Saint John Bosco was born in Turin, Italy in 1815 and spent much of his 73 year life in that city as a parish priest. His principal apostolate was among poor working boys to unite them with the spiritual life. His insistance that boys in his care learn a trade made him a pioneer in modern voactional training.In later years, John Bosco founded two religious orders, the Salesians and the Daughters of Mary Auxiliatrix, to carry on the work of his life among young people. In addition, he printed a number of catechetical and pious books that had a large circulation at the time. As a result, St. John Bosco is the patron saint of Catholic publishers and youth. Pope Pius XI, who knew him as a young priest, canonized him in 1934. His feast day is January 31.