St. John Bosco

Saint John Bosco

Confessor

Giovanni Melchiorre Bosco was born in 1815 to a poor Italian family, and lost his father at the age of two. A hard-working, witty, pious boy, he entered the seminary when he was twenty. After his ordination, Father or “Don” Bosco served in Turin, where he began to devote his efforts to caring for the youth. Many of his early attempts to organize young boys met with stiff opposition, but through prayer and perseverance, Don Bosco finally succeeded in formally establishing a teaching order: the Society of St. Francis de Sales, or the Salesians of Don Bosco. Their monthly publication, the Salesian Bulletin, has been in print without interruption since 1877. An accompanying order of Salesian Sisters was also founded, with the help of their first superior St. Maria Domenica Mazzarello, along with a third order for laity. Don Bosco was deeply devoted to Our Lady Help of Christians, and built a basilica with that title near his home for boys in Turin. Among his excellent writings were biographies of his mentor, St. Joseph Cafasso, and a student, St. Dominic Savio. Don Bosco died in the year of Our Lord 1888, and is a patron of Catholic publishers, apprentices, illusionists, students, and the youth in general.

Traditional Roman Martyrology for January 31st

AT Barcelona, in Spain, St. Peter Nolasco, confessor, who slept in the Lord on the 25th of December.

At Rome, on the road to Ostia, the holy martyrs Cyrus and John, who were beheaded after suffering many torments for the name of Christ.

At Alexandria, in the time of the emperor Decius, the birthday of St. Metran, martyr, who, because he refused to utter blasphemous words at the bidding of the Pagans, was scourged until he was covered with bruises, and pierced through the face and eyes with sharp-pointed reeds. He was then driven out of the city, overwhelmed with stones and killed.

In the same place, the holy martyrs Saturninus, Thyrsus and Victor.

In the same city, the holy martyrs Tharsicius, Zoticus, Cyriacus, and their companions.

At Cyzicum, in Hellespont, St. Triphenes, martyr, who overcame various torments, but was finally killed by a bull, and thus merited the palm of martyrdom.

At Modena, St. Geminian, bishop, made illustrious by his miracles.

In the province of Milan, St. Julius, priest and confessor, in the reign of the emperor Theodosius.

At Borne, St. Marcella, a widow, whose meritorious deeds are related by St. Jerome.

In the same place, blessed Louisa Albertonia, a Roman widow, of the Third Order of St. Francis, distinguished for her virtues.

The same day, the translation of the evangelist St. Mark, when his sacred body was brought from the city of Alexandria, in Egypt, then occupied by barbarians, to Venice, and with the greatest honors placed in the large church dedicated to his name.

℣. And elsewhere many other holy martyrs, confessors, and holy virgins.

℟. Thanks be to God.