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Dominic Savio (April 2, 1842 - March 9, 1857) (Italian: Domenico Savio) was an Italian adolescent who died at the age of fourteen. (24 days short of his fifteenth birthday) He had become a pupil of John Bosco at the age of 12, and was studying to become a priest when he took ill and died, possibly from pleurisy. He was canonised a Saint on June 12, 1954 by Pope Pius XII, and is the youngest non-martyr to be canonised in the Catholic Church. Dominic Savio is different from other saints in his age group ( for example, Maria Goretti or Ponticus of Lyons ) since Savio was declared a Saint not because he was a martyr, but since he was judged to have displayed "heroic virtue" in his everyday life.

Biography
The major part of the biographical information known about Dominic Savio comes from his biography written by John Bosco, in addition to the testimonies given by Savio's family and friends.

Birth
On April 2, 1842 in the village of Riva, two miles from the town of Chieri, in the province of Piedmont, northern Italy a son was born to Charles and Brigid Savio. He was given the name Dominic at baptism. The name Dominic means "belonging to God" and the name Savio means "wise". His parents had ten chidren in all. His father was a blacksmith and his mother, a seamstress. They were poor, hardworking and pious.

At Home
When Dominic Savio was two years old, his parents returned to their native place at Murialdo on the outskirts of Castelnuovo d'Asti (from where they had gone to Riva in 1841) .His parents took great care to give him a Christian upbringing. By the age of four, Dominic Savio was able to pray by himself and was occasionally found in solitude, praying. In his biography of Dominic Savio, Don Bosco records that Savio's parents recollect how he used to help his mother around the house, welcome his father home, say his prayers without being reminded to, (even reminding others when they forgot) and say Grace at mealtimes unfailingly (once leaving the table when a visitor started eating without any prior prayer).

At the village school
Fr Giovanni Zucca from Moriondo, who was then the chaplain at Murialdo when Dominic Savio was five years old, notes in a statement to John Bosco that he came to notice Dominic Savio due to his regular church attendance with his mother, and due to his habit of kneeling down outside the church to pray (even in the mud or snow) if he happened to come to Church too early in the morning before it had been unlocked. The chaplain also notes that Savio made good progress at the village school not merely due to his cleverness, but also by working hard; he would not join the other boys in doing something that he believed to be morally wrong and would explain why he thought a particular deed was wrong; At the age of five, he learned to serve Mass, and would try to attend Mass daily and made frequent Confessions; Having been permitted to make his First Communion at an early age, he had much reverence for the Eucharist.

His First Communion
At that time, it was customary for children to take their First Communion at the age of twelve. (Pope Pius X would later lower this age to seven ) After initial hesitation, and subsequent consultation with other priests, the parish priest agreed to permit Dominic Savio to receive his First Communion at the age of seven, since he knew his Catechism and understood the concept of the Eucharist. He spent much time praying and reading in preparation. He asked his mother's forgiveness for anything he might have done to displease her and then went to Church. In his biography of Dominic Savio, John Bosco devotes a chapter to tell of Dominic Savio's First Communion. He says that several years later, whenever Dominic talked of the day of his First Communion, he said with joy: "That was the happiest and most wonderful day of my life" John Bosco records that on the day of his First Communion, Dominic made some promises to himself which he wrote in a "little book", and re-read them many times. John Bosco once looked through Dominic's book, and he quotes from it the promises that he made:


 * Resolutions made by me, Dominic Savio, in the year 1849, on the day of my First Communion, at the age of seven.


 * ''1. I will go to Confession often, and as frequently to Holy Communion as my confessor allows.
 * 2. I wish to sanctify the Sundays and festivals in a special manner.
 * 3. My friends shall be Jesus and Mary.
 * 4. Death rather than sin.

''

At the County School
For further education, Savio had to go to another school. It was decided that he would go to the County School at Castelnuovo, three miles away from his house. (Castelnuovo d' Asti, now Castelnuovo Don Bosco, was the birthplace of another contemporary of John Bosco, Joseph Cafasso, also a saint. He was four years the senior of John Bosco, and John Bosco's mentor and advisor. ) Now ten years old, Dominic walked to and from school. In his biography of Dominic Savio, Don Bosco records how a local farmer once asked Savio on a hot sunny day if he was not tired from walking, and received the reply: "Nothing seems tiresome or painful when you are working for a master who pays well." Don Bosco also notes that Dominic refused to go swimming with his friends, since it was easy to get drowned, and since Savio considered that in such a situation, it would be "also easy to offend God", since, on a previous occasion, he had noticed that it was easily an occassion for his friends to behave in, what was to him, a vulgar manner. Don Bosco, in his biography of Dominic Savio, records that Fr. Allora, the head of this school, had this to say about Dominic Savio: "...Hence it may very well be said that he was Savio (wise), not only in name, but in fact, viz., in his studies, in piety, in conversation and his dealing with others, and in all his actions. ..."

