Teen Saint: Dominic Savio, Feast Day, May 6

 

I find  these young saints amazing! Here is a quote from Dominic Savio, "Nothing seems tiresome or painful when you are working for a Master who pays well; who rewards even a cup of cold water give for love of Him." Already at his young age he understood how much Christ wants us to succeed in becoming holy.

Dominic Savio was born in Italy, the Piedmont region, on April 2, 1842. He was one of ten children. His father was a blacksmith and his mother a seamstress. Both parents had a deep faith, and Dominic from his earliest years showed signs of a deep piety and inclination towards prayer. In fact he learned the teachings of the faith and the prayers necessary to receive his First Holy Communion by age seven. At the time he was living, the age for the reception of Holy Communion was twelve. It was not until Pope Pius X lowered the age from twelve to seven in 1910 that it became the norm for the  reception of Holy Communion.

Dominic was a student at St. John Bosco's school in Turin, Italy. It was there that he grew spirituality under the guidance of St. John Bosco. There is no doubt that Dominic was given special graces to respond eagerly and with great desire to love Jesus and to become a saint. I think we are given examples such as Dominic, Blessed Chiara Badano, the Fatima children and others to show us that children can become saints if they cooperate with the graces God gives them, and they receive instruction in the faith from their parents, grandparents, and teachers.

Dominic Savio died at the age of fourteen in 1857. He had a premonition that he was going to die. He was not well and St. John Bosco sent him home. His classmates thought he would return once he recovered from his cough. They had no idea he was seriously ill. Even his parents thought that he would recover from his illness. He did not appear to them to be on death's doorstep, but he was and he knew it. He asked to go to Confession, receive Holy Communion, and a few days later to be Anointed. He was given all three of these sacraments to please him, but his parents and even his doctor did not think he was going to die.

St. John Bosco recorded much of the life story of St. Dominic in the book pictured

above. I would encourage you to read his life and then share it with your children, grandchildren, and students. It is the retelling of the life of one saint by another saint! It is full of spiritual nuggets and many details of St. Dominic's life that I have not included here that provide encouragement for all ages in following Jesus and growing in holiness.

 

When the cause for Dominic's sainthood was proposed, some people objected saying he was too young to be a saint. There had to be some heroic virtue(s) for him to be canonized. They doubted someone so young could attain heroic virtues. Pope Pius X disagreed and began the process of canonization.  In 1933, Pope Pius XI declared him venerable. Pope Pius XII beatified Dominic in 1950 and declared him a saint in 1954.  Pope Pius XI referred to Dominic as "small in size, but a towering giant in spirit."

PRAYER TO ST. DOMINIC SAVIO

Dear Saint Dominic, you spent your short life totally for love of Jesus and His Mother. Help youth today to realize the importance of God in their lives. You became a saint through fervent participation in the sacraments, enlighten parents and children to the importance of frequent confession and Holy Communion. At a young age you meditated on the sorrowful Passion of Our Lord. Obtain for us the grace of a fervent desire to suffer for love of Him.

St. Dominic, Pray for Us!