Don Bosco Tondo

01/02/2026

What started as a simple dream for the young, turned into a legacy of community, love, and kindness.

All this, because of a dream.

Viva! Happy feast day, St. John Bosco!

01/02/2026

Today we celebrate the feast of St. John Bosco, a saint who reminded the world that joy and holiness can go together.

“Run, jump, shout… but do not sin.”
In our busy lives filled with work, school, and responsibilities, this gentle reminder still speaks to us today. We are free to enjoy life, laugh, and pursue our dreams, but always with a heart that chooses goodness, honesty, and love for God.

May we live with cheerful faith and mindful choices, finding happiness not only in what we do, but in how we live.
St. John Bosco, pray for us and for our youth. 🙏

01/02/2026

St. John Bosco highlights the power of the Rosary over the devil

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘯𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘯𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘧 𝘏𝘢𝘪𝘭 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘺𝘴.

St. John Bosco was a holy priest whose deep spiritual life led to frequent visions or "dreams," as he would call them. He wrote about one of them in a letter to his students.

The dream occurred on the eve of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and in it a stranger came up to him and asked him to look at something on the ground:

𝘏𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘢 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘰𝘸 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘢 𝘩𝘶𝘨𝘦, 𝘶𝘨𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘯𝘢𝘬𝘦, 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘺 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘵 𝘐𝘰𝘯𝘨, 𝘤𝘰𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘴𝘴. 𝘍𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘥, 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘶𝘯 𝘰𝘧𝘧, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘥 𝘮𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬. "𝘎𝘦𝘵 𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬," 𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘥.

"𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵?" 𝘐 𝘨𝘢𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘥. "𝘋𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘻𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘴𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘯 𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥
𝘨𝘰𝘣𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘮𝘦 𝘶𝘱 𝘪𝘯 𝘯𝘰 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦?"

"𝘋𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘢𝘧𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘥! 𝘕𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯. 𝘑𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘮𝘦.

The stranger went to get a rope and asked St. John Bosco to slap the snake with the rope:

𝘞𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘯𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘯𝘢𝘬𝘦'𝘴 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘱 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘤𝘬 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘦, 𝘣𝘶𝘵, 𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘵 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘴𝘰, 𝘪𝘵 𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘵𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘯𝘰𝘰𝘴𝘦.

The power of the Rosary

The snake began to struggle and quickly died. Then the stranger picked up the rope and put it in a box. What happened next was astonishing, and then the stranger explained the spiritual symbolism behind what happened:

𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘧𝘦𝘸 𝘮𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘹. 𝘞𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘴 𝘈𝘷𝘦 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘢.

"𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯?" 𝘐 𝘢𝘴𝘬𝘦𝘥.

"𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘯𝘢𝘬𝘦," 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘥, "𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘴𝘺𝘮𝘣𝘰𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘭, 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘈𝘷𝘦 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘢 𝘰𝘳, 𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘙𝘰𝘴𝘢𝘳𝘺, 𝘢 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘏𝘢𝘪𝘭 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘺𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘸𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘬𝘦, 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘳, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘺 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘭'𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘴."

St. John Bosco took the lesson to heart and wrote to his students, "Let us devoutly say a Hail Mary whenever we are tempted, and we'll be sure to win."

The experience confirms what many exorcists have said about the power of the Virgin Mary over the devil. Satan is greatly humiliated by the purity and simplicity of the Blessed Mother and flies as fast as he can whenever he hears her name. It's a powerful reminder, one that urges us to pray the Rosary devoutly whenever we feel threatened by the Evil One.

01/02/2026

How did one priest change the lives of thousands of young people?

St John Bosco Honored As Champion Of Youth Faith And Education

On January 31, the Roman Catholic Church honors St. John Bosco, also known as Don Bosco, a 19th century Italian priest who dedicated his life to helping young people lacking education, opportunity, and faith. Born in August 1815 in Castelnuovo d’Asti, later renamed Castelnuovo Don Bosco, he was raised by his mother Margherita after his father died early, drawing strength from her deep faith and charity.

Ordained a priest in 1841, Don Bosco ministered to poor and abandoned boys in Turin during the industrial revolution, founding the Oratory of St. Francis de Sales to provide education, work, and spiritual guidance. Despite persecution and hardship, his mission grew rapidly, helping over 130,000 children through the Salesians by the time of his death on January 31, 1888. Canonized in 1934, he is remembered as the patron saint of youth, apprentices, and Catholic publishers.

01/02/2026

In a world driven by Lust, St. John Bosco (Don Bosco) reminds us how precious and fragile holy purity is. He called it the "queen of virtues" and the "angelic virtue" — a jewel that makes us like the angels even while living in the flesh.

One of his powerful warnings: "Guard your eyes, since they are the windows through which sin enters the soul."

(He urged constantly watching what we look at, because a single careless glance can spark temptation.)

He also taught practical ways to fight back:

1.) Stay busy with work, study, prayer, and good deeds — idleness is the devil's workshop!
2.) Flee occasions of sin and bad company that lead to ruin.
3.) Turn quickly to prayer (like a Hail Mary) when temptation strikes.
4.) Practice mortification and custody of the senses to protect innocence.

Don Bosco dreamed visions where he saw the dangers of impurity and the beauty of those who remain pure. His message is clear: Purity isn't weakness — it's strength. It brings us closer to God and protects our hearts.

If you're struggling today, know you're not alone. Turn to Jesus, Mary, and this great saint for help. As Don Bosco encouraged: Never let the enemy catch you idle — pray, work, and stay vigilant!

"Whoever shall give scandal to any of these little ones who believe in Me, it would have been better if he had put a millstone around his neck..." (Matt 18:6) — let's protect our own souls and help others do the same.