Dominic Savio meets John Bosco
It was Fr. Giuseppe Cugliero, Dominic's teacher at school, who gave a high account of Dominic to John Bosco and reccomended that John Bosco meet him during the Feast of the Rosary, when he would take his boys to Murialdo. Accordingly, Dominic met John Bosco on the first Monday in the month of October, 1854, accompanied by his father. John Bosco records this conversation in some detail. He notes that Dominic was eager to go to Turin with John Bosco and study under him, and that he wished to become a priest after completing his studies. This meeting was the beginning of the relationship between them. The result of this meeting was that John Bosco agreed to take Dominic Savio to Turin with him.

At the Oratory of St Francis de Sales
John Bosco records that when Dominic arrived at the Oratory, he at once placed himself under his (John Bosco's) guidance. He also notes that Dominic Savio worked diligently and followed the school rules. He would happily listen to talks and sermons (even if they tended to be lengthy at times), and would, without hesitation, ask for clarification on points that were not clear to him. John Bosco also notes how Dominic was obedient to his teachers and chose his companions carefully. (The proper choice of close companions was a favourite educational theme for John Bosco. ) This happened in the year 1854, while, in Rome, the dogma of the Immaculate Conception of Mary was being defined. Preparations for the observation of this feast were thus going on at the Oratory. Don Bosco records that, at the advice of his Confessor, Dominic renewed his First Communion promises at the altar of Mary at the Oratory. John Bosco says that, from this point the result of Dominic's attempts towards holy life were so apparent in his life, that he (John Bosco) took to recording the various incidents that occurred in Savio's life, for future reference.

John Bosco's mother, who was called "Mamma Margaret", who had once come to Turin to help her son with the running of the Oratory, remarked to him of Dominic,
 * "You have many good boys, but none can match the good heart and soul of Dominic Savio. I see him so often at prayer, staying in church after the others; every day he slips out of the playground to make a visit to the Blessed Sacrament. When he is in church he is like an angel living in Paradise."

Resolve to become a Saint
Around six months after Dominic had come to the Oratory, he had the occasion to listen to a talk on Sainthood. John Bosco records that the talk had three main points that impressed Dominic:
 * 1. That it is God's will that each one should become a saint.
 * 2. That it is easy to become a saint.
 * 3. That there is a great reward waiting in heaven for those who try to become saints.

This inspired Dominic Savio to take a conscious decision to become a saint. The immediate result of this was that, not being sure how to live a saintly life, and worried about it, he was quiet and worried for the next few days. Noticing this, Don Bosco spoke to him, and, on finding out what was worrying him, advised him to resume his customary cheerfulness, persevere in his regular life of study and religious practices, and especially not neglect being with his companions in games and recreation. On learning that his first name meant "belonging to God", his desire to be a saint intensified.

Attempts to do Penances
In his desire to become a Saint, Dominic Savio attempted to perform physical penances, like making his bed uncomfortable with stones and wood, sleeping with a thin covering in winter, wearing a hair shirt, and fasting on bread and water only. When his superiors (i.e., John Bosco, or his Rector, or his Confessor) came to know about these, they forbade him from doing bodily mortification, as they would affect his health. John Bosco told Savio that as a schoolboy, the best penance for his station would be to perform all his duties with perfection and humility, and that Obedience was the greatest sacrifice. Thus, Dominic Savio formed an important aspect of his philosophy of life, which was, in his words, "I can't do big things but I want everything to be for the glory of God." Don Bosco notes that from that time on, Dominic Savio did not complain about the food or the weather, unlike some other boys at the Oratory, bore all suffering cheerfully, and practised custody of his eyes and tongue. Eugenio Ceria, a Salesian commentator on the biography of John Bosco, notes that by this time, owing to his experience as an educator, John Bosco's ideas on several pedagogical and spiritual principles were well developed and linked and this led him to associate the fulfillment of daily duties with holiness in his advice to Savio.

