MEMORIAL OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO, PRIEST – FEAST DAY ~ JANUARY 31ST 2026

SATURDAY OF THE THIRD WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

SAINTS OF THE DAY | JANUARY 31, 2026 | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/saints-of-the-day-feast-day-january-31st/

MEMORIAL OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO, PRIEST

History of the Saints | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/category/saints-of-the-day

Watch “Holy Mass and Holy Rosary | EWTN | January 31, 2026 | “Holy Mass from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | Pray “Holy Rosary Novena From Lourdes” | Pray “The Chaplet of Divine Mercy in song from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/catholic-daily-mass-january-31-2026/

Greetings and blessings, beloved family!

Today, the Church commemorates the Memorial of Saint John Bosco, Priest (Patron Saint of young people, boys, schoolchildren, Christian apprentices, Catholic publishers and editors, and juvenile delinquents), a loving father and teacher who dedicated his life to the Christian formation of the young, especially those most vulnerable and forgotten by society. Shaped by deep faith and trust in God, Saint John Bosco believed that holiness could be lived with joy, patience, and charity in everyday life. In today’s Scripture readings, we witness both the seriousness of sin and the power of God’s mercy, as King David is confronted with his wrongdoing and cries out for a renewed heart, while in the Gospel Jesus calms the raging storm and calls His disciples to deeper faith and trust in His presence. Together, these readings remind us that God does not abandon us in our failures or fears but invites us to repentance, renewal, and unwavering confidence in His saving power. As we reflect on God’s Word today, may the example of Saint John Bosco inspire us to guide others with love, to guard our hearts against sin, and to trust Christ even amid life’s storms. 🙏🏽

Thanking God for the precious gift of this day and for His faithful presence throughout the month now completed, we come to the close of January with hearts open in gratitude for His continual guidance and grace. As this month draws to an end, we pause to reflect with thanksgiving on all that has been—our joys and sorrows, successes and shortcomings—and we entrust everything into God’s merciful hands. We lift our hearts in gratitude for the greatest gift ever given: God Himself, present with us each day, bringing light, hope, and salvation into our lives and into the world.

BIBLE READINGS FOR TODAY’S HOLY MASS:

Third Week in Ordinary Time | USCCB | https://bible.usccb.org/daily-bible-reading

Today’s Bible Readings: Memorial of Saint John Bosco, Priest | January 31, 2026
Reading 1: 2 Samuel 12:1–7a, 10–17
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 51:12–13, 14–15, 16–17
Gospel: Mark 4:35–41

Gospel Reading ~ Mark 4:35–41

“Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?”

On that day, as evening drew on, Jesus said to his disciples: “Let us cross to the other side.” Leaving the crowd, they took Jesus with them in the boat just as he was. And other boats were with him. A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was already filling up. Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion. They woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” He woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Quiet!  Be still!” The wind ceased and there was great calm. Then he asked them, “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?” They were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?”

SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS:

In today’s Gospel, we encounter a moment of fear, vulnerability, and revelation. The disciples find themselves caught in a violent storm, overwhelmed by forces beyond their control. Even though Jesus is with them in the boat, fear takes over, and they question His care: “Do you not care that we are perishing?” This scene mirrors our own experiences when life’s storms threaten our peace and faith, and God seems silent or distant. Yet, Jesus was present all along—calm, sovereign, and attentive, even when the disciples could not perceive it.

When Jesus rises and commands the wind and sea to be still, His authority over creation is revealed. The storm obeys instantly, and a great calm follows. But Jesus’ greater concern is not the storm outside the boat, but the storm within the hearts of His disciples. His question, “Do you not yet have faith?” invites them—and us—to examine where our trust truly lies. Faith does not mean the absence of storms, but the confidence that Christ remains Lord even in the midst of them.

The First Reading presents another kind of storm, one born of sin and moral failure. Through the prophet Nathan, God confronts King David with the truth of his actions. David’s sin, committed in secret, brings devastating consequences not only for himself but for others. This reading reminds us that unchecked sin disturbs inner peace and damages relationships, creating turmoil that no human power can calm. Yet, unlike fear that drives us away from God, David’s response opens the way to healing: “I have sinned against the Lord.”

The Responsorial Psalm gives voice to true repentance. Psalm 51 is a humble plea for renewal: “Create a clean heart in me, O God.” It teaches us that while sin brings disorder, God’s mercy restores harmony within the soul. When we acknowledge our weakness and turn back to God with sincerity, He does not abandon us. Instead, He renews our hearts and grants us the joy of salvation once more.

Together, today’s readings reveal that both fear and sin can create storms within us. Yet, whether the storm comes from external trials or internal failures, God’s mercy and power remain greater. Jesus calms the sea with a word, and God heals the broken heart with forgiveness. What He asks of us is faith—faith that trusts His presence, listens to His correction, and responds with repentance and hope.

As we reflect today, let us ask ourselves: How do I respond when storms arise in my life? Do fear and doubt overwhelm me, or do I turn to Christ in trust? Am I open to God’s truth when He corrects me, and willing to seek a renewed heart? May we learn to place our confidence not in our own strength, but in the Lord who brings calm out of chaos.

