THE APOSTLE OF YOUTH
efficacious and introduce them into prisons and reformatories for boys.
"Let us try to prevent instead of repressing crime," he urged, "a more humane and a far more economical method… Form Christians and you have good citizens; but, alas! I know we can never attain to the realization of this ideal; if we could, judges, prisons, police and even a standing army might be suppressed."
Ratazzi was convinced; and, though his convictions never found practical execution, yet he showed publicly his confidence in the founder of the Salesian Society. I cannot forbear quoting one of many remarkable incidents of Don Bosco's after experience in which Ratazzi's influence was the turning point. It inculcates, too, more than one great lesson and proclaims in a striking manner Don Bosco's supremacy in the domain of human hearts.
In May, 1855, Don Bosco preached a retreat of eight days to the prisoners of the chief jail of Turin, La Generala. His words were so luminous and effective, so filled with the Spirit of God, that nearly four hundred of his hearers were moved to sincere contrition and approached the Sacraments with great fervor and piety. The retreat over, Don Bosco's fertile mind and great heart invented a most astonishing mode of reward for his penitents. He went to the governor of the jail and asked a day's freedom for all who had attended the holy exercises.
49