The Immaculate Conception Sodality
The definition of the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception of Mary had an impact on Dominic Savio and he was anxious to create at the school a lasting reminder of this. Savio now felt that he had not long to live. With the help of his friends, he started a group called the Sodality of Mary Immaculate, the main aim of which was to be to obtain the special protection of Mary during life and at the time of death. The means Dominic proposed to this end were: (1) to honour, and to bring others to honour, Mary by different means, and (2) to encourage frequent Communion. On June 8, nine months before his death, he and his friends read out together before the altar of Mary at the Oratory, the set of rules they had drawn up. There were twenty-one articles (which were recorded by John Bosco in the biography of Savio), ending with an appeal to Mary for her assistance and Intercession. These were submitted to the Rector, and, after careful perusal, he gave his approval, under seven conditions. One of the members of this Sodality, Giuseppe Bongioanni, (who was later ordained a secular priest) was later to found the Sodality of the Blessed Sacrament, which became a traditional Sodality in schools.

Preparation for a holy death
All the pupils under John Bosco observed a monthly event called The Exercise of a Happy Death. In present times, this practice continues under the name The Monthly Day of Recollection. This pracitce was encouraged by Pope Pius IX. Part of this was to make a Confession and Communion as though they were the last one was to make. John Bosco notes that Dominic observed this practice devoutly. He also notes that one day, Dominic said that he would be the first to die among them. During the month of May, before his death, the intensity of his spiritual practices increased. John Bosco notes that he said, "Let me do what I can this year; if I am here next year I'll let you know what my plans are."

Failing Health
Dominic's health was steadily deteriorating, but he spent most of his time with his friends, talking with them, and encouraging those who were experiencing troubles of any sort. He also helped at the school infirmary when his companions were admitted there with some illness. On the recommendation of doctors, Dominic was sent to his home to recover from his ill health. A few days later, John Bosco found him back at the Oratory. In spite of his affection for Dominic, which made him want to keep him with him, John Bosco decided to follow the recommendation of the doctors, especially since Dominic had developed a bad cough and he wrote to Dominic's father, fixing the date of his departure on March 1, 1857. Though Dominic said that he wanted to spend his last days at the Oratory, he accepted this decision with his usual obedience. He spent the evening before his departure at John Bosco's side, asking him many doubts on spiritual matters. John Bosco has recorded a part of this conversation in his biography of Dominic Savio. On the morning of his departure, Don Bosco notes that Savio made the Exercise of a Happy Death with great devotion, even saying that it would be his final such devotion. He said his farewell to John Bosco with solemnity, asking as a keepsake that John Bosco add his name to the list of those who would participate in the plenary Indulgence that John Bosco had received from the Pope, to which John Bosco readily agreed. Savio then said took leave of his friends with great seriousness, which surprised them, for he had managed to stay out of bed, and his illness was not considered by many of his companions to be serious.

Death
In his first four days at home, there was nothing seriously wrong with Dominic, except for the decrease in his appetite and a worsening of his cough. This prompted his parents to send him to the doctor, who, at once, ordered bed rest for Dominic. Inflammation was diagnosed, and as was the custom in that period, the doctor decided to perform bloodletting. The doctor cut Dominic's arm ten times in the space of four days. It is now considered that this probably hastened the death of Dominic Savio. In his biography, John Bosco records that Dominic was calm throughout the procedure. The doctor and his parents felt that the danger had passed and now it only remained for him to recuperate. Dominic, however, was sure that his death was approaching, and asked that he be allowed to make his Confession and receive Communion. Though they thought it unnecessary, to please him, his parents sent for the parish priest who heard Dominic's confession and administered Viaticum. After four days of his illness at home, in spite of the conviction of the doctor and his parents that he would get better, Dominic asked that he be given the last anointing. Again, his parents agreed, to please him. On March 9, he was given the papal blessing and he said the Confiteor. Don Bosco records that throughout these days, he stayed serene and calm. On the evening of March 9, 1857, after being visited by his parish priest(who, on Dominic's request for some parting thought, suggested he meditate on the Passion), he asked his father to read him the prayers for the Exercise of a Happy Death from his book of devotions. Then he slept awhile, and shortly awakened and said in a clear voice,
 * "Goodbye, Dad, goodbye . . . what was it the parish priest suggested to me ... I don't seem to remember . . . Oh, what wonderful things I see ...".

