Don Bosco’s Oratory was a haven for hundreds of needy Italian boys. They were fed and cared for, instructed in the faith, and taught useful trades to carry them through life.

But this institution was very unique in having a mystic as its founder. God often granted Don Bosco vision-like dreams that vividly portrayed the spiritual condition and needs of the boys under his care.

The following dream is one of many incredible examples:

The dream began with Don Bosco among a huge crowd of his boys, enjoying their company. Suddenly, a horrible beast came from the playground, slowly approaching like a confident predator!

Don Bosco relates the rest as follows:

We drew back in terror until we stood here under this portico, the boys clinging fast to me and all eyes centered on me. "Don Bosco, what should we do?" they pleaded.

I kept looking at them in silence, not knowing what action to take. Finally I exclaimed, "Let’s turn back to the farther end of the portico, where Our Lady’s statue stands. Let’s kneel and pray more fervently than usual so that She may tell us what to do and what kind of a monster this is, and so that She may rescue us. If it is just a wild animal of some kind, we shall manage to kill it somehow; if it is a demon, Mary will come to our aid. Don’t be afraid. Our heavenly Mother will see to our safety."

Meanwhile the beast kept up its slow approach, belly close to the ground, crouching and preparing to spring and seize us.

We fell to our knees in prayer. It was a moment of utter helplessness. The huge monster had gotten so close that in one leap it could be upon us. Then, all at once…we found ourselves on the other side of the wall in the clerics’ dining room.

In the center I could see Our Lady…She shone like the sun at midday, thronged by saints and angels. The dining room seemed like heaven…

Astonishment had replaced terror in our hearts. The eyes of all were upon the Madonna. "Do not be afraid," She reassured us in the gentlest of tones. "My divine Son is just testing you."

Looking at their heavenly companions, Don Bosco recognized people he’d known in life - men from his congregation, as well as his own brother Joseph.

Suddenly one of the persons around the Blessed Virgin loudly announced "Let us rise!"

Don Bosco and his boys were very confused, as they were already standing. At last it was explained that, as in Mass, the priest tells us all to lift up our hearts to God.

Turning to the boys, I instantly shouted, "Up, up with your hearts, my sons! Let us strengthen our faith and raise our hearts to God. Let us make an act of love and repentance. Let us earnestly strive to pray with lively fervor. Let us trust in God." I gave a sign and we all knelt down.

Moments later, as we softly prayed in an outburst of confidence, we again heard a voice ordering "Rise!" Leaping to our feet, we all felt that we were being lifted from the ground by some kind of supernatural power…We were all hanging in the air, and I wondered that none of us fell to the floor.

Then, behold, the monster we had seen in the playground stormed into the dining room, followed by a vast herd of other wild animals. They stamped about the dining hall growling frightfully, straining for combat and ready to pounce upon us at any moment. But, though they kept eyeing us, staring with bloodshot eyes and tossing their heads, they did not immediately attack us. We looked down on them from above…

Caught as we were in these strange positions, we heard Our Lady sing out the words of St. Paul: "In all circumstances hold faith up before you as your shield…" (Eph 6:16) So harmonious was the sound, so full, so sublimely melodious, that we listened ecstatically…

Intent upon this heavenly song, we noticed a number of graceful young lads, who had descended from Heaven on wings, leave Our Lady’s side and draw near to us. They bore shields in their hands and put one up against the heart of each boy. They were large shields, sparkling in beauty and reflecting the light which shone from the Madonna. It was a heavenly sight. Each shield seemed to have a steel center, surrounded by a large ring of diamonds, and the whole shield was edged in purest gold. It was all one could hope for in beauty, sweetness, and melody.

As I gazed about me, lost in the music, I was startled by a booming voice which cried: "To arms!" Then the wild beasts began stamping about furiously.

In a flash we all found ourselves on the floor, each on his feet, each engaged in deadly combat with those monsters, protected only by our divine shields…The heavenly choir did not interrupt its singing. The monsters rushed at us as smoke streamed from their gaping mouths along with leaden balls, spears, arrows, and weapons of all kinds. But these weapons either missed us or hit our shields and bounced off. Our adversaries were bent on wounding and slaughtering us, and they kept hurling themselves against us, but all in vain. Meeting us head on, they smashed their fangs and were forced to flee. In waves these hordes of frightful monsters assailed us, but all met with the same fate.

It was a lengthy battle, but finally we heard Our Lady saying: "…the power that has overcome the world is this faith of ours" (1 Jn 5:4)

At Her voice, the entire herd of frightened beasts balked and, dashing headlong, disappeared, leaving us safe, free, victorious in that immense dining hall, still ablaze with the brilliance emanating from the Madonna…

The boys could not take their eyes away from the Blessed Virgin. She was chanting a canticle of thanksgiving which gladdened us with a new joy and an ecstasy beyond words.