Memorial of Saint John Bosco
On January 31, the Church celebrates the Memorial of Saint John Bosco, a priest whose life was poured out in love for young people, especially the poor and abandoned. Known simply as “Don Bosco,” he saw in every child not a problem to be solved, but a soul to be loved and led to Christ.
Born in 1815 in northern Italy, John Bosco lost his father at a young age and grew up in poverty. From his earliest years, he felt a strong call to the priesthood and a special concern for boys who were neglected, homeless, or involved in crime. As a young priest in Turin, he encountered countless boys working long hours in factories or wandering the streets with no guidance. Rather than condemning them, Don Bosco welcomed them.
He gathered them in what he called the “Oratory”—a place not only for prayer, but also for friendship, education, games, and formation in virtue. His method, known as the “Preventive System,” was built on three pillars: reason, religion, and loving kindness. Instead of harsh discipline, he believed that young people thrive when they are trusted, guided patiently, and shown real affection.
Saint John Bosco was deeply Eucharistic and Marian. He taught his boys to love Confession and the Mass, to pray the Rosary, and to entrust themselves to Mary Help of Christians. He was convinced that holiness was not reserved for a few, but was possible for every young person. Among his students were saints like Dominic Savio, who showed that youthful joy and deep sanctity belong together.
Don Bosco’s work grew far beyond what he could have imagined. He founded the Salesians of Don Bosco and the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, religious communities dedicated to education and evangelization of the young. Today, his spiritual family serves in schools, parishes, and missions around the world.
The Memorial of Saint John Bosco invites us to look again at how we treat the young people in our lives. Do we see their struggles with patience? Do we guide them toward Christ with kindness rather than criticism? Do we believe that God is already at work in their hearts?
In a world that often overlooks or labels the young, Saint John Bosco reminds us that every child is a gift, every teenager a promise, and every soul worth the full measure of our love. His life teaches us that when young people are loved, they will learn; when they are trusted, they will grow; and when they are led to Christ, they will become saints.
In Christ,
Fr. Joe Connelly