Feast Day: January 31
Patronage: Apprentices, schoolchildren, young people, editors, publishers, and juvenile delinquents.
Early Life
Saint John Bosco, also known as Don Bosco, was born on August 16, 1815, in Becchi, Italy (near Turin), into a poor farming family. His father, Francesco Bosco, died when John was only two years old, leaving his devout mother, Margaret Bosco, to raise him and his two older brothers. Despite their poverty, Margaret instilled in John a deep love for God, hard work, and charity.
From a young age, John displayed an extraordinary spiritual awareness and a special gift for engaging his peers. He would entertain them with magic tricks and acrobatics but always followed these performances with a lesson from the Gospel, teaching them about the faith in a way they could understand.
A Divine Calling
At the age of nine, John had a mystical dream that would shape his entire life. In this dream, he saw a field full of wild and unruly boys fighting and cursing. Suddenly, a majestic man, whom John later recognized as Jesus Christ, appeared alongside a radiant woman—Our Lady. The man told John, “Not with blows, but with kindness and charity shall you win these boys.” The Blessed Virgin added, “Make yourself humble, strong, and vigorous, and what you see happening to these animals, you will do for my children.”
This vision instilled in John a burning desire to dedicate his life to the spiritual and moral education of young boys, particularly those abandoned or led astray by the world.
Education and Priesthood
Determined to become a priest, John faced many hardships in obtaining an education due to his family’s poverty. However, he persevered, often working as a tailor, farmhand, or shoemaker to fund his studies. In 1841, at the age of 26, he was ordained a priest in Turin. From then on, he was affectionately known as Don Bosco (an Italian title meaning “Father Bosco”).
Upon arriving in Turin, Don Bosco was deeply moved by the plight of poor and abandoned boys who roamed the streets, falling into crime and vice. Many of these children had no formal education or spiritual formation. Seeing their need, he began gathering them, teaching them the Catechism, providing basic education, and finding them work.
The Oratory of Saint Francis de Sales
In 1846, Don Bosco established the Oratory of Saint Francis de Sales, named after his favorite saint, in Valdocco, Turin. This became a home, school, and church for countless destitute boys. The Oratory focused on a threefold approach:
- Reason – Teaching through logic and persuasion, never through harsh punishment.
- Religion – Instilling a love for Christ and devotion to the Sacraments.
- Loving Kindness – Treating boys as sons, with warmth and understanding.
This method, known as the Preventive System, would later be adopted in Catholic education worldwide.
The Salesian Congregation
As his work expanded, Don Bosco needed helpers. In 1859, he founded the Society of St. Francis de Sales, or the Salesians, a religious congregation dedicated to the education and evangelization of youth. The order spread rapidly, establishing schools, oratories, and technical institutions across Europe, Latin America, and beyond.
Recognizing the importance of women’s education, Don Bosco, with the help of Saint Mary Mazzarello, also founded the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (Salesian Sisters) in 1872.
Miracles and Prophecies
Don Bosco was known for his prophetic dreams, which often warned of future dangers, guided his ministry, or revealed the hidden state of souls. He also performed many miracles, including healing the sick, multiplying food for his boys, and reading souls in Confession.
One of his most famous miracles occurred when he was short of hosts while distributing Holy Communion. The hosts miraculously multiplied, allowing all present to receive the Eucharist.
Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary
Don Bosco had an immense devotion to Our Lady, especially under the title Mary, Help of Christians. In 1868, he built the magnificent Basilica of Mary Help of Christians in Turin, fulfilling a dream where Our Lady asked for a church to be built in her honor. He often said:
“Have devotion to Mary Help of Christians, and you will see what miracles are!”
Death and Canonization
Don Bosco worked tirelessly until his health declined. He died on January 31, 1888, at the age of 72, surrounded by his spiritual sons. Pope Pius XI, who had met Don Bosco as a young priest, declared him Blessed in 1929 and canonized him a saint on Easter Sunday, 1934.
Legacy
Today, the Salesians of Don Bosco continue his mission in over 130 countries, running schools, oratories, and youth centers, remaining faithful to his motto:
“Give me souls, take away the rest!”
Spiritual Lessons from St. John Bosco
- Kindness wins hearts – He showed that gentleness and love can reform even the most wayward souls.
- Education is a path to holiness – He saw education as a means of sanctification, forming young men into virtuous Christians.
- Devotion to Mary is a source of miracles – He always turned to the Blessed Virgin for help and guidance.
May St. John Bosco continue to inspire us to love the young, educate the poor, and lead all souls to Christ! Saint John Bosco, pray for us! 🙏