The Last Days and Death of Don Bosco
Don Bosco's health had been deteriorating for years. His troubles began at the age of 31 when bronchitis developed into bronchial pneumonia — a condition that would plague him for the rest of his life. Major health crises struck in 1871 and again in 1884, each time leaving him weaker. By December 20, 1887, he was confined to his bed, never to rise again. He himself seemed to know the end was near. When he took to his bed, he reportedly said: "Now I go to my rest; I shall not get up again."
On January 1, 1888, after ten days in bed, Don Bosco experienced a brief and deceptive remission. The word spread that he had recovered. In reality, this was not a true recovery but merely a reprieve granted by desperately needed rest, which allowed his exhausted heart muscle to temporarily regain some strength. The doctors knew, even as the public hoped, that it was only a matter of time.
The final crisis began on January 21, 1888, and from that point forward his decline was sudden and inexorable. By January 29 — the feast of St. Francis de Sales, patron of the Salesian Oratory — his condition had become grave. He could barely breathe and could no longer swallow liquids; his attendants could only moisten his parched lips. In the early hours of the morning, he suffered a terrifying fit of breathlessness. His companion lifted him, and Don Bosco put his arms around him in a weak embrace. For a moment, those present feared he would die right then. But gradually he calmed, and in a breathless whisper he spoke his final prayers: "Mary Help of Christians, pray for us."
Throughout his last days, Don Bosco displayed four remarkable dispositions that those who attended him would never forget: paternal love for his Salesians, even worrying about the well-being of those caring for him; a gentle sense of humour, joking with his attendants even as his body failed; a deep and consuming awareness of Jesus and Mary, receiving the Eucharist every morning from his bedside and whispering prayers to Our Lady in his final hours; and a joyful anticipation of Heaven, telling the young people around him: "I will wait for you in Heaven."
Just before his death, he summoned his sons one last time and begged them never to forget three things: "Devotion to the Blessed Sacrament, devotion to Mary Help of Christians, and devotion to the Holy Father."
The end came in the very early hours of Tuesday, January 31, 1888. At about a quarter to two in the morning, the agony began. Father Michele Rua and Bishop Giovanni Cagliero recited the ritual prayers. The death-rattle lasted until a quarter to five. Then, as the Angelus bells rang out from the church of the Basilica, Don Bosco's rasping breath quieted. Half a minute later, he was dead. His secretary, Carlo Maria Viglietti, recorded simply: "He was in paradise." Don Bosco was seventy-two years old. The official cause of death, certified by Dr. Giovanni Albertotti on February 2, 1888, was progressive myelitis — a spinal ailment whose true nature was never fully ascertained.
His funeral was attended by thousands, and news of his passing had worldwide resonance. It seemed as though his death focused the attention of the entire world on the greatness of the man and of his achievements.
What Is Incorruptibility?
Before examining the specific case of Don Bosco, it is necessary to understand the Catholic concept of incorruptibility — one of the most ancient and mysterious phenomena in the history of the Church.
Incorruptibility is the belief, shared by both the Catholic and Orthodox Churches, that divine intervention allows the bodies of certain saints to completely or partially avoid the normal process of decomposition after death, as a sign of their holiness. The word itself — incorrupt — simply means "not having undergone decomposition." This is understood to be distinct from good preservation, natural mummification, or embalming. Incorrupt bodies are believed to resist decay even in the presence of conditions that would normally hasten it, such as moisture, heat, or the passage of significant time.
The theological roots of this belief are deep. Saint Paul writes in his First Letter to the Corinthians (15:42): "So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown corruptible; it is raised incorruptible." In Christian theology, corruption and decay have long been associated with sin and death. Therefore, incorruptibility — the absence of that decay — has historically been read as a sign of holiness, innocence, and purity: a heavenly confirmation of divine approval over a person's life. Contemporary Catholic teaching situates incorruptibility in the context of Christ's own Resurrection and the Church's belief that all the faithful will one day be reunited with their glorified bodies at the resurrection of the dead.
