94. The Carlist War in Spain, 1874
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I dreamed that I was in Spain and that there was a great civil war and that many cannon shots were fired in a fierce battle between the Republicans and the Carlists.
Note: In Spain there was at that time a civil war between the Republicans and the followers of King Charles. The war lasted 4 years. Don Bosco wanted King Carlos to win because he was very Catholic. But when he was asked if Charles would win, he answered: "If God sends him some very special help, yes, he will triumph. But by human means alone it is almost impossible for him to win.
And so it happened. Charles did not win and had to retire to Italy.
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95. The ways of death, 1874
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On November 17, Don Bosco recommended to the young people to make the monthly retreat well because one of them would no longer be alive for the following month's retreat.
For two days the young people went to confession with him, very impressed by this announcement. On November 19, Father Berto, his secretary, asked the Saint how he managed to know when his students were going to die, to warn him with such precision. He answered: "In dreams I see our students and in front of each one I see a road. The road in front of some of them is very long and has written on it the number indicating the years they will live.
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The path of some is less long and the path of others is very short. From one moment to the next I see that the path of some young man comes to an end and the one who goes that way falls dead.
I see that the way of some is full of traps of the enemies of salvation and that the way of many is shorter than people imagine.
Lately I saw that in front of a young man there was no longer a road and that in front of him was written the number of this year in which we are. That is why I warned you that before 40 days, one of us will no longer be alive on earth, because that is how much time is left until the end of this year.
Observation: Each one of us should think about how long the road ahead of us will be. And say the words of Psalm 90: "Lord help us to reckon our years so that we may acquire a wise heart".
An announcement that was not exactly fulfilled.
But it happened that a pupil of the Oratory was seriously ill and did not die in that December, but in January of the following year. The young people asked Don Bosco why on this occasion his announcement had not been fulfilled exactly, and he answered them: "It is because this young man did not want to go to confession in the whole of December. And we prayed to God to give him one more time. And at last he confessed to me and was able to die peacefully and forgiven. But that happened in January.
The announced death was delayed so that his conversion could be achieved.