St. John Bosco
St. John Bosco
When They Lived:
St. John Bosco, also known as Don Bosco, lived from August 16, 1815, to January 31, 1888. He was born in a time when industrialization was transforming Europe, and his life straddled the 19th century.
Where They Lived:
St. John Bosco spent the majority of his life in Turin, Italy. He was born in a small hamlet called Becchi, near the town of Castelnuovo d’Asti, in the Piedmont region of northern Italy. However, his significant work and influence were centered in Turin, where he established his educational and charitable institutions.
Notable World Events During Their Time:
- Industrial Revolution: Bosco’s lifetime coincided with the peak of the Industrial Revolution, a period marked by rapid technological advancements, urbanization, and significant social and economic changes.
- California Gold Rush (1848-1855): Thousands of people from around the world flocked to California in search of gold, leading to population growth, cultural diversity, and economic shifts.
- Italian Unification (Risorgimento): St. John Bosco lived through the turbulent times of Italian unification, marked by conflicts, revolutions, and the reconfiguration of political boundaries.
- Publication of “On the Origin of Species” (1859): Charles Darwin’s groundbreaking work on evolution sparked debates about the relationship between science and religion.
- American Civil War (1861-1865): The war over slavery and states’ rights had global repercussions beyond the United States.
Patronage:
St. John Bosco is the patron saint of several groups and causes, including:
- Youth and Students
- Apprentices and Laborers
- Editors and Publishers
- Magicians and Illusionists
Little John, the Dreamer
His birth happened just after the conclusion of the Napoleonic wars, which severely damaged the place. This situation was also a drought and a famine, a really unfortunate situation for the birth of this future saint.
From a Magician to a Priest
After some time, John encountered a traveling group of circus performers. He was so awed by their magic tricks and acrobatic performances that he realized if he, too, learned their tricks, he could attract many people and hold their attention. John patiently studied their tricks and later learned how to perform some of them himself.
On one Sunday evening, John initiated a show for the kinds he played with. He happily performed the tricks he learned and was heartily applauded by his audience. At the end of his little show, John began to recite the homily he had heard earlier that day. He concluded this by asking his audience to pray with him. He performed many other shows, and during this time, John was already discerning the call to the priesthood.
To be ordained a priest, John needed to study. However, because they were so poor, John had no means to support his studies. Motivated and passionate about fulfilling his dream, John left his family and looked for a job. He found a job at a vineyard and worked there for two years until he met Don Joseph Cafasso, a priest who was willing to help him.
In 1835, John entered the seminary and underwent six years of study and preparation. On June 5, 1841, John was ordained to the priesthood in Turin. The next day, Fr. Bosco celebrated his first Mass in the church of St. Francis of Assisi.
A Father to the Young
John, now known as Fr. Bosco, had his first assignment in the city of Turin. At that time, Turin was in these poor neighborhoods. The city was suffering from the effects of industrialization, which were marked by widespread poverty, especially in the slums. Fr. Bosco went to work with the children of the poor and made several visits to a large number of boys, between the ages of 12 and 18, who were imprisoned.
Fr. Bosco went into the streets and began to meet young boys where they played and worked. Again, he used his talents and tricks to catch the attention of the children and share with them his message. He tirelessly worked to find work for boys who were in need of it. He also searched for lodgings for others. “Mamma Margherita”, his mother, began to help him and became popularly known by this name. By the 1860s, Fr.Bosco and his mother were able to provide lodging for 800 boys. The little Dominic Savio, who later on also became a saint, stands out among the most outstanding fruits of Fr. Bosco’s work.
Because of his ardent desire to help the poor, Fr. Bosco asked for the aid of his best collaborators among his young people. This led him to establish the Society of St. Francis de Sales (Salesians). Together with Maria Domenica Mazzarello, who also became a saint, he founded the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (Salesian Sisters). Lastly, together with hard-working laymen and women, Fr.Bosco created the Salesian Cooperators to work alongside him and sustain the education of young people, thus anticipating new forms of apostolate in the Church.
The last years of Fr. Bosco’s life were difficult for him. He was old and tired, but he continued to work and keep up with all the activities of his salesmen. He did not stop inspiring them to pursue greater achievements for young people. On January 31, 1888, with the names of Jesus and Mary on his lips, the saintly Fr. Bosco breathed his last. He was raised to the altar of canonized saints on April 1, 1934.
5 Interesting Facts About St. John Bosco
- St. John Bosco is the patron saint of young people, schoolchildren,
magicians and juvenile delinquents. - St. John Bosco’s motto was “Da mihi animas cetera tolle” (“Give me
souls, take all the rest”). - St. John Bosco’s mother, Margherita, was declared “Venerable” by the
Church in 2006. - Fr. Joseph Cafasso, the priest who helped St. John Bosco in his
studies, was also a canonized saint. - On the centenary of St. John Bosco’s death, January 31, 1988, Pope
John Paul II proclaimed him “the Father and Teacher of the Youth.”
Prayer to St. John Bosco
Lord, You called John Bosco to be a teacher and father to the young. Fill us with love like his; may we give ourselves completely to Your service and to the salvation of mankind. We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
