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 AN ENEMY THAT NEVER LEAVES US 

On September 21, 1868, Don Bosco preached the second retreat to the Salesians but a summary of only two sermons have reached us. Here they are:

SUMMARY OF THE FIRST SERMON 

"We have a great enemy who never leaves us alone night and day, our own body. We must resist it, lest it rebel; we must mortify it to keep it under subjection. Of this Our Lord Jesus Christ gave us a most shining example throughout His entire life. He began HIs mission by a fast of forty days and forty nights; He endured fatigue on endless walking tours; He suffered thirst and hunger, spent long nights in prayer. By self-denial and prayer He taught us how to war against the body. One who does not mortify it can't even expect to be able to pray properly. All the blessed in heaven and all good priests have followed or are following Christ's example.

The body is the oppressor of the soul. St. Augustine thus explains this spirit of rebellion: "The disobedient man finds punishment within himself in the rebellion of his own member. The soul, however, must prevail and the body must be enslaved. Left free to give itself to intemperance and vice, the body turns man into a mere animal.

Jesus Christ declared: "Unless you do penance, you shall all likewise perish." (St. Lk. 13,5). To show us how to tame this enemy, Our Lord kept repeating: "Who ever wishes to be My follower must deny his very self, take up his cross each day, and follow in My steps." (St. Lk. 9, 23).

Those attached to this earth and its comforts and pleasures must keep in mind what awaits their bodies. This body of ours, so pampered, will soon feed most loathsome worms. Away with vanities, ambitions, and self indulgence.

Observe the Friday fast; endure heat, cold, illness, and deprivations. Travel only when necessary. Through these little mortifications we shall be more fervent in prayers and victorious over temptations. 

SUMMARY OF THE SECOND SERMON OF DON BOSCO 

Meditation is mental prayer. We should ask Him for the graces we need and in true sorrow and tears beg His pardon for our sins. Let us always remember that God is our Father and we are His sons... Visits to the Blessed Sacrament. "Our most sweet Lord Jesus Christ is there in person," the Cure of Ars used to exclaim. If time is limited, let us at least kneel before the tabernacle and say an Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory be. This alone will steel us against temptations. I assure you that the man of faith who visits the Blessed Sacrament and makes a daily meditation with sincerity of heart will not fall into sin. I urge spiritual reading, especially to those who need a book to meditate. Let us read a passage and reflect on it to discover what needs correcting in our lives.

If possible, make your spiritual reading and your visit to the Blessed Sacrament. Remember to say the rosary daily. How grateful we should be to the Blessed Virgin who has so many graces in store for us!

Go to confession every week, even if you have nothing serious to confess. It is a pleasing act of humility to God because  it re-awakens our remorse for sins already forgiven; it makes us realized how imperfect the small faults of every day make us. 

Never throw back in someone's face his past offences, especially if he has been forgiven. Rather, do your best to show greater affection than before, and forget the past.

Let each of us put his conscience in order and be ready for death at any moment. 

SOURCE : Don Bosco and the Priesthood