Prayer Service for Saint John Bosco

This short biographical sketch of Saint John Bosco could be read before the celebration.

Saint John Bosco was ordained a priest on 1841 in Rome. He educated the youth using his rich natural talents and defended the faith of the common people. He contributed to the evangelization of distant lands. He instituted the “Preventive System”: reason, religion, and loving kindness. He was an ardent devotee of Mary, Help of Christians, of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and of the Pope. He founded the Salesian Congregation and the Institute of Mary, Help of Christians.

A suitable hymn may be sung while the minister, who could be a priest or a lay person, places the relic on a suitable place.

Minister: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Assembly: Amen.

I. Greeting

Priest: The Lord be with you.
Assembly: And also with you.

If a lay person is leading the prayer service, s/he greets the people in this manner:

Minister: Blessed be God, our Loving Father, who has given his people the gift of Saint John Bosco, the Father and Teacher of Youth.
Assembly: Blessed be God forever.

II. Prayer of Contrition

Minister: Brothers and sisters, we are gathered before the relic of Saint John Bosco to honor him and to ask for his intercession. Wounded by sin and our frailties, let us first of all ask God’s mercy and forgiveness.

The assembly may pray the following Act of Contrition or other prayers for forgiveness.

Assembly: I confess to almighty God, and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have sinned through my own fault, in my thoughts and in my words, and all that I have failed to do; and I ask the blessed Mary, ever Virgin, all the angels and saints, and you, my brothers and sisters to pray for me to the Lord, our God.

Minister: May Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.
Assembly: Amen.

III. Scripture Reading

The minister or any member of the faithful proclaims God’s Word.

A reading from the First Letter of Saint Peter (5:1-4)

To the elders among you, I, a fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings and sharer in the glory that is to be revealed, make this appeal. God’s flock is in your midst; give it a shepherd’s care. Watch over it willingly as God would have you do, not under constraint; and not for shameful profit either, but generously. Be examples to the flock, not lording it over those assigned to you, so that when the Chief Shepherd appears you will win for yourselves the unfading crown of glory.

The Word of the Lord.

Assembly: Thanks be to God.

The priest may give a short homily.

IV. Prayer for the Intercession of Saint John Bosco

The minister invites the assembly to pray through the intercession of Saint John Bosco.

Minister: Saint John Bosco, our friend and helper, we recommend all our needs to you. Your heart is always full of love and compassion for the needy and therefore we have recourse to you.

Assembly: Saint John Bosco, father and teacher of youth, you have labored so much for the salvation of souls. Be our guide in seeking the good of our souls and the salvation of our neighbor. Help us to conquer our passions and human respect. Teach us to love Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, Mary Help of Christians, and our Holy Father the Pope. And obtain for us from God the grace of a happy death,so that we may all join you in heaven. Obtain for us from God the favor that we now ask of you (Silently mention your petition)

After a brief period of time, the assembly prays an Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory be.

V. Prayer for the Sick

Minister: Let us pray for our sick brother/sister. Look upon Your servant, Lord, suffering from sickness of body, and refresh the soul You have created, so that, purified by this affliction, he (she) may always remember that he (she) has been saved by Your loving pity. We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Assembly: Amen.

The minister takes the relic and raising it towards the sick person, s/he prays:

Through the intercession of Saint John Bosco, may the Lord Jesus Christ be with you to defend you. May He be within you to preserve you, before you to lead you, behind you to guard you, and above you to bless you, who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit forever and ever.


VI. Blessing and Dismissal

Priest: The Lord be with you.

Assembly: And also with you.

Priest: May Almighty God bless you: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Assembly: Amen.

Priest: Go in the peace and love of Christ.

Assembly: Thanks be to God.

If a lay person is leading the prayer service, s/he says:

Minister: The Lord has given us an excellent model of holiness of life in Saint John Bosco, through his intercession, may the blessing of Almighty God: the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, descend upon us and remain with us always.

Assembly: Amen.

Minister: Let us bless the Lord.

Assembly: And give him thanks.

A suitable hymn may be sung while the assembly venerates the relic.