Hi all: Q about saints

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aniroz

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I had one small query as per below

This was a question raised by one of my Sunday School children.

Don Bosco is a Saint, Why don’t we address him as St.Don Bosco

Same goes for Dominic Savio, why don’t we say St.Dominic Savio???

Please enlighten me.
 
“Don” in the italian language… is a title accorded to priests. So, to say “Don Bosco” (or Father Bosco)… is similar to saying… “Padre Pio” (Father Pio). With both of them… it would be more acceptable to say… St. John Bosco… or St. Pio of Pietrelcina. God bless. 🙂
 
Also, don’t confuse him Donnie Brasco. Two totally different people.
 
“Don” in the italian language… is a title accorded to priests. So, to say “Don Bosco” (or Father Bosco)… is similar to saying… “Padre Pio” (Father Pio). With both of them… it would be more acceptable to say… St. John Bosco… or St. Pio of Pietrelcina. God bless. 🙂
And I’ve heard both of these two gentlemen referred to as “Saint” many times. Roughly as often as not.

After all, it’s not like we ALWAYS call Mary ‘the Blessed Virgin’ or ‘Mother of God’ or ‘Our Lady’ or any of her other titles - and that’s what ‘Saint’ is, a title. Heck, we don’t even always call Jesus ‘Christ’ or ‘the Christ’ which is His title.
 
And I’ve heard both of these two gentlemen referred to as “Saint” many times. Roughly as often as not.

After all, it’s not like we ALWAYS call Mary ‘the Blessed Virgin’ or ‘Mother of God’ or ‘Our Lady’ or any of her other titles - and that’s what ‘Saint’ is, a title. Heck, we don’t even always call Jesus ‘Christ’ or ‘the Christ’ which is His title.
True, indeed. John Bosco and Pio of Pietrelcina are both canonized saints. But my point was that the title of “Saint”… is maybe more recognizable. Example: It might be more difficult to identify her to a non-Catholic if we said… Sister Therese of the Child Jesus and of the Holy Face… than, if we said… St. Therese of Lisieux. (and yes, I know… she is also called “The Little Flower” lol. But that’s not the point I was trying to make).

I think the OP was unsure about the title of “Don”… (in St. John Bosco’s case) which translates to “Father”. But, hmm… come to think of it… more people might recognize “Padre Pio” over “St. Pio of Pietrelcina”. 😉

I think I’m glad I have NO title. 😃
 
I call them saints…I think people just take short cuts in their names.
 
The Roman Catholic church in my neighborhood when I was growing up was St. Clement’s. When the Salesians took it over, they changed the name to St. John Bosco.

Yet the Parish Hall is called “Don Bosco Hall.”
 
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