What Was Saint John Bosco Known For?

On January 31, we celebrate the feast day of Saint John Bosco, one of the most prolific spiritual authors of the church. He wrote over 1,000 articles, books, and pamphlets during his life. He penned over 4,600 letters, sending his wisdom and inspiration to fellow religious, esteemed leaders, nobility, and the youth he served. But there was a time when his education was uncertain, and when it seemed his influence might only reach to the edges of the fields he worked.

John Bosco was born on August 16, 1815, in a small village near Turin, Italy. His father passed away when he was only 2 years old, and his mother led him and his two older brothers through life with the tenets of faith and hard work at the center of their lives. John took both values on with zest. Where some would see disciplined faith and difficult work as a burden, he saw them as the foundation of joy and freedom from the trap of idleness. When he was 9 years old, he had a dream that would give clarity to his calling: He was among other children, some playing, but some cursing and being morally offensive. He felt the need to defend his morals with force and jumped into the group to do so, when a man appeared and told him, “You will have to win these friends of yours not with blows, but with gentleness and kindness.” This was followed by an apparition of a majestic Lady, whom he recognized as Mary, saying to him: “This is your field, this is where you must work.”

He was convicted in his mission, but for a time, his “field” remained with the family farm and flocks of sheep he watched. However, he found ways to reach other young people from that place. Inspired by a traveling troupe that came through his town, he learned magic tricks and acrobatics. Faith had always been infused in every aspect of his life, and these seemingly frivolous hobbies were no different. As his peers were drawn into the playfulness of John, he used the attention to teach his faith. An incredible photographic memory enabled him to recall homilies from Mass, and he would often repeat these to crowds after a short performance. He had found a way to make his field the place of his true work.

John Bosco felt called to deepen this ministry through the priesthood, but there was no certain path to education or priesthood for the youngest son on a humble family farm at that time. Though his mother supported him, John had the hurdle of an older brother exerting authority over him in the absence of his father, who was adamantly opposed to his pursuit of the priesthood. He was worth more to his brother as a laborer. John ordered his obedience toward God and left home at the age of 12. He put his work ethic to use in farming, tailoring, baking, and shoemaking, among other jobs, to fund his own education and seminary. His gifts were recognized by local priests, and he received mentorship alongside his work. He was able to combine his savings with funds his mother had compiled for him to enter the seminary at 20 years of age.

Fr. John Bosco, or Don Bosco as he was called, was ordained in 1841. His priesthood seemed to be a direct reflection of his life experiences. The youth were the focus of his ministry. He had grown up without a father, so his heart was uniquely turned to the orphaned. He had learned the value of hard work early in life, so he passed on this joy of labor to the young. At the same time, the element of play and joy that he maintained in his own life remained part of his preaching. He was known for the motto: “Run, jump, shout, but do not sin!”

In his studies, Don Bosco was uniquely inspired by St. Francis de Sales. De Sales' approach of “Do everything out of love, nothing out of constraint,” echoed the natural inclinations of Bosco. They had a similar balance of zeal and peace, a combination of joy and gentleness that directed their steps. This relationship, though the men lived 200 years apart, fueled Don Bosco’s fervor for a specific system of education and eventually led to his founding an Oratory named for his spiritual mentor, Saint Francis de Sales. The Oratory of St. Francis de Sales was a place of refuge for marginalized youth. Here, they could experience security and education, spiritual direction and social training, all through the education paradigm of a “Preventive System” developed by Don Bosco.

The Preventive System was a distinct contrast to the more pervasive punitive approaches to discipline and education. Three pillars formed the foundation of this method: reason, religion, and loving kindness. It gave students agency to align their lives with logic and the deep truths that would direct their lives. It formed their faith by emphasizing a relationship with God and in interaction with Him through the sacraments. And finally, it hinged on positive relationships between educators and students, mirroring more of a mentorship interaction than a strictly authoritarian one.

Bosco’s Oratory became a place where students could immerse themselves in trades such as shoemaking, tailoring, and eventually printmaking. Trades that would otherwise have been out of reach for these disadvantaged youth became the mode by which they could make a living. The printing press served a dual role by not only teaching the skills associated with the trade but also making widely available his own writings and materials. Of these, one of the most popular was The Companion of Youth, a rule of life for young people and instruction on how to direct their hearts and hands toward good. The wisdom shared in the work showcases Bosco’s relatable and attainable writing style and is still relevant today. He writes:

“There are two main snares by which the devil usually tempts young people away from virtue. The first is to convince them that the service of the Lord consists in living a life of melancholy, devoid of all pleasure and enjoyment. This is not the case, my dear friends. I would like to teach you a kind of Christian life that will make you happy and contented. I want to show you what true enjoyment and pleasure is, so that you may follow the advice of the holy prophet David: ‘Serve the Lord with gladness’.”

“The second snare is the hope of a long life, with the expectation of conversion in old age or when death threatens…That this misfortune may not befall you, I have drawn up a scheme of life, tried and easy enough, which will enable you to be a joy to your parents, and a glory to your country, making you good citizens upon earth, and one day blessed inhabitants of Heaven…”

From him flowed thousands of other writings, whether instructional pamphlets, letters, articles, or books. He was a teacher through word and action, through intellect and emotion.

In 1859, he founded the Order of the Salesians, named in honor of St. Francis de Sales, to continue upholding the values of a loving, working faith and holistic education for disadvantaged youth. In 1872, he founded the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, known as the Salesian Sisters, with Saint Maria Mazzarello. A lay order called the Salesian Cooperators followed. Today, over 34,000 Salesians in 130 countries are working within the principles established by Saint John Bosco.

In 1888, at the age of 72, Don Bosco gave what would be his final instructions to the Salesians that gathered around him amidst a battle with acute bronchitis: “Tell my boys that I wait for them all in Paradise…Love each other as brothers. Do good to all and evil to no one.” He passed away on January 31, 1888, 41 years after writing these words: 

“Consider, my son, that this body of yours, this soul of yours were given to you by God without any merit of yours, creating you in his image. He made you His child by holy baptism. He loved you and does love you as a tender father, and the only purpose for which he created you is to be loved and served in this life, to then be happy in heaven. You are not in the world only to enjoy, become rich, to eat, drink and sleep, like the animals but your purpose is to love your God and save your soul. If you do this, how much consolation you will have at the moment of your death!”
- Saint John Bosco in The Companion of Youth