Don Bosco’s mother

St John Bosco with his mother Margherita Occhiena

Margherita Occhiena was born in 1788. She is St John Bosco’s mother, known also as Mamma Margherita. She married at the age of 24 and had 3 children. Her husband died in 1817. She was illiterate but she passed on her natural wisdom and her love of education to her children. She had a great influence on her son St John, who had asked her to help him in raising and caring for children entrusted in his care. She lovingly accepted this role, and did all kinds of work, washing, ironing, sewing, cooking, sweeping, growing vegetables and even raising chickens. She was the mother of all, and they looked at her as a devoted mother. She died aged 68. Pope Benedict XVI declared her Venerable, and we now wait until she is beatified. As we all know, behind every successful man (and a holy man) there is a hard-working, possibly holier woman.