As one theologian, Paul Gondreau of Providence College, has explained, the incorruptibles teach us something profound about the nature of the human person: "The body is not just a shell. It is not a husk, it is not a piece of luggage. It is not accidentally that we just carry it for a certain time." The body, the Church teaches, is an essential part of our human identity — and the incorrupt saints give powerful witness to this truth.
It is important to note, however, that the Church does not have a rigid, cut-and-dried definition of what condition a body must be found in to be declared incorrupt. Nor does incorruptibility automatically prove sainthood — the Church is careful to distinguish it from a requirement or guarantee. At one time, the Church accepted incorruptibility as one of the miracles required for canonization, but this practice has fallen out of use. Today, incorruptibility is no longer officially counted as a miracle toward an individual's cause for sainthood. Nevertheless, it remains a powerful sign that moves the hearts of the faithful, and the bodies of incorrupt saints continue to draw millions of pilgrims from around the world.
When a body is exhumed and judged incorruptible, a specific procedure is followed: the body is inspected by a medical official, relics are retrieved and sent to Rome, and the body is then sealed with wax to preserve it in the state in which it was found. In many cases, the face and hands are later covered with a wax mask or coating to protect them from the effects of light, smoke, and exposure over the years of public veneration. As a result, many incorrupt saints on display today appear to be merely sleeping — though some have not walked the earth in centuries.
More than 100 Catholic saints are officially recognised as incorrupt, roughly half of them located in Italy. Among the most celebrated are St. Cecilia (the first known incorrupt saint, found preserved over 1,500 years after her death), St. Bernadette Soubirous of Lourdes, St. John Mary Vianney (the CurΓ© d'Ars), St. Catherine LabourΓ©, St. Padre Pio, and St. John Bosco himself.
The Exhumation of Don Bosco (1929)
Don Bosco was buried in the grounds of the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians in Turin immediately after his death in 1888. For forty-one years, his remains rested in the earth, venerated by the Salesians and the faithful but not yet formally examined by the Church.
The cause for Don Bosco's beatification and canonization had been opened by the Archdiocese of Turin, and witnesses were called to testify to his heroic practice of virtue. Pope Pius XI — who had personally known Don Bosco — pushed the cause forward with particular enthusiasm. The process moved through its stages: the diocesan investigation, the Roman phase of hearings (1922–1927), and the formal decrees. On February 20, 1927, Pope Pius XI authorised the reading of the Decree on heroic virtue. The Decree on miracles was issued on March 19, 1929, and the Decree De Tuto (safe to proceed to beatification) followed on April 21, 1929.
As part of the beatification process, Don Bosco's body was exhumed in 1929. This exhumation is the pivotal moment in the story of his incorrupt remains. When the coffin was opened, the body was found to be in a state of remarkable preservation — not having undergone the full and normal process of decomposition that would have been expected after four decades in the ground. The body was judged to be incorrupt, or at the very least partially so, and was subsequently covered in wax to preserve its condition for public veneration.
During the exhumation, relics were retrieved according to Church procedure. A small piece of Don Bosco's brain was removed and placed in a reliquary, which was housed at the Basilica of Castelnuovo Don Bosco — the saint's birthplace, near Turin. Portions of the right hand and arm — bones and tissue — were also extracted and preserved. These relics would later play a central role in the worldwide pilgrimage of Don Bosco's remains.
Don Bosco was formally beatified on June 2, 1929, in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome by Pope Pius XI. Five years later, on Easter Sunday, April 1, 1934, he was canonised, and was given the title "Father and Teacher of Youth." A triumphant celebration followed in Turin.
The Body in the Basilica of Turin
The incorrupt body of Saint John Bosco now rests in a glass reliquary inside the Basilica of Our Lady Help of Christians (Basilica di Santa Maria Ausiliatrice) in Turin, Italy — the very church he himself built with the help of what he believed to be the miracles of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The body is described as partially incorrupt but covered in wax. Like many incorrupt saints whose remains have been on public display for extended periods, Don Bosco's body has been given a wax covering to protect it from the effects of light, air, and exposure over the decades. Beneath this covering, the physical remains are preserved in a state that defies the normal expectation of decomposition. Pilgrims who come to venerate the saint see his body reclining in the glass casket, appearing peaceful and almost lifelike — a sight that has moved countless faithful to tears and to prayer.
