Book review: Forty Dreams of St. John Bosco

Forty Dreams of St. John Bosco by St. John Bosco (234 pages)

” ‘You hideous beast,’ I exclaimed… Amid the general uproar, I realized that I could get nothing more from the monster… Then I sprinkled holy water all about, and in the pandemonium which ensued, all those cats scurried away. The din awakened me, and I found myself in bed. ” (from Forty Dreams)

Through a series of dreams that occurred during his life, St. John Bosco received messages and signs from God that formed both his calling to the priesthood and his spiritual life. The first of these dreams occurred when he was just nine years old. Some of these dreams even repeated themselves multiple times throughout his life. This book is a compilation of these dreams, as recorded in his memoirs. From “The Snake and the Rosary” to “Two Boys Attacked by a Monster,” these dreams relate messages that are just as important today as they were one hundred years ago. Be sure to set aside plenty of time when you pick up this book- you won’t be able to put it down!