With these words, Dominic Savio died, though, at first, it appeared to his father that he was asleep.

Notable Incidents in the life of Dominic Savio
In order to give the reader a well rounded picture of Dominic's personality Don Bosco has recorded several incidents from Dominic's life in his biographical account. Many of these incidents find frequent mention in accounts of Dominic's life.

At the School at Mondonio
John Bosco records this incident from the testimony of Fr Giuseppe Cugliero. One day, in the absence of his teacher, two of Dominic's classmates stuffed the room-heating iron stove with snow and garbage, as a prank. Fearing expulsion, they blamed Dominic. Fr. Cugliero soundly berated Dominic in front of the class. Dominic bore this silently. The following day, the true culprits were discovered. On being asked why he had remained silent, Dominic replied that he had thought that he would be let off with a scolding as it would have been his perceived first offence, whereas, the other boys would have been expelled. He also added that Jesus had remained silent when blamed unjustly and that he was trying to imitate him. Mary Reed Newland, in her book, suggests that, since Dominic was yet to meet John Bosco at this time, this incident is indicative of the upbringing his parents had given him.

First meeting with Don Bosco
The first time John Bosco met Dominic Savio, to test his intelligence, he gave him a copy of The Catholic Readings (which were phamplets on the subject of Catholic Apologetics, written by John Bosco ), asking him to recite a particular by heart and explain its meaning the next day, and then spoke for a while with Dominic's father. Ten minutes later, he found Dominic again beside him, whereupon he recited the page and explained its meaning satisfactorily.

At the Oratory
Dominic Savio's spiritual growth progressed under the guidance of Don Bosco. Clifford Stevens says in his biography on Dominic Savio,
 * "In other circumstances, Dominic might have become a little self-righteous snob, but Don Bosco showed him the heroism of the ordinary and the sanctity of common sense."

Resolves a Conflict
At the Oratory, two of his friends had a disagreement and decided to fight each other with stones. They being older and stronger than Dominic ( his hard work and intelligence had caused him to be promoted from the first form to the second form ), physically intervening was not possible. He tried to reason them out of it, but with no positive result. Thus, on the day of the fight, he went with them, and just before they could start, he placed himself between them, and holding up his crucifix, requested that they throw their first stones at him. Ashamed, the two boys gave up their fight. Savio then spoke to them and persuaded them to go to Confession.

Control of the Eyes
John Bosco records that once a boy from outside, who was visiting, had brought with him a "magazine with bad pictures in it", and a group of fascinated boys were looking at it. On finding out, Dominic snatched the magazine and tore it up, saying, "....You know well enough that one look is enough to stain your souls, and yet you go feasting your eyes on this."

Influence over his friends
John Bosco records that Dominic spent a lot of time with his friends, encouraging them in their devotions, discouraging some of his friends from their habit of swearing, and teaching Catechism at Sunday School. He also records that he would encourage his friends to make frequent Confessions and take Communion regularly. In his biography of Dominic Savio, John Bosco makes particular mention of two of Dominic's friends, Camillo Gavio of Tortona, and John Massaglia of Marmorito. (these two friends were dead by the time John Bosco wrote the biography, and he thought it best not to write about the friends of Dominic who were still alive.) They both died before they could become priests.

Devotions practised by Dominic Savio
Don Bosco narrates that before he came to the Oratory Dominic made his Confession and took Communion once a month. After hearing a homily on the Sacraments, he chose a priest as his regular Confessor, (to whom Dominic made his Confessions till the end of his stay at the Oratory ) The regularity with which Dominic approached the Sacraments increased and, at the end of that year, as per the advice of his Confessor, Dominic was taking Communion daily. He had a special intention for the Eucharist each day of the week. John Bosco notes that, whenever permitted, Dominic eagerly accompanied the priest when he took the Viaticum, and that he also had the habit of kneeling down in the street if he encountered the Eucharist being carried by a priest.

"Distractions"
John Bosco records that Dominic occasionally had intense experiences during prayer, which he (Savio) described as such:"It is silly of me; I get a distraction and lose the thread of my prayers and then I see such wonderful things that the hours pass by like minutes”. On one occasion, he was missing from breakfast till two in the afternoon. The Rector finally found him in the chapel, standing motionless and gazing at the tabernacle. He was not aware that the morning Mass had ended. On another occasion, John Bosco records that he saw Dominic in the Chapel, speaking to God, and then waiting, as though listening to a reply.

