Saint of the Day: St. John Bosco

Founder of the Salesians and the Daughters of Mary, Help of Christians (1815-1888)

His life

+ John was born in Turin, Italy. Following the death of his father, his mother, Venerbale Margherita Bosco, worked to support the family as best she could.

+ Against great odds, John was ordained a priest in 1841 and, soon after, he founded the Oratory of St. Francis de Sales.

+ A gifted teacher and leader, “Don Bosco” developed an education system based on “reason, religion, and kindness.” He was able to construct workshops to train boys as tradesmen, schools for arts and sciences, and schools for liberal arts for boys preparing for priesthood.

+ In his ministry, he was always guided by this principle: “Jesus began to do before he began to teach.” He would often use magic tricks and games to attract the attention of poor boys who would often not want to have anything to do with a priest.

+ To secure the future of his work, he founded the Salesian Priests and Brothers and, with Saint Mary Mazzarello, the Daughters of Mary, Help of Christians.

+ Saint John Bosco, the “Apostle of Youth,” died on January 31, 1888, and was canonized in 1934. Because of the magic tricks he would perform to attract the attention of the youth whom he sought to serve, John Bosco has come to also be honored as a patron of magicians and jugglers.

For prayer and reflection

“If one is to do good, he must have a little courage, be ready for sacrifice, deal affably with all and never slight anybody. By following this method I have always had significant success, in fact, marvelous success.”—Saint John Bosco

Vocations

To learn more about the Salesian Fathers and Brothers:

St. Philip the Apostle Province (Eastern U.S. and Canada), visit: http://www.salesians.org/

Province of St. Andrew (Western U.S.), visit: www.donboscowest.org

To learn more about the Daughters of Mary, Help of Christians (Salesian Sisters):

Eastern Province, visit: www.salesiansisters.org

Western Province, visit: www.salesiansisterswest.org

Prayer

O God, who raised up the Priest Saint John Bosco
as a father and teacher of the young,
grant, we pray,
that, aflame with the same fire of love,
we may seek out souls and serve you alone.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever. Amen.

(from The Roman Missal)

Saint profiles prepared by Brother Silas Henderson, S.D.S.