Dominic Savio-Student of St. John Bosco; mystic; patron of youth

CATHOLIC SAINTS 28-12-2023, 19:39

 

Feast Day : March 9

 

 

Patronage: choir boys; the falsely accused; youth

 

 

Dominic Savio was spiritually advanced at a young age. He was born in Italy in 1842. By age five, he was an altar boy. When he was seven, he received his First Holy Communion. On that day, he chose a motto: “Death, but not sin!” At age 12, he went with John Bosco to John’s oratory in Turin. There Dominic created the Company of the Immaculate Conception, in order to help John with his work. He stood out from among the other boys, who looked up to him. John Bosco was impressed with his piety and purity. He had many gifts, including prophecy and visions. One of his visions influenced Pope Pius IX in 1850 to reestablish the Catholic hierarchy in England. One day Dominic began to feel sick and was sent home. While at home he grew worse, and knew himself that he was dying. He was only 15. He is said to have faced death bravely, looking forward to going to heaven. He received the last sacraments. Just before he died, he tried to sit up. He said to his father, “Goodbye.” He smiled and added, “I am seeing such wonderful things!” With that, he died. Dominic became the patron saint of the falsely accused, due to an incident that happened while he was alive. One time, two boys filled the school stove with snow and garbage during the cold winter months. When the teacher came back into the room, they falsely accused Dominic of doing the deed. Although disciplined in front of the entire class, Dominic refused to tell on the two mischievous boys. When the truth was later revealed, Dominic was asked why he didn’t confess to his innocence. He remarked that he was imitating Our Lord, who remained silent during His persecutions and crucifixion. “A teenager such as Dominic, who bravely struggled to keep his innocence from baptism to the end of his life, is really a saint,” said Pope St. Pius X (r. 1903–14). On December 6, 1876, 20 years after Dominic’s death, John Bosco—renowned for his lucid dreams— met him in a dream. The setting was a beautiful place of gardens, long avenues and magnificent buildings. John was given to understand that it was not technically “heaven.” In a brilliant light, Dominic walked forward to greet him. Bosco described: Dominic now walked forward on his own until he stood close beside me. He stood there silently for a moment, smiling and looking at me. How wonderful he looked, how exquisitely he was clothed! The white tunic which reached to his feet was interwoven with golden threads and sparkling jewels. Around his waist he had a broad red sash, also interwoven with precious stones of every color, which sparkled and glittered in a thousand lights. Around his neck there was a necklace of wild flowers, but the flowers were made of precious stones and the light they reflected lit up further still the beauty and dignity of Dominic’s face. His hair, which was crowned with roses, hung down to his shoulders and completed the quite indescribable effect of his total appearance Dominic told John that they were in “a place of happiness where all that is beautiful can be enjoyed.” It was not heaven, for “no living person can ever see or imagine the wonders of eternity.” Dominic told John that he had done well with the boys under his care at his oratory, but that the Salesian order would be many more in number if he had “greater faith and confidence in God” and nurtured virtues in the boys. “What helped me most and gave me greatest joy when I was dying,” replied Dominic, “was the loving care and help of the great Mother of God. Tell your sons not to fail to keep close to her while they are alive.” Dominic then accurately predicted that John would have many trials ahead of him. He predicted the death of Pope Pius IX (r. 1846–78) two years hence in 1878, and the coming deaths of some of John’s charges. His final gift was to give John three pieces of folded paper. The first paper bore a list of boys who had never been overcome by evil. The second had a list of boys who had “seriously offended God,” but were trying to redeem themselves. The third paper bore the names of boys who had been conquered by evil. It was folded. Dominic warned Bosco that when he opened the third paper it would give off a terrible, unbearable stench of evil. John did so and was overcome by the stench. He was saddened to see the names of some of his “best” boys. When he awakened, the stench filled his chamber. Dominic’s words were borne out.

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