The basilica itself is deeply intertwined with Don Bosco's life and legacy. It was consecrated on June 9, 1868, and elevated to the status of Minor Basilica by Pope Pius X in 1911. The nave houses not only the tomb of Don Bosco but also those of Saint Maria Domenica Mazzarello, co-founder of the Salesian Sisters; Saint Dominic Savio, one of Don Bosco's most celebrated young pupils who died at the age of fifteen; and Saint Giuseppe Benedetto Cottolengo. The tomb of Don Bosco's mother, Venerable Margherita Occhiena, is also here. In the crypt lie the tombs of Blessed Michele Rua and Filippo Rinaldi, along with over 6,000 numbered relics of other Catholic saints.
The basilica draws enormous numbers of pilgrims each year. More than 600,000 pilgrims visit the basilica annually, drawn by the incorrupt body of Don Bosco, the canonically crowned painting of Mary Help of Christians, and the profound spiritual atmosphere of a place so deeply consecrated by the saint's own life and prayers.
The Worldwide Pilgrimage of the Relics (2009–2015)
In preparation for the 200th anniversary of Don Bosco's birth in 2015, the Salesians organised one of the most ambitious relic pilgrimages in modern Catholic history. Beginning on January 31, 2009 — Don Bosco's feast day — in Turin, the relics embarked on a 130-country tour spanning five continents, visiting every nation where the Salesians have a presence.
The relics chosen for the tour were the bones and tissues of Don Bosco's right hand and arm, which had been preserved since the 1929 exhumation. These were placed inside a life-size wax replica of Don Bosco's body, carefully sculpted to represent the saint at the time of his death in 1888. The replica was then enclosed in a large glass casket mounted atop an ornate wood and metal cart. The entire display weighed approximately 820 kilograms (over 1,800 pounds) and measured roughly 253 centimeters long, 108 centimeters wide, and 132 centimeters tall. It was transported around the world by private jet and in two specially designed trucks, accompanied by round-the-clock security.
The casket was adorned with symbols and inscriptions deeply meaningful to the Salesian family. Among its decorations were the words "Da mihi animas, ceatera tolle" — "Give me souls, take away the rest" — one of Don Bosco's most cherished guiding quotes. Images of young faces surrounded the casket, along with maps showing the global presence of the Salesian family today. The years 1815 and 2015 were inscribed near the base, marking the purpose of the journey.
Everywhere the relics travelled, they were received with overwhelming devotion. Hundreds of thousands — sometimes millions — of faithful lined up to pray before the casket, to kiss it, and to venerate the saint. In some countries, the reception included grand processions led by bishops and clergy, youth rallies, and solemn Masses. The pilgrimage visited nations across South America, Central America, North America, Europe, Africa, and Asia, including stops in Argentina, Brazil, the United States, Canada, India, the Philippines, Thailand, Kenya, and dozens more.
Along the way, numerous accounts of miraculous healings and spiritual transformations were reported by pilgrims — though none of these claims have been formally certified as miracles by the Vatican. Nevertheless, the pilgrimage powerfully demonstrated the depth and universality of devotion to Don Bosco, and the enduring belief among the faithful in the spiritual power of the saints' relics.
The Stolen Brain Relic (2017)
On June 2, 2017, a shocking event brought international attention to the relics of Don Bosco. A thief, disguised as a pilgrim, stole a glass-covered reliquary containing a preserved piece of Don Bosco's brain from the Basilica of Castelnuovo Don Bosco — the basilica in the saint's birthplace, fewer than twenty miles east of Turin. The theft was discovered the following day when pilgrims arrived to find the shrine closed with a sign reading "Closed. Under construction" — though no construction was taking place.
The Salesian order confirmed the theft through its spokesman, Rev. Moreno Filipetto, who stated: "The relic of St. Bosco has been stolen. To avoid hindering the ongoing police investigation, no other information will be provided." Archbishop Cesare Nosiglia of Turin expressed deep sorrow, calling the theft news "that you would never want to hear," and appealing to the thief to return the relic "immediately, and without conditions."
