Saint Dominic Savio

Feast day : 06 May

“I am not capable of doing big things, but I want to do everything, even the smallest things, for the greater glory of God.”  

Today the Church celebrates the feast of a young saint St. Dominc Savio (02 April 1842 – 9 March 1857) who died at the young age of 14 years. During his short lifetime, his holiness and purity stood out amongst his peers. He is the patron saint of children’s choir, falsely accused people and juvenile delinquents. He was mentored by Saint Don Bosco who wrote his biography The Life of Dominic Savio. He was canonized a saint by Pope Pius XII on 12 June 1954 making him (at that time) the youngest non-martyred saint in the Catholic Church. Because of his age, some were of the opinion that he was too young to be canonized. But Pope Pius X started the process of canonization and Dominic Savio was declared Venerable in 1933 by Pope Pius XI and was beatified in 1950 by Pope Pius XII. At his canonisation, Pope Pius XII described him as “small in size, but a towering giant in spirit.”

Early life:
Dominic Savio was born on 02 April 1842, in a village in Riva, northern Italy to Carlo and Brigitta Savio. From a young age he loved the Lord and was greatly devoted to prayer. He accompanied his mother to church and prayed with great reverence. He became an altar boy at the age of five. At that time it was customary for children to receive their First Holy Communion at the age of 12 but Dominic Savio was so well versed in his prayers that the parish priest agreed to permit him to receive his First Communion at the age of seven. In his biography of Dominic Savio, Saint Don Bosco says that 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." On the day of his First Communion, Dominic made some promises which he wrote in a "little book", and re-read them many times. The resolutions were
"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."

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. Once when two boys began fighting on the playground, St. Dominc Savio quickly grabbed a crucifix and stood between the young boys. They could not hurt each other without hurting Dominic Savio and because they loved him they withdrew from their violent fight. He then taught them about the love of Jesus who laid down his life for us and to retract from their violent ways for the sake of this great love of Jesus. Once when he saw some boys looking at pornography, St. Dominc discovered them, quickly grabbed the materials and shredded them so that they would not fall into deeper sin saying, "You know well enough that one look is enough to stain your souls, and yet you go feasting your eyes on this”. He never spared a chance to reprimand what he saw was wrong and lead people to leading holier lives.

Life with Saint Don Bosco:
In October 1854, Dominic was personally introduced by his teacher to Saint Don Bosco. At the meeting, Saint Don Bosco wanted to test Dominic's intelligence and understanding of the Catholic faith. He gave Dominic a copy of The Catholic Readings, which was a pamphlet that dealt with apologetics. He expected Dominic to provide a report the next day, but just ten minutes later Dominic recited the text and provided a full explanation of its significance. This impressed Saint Don Bosco and he took the boy alongwith him to Turin.

Once he had an occasion to listen to a talk on holiness and was greatly moved with a desire to become a saint. He was troubled on how to live a saintly life. He attempted to perform physical penances like making his bed uncomfortable with small stones and pieces of wood, sleeping with a thin covering in winter and fasting on bread and water. Noticing this, Saint Don Bosco spoke to Dominic and forbade him from bodily mortification as it would affect his health and told him that the best penance would be to perform all his duties with perfection and humility, and that obedience was the greatest sacrifice. Thus, Dominic formed an important aspect of his philosophy of life, which was, in his words, "but I want to do everything, even the smallest things, for the greater glory of God." Don Bosco notes that from that time on, Dominic did not complain about the food or the weather, unlike some other boys at the Oratory, he bore all suffering cheerfully, and practised custody of his eyes and tongue.

He often had visions and in his biography Saint Don 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'".

Dominic requested Saint Don Bosco to tell the Pope of his vision, which he did in 1858, after his death. On hearing about this, the Pope felt that this confirmed the plans he had already made concerning England.

Last days:
He soon fell sick and was sent back to his parents home. After four days, despite the conviction of the doctor and his parents that he would get better, Dominic asked that he be given the Anointing of the Sick in preparation for death. On 9 March, he was given the papal blessing and he said the Confiteor. Saint Don Bosco records that throughout these days, he stayed serene and calm. On the evening of 9 March 1857, after being visited by his parish priest, he asked his father to read him the prayers for the Exercise of a Happy Death from his book of devotions. Then he slept a while, 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 died.

His remains are kept at the Saint Dominic altar in the Basilica of Our Lady Help of Christians in Turin. By his short holy life, Saint Dominic Savio continues to inspire many to lead a life of holiness.