January 31

John Bosco was born in Turin, Italy, on August 16, 1815. His parents

were poor farmers. When John was two, his father died. John's mother

struggled to keep the family together. As soon as he was old enough,

John, too, worked as hard as he could to help his mother. He was

intelligent and full of life. John started to think about becoming a

priest. He didn't say anything to his mother because he knew they

couldn't afford the seminary education. Besides, his mother needed help

at home. So John waited and prayed and hope. Finally, a holy priest, St.

Joseph Cafasso, became aware of John's desire to be a priest. Father

Cafasso helped him enter the seminary. John had to work his way through

school. He learned to do all kinds of trades. He was a carpenter, a

shoemaker, a cook, a pastry maker and a farmer. He did many other jobs as

well. He could never have guessed how much this practical experience

would help others later. John became a priest in 1841. As a priest, Don

Bosco, which means Father Bosco, began his great ministry. He gathered

together homeless boys and taught them trades. This way they would not

have to steal or get into trouble. By 1850, there were 150 boys living at

his home for boys. Don Bosco's mother was the housekeeper. At first,

people did not understand what Don Bosco was trying to do. They were

afraid that the boys would never really turn out well. But Don Bosco

proved that they would.

"Do you want to be Don Bosco's friend?" he would ask each new boy who

came to him. "You do?" he would ask happily. "Then, you must help me

save your soul," he would conclude. Every night he wanted his boys to say

three Hail Mary's, so that the Blessed Mother would help them keep away

from sin. He also recommended that they receive the sacraments of

Reconciliation and Holy Communion often and with love. One of Don Bosco's

boys became a saint, St. Dominic Savio.

Don Bosco started his own religious order of priests and brothers. They

were called the Salesians, after St. Francis de Sales. An order of

Salesian sisters was started, too, with the help of St. Mary Mazzarello.

Don Bosco died on January 31, 1888. The entire city of Turin lined the

streets to pay him tribute. His funeral became a joyous proclamation of

thanksgiving to God for the life of this wonderful man. A young parish

priest who had once met Don Bosco late became Pope Pius XI. He had the

joy of declaring Don Bosco a saint in 1934.

We can learn from Don Bosco what an impact for good one person can make.

Isn't it a wonderful thing to reach out cheerfully to help others?