The Vision of the Saint Don Bosco about persecution of the Church in the end time
Imagine, we are on the coast of the sea or better still on a lonely cliff, and see no land but the ground beneath our feet. On the wide sea we see an innumerable multitude of ships that have arranged for a sea battle. They have iron bowls and are equipped with guns, guns, other weapons of all kinds, with burners, and also with books. They approach a ship that is much bigger than theirs and try to damage it with their pointed beaks, light it, and inflict every possible harm to it. The large ship is accompanied by many small boats, which receive orders from him and defend the majestic ship against the enemy fleet. They have strong winds and the turbulent sea seems to favor the attackers.
In the middle of the wide sea are two powerful columns at a small distance from each other.
The one is crowned by a statue of Immaculata, at the foot of which is inscribed the inscription: << Auxilium christianorum >> (Help of the Christians), on the second, much higher and more powerful column, we see on a shield the words <Salus credentium >> salvation of the faithful).
The pope, as commander of the ship, recognizes the fury of the enemy, and thus the danger in which his faithful are situated. He therefore calls the steers of the escort boats for advice on his ship. As the storm gets stronger, they have to return to their boats. After calming the sea, the pope calls the commanders a second time. Suddenly the storm breaks again.
The pope is at the helm and tries with all his might to steer his ship between the two pillars, with many anchors and large hooks attached. the enemy ships are now starting the attack and wanting to sink the papal ship. Some of them are struggling with books, fonts, and brand names, and they try to throw them aboard the papal ship, others with cannons, guns, and snips. Despite the passionate struggle of the enemy ships and the use of all weapons, the attack failed. In vain do they make new experiments. The papal ship plods freely and safely to the sea. Sometimes it happens that it is shattered by terrible jolts and heavily beaten on its planks, but hardly hit, a gentle breeze, which emanates from the two pillars, immediately closes every leak.
On the ships of the attackers, the cannon-tubes burst, the ships' snatches are broken, many ships burst apart and sink into the sea. Suddenly, however, the pope is hit by a hostile bullet. His assistants support him and set him up again. A little later, an enemy bullet hits him again, and he sinks to the ground.
In the enemy's fleet there is a cry of joy and victory. The commanders assembled on the papal ship, however, elect a new pope in such haste, that the news of the death of the steward was at the same time the news of the successor's choice among the enemies. Now they suddenly lose all their courage; but the papal vessel overcomes all the obstacles, and safely sailed between the two pillars, where it is anchored. The enemies escape, ram themselves together, and perish.
Many other ships, which had withdrawn for fear of the battle, are in the distance, waiting in a wise, observing position, until the ruins of all submarine ships disappear in the waves of the sea. Then they take courage and also take course on those two pillars and fix there. There is now a great calm on the sea.
As far as its execution. Don Bosco now asks Don Michael Rua, his later successor as Generaloberer of the Salesians:
What do you make of it? Don Rua answered, "It seems to me that the Pope's ship is the church whose head he is. The other ships are the people, the sea is the world. Those who defend the great ship are the faithful followers of the pope, the others his enemies, who by all means seek to destroy the church. The two pillars, we think, are the worship of Mary and the Holy Eucharist.
Don Bosco said, "You have replied well. Only one expression must be correct. The enemy ships mean the persecution. Extremely difficult times prevail to the church. What has happened so far is almost nothing compared to what is to come. The enemies of the church are symbolized by the ships who wanted to sink the main ship. Only two means remain to save themselves in this stormy time: the devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and the frequent reception of the Holy Communion. Let us do our best to use these two means ourselves, but also to achieve them everywhere and by all.
