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Turin’s Beloved Saint: Don Bosco

Written by Marissa Romero

On January 31, the Catholic Church celebrates the feast day of St. John Bosco, affectionately known as Don Bosco. Recognized as the patron saint of youth, he made remarkable contributions to their education and ministry.

He was born in 1815 and became a priest in 1841. Yet, even before joining the seminary, young John started to help disadvantaged children and youth.

Inspired by the Blessed Mary, the Italian saint focused on rescuing youth from the dangers of evil that lurked on the streets.

In order to attract them, he invited them to enjoy innocent entertainment such as juggling, magic tricks, and other games, which he cleverly combined with loving kindness and, importantly, prayer. A blend of play and prayer, always encouraging the boys to make positive choices.

As a priest, he resolutely committed himself to helping and educating the poor and orphaned boys abandoned and left to themselves on the streets.

Don Bosco also actively engaged with juveniles participating in delinquency, as well as the ones released from jail. He aimed to prevent them from returning to their negative behavior.

As time passed by, more and more youth joined St. Bosco’s teaching meetings, initially held in two borrowed large rooms, and then moved to a church, and finally, to the outdoors, as the multitude could no longer fit in the loaned church.

He was devoted to his mission to educate on prevention from harm by employing clear reasoning to inspire his flock to fully embrace Christian values.

St. John Bosco never gave up on his goal to edify and protect all the children who needed support. As he amazingly envisioned:

Trusting in the Blessed Mary under her title of Help of Christians, Don Bosco started to receive significant financial donations from unknown devotees. And despite facing arduous challenges, his vision of constructing oratories and churches came to life.

In particular, he desired widespread devotion to Mary, Help of Christians, in thanksgiving for all the favors received through her maternal intercession. Accordingly, the Basilica of Mary, Help of Christians, in Turin, was built and dedicated in 1868.

MARY, HELP OF CHRISTIANS, PRAY FOR US: Painting located at the altar of the Basilica of Mary, Help of Christians in Turin, Italy. (Public domain.)

The Italian saint died in 1888 at the age of 72 and was canonized in 1934. And, as he anticipated, the society of Don Bosco, known as the Salesians of St. John Bosco, miraculously operates oratories and churches worldwide, inspiring countless lives to this day.

^{TURIN’S BELOVED SAINT: St. John Bosco’s relics are held in a glass casket at the Basilica of Mary, Help of Christians in Turin, Italy. (Photo credit: Marissa Romero)}

On the 100^th anniversary of Don Bosco’s death in 1988, St. John Paul II declared him “father and teacher of the youth.”

One of the last sentences written by St. John Bosco says:

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