Today, January 31, is the memorial of Saint John Bosco.
Founder of the Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB), Daughters of Mary, Help of Christians, and Union of Cooperator Salesians.
Born in 1815 in Becchi, Italy, John Bosco was the youngest son of Francesco and Venerable Margaret Bosco. Francesco passed away when the child was two. John did odd jobs to support the family: he went to carnivals, circuses, and fairs; imitated the performances of the magicians; and did his own one-man shows.
Whenever his show ended, he would take advantage of the presence of the young audiences and share with them the priest’s sermon he heard in church.
John was a working student. He was a tailor, baker, shoemaker, and carpenter. He was eventually ordained, and became a teacher. He would engage the youth in fun and games, but would also teach them catechism and prayer.
He wrote treatises which explained the Catholic faith to children. He even taught the kids how to print the treatises.
John was a friend of St. Joseph Cafasso, whose biography he wrote, and heard the confessions of Blessed Joseph Allamano.
He founded the Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB) in 1859, priests who work with and educate boys, under the protection of Our Lady, Help of Chistians, and St. Francis de Sales. He also co-founded with St. Mary Mazzarello the Daughters of Mary, Help of Christians in 1872, and Union of Cooperator Salesians in 1875.
He died of natural causes at age 72 in 1888. Pope Pius XI beatified (1929) and canonized (1934) the holy founder.