Saint John Bosco
A Turin priest devoted to the education and employment of poor boys
- Rank
- Saint
- Kind
- Priest, Founder
- Life
- 1815 – 1888
- Era
- 19th century
- Feast
- 31 January
- Countries
- Italy
Life story
John Bosco was born on 16 August 1815 in the hamlet of Becchi, in Castelnuovo d'Asti in Piedmont, to a farming family. His father died when he was two, and his mother, Margaret, raised the children alone. He studied with difficulty, took on many odd jobs to pay his way, and as a boy learned conjuring and acrobatic tricks to draw friends to listen to him.
He was ordained priest on 5 June 1841 in Turin. The rapidly industrialising city was full of young migrants without homes or trades. He gathered the boys on Sundays, then established an Oratory and later workshops where they could learn a craft. From 1846 the main base was Valdocco in Turin.
In 1859 he founded the Society of St Francis de Sales, the Salesians, and in 1872, together with Saint Mary Mazzarello, the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians. He also wrote many short books on catechism and history and had them printed and widely distributed. His educational approach, known as the preventive system, rested on reason, affection and religion, and avoided harsh punishment.
He died in Turin on 31 January 1888. He was beatified in 1929 and canonised on 1 April 1934. In 1988 John Paul II proclaimed him father and teacher of the young. Over the years the Salesians spread from Turin to other parts of Italy and then abroad, and Bosco sent the first missionaries to South America in 1875. By the time of his death his institutions were running schools and trade workshops for thousands of boys.
Works and witness
- Founded the Oratory and craft workshops for boys at Valdocco, Turin
- Founded the Salesians in 1859
- Co-founded the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians in 1872
- Wrote many catechetical and historical booklets for the young
Patron of
Young people, Apprentices
Saints from the same country
References
- Martyrologium Romanum
- Dicastery for the Causes of Saints – biographical profile
- Giovanni Bosco, Memorie dell'Oratorio di San Francesco di Sales
Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.