DON BOSCO- THE FATHER OF THE YOUTH

 Knowing about Don Bosco:

John Melchior Bosco, commonly known as Don Bosco, was an Italian Catholic priest and educator, well known throughout history, for his dedication towards betterment of the disadvantaged youth. He was an ardent devotee of Mary, mother of Jesus, and a follower of the philosophies of Francis de Sales. He was behind the foundation of the Salesian Preventive System, which involved teaching methods based on love rather than punishment…

Life of Don Bosco:

Don Bosco was born on 16th of August, 1815, in the hillsides of Becchi, Italy. He was the youngest son of Francesco Bosco and Margherita Occhiena. After his father’s death, Don Bosco’s mother played a strong role in his personality, and was thus an early supporter of his dreams. His serious schooling had been subjected to family poverty, as he spent his early years as a shepherd.

In his childhood, Don Bosco had encountered numerous experiences that supposedly inspired him to be a priest. But in those times, priesthood was only professed by the highly privileged classes, and since he belonged to a farmer family, he faced countless obstacles. His older brother, Antonio, was the main obstacle in Don Bosco's dreams to study further. Facing the harsh life at such young ages, made him develop his later sympathy to help the abandoned and the underprivileged youth.

His early schooling was financed by his mother greatly, and also supported by a priest named Joseph Cafasso, who saw a natural talent in him.

At the age of 26, and after 6 years of study he was ordained a priest by Archbishop Franzoni of Turin.

The Salesian Preventive System:

Don Bosco had wished for a different, yet superlative approach to education. In 1877, he had addressed the then education systems in the St. Peter’s Youth Center in Nice, France, where he mentioned the term ‘Preventive System’ for the first time. The Salesian Preventive System emphasized on the values of reason, religion, and loving-kindness, so as to produce ‘Good and honest citizens’. 

                                       

Don Bosco’s other works:

Don Bosco indeed was a great priest, scholar and a man of action. His most well known achievement is probably, the foundation of the Preventive System. He also wrote countless biographies, two of the most famous ones, include that of St. Dominic Savio, his student, and Joseph Cafasso, his mentor. 

He had worked towards the foundation of the Salesian Bulletin, whose main aim was to spread and preach the works of Don Bosco throughout the world. He was also an ardent historian.

He wrote numerous Cathlic readings, throughout his life, which include The Jubilee (1853), Life of St. Martin, Bishop of tours (1855), Life of the youth- Dominic Savio (1859), and many more. Some of his other critical works include, The forty Dreams of John Bosco (1855), the preventive system in education of the youth (1877), etc. 

Death of Don Bosco: 

John Bosco died on 31st January 1888. Pope Pius XI did the beatification of Bosco on 2 June 1929, and canonized him on 1 April, 1934, where he was given the title of Father and Teacher of Youth.

Bosco’s work was carried on by his pupil and companion, Michael Rua, who was then appointed as the rector major of Salesian Society in 1888.

Even though his great personality is no more in the world, his ideals continue to inspire millions. The Salesian Preventive System is still practiced in numerous institutions of the world. There now exist numerous Don Bosco institutions, that carry on the ideals of Don Bosco, and impart education to numerous people and youth.

References:

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Bosco

- https://donboscoguwahati.net/

- https://www.donboscoindia.com/english/defaultbosco.php

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salesian_Preventive_System

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salesian_Bulletin