March 2022 Saint of the Month: Dominic Savio by Daniel

St. Dominic Savio was once quoted as saying, “I can’t do big things. But I want all I do, even the smallest thing, to be for the greater glory of God.” As he said this, he was suffering from lung issues and was suffering from other illnesses which made his body frail. As we begin the season of Lent, these words from this month’s saint can help us focus on what is truly important during these 40 days: emptying ourselves so that God may fill our hearts. St. Dominic lived a short life as he died at the young age of 14, but his life was full of love because he lived it for God.

Dominic Savio was born in the village of Riva in San Giovanni, Italy to a peasant family on April 2, 1842. His father was a blacksmith, his mother was a seamstress and he had 9 siblings. He had a supportive upbringing, and his family were pious Catholics. So much so that the young Dominic started to pray at the tender age of 4! At a young age, he would make it a point to pray before meals and encouraged others to do so as well. Fr. Giovanni Zucca, who was a priest at their local Church, noticed that Dominic would attend mass with his mother and he even prayed outside the Church building. He was so committed to this that Dominic would kneel to pray even if the ground was muddy or icy.

The young man was allowed to receive the Eucharist by his parish priest at the age of 7 (the customary age at the time was 12) because he knew his catechism and studiously learned the sacrament. He spent a lot of time reading and praying in preparation for the special occasion. On the day he received his First Communion, Dominic wrote four promises in a little book. Those promises 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.

When Dominic graduated from secondary school, he had to walk three miles to school each day, however, he did so without complaint. One day while he was walking to school on a hot day a farmer asked him why he wasn't tired yet. Dominic cheerfully replied, "Nothing seems tiresome or painful when you are working for a master who pays well." In another instance, two boys stuffed a school heating stove with snow and rubbish. The boys were known troublemakers and were likely to be expelled if they were caught, so they blamed Dominic. Dominic did not deny the accusation and he was scolded by his teacher in front of the class. The next day, the teacher learned the truth and asked Dominic why he did not defend himself. Dominic replied that he was imitating Jesus who remained silent when unjustly accused.

When he was 12 years old, he studied under Fr. John Bosco at the Oratory of St. Francis de Sales at Turin where he expressed his desire to be a priest and help neglected boys. After 6 months of study, Dominic gave a speech on sainthood where he made 3 points: it is God’s will that we all become saints, it is easy to become a saint, and there are great rewards in heaven for saints. Yet, this desire to be a saint troubled Dominic because he thought he was too young to have such feelings. In order to correct this, he tried to impose on himself harsh mortification and penances in the hopes that he would be less concerned with his needs and grow closer to Jesus. Fr. Bosco saw this, and he corrected Dominic. He explained that as a child, what he should do instead was to focus on his studies and be cheerful. Dominic found that when he simply enjoyed and was grateful for God’s gifts, his happy demeanor quickly returned.

Dominic learned a very important lesson from his mentor and declared, "I can't do big things, but I want everything to be for the glory of God.” Fr/ Bosco notes that from that time on, Dominic did not complain about the food or the weather. suffered cheerfully, and practiced custody of his eyes and tongue. Unfortunately, Dominic’s health was failing, and he had to be sent home to recover. However, the young man knew that he was dying. On March 9, 1857, Dominic Savio died after receiving the Eucharist. Fr. Bosco was so touched by Dominic’s life that he wrote a biography which quickly became popular and would eventually be read in schools across Italy. Some thought Dominic was too young to be canonized, but Pope Saint Pius X declared him a saint in 1954 because Dominic regularly practiced heroic virtue in his life.

Here is a good prayer if you need St. Dominic’s intercession:

O Saint Dominic Savio,

model of purity, piety, penance and apostolic zeal for youth;

grant that, through your intercession,

we may serve God in our ordinary duties with fervent devotion,

and attain the grace of holy joy on earth,

that we may one day love God forever in heaven.

Amen.

Be awesome and blossom 🌱

By: anh Daniel