This document discusses money and trust in divine providence. It provides daily and weekly Lenten programs focused on spiritual growth. It discusses Don Bosco's trust in God's provision despite financial pressures to care for orphaned boys. Stories describe miracles where supplies multiplied to feed hundreds. The document advises living below means, giving to God weekly, saving monthly, and teaching children financial responsibility so resources can be used to build God's kingdom.

1. S E S S I O N 20
Money and
Trust in Divine Providence

2. We are still early in our Lenten Journey.
We have a goal: Transform our hearts into the
fertile soil that God can use to make fruitful.

3. The Daily Lenten Program
1. Begin the day with a consecration of the
day and ourselves to God.
2. Practice Lectio Divina using the
Scriptural passages and starter
meditations provided.
3. Recitation of the Most Holy Rosary of the
Blessed Virgin Mary.
4. Brief examination of conscience at the
end of the day.

4. The Weekly Lenten Program
1. Seven Steps:
• Use Money for Other People.
2. Don Bosco:
• Trust in Divine Providence.
3. Formation:
• Human Formation
4. Sacrifice:
• Eat dinner every night with your family and
make a donation that benefits children
(Salesians of Don Bosco).

5. • “Parents should teach their children to subordinate the
‘material and instinctual dimensions to interior and
spiritual ones.’ Parents have a grave responsibility to
give good example to their children” (Catechism
#2223).
• The human person must be formed in the virtues,
especially temperance, justice, prudence and fortitude.
• Virtue is more predictive of future success than IQ
scores.
• Children learn virtue from their parents.
Natural Formation and Virtue

6. It’s time to talk turkey. There are only two issues
with money – making money and spending
money.

7. A Different Marshmallow Test
Bachelor
Degree
High School
Degree
$10
$20
$30
MedianIncome:2012
(ThousandofDollars)
45-5425-34 35-44 55-64
0
$50
$60
65+
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2012, Table PINC-03.
$40
No Degree

8. 20
40
60
HouseholdIncome:2012
$300k$100k $200k $400k
0
80
100
$500k
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, Annual
Social and Economic Supplement, 2013, Table HINC-06.
Income Distribution in the United States
Top 2.4% Top 1%

9. 20
40
60
HouseholdWealth:2012
$0.5M $1.0M $1.5M
0
80
100
$2.0M
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Net Worth and Asset Ownership of Households: 2011, Wealth_Tables_2011.
www.politicalcalculations.blogspot.com
Wealth Distribution in the United States
Top 3.7% Top 1%

10. ConsidersSelfWealthy(%)
Sources: UBS Investor Watch, “What is ‘wealthy?’, 3Q2013.
Yes No
0
25
50
75
100
Yes No
Money and Happiness
• Approximately three of four individuals with
net wealth between $1M - $5M and do not
consider themselves wealthy.
• Forty percent of individuals with net wealth
over $5M do not consider themselves
wealthy.
• Largest determinate of “being wealthy”: “No
financial constraints.”
• Studies indicate that after basic needs are
met (approximate $75k/yr income) there is
no increase in happiness with increased
earnings.
• Increased income brings increased desires.
28
72
60
40
Net Wealth
$1M – $5M Net Wealth
$5M+

11. $20
$80
30-3425-29
0
HouseholdIncome(1000s)
15-24All
$40
$60
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Table HINC-06 and HINC-02
• Young adults set standard of
living expectations based upon
parent’s household.
• Upon leaving their parents home,
children earn approximately forty
percent of their parent’s income.
• It will take two decades for their
income to reach their parent’s.
• Standard of living expectations
have a major influence of
marriage and family decisions.
71.3
30.5
45.8
55.4
Setting Expectations for Youth
Source: Macunovich, D., “Birth Quake: The Baby Boom and Its
Aftershocks,” 2002, University of Chicago Press.

12. Another Marshmallow Test
Steve 13.75
Pappas Burger $
Shelly 12.85
Children 11.90
Drink 4.80
Food Cost 43.30
Tax 3.57
Subtotal 46.87
Tip 7.03
Total 53.90
Meat 6.99
Bollman Burger $
Buns 2.00
Potato 1.00
Drink 1.50
Salad 2.00
Food Cost 13.49
Tax 0.00
Tip Kiss
Total 13.49
Individual Meal 40.41
Difference $
Year 2,101.32
18 Years 37,823.76
Semester 5,369.00
Univ. of Texas $
Year 10,738.00
4 Years 42,952.00

13. Don Bosco experienced all the pressures that you
face with money, but he understood the value of
money and its relationship to God very well.

