Saint John Bosco

The Church Pondered and Remembers St John Bosco

Sunday, January 31, 2016



I was touched by St John Bosco's story a few years ago when I watched a movie about his life on EWTN. St John Bosco was a poor priest that rescued criminal street kids and orphans during a time in history, it was an impossible task..

We were so blessed last May 2015, we had the opportunity to visit up close and personal where the story began in Turin, Italy.. with Steve and Janet Ray "Footprints of God Pilgrimage."

Amazing 200 years later the "Religious Order" he founded is all over the world, still rescuing children who are on the streets and opening doors for them with education and a hope in this life and eternity by introducing them to the author of their lives, Jesus Christ..
I've attached screen shots of my "keepsake book" from out trip.. Was a very touching moment to witness this special place our Lord began a ministry with a poor priest that had the "faith and hope" in his Lord to feed, cloth, educate and give hope to the children of his time, in which society had harmed and abused and in many cases turned them into criminals with no hope..
When I watched the movie about his life a few years ago...never dreamed we would see where it began.. God is good and what a blessing! I really recommend everyone watch the movie.. It is available online at EWTN catalog..

St. John Bosco (1815–1888) was born in Italy to a poor farming family. His father died when he was two, leaving his religious instruction to his pious mother. At the age of nine he had his first of many powerful visions which would come throughout his life. In it Jesus and the Virgin Mary showed him that he was to instruct poor, wayward boys and bring them back to God. John eventually joined the priesthood, paying his way through school with odd jobs. As a priest he began ministering to the poor and neglected boys of Turin, Italy, who were driven to desperate conditions in the wake of the Industrial Revolution. Many of these street boys ended up in prison as teenagers. Don Bosco became a mentor and spiritual director to them, inspiring them to a life of virtue and saving many from a future of crime and poverty. He met with them as a group - called the Oratory of St. Francis de Sales - and catechized them as a kindly spiritual father. He also established the Salesians of Don Bosco, priests who minister to and educate boys under the patronage of the great spiritual director, St. Francis de Sales.