Saint Thomas Aquinas

Of noble Italian heritage, Saint Thomas (born around 1226) undertook an impressive academic course of instruction, passing through the University of Naples before becoming a novice of the Brothers Preachers and ultimately joining the Dominicans, despite initially facing the disdain of his family for choosing this vocation. He furthered his studies and became a notable preacher and scholar. His contributions were revered by Jesus Himself in a vision: "You have written well of me, Thomas."

He authored over 3,000 pages of theological discourse in the esteemed Summa Theologiae but ceased writing after a profound vision in December 1273, declaring the revelations rendered his work as mere straw. His magnum opus remains a cornerstone for the study of Catholic Theology.

On March 7, 1274, at approximately 48 years old, Aquinas passed away. His remains are housed in the Church of the Jacobins in Toulouse, with significant relics preserved at the Saint Sernin Basilica. Canonized in 1323, he was later declared Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius V, while Pope Leo XIII designated him as the Patron of Catholic Schools in 1880.

In the spirit of his legacy, I wish to highlight the *Think Catholic* initiative. It presents a daily guided walk through St. Thomas Aquinas's Summa Theologiae, allowing engaged listeners to cover 1-2 questions a day, leading to a comprehensive study of this 5-volume, 3,000+ page work within one year!

**Key Resources for a One-Year Study:**

• Podcast (Summa in a Year): Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube

• Text: Summa Theologiae (complete 5-volume set)

Giovanni Melchior Bosco was born into poverty on August 16, 1815, in the hamlet of Becchi within the Piedmont region of northern Italy[1][2]. Tragedy struck early when his father passed away before John reached his second birthday, leaving his mother Margaret to raise three sons on a small farm with limited resources[1][2].

At nine years old, young Giovanni experienced a vivid dream that would become the compass for his entire vocation[1][2]. In this vision, he found himself surrounded by rowdy, cursing children whom he initially tried to control through his own efforts[1]. A mysterious woman appeared with divine guidance, telling him to lead with gentleness rather than force—to take up his shepherd's staff and guide them to pasture[1]. The dream's imagery was striking: the unruly children transformed from wild beasts into gentle lambs[1]. Though his grandmother dismissed it as meaningless, John could never forget what he had seen[1][2].

Despite grinding poverty and limited formal education, John pursued his calling with determination[1]. He developed remarkable skills as an acrobat and performer, which he used strategically to attract village children to catechism lessons and church attendance[1]. His natural charisma and creativity drew young people to him even before he had formal religious training[1].

After years of study and sacrifice, John Bosco was ordained a priest in 1841[1][2]. He arrived in Turin, a city transformed by industrialization into a landscape of slums and desperate poverty, where countless young boys roamed the streets without guidance, education, or hope[1].

Father Bosco, now known as "Don Bosco," established what he called a "festive Oratory"—a combination of Sunday school, recreational center, and safe haven for abandoned youth[1]. Working initially in borrowed spaces, he provided not just religious instruction but practical education, job training, and genuine fatherly care[1]. He understood intuitively what modern psychology would later confirm: that loving attention and wise guidance from caring adults are essential for healthy child development[2].

Don Bosco's work expanded beyond teaching catechism and basic skills[2]. He became a prolific author, writing stories drawn from history and creating accessible religious instruction materials specifically designed for young readers[2]. Though his dedication often kept him working late into the night, his failing eyesight eventually forced him to abandon his writing endeavors[2].

On January 26, 1854, Don Bosco gathered a small group of dedicated collaborators in his room to formalize what had long been gestating in his mind[2]. Together they committed themselves to a period of charitable works, which would evolve into formal vows[2]. They named their society after Saint Francis de Sales, the beloved Bishop of Geneva known for his gentle wisdom[2].

The timing was precarious—Piedmont had historically been hostile to religious communities, with anti-clerical laws suppressing many convents and restricting religious orders[2]. Yet Don Bosco found an unlikely ally in Urbano Rattazzi, a government minister responsible for much of the anti-clerical legislation, who nevertheless supported the Salesians' educational mission after witnessing their impact[2].

In 1858, Don Bosco traveled to Rome with his proposed rule for papal approval[2]. Pope Pius IX granted preliminary approbation, with full canonical approval following sixteen years later[2]. The Society grew explosively from its original group—by Don Bosco's death in 1888, over 800 Salesians staffed more than 1,000 oratories worldwide[2].

