Meditation today: Imitate Jesus and be guided by love

If we want to make friends of the true good of our students, and oblige them to do their homework, you must never forget that you represent the parents of this dear youth, who was always a tender object of my occupations, my studies, my priestly ministry, and of our Salesian Congregation. If therefore you will be true fathers of your students, you must also have the heart; and never come to repression or punishment without reason and without justice, and only in the manner of those who adapt themselves to it by force and to perform a duty.
How many times, my dear children, in my long career I have had to persuade myself of this great truth! It is certainly easier to be irritated than to be patient: to threaten a child than to persuade him: I would still say that it is more comfortable for our impatience and pride to chastise those who resist, than to correct them by bearing them firmly and with kindness. The charity that I recommend to you is that which St. Paul used for the faithful newly converted to the religion of the Lord, and which often made him cry and beg when he saw them less docile and corresponding to his zeal.
Hardly when you chastise you keep that calm, which is necessary to remove any doubt that you work to make your authority felt, or to vent your passion.
We regard as our children those over whom we have some power to exercise. Let us put ourselves almost at their service, like Jesus who came to obey and not to command, ashamed of what might have the air of rulers in us; and let us dominate them only to serve them with greater pleasure. This is what Jesus did with his apostles, tolerating them in their ignorance and rudeness, in their lack of fidelity, and by treating sinners with a familiarity and familiarity that produced amazement in some, almost scandal in others, and in many the holy hope of obtain forgiveness from God. He therefore told us to learn from him to be meek and humble of heart (Mt 11,29:XNUMX).
Since they are our children, let us remove all anger when we have to suppress their faults, or at least moderate it so that it seems to be completely stifled. No agitation of the soul, no contempt in the eyes, no insult on the lip; but we feel compassion for the moment, hope for the future, and then you will be the true fathers and will make a real correction.
In certain very serious moments, a recommendation to God, an act of humility to him, is more useful than a storm of words, which, if on the one hand they do nothing but harm in those who hear them, on the other hand they do not bring advantage to who deserves them.
Remember that education is a thing of the heart, and that God alone is its master, and we will not be able to do anything if God does not teach us the art, and does not give us the keys.
Let us try to make ourselves loved, to insinuate the feeling of the duty of the holy fear of God, and we will see with admirable ease the doors of so many hearts open and join us to sing the praises and blessings of him, who wanted to become our model, our way. , our example in everything, but particularly in the education of youth.