Son of Venerable Margaret Bosco. John’s father diedwhen the boy was two years old; and as soon as he was old enough to do odd jobs, John did so to helps support his family. Bosco would go to circuses, fairs and carnivals, practice the tricks that he saw magicians perform, and then put on one-boy shows. After his performance, while he still had an audience of boys, he would repeat the homily he had heard earlier that day in church.
He worked as a tailor, baker, shoemaker, and carpenter while attending college andseminary. Ordained in 1841. A teacher, he worked constantly with young people, finding places where they could meet, play and pray, teaching catechism to orphans andapprentices. Chaplain in a hospice for girls. Wrote short treatises aimed at explaining thefaith to children, and then taught children how to print them. Friend of Saint Joseph Cafasso, whose biography he wrote, and confessor to Blessed Joseph Allamano. Founded the Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB) in 1859, priests who work with and educate boys, under the protection of Our Lady, Help of Chistians, and Saint Francis de Sales. Founded theDaughters of Mary, Help of Christians in 1872, and Union of Cooperator Salesians in 1875.
