The Saint we celebrate today in John Bosco, who was born in Sardinia in 1815. While a youth in Turin, Italy, Bosco was encouraged to become a priest so he could work with youth. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1841. His service to young people started when he met a poor orphan in Turin. He instructed him in preparation for receiving First Holy Communion. He then gathered young apprentices together and taught them the catechism. After serving as chaplain in a hospice for working girls, Bosco opened the Oratory of St. Francis de Sales for boys. Several wealthy patrons contributed money for this endeavor, enabling him to provide two workshops for the boys, teaching them shoemaking and tailoring skills. He became renowned for his ministry to youth, gathering other young priests together in this work and under the encouragement of Pope Pius IX, he founded the religious order of the Salesians in 1859, and later founded an order of Salesian sisters to work with girls. He is one of the patron saints of children and youth, especially youth who are struggling in life.
We hear in the Gospel today how the crowds recognized Jesus’ power to heal. Among those who came to healing was Jairus, the synagogue official, who wanted Jesus to heal his daughter, who was at the point of death, and the woman who was afflicted with hemorrhages for many years. Jesus had compassion for those who were suffered and afflicted who came to him for help, just as St John Bosco had compassion for those children and youth he saw who were struggling and suffering. May their example inspire us to also reach out to those in need around us.
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