Italian press reported fears that the relic might be held for ransom or, worse, used in satanic rituals. Police set up roadblocks and analysed security footage. The investigation moved swiftly. Fingerprints led authorities to the home of a 42-year-old man with a criminal record, residing in Pirellino, near Turin. He was arrested by the Asti police. The suspect had allegedly planned to sell the reliquary, believing the glass case to be made of solid gold. The relic was found completely intact, hidden in a copper kettle in the man's kitchen.
Fr. Enrico Stasi, provincial of the Salesians in Piedmont and Valle d'Aosta, expressed gratitude to the judiciary and police, and noted that the restitution of the relic would be "another sign of the benevolence and blessing of Don Bosco for those who continue to keep his spirit alive in the world." The rector of the basilica, Don Ezio Orsini, offered a characteristically Salesian response to the ordeal: "You can steal a relic of Don Bosco, but you cannot steal Don Bosco."
The Theological Significance of Don Bosco's Incorrupt Body
The incorruptibility of Saint John Bosco's body carries profound theological meaning within the Catholic faith, touching on several of the Church's deepest convictions about the human person, the nature of holiness, and the promise of resurrection.
First, it is a witness to the resurrection of the body. Catholic theology teaches, drawing on St. Paul and the Creed, that at the end of time all humanity will be reunited with their glorified, incorruptible bodies. The incorrupt saints, still present in the world in their preserved remains, are understood as an anticipation of that future glory — a foretaste, however partial, of what awaits every faithful soul.
Second, it affirms the essential unity of body and soul. Against the ancient heresy of dualism — which held that the body was merely a prison or a shell for the soul — the Catholic Church has always taught that a human being is fundamentally one: body and soul together constitute the whole person. The incorrupt body of a saint powerfully witnesses to this truth. As theology professor Gondreau has observed, the incorruptibles teach us that the body is not incidental to who we are — it is central.
Third, Don Bosco's preserved remains speak to the power of a life lived in holiness. Throughout Christian history, incorruptibility has been interpreted as a heavenly sign — not a guarantee of sainthood, but a confirmation from God that a person's life was lived in extraordinary virtue and union with Christ. For Don Bosco, whose entire existence was consumed by prayer, sacrifice, and the service of the young, the preservation of his body after death is understood by the faithful as a final, tangible seal of divine approval.
Fourth, the incorrupt body serves as an invitation to veneration and pilgrimage. Catholics have always understood the saints as living members of the Body of Christ, present in heaven but still connected to the Church on earth through the communion of saints. Veneration of relics — and especially of incorrupt bodies — is an expression of this belief: a way of drawing close to one who has gone before us into eternal life, and of asking for their intercession. Don Bosco, who spent his life drawing young people close to God, continues in death to draw the faithful close to him — and, through him, to Christ.
Don Bosco's Legacy in Death
Saint John Bosco died on January 31, 1888, but his influence has only grown with the passage of time. He was declared Venerable by Pope Pius X on July 21, 1907, beatified on June 2, 1929, and canonised on Easter Sunday, April 1, 1934. Pope Pius XII proclaimed him patron saint of Catholic publishers in 1949. Pope John Paul II bestowed on him the title "Father and Teacher of Youth" in 1988.
Today, the Salesians of Don Bosco operate in over 130 countries across the globe, running schools, oratories, homeless shelters, community centers, and mission works serving millions of young people — particularly the poor and marginalised. The Salesian Sisters continue their work among girls and women in need. Don Bosco's educational philosophy — the Preventive System, built on reason, religion, and loving kindness rather than corporal punishment — remains one of the most influential frameworks in Catholic education.
His incorrupt body in the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians in Turin remains one of the most visited and venerated shrines in Italy and in the world. Every January 31, on his feast day, the faithful gather in Turin and in Salesian churches across the globe to honour the man who gave his life so that young people might find God. And in the glass reliquary of that basilica, the body of Don Bosco rests — preserved against the passage of time, a quiet and enduring testament to the holiness of a life entirely consecrated to the love of God and the salvation of the young.
Da mihi animas, ceatera tolle. "Give me souls, take away the rest." — Saint John Bosco
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