Special Knowledge
John Bosco narrates how Dominic came to his room one day and urged him to accompany him. He led John Bosco through many streets to a block of flats, rang the doorbell, and at once, went away. When the door opened, John Bosco found that within, there was a dying man who was desperately asking for a priest to make his last confession. After he had heard the man's confession, the priest of that parish came and administered the last rites. Later, John Bosco asked Dominic how he had known about that man. However, since the question made Dominic uncomfortable, John Bosco did not press the matter.

The Vision of England
John Bosco records that Dominic once recounted to him a vision he had:


 * "... . One morning as I was making my thanksgiving after Communion, a very strong distraction took hold of me. I thought I saw a great plain full of people enveloped in thick fog. They were walking about like people who had lost their way and did not know which way to turn. Someone near me said: 'This is England'. I was just going to ask some questions, when I saw Pope Pius IX just like I have seen him in pictures. He was robed magnificently and carried in his hand a torch alive with flames. As he walked slowly towards that immense gathering of people, the leaping flames from the torch dispelled the fog, and the people stood in the splendour of the noonday sun. 'That torch', said the one beside me, 'is the Catholic Faith, which is going to light up England'".

At his last farewell, Dominic requested John Bosco to tell the pope of his vision, which he did in 1858. The Pope felt that this confirmed the plans he had already made concerning England.

His mother's pregnancy
On September 12, 1856, Dominic asked John Bosco permission to go home, saying that his mother was ill, though he had received no communication from home. Dominic's mother was then expecting a baby and was in great pain. When Dominic reached the house, he hugged and kissed his mother, and then left. His mother felt her pain leave her and Dominic's baby sister, Catherine was born. The women assisting at the birth found that Dominic had left a green scapular around his mother's neck. His sister Theresa later wore this same scapular when she was in labour. She testified that it had been passed around to several pregnant women and was later lost.

Vision of his father
The veneration of Dominic Savio grew with an event narrated by Dominic's father:
 * "I was is the greatest affliction at the loss of my son, and was consumed by a desire to know what was his position in the other world. God deigned to comfort me. About a month after his death, during a very restless night, I saw, as it were, the ceiling opened, and Dominic appeared in the midst of dazzling light. I was beside myself at this sight, and cried out: "O Dominic, my son, are you already in Paradise?" "Yes," he replied, "I am in Heaven." Then pray for your brothers and sisters, and your mother and father, that we may all come to join you one day is Heaven." "Yes, yes, I will pray," was the answer. "Then he disappeared, and the room became as before."

The Life of Dominic Savio
Soon after the death of Dominic, John Bosco wrote his biography, The Life of Dominic Savio, which contributed to his canonisation. The original Italian edition was considered so well written during the time of Don Bosco, that, along with his History of Italy and Ecclesiastical History, it was used in many public schools as part of the Course materials on the Italian Language. Among his other writings, Don Bosco also wrote biographies of St. Joseph Cafasso The Life of Francis Besucco, and The Life of Michael Magone.

Sainthood
Though some were of an opinion that Savio was too young to be canonised, Pope Pius X insisted that the opposite was true and started the process of his canonisation. Dominic Savio was declared Venerable in 1933 by Pope Pius XI, was beatified in 1950 by Pope Pius XII, and declared a saint in 1954. Pope Pius XI described him as "small in size, but a towering giant in spirit."

Electronic (on-line) Editions

 * The Life of Dominic Savio by St. John Bosco available freely on-line at the TraditionalCatholic.net website.
 * Saint Dominic Savio, Adapted from A Brief Life of St. Dominic Savio By Paul J. Pascucci, S.D.B. available freely on-line at the website of the Salesians of the San Francisco Province, DonBoscoWest.org.

Books

 * The Life of Dominic Savio by St. John Bosco at Amazon.com

Reflections on his life

 * Dominic Savio: Schoolboy Saint- Chapter 3 of The Saints and Our Children by Mary Reed Newland available freely on-line at the library section of the Catholic Online website.

Devotions

 * Prayers to St. Dominic Savio on the 2 Hearts Network, Inc. website.
 * A Chaplet in Honor of St. Dominic Savio, Patron Saint of Young Boys on the Our Rose Rosary website.

Resources

 * The multimedia resource page on St. Dominic Savio at the website of the Salesians of Don Bosco.

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