St. John Bosco (Aug. 16, 1815 to Jan. 31, 1888)

"When tempted, invoke your angel. He is more eager to help you than you are to be helped."
     (St. John Bosco)

St. John Bosco was born in Becchi, near Castelnuovo, Italy in 1815. He was just two years old when his father died. He was raised a poor shepherd boy and enjoyed doing magic tricks to entertain his friends. At age 16, St. John Bosco entered the seminary in Chieri and was ordained a priest in 1841.

He set up a residence for poor and neglected boys with the help of his mother. He dealt with the youngsters as Jesus did the Apostles, being patient with their roughness, ignorance, and unfaithfulness. St. John Bosco treated sinners with kindness. As a follower of St. Francis de Sales, he founded the Society in his name. A Salesian motto: give me only souls and keep all the rest.
Along with being the patron saint of editors, publishers, and school children, St. John Bosco reminds us to treat youngsters with respect and give them the good guidance that they need.
He died on Jan. 31, 1888. Canonized: 1934.