14. The Pressures of a Father
• Given the mission to take thousands of boys off the
streets, feed them, provide them an education and turn
them into model citizens and Christians.
• “When prudence raises its head, providence goes out
the window.”
• Taught boys to work and be frugal.
• Placed boys with benefactors around Turin.
• Trained the boys in a trade.
• Opened Salesian’s print shops, cobbler shops and
artesian shops.
Source: Lappin, P., “Give Me Souls:
Life of Don Bosco,” Salesiana
Publishers, New York, 1986.

15. Trust in Divine Providence
• Contractor: “I’ve waited long enough. I won’t wait a
moment longer! I want my money now.”
• Told to stand in line to see Don Bosco.
• “Well dressed gentleman” walks past everyone else
demanding: “I must see Don Bosco at once.”
• Don Bosco: “Don’t you think you should wait outside?”
• Man: “It isn’t necessary.” Hands him a large wallet:
“This is for you … [say] a little prayer now and then.”
• Don Bosco never opens the wallet.
• Contractor comes in and demands money.
• Don Bosco hands him the wallet which has the exact
amount owed the contractor.
Source: Lappin, P., “Give Me Souls:
Life of Don Bosco,” Salesiana
Publishers, New York, 1986, pp. 169-
170.

16. Multiplication of the Loaves
• Baker refuses to deliver additional bread to the
Oratory until he is paid for past deliveries.
• Boys have no bread for breakfast and approach Don
Bosco, who demands to finish hearing confessions.
• “Gather up all you can find … Put all the rolls you
have in the basket and in a few moments I’ll come
and give them out myself.”
• Francis Dalmazzo, who was giving his confession,
looked into the basket and counted 15-20 rolls.
• Don Bosco gave rolls to four hundred boys.
• After breakfast, there were as many rolls in the
basket as before breakfast.
Source: Lappin, P., “Give Me Souls:
Life of Don Bosco,” Salesiana
Publishers, New York, 1986, pp. 291-
293.

17. Multiplication of the Hosts
• Six hundred boys are in Mass planning on receiving
Communion.
• Joseph Buzzetti, the sacristan, forgets to put a full
ciborium on the altar for consecration. Discovers
mistake as Don Bosco makes the consecration.
• Only a few consecrated hosts are in the Tabernacle.
• Don Bosco gives Communion to all six hundred
boys with the few consecrated Hosts.
• Don Bosco: “There were very few hosts in the
ciborium. But I was able to give Communion to all
who came … Our Lord wished to show us how
pleased he is with frequent and devout
Communions … the miracle of consecration is even
greater.”
Source: Lappin, P., “Give Me Souls:
Life of Don Bosco,” Salesiana
Publishers, New York, 1986, pp. 293-
294.

18. Laying a Foundation for the Future
“I must get to the top of the mountain, but with
many followers. This is my goal, my mission … My
first followers were picked at random. They were
virtuous and willing, but untested, and not imbued
with my spirit … that is why they left me … I know
now what I must do. I can rely only on those whom
I have trained myself … I will gather many boys,
win their affection, and train them to face hardships
and sacrifices bravely. They will gladly obey me;
together we shall climb the Lord’s mountain.”
Dream of Don Bosco
Source: Brown, E., “Dreams, Visions and
Prophecies of Don Bosco,” Don Bosco
Publications, New York, 1986, p. 44-45

19. Don Bosco had amazing trust in God to provide
for all our needs. There is another man who
profoundly understands the goodness of God:
St. Joseph.

20. Hearing the Cry of a Child
• June 7, 1660 in Provence, France.
• Gaspard Ricard, aged 22, gets lost while tending
his sheep near Cotignac, France.
• Dying of thirst, he lays his head down on a rock.
• “I am Joseph. Lift the rock and you will drink.”
• Gaspard thinks to himself: eight men would not
be enough to move the rock.
• St. Joseph repeats the message.
• The rock is easily moved and a spring of water
begins to flow.
• A Benedictine convent is built on the site.

21. We are called to build a house for the Lord that
will endure after we are gone. We must use our
resources wisely and teach our children to do the
same.

22. Practical Advice
1. Give a portion of your money to God on a weekly
basis.
2. Save a defined amount of money every month.
3. Live below your means.
4. Moderate your consumption of the media, which
raises unrealistic expectations.
5. No not carry a balance on a credit card. If
necessary, only carry a credit card that must be
paid off every month.
6. Keep $8 in your wallet that you must give away.
7. Consider Dave Ramsey courses.

23. If we use our resources wisely and teach our
children to do the same, we will be able to build a
house for the Lord that will endure long after we
are gone.

24. Next Week
Prayer and Finding Joy with God
Small Group Discussion
Starter Questions
1. How are you going to better develop the virtue
of temperance in your life?
2. What steps can you take to increase your trust
in Divine Providence?