August 16, 1815: The Birth of Saint John Bosco

The Papal Artifacts’ Collection is primarily dedicated to artifacts connected to the papacy. Individual popes, their biographies and multiple items belonging to them, including first and second class relics, make up the majority of this Collection. But that isn’t all it is.

Father Kunst has a deep devotion to the saints as can be readily seen in viewing the Saints & Blesseds section of this site. We invite you to visit Papal History/Saints & Blesseds to view the many canonized and beatified men and women who make up this section of the Collection.

St. John Bosco is one of them.

Letter Signed by St. John Bosco

This letter is completely in his own hand and it is in regard to an appointment with a benefactor of his that will take place later in the day. This is the rough translation:

I have the pleasure to inform you that nothing was changed what was agreed upon our meeting. It means at 5:00 in the evening of today, Sunday, at the Oratory. In the meantime I give my hearty thanks in the hope to have you with us today. I declare to be your humble servant.

From the Oratory, June 1, 1851.

John Bosco, Priest

Autograph on a Relic Card of St. John Bosco From 1889

Blessed Michael Rua

This is an autograph of Blessed Michael Rua on a relic card of St. John Bosco. Additionally, there is a relic card of Blessed Michael Rua himself kneeling before a crucifix.

Blessed Michael Rua was an Italian Catholic activist and a friend of St. John Bosco. They co-founded the Salesian order with a mission to care for the poor children of the Industrial Revolution. He was known for his fatherliness and kindness.

The relic card is of St. John Bosco from 1889. It contains a little piece of cloth. There is a little testament underneath the relic as well.

At the time, John Bosco wasn’t even close to being canonized. He had only died in 1888. Pope Pius XI canonized him in 1934.

Pope Paul VI beatified Michael Rua in 1972.

Saint John Bosco

Don Bosco instructed him, and other children were drawn by a kindness they had never known. In 1842, the Oratory, so called after the example of St. Philip Neri, numbered twenty boys. By 1846, there were four hundred. In addition to academic instruction, outdoor activities and lunch were prepared for them and a band was even organized once he realized the charm music held for them

By 1845, while working with another priest, Don Borel, Don Bosco organized a night school so those boys who worked in factories would also have access to education. However, this venture was short lived as Bosco encountered myriad difficulties that seemed to spell the ruin of his undertaking. Since the children with whom he dealt were considered a nuisance, every attempt was made to stop his work. When he was finally able to find suitable lodgings for the Oratory that by then numbered 700 members, he was joined by his mother who gave the last ten years of her life in devotion to this first Salesian home. She parted with all her belongings to support her son’s work and brought the solicitude and love of a mother to these street children.

At this point the civil authorities recognized the importance of his work and cooperated with his desire to build technical schools and workshops. In 1858 Don Bosco built the church, Our Lady, Help of Christians, in a poor quarter of Turin to meet the needs of the people.

Don Bosco was said to have had a dream in his youth, in which he heard a voice say to him, Not with blows, but with charity and gentleness must you draw these friends to the path of virtue. It was in this spirit that Don Bosco’s presence filled the Oratory. His approach to these children was to draw them to him by small presents and pleasant walks to favorite spots in Turin. If it was Sunday, he would say Mass, give a short instruction on the Gospel, feed them breakfast and organize games. Later Vespers would be sung, a catechism lesson given and a rosary recited. He would have nothing to do with punishment but allowed no effort of the boys towards virtue to go unappreciated. As far as possible avoid punishing. Try to gain love before inspiring fear, he said. Don Bosco believed that any causes of weakness in character sprang from misdirected kindness in the rearing of children. He believed that frequent confession, frequent communion and daily Mass were the pillars, which should sustain the whole edifice of education. He also believed play was the way to a child’s heart and placed it among his first recommendations.

Don Bosco selected the brightest of his pupils and taught them Italian, Latin, French and mathematics. They became the teaching corps for the new homes which quickly grew up in other places. Today, the Salesians have houses in all parts of the world and work in hospitals, asylums and prisons.

Don Bosco died on January 31st, 1888. At the time of his death, there were 250 Salesian houses in all parts of the world caring for 130,0000 children. The Salesians took their name from the French bishop, St. Francis de Sales, known for his amiability.

Pope Pius XI canonized him in 1934. Pope John Paul II gave him the name of Father, Teacher and Friend of Youth. His feast is celebrated on January 31st.