John Bosco was born in 1815 in Becchi, Italy, to the farmhands Francesco Bosco and Margherita Occhiena. Francesco died when John was two years old and he was brought up by his mother and two older brothers, Antonio and Giuseppe. Poverty kept John from going to school and he spent his early childhood as a shepherd, receiving instruction only from his parish priest. Continuous quarrels with his brother Antonio forced him to leave home and look for work as a farmhand. In 1830 John finally attended school and in 1835 he entered a seminary. Six years later in 1841 he was ordained as a priest by the Archbishop of Turin. John dedicated his life and ministry to the improvement and education of street children, juvenile offenders and other needy young people. John was devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title of Our Lady Help of Christians and to Saint Francis de Sales. In 1859 he founded the Society of Saint Francis de Sales, and 1870 he founded the lay movement, the Association of Salesian Co-operators. He died in 1888 and was beatified in 1929. In 1934 Pope Pius XI canonised John, who is popularly known as “Don Bosco.”
On this day according to the ROMAN MARTYROLOGY:
On the Via Ostiensis at Rome, the holy martyrs Cyrus and John, who were beheaded after suffering many torments for the name of Christ.
At Alexandria, in the time of the emperor Decius, the birthday of St. Metran, martyr, who, because he refused to utter blasphemous words at the bidding of the pagans, was scourged until he was covered with bruises and pierced through the face and eyes with sharp-pointed reeds. He was then driven out of the city, overwhelmed with stones and killed.
In the same place, the holy martyrs Saturninus, Thyrsus and Victor.
In the same city, the holy martyrs Tharsicius, Zoticus, Cyriacus and their companions.
At Cyzicum in Hellespont, St. Triphenes, martyr, who overcame various torments, but was finally killed by a bull, and thus merited the palm of martyrdom.
At Modena, St. Geminian, bishop, made illustrious by his miracles.
In the province of Milan, St. Julius, priest and confessor, in the reign of the emperor Theodosius.
At Rome, St. Marcella, a widow, whose meritorious deeds are related by St. Jerome.
In the same place, blessed Louisa Albertoni, a Roman widow, of the Third Order of St. Francis, distinguished for her virtues.
The same day, the translation of the Evangelist St. Mark, when his sacred body was brought from the city of Alexandria in Egypt, then occupied by barbarians, to Venice, and with the greatest honours placed in the large church dedicated to his name.
And in other places, many other holy martyrs, confessors and virgins.
Thanks be to God.
