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VEYO Patron Saints
St. John Bosco
Born: 1815 at Becchi, Italy
Died: 1888 at Turin, Italy
Canonized: 1934
Feast Day: January 31st
Patron Saint of: young people, schoolchildren and students
John’s father died when the boy was only 2 years old, and as soon as he was old enough to do odd jobs, he did so for extra money for his family. Bosco would go to circuses, fairs and carnivals, practice the tricks he saw magicians perform and then present one-boy shows. After his performance, while he still had an audience of boys, he would repeat the homily he had heard earlier in church.
John worked as a tailor, baker, shoemaker and carpenter while attending college and the seminary. Ordained in 1841 he became a teacher and worked with youth, especially street children, finding them places where they could meet, play and pray. He taught catechism to orphans and apprentices; was chaplain in a hospice for girls and wrote short treatises explaining the faith to children. John was subjected to petty annoyances and obstacles which, at times, seemed to spell the ruin of his undertaking. His perseverance in the face of all difficulties led many to the conclusion that he was insane, and an attempt was even made to confine him in an asylum. Complaints were lodged against him. Finally, his efforts resulted in an Oratory that counted seven hundred members. John founded the Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB) in 1859, who work with and educate boys under the protection of Our Lady, Help of Christians, and Saint Francis de Sales. He founded the Daughters of Mary, Help of Christians in 1872, and Union of Cooperator Salesians in 1875.
In his rules he wrote: "Frequent Confession, frequent Communion, daily Mass: these are the pillars which should sustain the whole edifice of education." Bosco was an indefatigable confessor, devoting days to the work among his children.
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