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 Saint John Bosco

1815-1888

Feast day: January 31

Patronage: Christian apprentices, editors, publishers, schoolchildren, young people, magicians, magic tricks

John Bosco, also known as Don Bosco, was an Italian Roman Catholic priest who dedicated his life to the betterment and education of street children, juvenile delinquents, and other disadvantaged youth, employing teaching methods based on love rather than punishment. A follower of the spirituality and philosophy of Saint Francis de Sales, Bosco dedicated his works to him when he founded the Salesians of Don Bosco.

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THE DESCRIPTION OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO (aka Don Bosco) The Apostle, Father and Teacher of the Youth Feast Day: January 31

"Enjoy yourself as much as you like - if only you keep from sin."

The founder of the Society of Saint Francis de Sales (popularly known as the Salesians of Don Bosco) was born Giovanni Melchiorre Bosco, to a peasant family in Castelnuovo d'Asti (Castelnuovo Don Bosco), Piedmont, Kingdom of Sardinia, twelve miles near Turin, Italy on the feast of the Assumption of Mary - August 15, 1815. He was the youngest son of Francesco Bosco and Margherita Occhiena, and had two older brothers, Antonio, and Giuseppe.

The Boscos of Becchi were farmhands of the Moglian Family, and John was born into a time of great shortage and famine in the Piedmontese countryside, following the devastation wrought by the Napoleonic Wars and drought in 1817.

In 1825, when he was nine years old, he dreamed of an army of youngsters, who turned from ferocious animals into gentle lambs. The Blessed Virgin Mary, with her hands on his head, said: 'What you have seen happen to these animals, you will have to do with my children.'

John started gathering the children of his town, teaching them catechism and bringing them to church. He would often delight them with acrobatic and circus tricks.

John was sixteen when he entered the seminary at Chieri, next to the Church of the Immacolata Concezione (San Fillippo). His parish priest was convinced of his vocation because John was able to repeat word by word all his homilies. After six years of study, he has ordained a priest on the eve of Trinity Sunday by Archbishop Franzoni of Turin in 1841 at the age of twenty-six.

John was assigned to Turin, where he energetically worked for the prisoners, the youth, and the street children. For them, he opened the Oratory of St. Francis de Sales, where they could learn a trade and the basics of Christian life. He chose this patron saint for his gentleness, and because in the hall of the house donated by a rich woman for his oratory, there was his portrait.

In his tireless apostolate, Don Bosco was constantly supported by his mother. In his effort to make honest citizens and good Christians, he opened workshops for shoemaking, tailoring, and printing. Don Bosco was so convinced of the power of the mass-media that he usually spent half of the night writing books and magazines. His motto was: 'Give me the souls and keep all the rest.'

In 1859, he founded the Salesian Society for the education of the boys; and in 1872, he founded the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (Salesian Sisters of Don Bosco) together with St. Maria Domenica Mazzarello, for the education of the girls. In order to support the work of both congregations, John organized the Association of Salesian Cooperators in 1876, who followed in their homes and state of life of the Salesian spirituality.

Don Bosco died on January 31, 1888 in Turin at the age of 72 due to bronchitis, and his funeral was attended by thousands. He is beatified on June 2, 1929 and is canonized as a saint by Pope Pius XI on April 1, 1934 - Easter Sunday. His major shrine can be found at the Basilica of Our Lady Help of Christians in Turin, Italy.

Source of picture: wearecatholics_official on Instagram

Life of St. John Bosco

John Bosco’s theory of education could well be used in today’s schools. It was a preventive system, rejecting corporal punishment and placing students in surroundings removed from the likelihood of committing sin. He advocated frequent reception of the sacraments of Penance and Holy Communion. He combined catechetical training and fatherly guidance, seeking to unite the spiritual life with one’s work, study and play.

Encouraged during his youth in Turin to become a priest so he could work with young boys, John was ordained in 1841. His service to young people started when he met a poor orphan in Turin, and instructed him in preparation for receiving Holy Communion. He then gathered young apprentices and taught them catechism.

After serving as chaplain in a hospice for working girls, Don Bosco opened the Oratory of St. Francis de Sales for boys. Several wealthy and powerful patrons contributed money, enabling him to provide two workshops for the boys, shoemaking and tailoring.

Source of picture: https://catholiccompany.com

By 1856, the institution had grown to 150 boys and had added a printing press for publication of religious and catechetical pamphlets. John’s interest in vocational education and publishing justify him as patron of young apprentices and Catholic publishers.

John’s preaching fame spread and by 1850 he had trained his own helpers because of difficulties in retaining young priests. In 1854, he and his followers informally banded together, inspired by Saint Francis de Sales.

With Pope Pius IX’s encouragement, John gathered 17 men and founded the Salesians in 1859. Their activity concentrated on education and mission work. Later, he organized a group of Salesian Sisters to assist girls.

WITH CHARITY AND GENTLENESS

Saint John Bosco, a progressive thinker, abhorred all punishment, believing that by removing youth from temptation, treating them with dignity and kindness, and enriching them with skills, they could be led to more productive lives.  His simple rule was: “Not with blows, but with charity and gentleness must you draw these friends to the path of virtue.”