Lord Jesus, You are Lord over every storm and every fear. Strengthen our faith when we are afraid, correct us with love when we stray, and create in us clean and faithful hearts. Help us to trust in Your presence, even when You seem silent, knowing that You alone bring true peace. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. 🙏🏽

SAINTS OF THE DAY | JANUARY 31ST:

Link to Saints of the Day with Daily Reflections | January 31st https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com

Direct link to the detailed history of Saint John Bosco | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/saints-of-the-day-feast-day-january-31st/

SAINT JOHN BOSCO, PRIEST: Saint John Bosco, affectionately known as Don Bosco, was a 19th-century Italian priest who dedicated his life to the spiritual, moral, and practical formation of young people, especially those who were poor, abandoned, or at risk. Raised in poverty and deeply shaped by the faith of his mother, Mama Margherita, he learned early the values of charity, trust in God, and concern for others. From a young age, he sensed a calling to guide restless and neglected youth, a mission confirmed through prayer, perseverance, and a lifelong devotion to Jesus and Mary, Help of Christians.

As a priest, Don Bosco responded to the harsh realities of industrial-era society by creating places of welcome, education, and faith for boys living on the streets of Turin. Through patience, kindness, discipline, and joy, he formed them not only in skills for work but also in virtue and holiness. He founded the Salesian Society and, with Saint Mary Dominic Mazzarello, the Daughters of Mary, Help of Christians, ensuring that his mission would continue across generations. Known as the “Father and Teacher of Youth,” Saint John Bosco taught that holiness is found in daily faithfulness, cheerful service, and sincere love for God and neighbor.

PRAYER: O God, who raised up Saint John Bosco as a loving father and wise teacher of the young, grant that, following his example, we may guide others with patience, charity, and joy. Strengthen all who work with children and youth, and help us to form hearts rooted in faith, hope, and love. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. 🙏🏽

Our Blessed Mother Mary, Saint John Bosco — pray for us. 🙏🏽

PRAYER INTENTION FOR THE DAY: FOR YOUNG PEOPLE, EDUCATORS, AND ALL ENTRUSTED WITH THEIR FORMATION

Through the intercession of Saint John Bosco, Priest, let us pray for young people, especially those who feel lost, neglected, or overwhelmed by life’s challenges, that they may encounter mentors who guide them with patience, love, and faith. As we celebrate his memorial, we lift up parents, teachers, catechists, pastors, and all who work with the young, that they may form hearts grounded in virtue, hope, and trust in God. May the Lord calm the storms of fear, doubt, and temptation that trouble many young lives, renew them with His mercy, and lead them toward paths of purpose and holiness. Inspired by Saint John Bosco’s joyful and self-giving example, may we all become instruments of encouragement, compassion, and steadfast faith. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. 🙏🏽

PRAYER FOR PEACE | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/a-prayer-for-peace/

THE POPE’S MONTHLY INTENTIONS FOR 2026: FOR THE MONTH OF JANUARY: For prayer with the Word of God. Let us pray that praying with the Word of God be nourishment for our lives and a source of hope in our communities, helping us to build a more fraternal and missionary Church.

(https://popesprayerusa.net/popes-intentions/)

MONTH OF THE HOLY NAME OF JESUS: The month of January is traditionally dedicated to the Holy Name of Jesus. After the Blessed Virgin Mary conceived by the Holy Spirit, the Angel Gabriel appeared to St. Joseph told him that the Child’s name should be called Jesus, meaning “God Saves.” According to Jewish law, on the 8th day after his birth, a male child was to be circumcised, receive his name, and become a full member of God’s covenant people. According to the old Roman liturgical calendar, the Feast of the Circumcision of Jesus was celebrated on January 1st, eight days after Christmas, the same day that He was given His sacred name. Currently, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Mother of God on January 1st and honor the Holy Name of Jesus on January 3rd. For Catholics, Jesus’ sacred name is the object of a special devotion symbolized by the monogram “IHS,” (sometimes called a Christogram), which is the first three letters of the Greek spelling of His name.
https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?recnum=12538

PRAYER FOR THE DEAD
We pray for the repose of the gentle souls of our loved ones and souls of all the faithful departed. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord. And let perpetual light shine upon them. May their gentle souls through the mercy of God rest in perfect peace with our Lord Jesus Christ… Amen 🙏🏽

As we step forward into the months ahead, may this Ordinary Time invite us to begin again with renewed faith, deeper trust, and a greater openness to God’s grace. May the peace, hope, and steady guidance that flow from walking daily with Christ shape our steps, inform our decisions, and strengthen our resolve to live each day in love and holiness. As we continue our journey through the year, may God bless our families and loved ones, and may His light continue to shine brightly in every home. May our days ahead be grace-filled and purposeful, drawing us ever deeper into a lived relationship with the Lord and the quiet assurance of His abiding presence with us always. 🙏🏽

Save Us, Savior of the World. Our Blessed Mother Mary, and Saint John Bosco ~ Pray for us 🙏🏾

Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you. Jesus, I trust in you! Immaculate Heart of Mary, Pray for us. Amen 🙏🏽

Blessings and Love always, Philomena 💖

DEVOTIONAL RESOURCES

A Guide to Catholic Prayer & Faith Resources: Prayers, Devotions, Teachings, and the Liturgical Year | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/catholic-prayer-faith-resources/

Catholic Mission & Witness: Foundations, Media Features, Global Outreach and Podcast Interview| https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/catholic-mission-witness-foundations-media-features-and-global-outreach/