John Bosco Biography

John Bosco was an Italian Catholic saint, founder of religious orders and writer. He was affectionately known as Don Bosco and is renowned for his work in educating and rehabilitating poor and disadvantaged youth. Born into a poor family, he took up odd jobs as a boy to help his widowed mother. He was spiritual from a very young age and a devotee of Mother Mary. He soon joined the seminary and became a priest, after which he dedicated his life to looking after street children and their betterment. He developed reformative teaching methods like the ‘Salesian Preventive System’ and set up homes for street boys. He faced much opposition throughout his life, but established various religious orders in the 19th century, like ‘Society of St. Francis de Sales’, ‘Daughters of Mary Help of Christians’, etc. He started writing a bulletin that is in circulation even today. He was declared a saint after his death and is venerated widely across the Catholic world. Various churches, educational, medical and religious institutions around the globe have been dedicated to or named after him.