Summer camp has become an American tradition.
For generations, many children have spent their summers hiking wooded trails, singing around campfires, playing games, making lifelong friends, and returning home with stories they'll never forget.
But long before summer camps became popular in America, one Catholic priest had already discovered something important: young people grow in holiness when they experience joy in nature. That priest was St. John Bosco.
Born in Italy in 1815, Don Bosco devoted his life to poor and abandoned boys living on the streets of Turin. He taught them the Catholic faith, helped them learn trades, and most importantly, loved them like a father. But he also understood something that was surprisingly ahead of its time: Young people need recreation.
Rather than keeping the boys indoors, Don Bosco organized walks through the countryside, hikes, picnics, games, music, plays, and outings where they could laugh, build friendships, and simply enjoy being together. Prayer and the sacraments remained at the center of everything they did, but he knew that recreation and faith were not competitors. They belonged together.
One of his best-known sayings captures his approach perfectly:
"Run, jump, play, but do not sin."
While Don Bosco did not invent the American summer camp, his educational philosophy anticipated much of what makes a good camp so memorable today: joyful friendships, time outdoors, trusted mentors, and the formation of the whole person.
His approach reminds us that summer isn't a season to put our spiritual lives on hold. It is an opportunity to encounter Christ in new ways: around a campfire, on a hiking trail, during family vacations, or simply through the slower rhythm of ordinary days.
It also echoes the wisdom of another great saint.
Nearly thirteen centuries earlier, St. Benedict understood that a healthy spiritual life requires balance. His famous motto, ora et labora—"pray and work"—reminds us that our days should have a holy rhythm. Work has its place, but so do rest, recreation, friendship, and time to enjoy the goodness of God's creation.
Perhaps that's one reason summer has always been considered a fruitful season. When we slow down just enough, we often find it easier to notice the Lord's presence in the people we love and in the beauty of the world He has made.
Whether your summer includes campfires, road trips, afternoons on the porch, or simply an extra walk after dinner, don't forget to bring Christ with you. Joy has always been one of the most convincing witnesses to the Gospel.
Our St. Benedict Filigree Tumbler with Straw is a practical companion for all your summer adventures. Are your kids heading to camp? Send them with this tumbler. Perhaps you're going to the beach, a family picnic, or simply enjoying your morning coffee on the porch, let St. Benedict remind you to carry the rhythm of prayer, work, and joyful rest wherever the season takes you. Find yours today at The Catholic Company!
