Sinless Fun

Thomas Creen, MJ • Phoenix, AZ

One of my favorite saints is Saint John Bosco, the great apostle of youth and founder of the phenomenal Salesian order. The Lord has blessed me with a relic taken from his holy body. I keep it in my classroom, and it helps me remember him throughout the day. It also helps me remember his teachings.

Some of my favorite sayings from him refer to having sinless fun – the art of enjoying ourselves while never passing over into anything that offends our dear Lord. One such teaching that he gave to the rascally youngsters he was caring for was, “I am happy to see you having fun, playing around, and always being joyful; this is a way to become saints.” Another one was “Run, jump, make noise – just don’t sin.”

Don Bosco’s advice for youth seems also to be necessary for adults today. It is good and prudent to relax and have fun. People need time away from work and pressing responsibilities so as to be able to foster personal relationships, to pray, and to enjoy the blessings of life. The problem for all people – young and old – is remembering God and His law in moments of relaxation. And that is where St. John Bosco’s advice comes in.

Just recently, I was a chaperone at a retreat for the freshmen at the high school where I teach. The campus minister and her team of helpers organized lots of creative games that were meant to help the freshmen to get to know each other better. The atmosphere was pure, safe, joyful, and enjoyable. It was so nice to see these young people experiencing such a great evening and learning how to have fun without sinning. St. John Bosco, pray for us.

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