St. John Bosco, pray for us!

01/02/2026

Motivation from St. John Bosco, whose feast day is Jan. 31: Send the demons screamin' with extra time at church for Mass and adoration (as you're able).
If you're unable to attend Mass in-person, here's an Act of Spiritual Communion:
My Jesus,
I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.
I love You above all things,
and I desire to receive You into my soul.
Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally,
come at least spiritually into my heart.
I embrace You as if You were already there
and unite myself wholly to You.
Never permit me to be separated from You.
Amen.

https://ow.ly/kw4P50Y0NTK

01/02/2026

31/01/2026

Today we joyfully celebrate the feast of St. John Bosco, a saint who showed that love, patience, and faith can transform young hearts and lead them closer to God.

May his joyful spirit inspire us to guide the next generation with kindness, hope, and trust in the Lord.

Mary, Help of Christians, pray for us.
St. John Bosco, pray for us. 🙏

31/01/2026

On Jan. 31, the Roman Catholic Church honors St. John Bosco (or “Don Bosco”), a 19th century Italian priest who reached out to young people to remedy their lack of education, opportunities, and faith.

John Bosco was born in August of 1815 into a family of peasant farmers in Castelnuovo d'Asti – a place which would one day be renamed in the saint's honor as “Castelnuovo Don Bosco.”

John's father died when he was two years old, but he drew strength from his mother Margherita's deep faith in God.

Margherita also taught her son the importance of charity, using portions of her own modest means to support those in even greater need. John desired to pass on to his own young friends the example of Christian discipleship that he learned from his mother.

At age nine, he had a prophetic dream in which a number of unruly young boys were uttering words of blasphemy. Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary appeared to John in the dream, saying he would bring such youths to God through the virtues of humility and charity.

Later on, this dream would help John to discern his calling as a priest. But he also sought to follow the advice of Jesus and Mary while still a boy: he would entertain his peers with juggling, acrobatics, and magic tricks, before explaining a sermon he had heard, or leading them in praying the Rosary.

John's older brother Anthony opposed his plan to be a priest, and antagonized him so much that he left home to become a farm worker at age 12. After moving back home three years later, John worked in various trades and finished school in order to attend seminary.

In 1841, John Bosco was ordained a priest. In the city of Turin, he began ministering to boys and young men who lived on the streets, many of whom were without work or education.

The industrial revolution had drawn large numbers of people into the city to look for work that was frequently grueling and sometimes scarce. Don Bosco was shocked to see how many boys ended up in prison before the age of 18, left to starve spiritually and sometimes physically.

The priest was determined to save as many young people as he could from a life of degradation. He established a group known as the Oratory of St. Francis de Sales, and became a kindly spiritual father to boys in need. His aging mother helped support the project in its early years.

John's boyhood dream came to pass: he became a spiritual guide and provider along with his fellow Salesian priests and brothers, giving boys religious instruction, lodging, education, and work opportunities. He also helped Saint Mary Dominic Mazzarello form a similar group for girls.

This success did not come easily, as the priest struggled to find reliable accommodations and support for his ambitious apostolate. Italy's nationalist movement made life difficult for religious orders, and its anti-clerical attitudes even led to assassination attempts against Don Bosco.

But such hostility did not stop the Salesians from expanding in Europe and beyond. They were helping 130,000 children in 250 houses by the end of Don Bosco's life. “I have done nothing by myself,” he stated, saying it was “Our Lady who has done everything” through her intercession with God.

St. John Bosco died in the early hours of Jan. 31, 1888, after conveying a message: “Tell the boys that I shall be waiting for them all in Paradise.” He was canonized on Easter Sunday of 1934, and is a patron saint of young people, apprentices, and Catholic publishers and editors.

https://www.ewtnnews.com/world/us/church-honors-st-john-boscos-life-of-charity-on-jan-31?redirectedfrom=cna

30/01/2026

31 January | Saint John Bosco

John Bosco’s theory of education could well be used in today’s schools. It was a preventive system, rejecting corporal punishment and placing students in surroundings removed from the likelihood of committing sin. He advocated frequent reception of the sacraments of Penance and Holy Communion. He combined catechetical training and fatherly guidance, seeking to unite the spiritual life with one’s work, study and play.

Encouraged during his youth in Turin to become a priest so he could work with young boys, John was ordained in 1841. His service to young people started when he met a poor orphan in Turin, and instructed him in preparation for receiving Holy Communion. He then gathered young apprentices and taught them catechism.
After serving as chaplain in a hospice for working girls, Don Bosco opened the Oratory of St. Francis de Sales for boys. Several wealthy and powerful patrons contributed money, enabling him to provide two workshops for the boys, shoemaking and tailoring.
By 1856, the institution had grown to 150 boys and had added a printing press for publication of religious and catechetical pamphlets. John’s interest in vocational education and publishing justify him as patron of young apprentices and Catholic publishers.
John’s preaching fame spread and by 1850 he had trained his own helpers because of difficulties in retaining young priests. In 1854, he and his followers informally banded together, inspired by Saint Francis de Sales.
With Pope Pius IX’s encouragement, John gathered 17 men and founded the Salesians in 1859. Their activity concentrated on education and mission work. Later, he organized a group of Salesian Sisters to assist girls.
Sources:
1. Saint John Bosco – Franciscan Media
**************

30/01/2026

January 31 | Happy Feast Day, Saint John Bosco! ❤️

30/01/2026

St. John Bosco, pray for us!
January 31

Know more about Don Bosco by clicking the link: https://www.dominusest.ph/.../five-reasons-why-st-john...