A portrait of St. John Bosco
St. John Bosco
16 August 1815 – 31 January 1888
Feast
January 31 · XIX c.
Patron of
Youth · Editors · Apprentices · Schoolchildren · Magicians, popular
Order
Priest / Founder
Italian priest (1815-1888), Piedmontese peasant son who from his ordination dedicated himself to the abandoned boys of industrial Turin; founded the Salesians (1859) and, with St. Mary Mazzarello, the Salesian Sisters (1872), pioneering the "preventive system" of education by reason, religion, and loving-kindness. Canonized 1934 by Pius XI.
Life & Times
Born: 16 August 1815 · Died: 31 January 1888 · From: Italy.
Patronage
St. John Bosco is invoked as the patron of youth, editors, apprentices, schoolchildren, magicians, popular. Those in these callings or circumstances often turn to this saint in prayer.
“Do you want to do a holy thing? Do well what you have to do.”— Memorie Biografiche (Biographical Memoirs), recorded by his Salesian sons
Shop St. John Bosco Products
Devotional items honoring St. John Bosco, from our Sancta Lumina collection and beyond.
St. John Bosco Tiny Saint Charm
$5.99
Sterling Silver St. John Bosco Medal | Medium | Engravable
$62.00
Gold-Filled St. John Bosco Pendant
$114.00
100-Pack - St John Bosco Holy Card
$56.00
Pewter St. John Bosco Medal | Medium | Engravable
$20.00
25-Pack - Religious Coin Token - St John Bosco with Prayer
$55.00
St John Bosco Prayer Card Set
$14.99
Pewter St. John Bosco Medal | 24-inch Chain | Prayer to St John Bosco Prayer Card | Engravable
$48.00
About Catholic Saints
Catholic saints, including St. John Bosco, are Christians whom the Catholic Church has formally recognized as having lived lifes of heroic holiness and who now dwell with God in heaven, offering an example of faith for those still on their earthly journey. Catholics don't worship saints, but ask them to pray to God with us and for us — much as one might ask a trusted friend to pray for them — trusting that those closest to God can join their voices to ours before Him. Discover more saints in the Catholic Shop Saints section.