St. John Bosco, January 31
A priest in industrial Turin, John Bosco (1815-1888) gathered street boys and apprentices, gave them schools and workshops, and taught them through play and trust. He founded the Salesians and, with St. Mary Mazzarello, the Salesian Sisters. He is the patron of young people.
On the General Roman Calendar, January 31 is a memorial: Saint John Bosco, priest.
Name days on January 31
In countries that keep name days, January 31 is the day for people named John.
| Name | Feast day |
|---|---|
| John | December 27 |
January 31 on the calendar
January 31 is the 31st day of the year, with 334 days left until December 31. Here is the day of the week it falls on in the coming years:
| Year | Day |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Saturday |
| 2027 | Sunday |
| 2028 | Monday |
| 2029 | Wednesday |
| 2030 | Thursday |
Keeping January 31
January 31 falls in winter. As a memorial, the saint is named in the opening prayer of every Mass celebrated that day. Families who keep name days often mark the day with a card, a candle or a favorite meal, and parishes named after the saint may hold a festival. If you know someone named John, it is a good day to send a note.
Saints of the week around January 31
| Date | Saint or feast |
|---|---|
| January 28 | St. Thomas Aquinas |
| January 29 | St. Gildas the Wise |
| January 30 | St. Martina |
| February 1 | St. Brigid of Kildare |
| February 2 | Presentation of the Lord |
| February 3 | St. Blaise |
The day before, January 30, is the day of St. Martina. The day after, February 1, belongs to St. Brigid of Kildare. Looking for a name? Try the name day calendar or go back to today’s saint.