” For in temperance they are obedient, responsible, willing to sacrifice and develop concern for others. And I believe that it is because these boys are not only seminarians, but Salesian seminarians, who received the gifts and examples of the virtue of temperance from Saint John Bosco. I think that I am not included in those who were admired by our professor, but still I am proud that I am a Salesian seminarian, who is aspiring to follow God in the footsteps of Don Bosco; who is willing to sacrifice everything, for the greater glory of God and for the salvation of souls, but this phrase could only be attained if we have the virtue of temperance. A great challenge for you and for me, but don’t worry I know that we will never be wanting of examples for Don Bosco was a model of temperance. May we truly become like our father - Saint John Bosco.