Saint Don Bosco

Raised primarily by his mother, St. Don Bosco (also known as John Bosco) was raised in the Catholic faith.  He attended church often and became very devout. 

When St. Don Bosco was nine years old, he had the first of several vivid dreams that would influence his life. In his dream, he encountered a group of boys who swore as they played. Among these boys, he encountered a great, majestic man and woman. The man told him that in meekness and charity, he would "conquer these your friends." Then a lady, also majestic said, "Be strong, humble and robust. When the time comes, you will understand everything." This dream influenced John the rest of his life.

In 1835, Don entered the seminary and following six years of study and preparation, he was ordained a priest in 1841.  He was assigned to Turin and quickly became aware of the poverty.  He noticed there were many young boys between the ages of 12 and 18 in the prisons.  Fr. Bosco felt called to help prevent the kids from ending up in the prisons,  so he began meeting them on the streets. 

In 1859, Fr. Bosco established the Society of St. Francis de Sales. He organized 15 seminarians and one teenage boy into the group. Their purpose was to carry on his charitable work, helping boys with their faith formation and to stay out of trouble. The organization still exists today and continues to help people, especially children around the world.

Saint Don Bosco is the patron saint of apprentices, editors and publishers, schoolchildren, magicians, and juvenile delinquents.

His feast day is January 31.

Find more information on St. Don Bosco HERE