Don Bosco's vision encompassed multiple dimensions[2]. In 1862, he founded the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (also called the Daughters of St. Mary Auxiliatrix), an order of women religious dedicated to serving poor girls with the same model the Salesians used for boys[2]. He also established the Salesian Cooperators, a third order of lay men and women who pledged to support Salesian educational work in practical ways[2].

His missionary dreams extended to distant lands[2]. Don Bosco sent his first missionaries to the remote regions of Patagonia, with other South American territories soon following[2]. By 1888, the Salesians had established twenty-six houses in the New World and thirty-eight in the Old[2].

Don Bosco possessed an extraordinary talent for inspiring generosity and completing ambitious building projects[2]. He constructed his first church dedicated to Saint Francis de Sales to serve as the heart of his growing community[2]. As enrollment exploded—reaching three oratories with scattered buildings throughout Turin by 1849—he built a much larger church in 1868, dedicating it to Mary Help of Christians[2].

Later, he undertook construction of a massive church in a working-class Turin neighborhood, placing it under the patronage of Saint John the Evangelist[2]. The constant fundraising exhausted him, yet he couldn't rest before accepting one more monumental challenge[2].

When Pope Leo XIII struggled to fund a church at Rome honoring the Sacred Heart of Jesus, he turned to the one man known for succeeding where others failed[2]. Though Don Bosco was elderly and weary, he accepted[2]. He traveled throughout France, where devotion to the Sacred Heart was particularly fervent, and funds poured in[2]. As the consecration date approached in 1887, doctors warned that any delay might prevent him from witnessing the completion—he had exhausted himself beyond recovery[2]. The church was consecrated on May 14, 1887, and Don Bosco celebrated one Mass at its new altar[2].

Don Bosco's health deteriorated through the latter months of 1887[2]. On January 31, 1888—exactly 138 years ago today—he died in his beloved city of Turin at the age of 72[2]. Forty thousand people came to pay their respects, and the entire city mourned the passing of their humble priest who had captured the world's heart[2].

The Catholic Church declared him Venerable in 1907 under Pope Pius X, beatified him in 1929, and canonized him on April 1, 1934, under Pope Pius XI[2]. His feast day is celebrated on January 31, the anniversary of his death[2].

Today, the Salesian Society that Don Bosco founded has grown into one of the largest religious congregations in the Catholic Church. As of 2026, nearly 30,000 Salesian priests, brothers, sisters, and novices serve across 137 nations on every continent[3]. The Salesians operate over 1,000 oratories worldwide, continuing Don Bosco's original mission of serving vulnerable youth through education, spiritual formation, and practical job training[3].

The Salesians now serve over one million young people annually through an extensive network that includes schools (from primary through university level), vocational training centers, youth clubs, sports programs, residential care facilities, parishes, and spiritual retreat centers[3]. The educational approach known as the "Preventive System"—using kindness, reason, and religion rather than punishment and fear—remains the foundation of Salesian pedagogy worldwide[3].

The Salesian Congregation is led by the Rector Major, currently Fr. Ángel Fernández Artime, who serves as the 10th successor to Don Bosco. The organization maintains its global headquarters in Rome at Via Marsala 42, adjacent to the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus that Don Bosco himself built[3].

The smiling peasant-priest from Turin demonstrated that genuine love combined with complete dedication remains the most effective way to nurture virtue in others. His legacy continues to flourish across the globe, touching the lives of millions of young people who benefit from the same spirit of affection, reason, and religious formation that characterized Don Bosco's original apostolate.

[1] Lives of the Saints (Selected and Illustrated). Copyright 1953 by Walter J. Black, Inc.; Copyright 1954 by John J. Crawley & Co. Nihil Obstat: John M. A. Fearns, S.T.D., Censor Librorum. Imprimatur: ✠ Francis Cardinal Spellman, Archbishop of New York, August 7, 1954. Pages 62-64.

[2] Lives of the Saints (January-April volume). Copyright 1959 by The Catholic Press, Inc., Chicago, Illinois. Nihil Obstat: John P. O'Connell, S.T.D., censor deputatus. Imprimatur: ✠ Samuel Cardinal Stritch, Archbishop of Chicago, May 5, 1958. Pages 445-450.

[3] Salesian Congregation Official Website. "Where We Serve" and organizational information. www.salesians.org and www.sdb.org (Salesians of Don Bosco official international website). Accessed January 2026. The Salesian Society currently comprises nearly 30,000 members serving in 137 nations with over 1,000 oratories and educational centers worldwide, continuing Don Bosco's mission of educating and serving vulnerable youth.