Saint of the Day – 8 April – Blessed Augustus Czartoryski S.D.B. (1858-1893) Religious Priest of the Salesians of Don Bosco, Royal Prince and Duke – born Prince August Franciszek Maria Anna Józef Kajetan Czartoryski/the Duke of Vista Alegre on 2 August 1858 in Paris, France – evening of 8 April, 1893 in Alassio, Savona, Italy of tuberculosis.  His remains were interred in the family mausoleum in the parish crypt in Sieniawa, Poland and later re-interred in the Salesian church in Przemysl, Poland.

 Augustus Czartoryski was born on 2 August 1858 in Paris, France, the firstborn son to Prince Ladislaus of Poland and Princess Maria Amparo, daughter of the Duke and Queen of Spain.   The noble Czartoryski Family had been living in exile in France for almost 30 years, in the Lambert Palace.   Here, with the hope of restoring unity in Poland, they continued to direct activities between their fellow Polish countrymen and the European chancellery.

Plans for a future Prince (his parents above c 1860)

It was already planned that Augusto would be a future “reference point” for this restoration and would carry on the “Czartoryski” name.   God’s designs, however, were to unfold differently. When Augusto was 6, his mother died of tuberculosis;  the disease was also transmitted to him and for the rest of his life he would be plagued by ill health.   Although he had to make “forced pilgrimages” with his father to Italy, Switzerland, Egypt and Spain in search of a cure, he never regained his health.

As he grew up, Augusto felt that he was not meant for the life of nobility and one day, when he was 20 years old, he wrote to his father:  “I confess to you that I am tired [of all the parties;  they are superficial entertainments that cause me anguish and I feel myself “forced’ to make acquaintances with others at these banquets”.

Augusto already received spiritual direction from his tutor, Joseph Kalinsowski (later Saint Raphael of Saint Joseph Kalinowski O.C.D. (1835-1907) , who would later become a Carmelite and who, before leaving for Carmel in 1877, wrote to Prince Ladislaus to suggest that it would be wise, considering the boy’s love for God, to entrust him to the direction of a priest.

Encounter with Don Bosco

Prince Ladislaus accepted the counsel given by Augusto’s tutor and Fr Stanislaus Kubowicz began to guide him.   Augusto was already feeling more and more called to religious life and was hoping for a clearer indication of what God wanted from him:  this “decisive event” took place when he was 25 and met Don Bosco, founder of the Salesians.

When Don Bosco came to Paris and celebrated Mass in the family chapel of the Lambert Palace, Augusto saw in this holy founder and teacher the “father of his soul”and guide for his future.   While Augusto remained quiet and withdrawn in the face of matrimony plans made for him by his father, he had no intention of continuing the “noble line”. Indeed, after his first encounter with the Salesian saint, he was more resolute than ever to answer God’s call by becoming a Salesian.

When his father gave him permission, Augusto would travel to Turin to meet with Don Bosco and participate in spiritual retreats.   He became comfortable with the “poverty” of the Salesian Oratory and was not disturbed by his frequent ill health or his father’s opposition;  he instead saw God’s hand in all these circumstances.

He would say: “If God wants this, all will go well since he can take away every obstacle.   If he does not want this, then neither do I”.

A “Prince’ for God’s Kingdom

Don Bosco was somewhat reluctant to accept Augusto into the Salesian community:  it took Pope Leo XIII to remove his doubts when he gave Augusto this message:  “Tell Don Bosco that it is the Pope’s will that he receives you among the Salesians”.

Don Bosco replied: “Well then, my dear son, I accept you. From this moment, you are a part of the Salesian Family and I desire that you belong here until you die”.

In 1887 he began his novitiate under the guidance of Don Giulio Barberis.   The young man had to overcome many “habits” and adjust to community life, schedule, frugal meals and other sacrifices.   All this he did with great serenity and abandonment to God.

When his father came to try to convince him to return home and accept his nobility as “Prince”, he refused.   On 24 November 1887, the day of his vesting in the hands of Don Bosco, the holy founder whispered into Augusto’s ear:  “Courage, my prince!  Today we have conquered and I can also say with great joy that one day when you become a priest you will do much for your Country”.

One year as Christ’s priest

Don Bosco died two months later.   Augusto’s health was also worsening and his father continued to try to dissuade him from becoming a priest, using his ill health as an “excuse”.

When Prince Ladislaus asked the “help” of Cardinal Parocchi to dismiss him from the Salesians, Augusto wrote:   “In full liberty I made my vows and I did this with great joy of heart.   From that day I continue to live in the Congregation with an immense peace of spirit and I thank the Lord for allowing me to know the Salesian Family and for having called me to become a Salesian”.

On 2 April 1892 he was ordained a priest by the Bishop of Ventimiglia.   Although Prince Ladislaus was not present at the Ordination, a month later, joined by the entire family in Mentone, he reconciled himself with his son’s decision and renounced his own dreams of prestige and nobility for Augusto.

Fr Augusto died on 8 April 1893 in Alassio, where he lived his year as a priest, occupying a room which looked out onto the courtyard where the children of the Oratory played. He was 35 years old.

Relics of August Czartoryski in Salesians Church in Przemyśl, Poland