Saint John Bosco

Saint John Bosco's father died when he was only two. He called his mother "Mama Margaret." He was very close to her and she was very religious. She believed it was important for John to say thank you to God every day.

John realized that he wanted to help the less fortunate, the orphans, and the poor who don't get to enjoy the gifts God created. Later, John went to a fair, and he learned he had an interest in juggling and performing for children. Although, before he would perform, he made the children pray ten Hail Marys with him. His motto soon became, "No pray- No stay."

(http://www.dioceseoflafayette.org/offices/poeyc/images/donbosco.jpg)

John soon became a priest. He gathered orphans from all over, and his goal was to teach them the difference from right and wrong. He taught them the Bible, Catechism, how to go to Mass, and confession. He also taught them life skills such as carpentry, bookkeeping, and shoemaking as well as religion.

Because people thought John was crazy for helping children, God sent him a dog to protect him. It showed up out of nowhere and scared off people trying to hurt him. John named him Grigio, which means, "the gray one" in Italian. One day the dog came to say goodbye to John. But soon after, John and another priest were lost. John was tired and sick of wandering around when he said, "If only my Grigio were here." Just then, the dog came and lead them home safely.

(http://donnamarie.files.wordpress.com/2008/04/john-bosco1.jpg)

After some time, an epidemic struck near John and his orphan boys, he said to them, "We are going to help those in the hospital." He also reminded them that if any of them happen to get very sick and die, they should accept death and know they died serving God's people. Not one of them every got sick from the epidemic.