The Venerable Margherita Occhiena, the mother of Saint John Bosco (1815 - 1888), was born on April 1, 1788, in Capriglio, Province of Asti, Italy, the sixth of ten children.
Marrying Francesco Bosco in 1812, Francis was 27 years of age, a widower, with a three year old child, Anthony, and a sick mother to look after. Joseph was born the following year, followed by John in 1815. They moved to the Becchi, a hamlet of Castelnuovo d'Asti. In 1817, Francis died of pneumonia.
Twenty nine year old Margaret found herself running the family alone at a time of famine, looking after Francis' mother, Anthony, and young Joseph and John. Margaret was a woman of great faith. God was foremost in her thoughts and always on her lips.
She brought up three children with very different temperaments, using the same criteria with different methods. She taught them the Catechism and prepared them for their First Communion.
When she heard about John's dream at the age of nine, she alone could interpret it in the light of the Lord: "Who knows, but maybe you should become a priest". She allowed him to be with some of the rougher lads, because they were better behaved around him. Anthony's hostility towards John's studies forced her to send her younger son away so he could study. She accompanied him all the way to priesthood. In 1846, when Don Bosco was seriously ill, Margaret went to be with him and discovering there the good that he had been doing for poor and abandoned youngsters.
When asked to go with him in this work she said: "If you believe this to be the will of the Lord, I am ready to go". Mamma Margherita's presence turned the Oratory into a family. For ten years her life became entwined with that of her son and with the beginnings of Salesian work. She was the first and principal Cooperator of Don Bosco's. Without realizing it, she was the co-foundress of the Salesian Family.
She died in Turin, struck down by pneumonia on November 25, 1856, at 68 years of age. Many youngsters went to the cemetery crying as they would for their own mother. Generations of Salesians called her and will continue to call her "Mamma Margherita".
Marrying Francesco Bosco in 1812, Francis was 27 years of age, a widower, with a three year old child, Anthony, and a sick mother to look after. Joseph was born the following year, followed by John in 1815. They moved to the Becchi, a hamlet of Castelnuovo d'Asti. In 1817, Francis died of pneumonia.
Twenty nine year old Margaret found herself running the family alone at a time of famine, looking after Francis' mother, Anthony, and young Joseph and John. Margaret was a woman of great faith. God was foremost in her thoughts and always on her lips.
She brought up three children with very different temperaments, using the same criteria with different methods. She taught them the Catechism and prepared them for their First Communion.
When she heard about John's dream at the age of nine, she alone could interpret it in the light of the Lord: "Who knows, but maybe you should become a priest". She allowed him to be with some of the rougher lads, because they were better behaved around him. Anthony's hostility towards John's studies forced her to send her younger son away so he could study. She accompanied him all the way to priesthood. In 1846, when Don Bosco was seriously ill, Margaret went to be with him and discovering there the good that he had been doing for poor and abandoned youngsters.
When asked to go with him in this work she said: "If you believe this to be the will of the Lord, I am ready to go". Mamma Margherita's presence turned the Oratory into a family. For ten years her life became entwined with that of her son and with the beginnings of Salesian work. She was the first and principal Cooperator of Don Bosco's. Without realizing it, she was the co-foundress of the Salesian Family.
She died in Turin, struck down by pneumonia on November 25, 1856, at 68 years of age. Many youngsters went to the cemetery crying as they would for their own mother. Generations of Salesians called her and will continue to call her "Mamma Margherita".
The Venerable Margherita Occhiena, the mother of Saint John Bosco (1815 - 1888), was born on April 1, 1788, in Capriglio, Province of Asti, Italy, the sixth of ten children.
Marrying Francesco Bosco in 1812, Francis was 27 years of age, a widower, with a three year old child, Anthony, and a sick mother to look after. Joseph was born the following year, followed by John in 1815. They moved to the Becchi, a hamlet of Castelnuovo d'Asti. In 1817, Francis died of pneumonia.
Twenty nine year old Margaret found herself running the family alone at a time of famine, looking after Francis' mother, Anthony, and young Joseph and John. Margaret was a woman of great faith. God was foremost in her thoughts and always on her lips.
She brought up three children with very different temperaments, using the same criteria with different methods. She taught them the Catechism and prepared them for their First Communion.
When she heard about John's dream at the age of nine, she alone could interpret it in the light of the Lord: "Who knows, but maybe you should become a priest". She allowed him to be with some of the rougher lads, because they were better behaved around him. Anthony's hostility towards John's studies forced her to send her younger son away so he could study. She accompanied him all the way to priesthood. In 1846, when Don Bosco was seriously ill, Margaret went to be with him and discovering there the good that he had been doing for poor and abandoned youngsters.
When asked to go with him in this work she said: "If you believe this to be the will of the Lord, I am ready to go". Mamma Margherita's presence turned the Oratory into a family. For ten years her life became entwined with that of her son and with the beginnings of Salesian work. She was the first and principal Cooperator of Don Bosco's. Without realizing it, she was the co-foundress of the Salesian Family.
She died in Turin, struck down by pneumonia on November 25, 1856, at 68 years of age. Many youngsters went to the cemetery crying as they would for their own mother. Generations of Salesians called her and will continue to call her "Mamma Margherita".
Marrying Francesco Bosco in 1812, Francis was 27 years of age, a widower, with a three year old child, Anthony, and a sick mother to look after. Joseph was born the following year, followed by John in 1815. They moved to the Becchi, a hamlet of Castelnuovo d'Asti. In 1817, Francis died of pneumonia.
Twenty nine year old Margaret found herself running the family alone at a time of famine, looking after Francis' mother, Anthony, and young Joseph and John. Margaret was a woman of great faith. God was foremost in her thoughts and always on her lips.
She brought up three children with very different temperaments, using the same criteria with different methods. She taught them the Catechism and prepared them for their First Communion.
When she heard about John's dream at the age of nine, she alone could interpret it in the light of the Lord: "Who knows, but maybe you should become a priest". She allowed him to be with some of the rougher lads, because they were better behaved around him. Anthony's hostility towards John's studies forced her to send her younger son away so he could study. She accompanied him all the way to priesthood. In 1846, when Don Bosco was seriously ill, Margaret went to be with him and discovering there the good that he had been doing for poor and abandoned youngsters.
When asked to go with him in this work she said: "If you believe this to be the will of the Lord, I am ready to go". Mamma Margherita's presence turned the Oratory into a family. For ten years her life became entwined with that of her son and with the beginnings of Salesian work. She was the first and principal Cooperator of Don Bosco's. Without realizing it, she was the co-foundress of the Salesian Family.
She died in Turin, struck down by pneumonia on November 25, 1856, at 68 years of age. Many youngsters went to the cemetery crying as they would for their own mother. Generations of Salesians called her and will continue to call her "Mamma Margherita".
Gravesite Details
Being a pauper's funeral, Margherita was buried in a common grave without ever having a tombstone carrying her name. Unfortunately, her remains are nowadays lost.
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