 St. John Bosco, or, as he is commonly called, "Don Bosco" (the
Don meaning Father), was born at Becchi, a town in the foothills of the
Italian Alps, on August 16, 1815. His father died when he was two and his
childhood and first years of study were filled with difficulties which include
supporting himself while attending school. He overcame this problem by working
at various trades, all of which he later taught his students. Don Bosco
entered the Chieri Seminary and was ordained in 1841. He was stationed in
Turin, an industrial center which attracted young people from neighboring
towns. There he opened an "oratory" or boys club for them. Although
he did not hesitate to extend his priestly services to prisons and reformatories,
he gradually came to realize that his mission was to prevent youngsters
from falling into crime rather then rehabilitate delinquents. Because of
this insight, he opened his oratory to all boys. Soon, as many as 1,000
boys flocked to his oratory (which was just an open field and chapel) every
Sunday for religious instruction, Mass, sacraments and a full day of fun
and games with priests and Don Bosco. Kindness, understanding and endless
patience brought these boys close to their faith.
Realizing that many of them needed continuous help, he enlarged the
oratory into a boy's home. There, youngsters could live and either work
or attend classes in the city. To prepare boys for skilled labor, Don
Bosco turned his mother's kitchen into a makeshift cobbler and carpenter
shop. This was the first Catholic trade school in Italy (1835).
Leading educators soon came to admire his educative style, which he
explained as a happy blend of reason and religion. He strove to establish
an atmosphere characterized by a sense of understanding between teacher
and pupil and an acknowledgment of life's spiritual aspects. Thus, he
not only prevented delinquency but also produced leaders for industry
and labor, as well as zealous religious and priest.
In 1859, at the insistence of Pope Pius IX, Don Bosco founded a religious
congregation of priest and brothers, which he named Salesians, after St.
Francis de Sales. This order was officially approved in 1874.
A tireless worker, Don Bosco died on January 31, 1888, in Turin, Italy,
at the age of 72. He was canonized in 1934 by his personal friend Pope
Pius XI. His feast day is January 31.
To learn more about the life of St. John Bosco, please read
"A Man Sent by God".
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