One of ten children of a blacksmith and seamstress. Protégé of Saint John Bosco. Altar boy at age 5. At 12 he entered the Oratory School preparatory to becoming a priest. Well-liked and pius, his health forced him to give up his dream of the priesthood. He died at age 15. His dying words: “What beautiful things I see!”
His birthplace is now a retreat house for teenagers; the home where he grew up in Morialdo is now a retreat house for children. The final house in which he lived is the home in Mondonio where the Savio family moved when he was 10, and where he eventually died. Here you can see his father’s metal shop, and his mother’s tailoring shop. His tomb is in the basilica of Mary, Help of Christians in Turin, not far from the tomb of his mentor, teacher and biographer, Saint John Bosco.
Born: 2 April 1842, Riva di Chieri, Italy
Died: 9 March 1857, Mondonio,Italy
Beatified: 1950 by Venerable Pope Pius XII
Canonized: 12 June 1954 by Venerable Pope Pius XII
Memorial: 6 May; formerly 10 March
Name Meaning: Belonging to God
Patronage: choirboys, falsely accused, juvenile delinquents, Pueri Cantores.
Prayers to St. Dominic Savio
Great model for God-loving boys and cherished pupil of the famous Don Bosco, you died prematurely, humanly speaking, but you had already attained mature spiritual wisdom. Your kindness won you many friends, but your love above all sought the Master who is present in our tabernacles. His praises you eucharistically sang. Make choir boys be singers like you, for the love of Jesus, our most loving Master. Amen.
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. We desperately need your intercession to protect today’s children from the snares of the world. Watch over them and lead them on the narrow road to Heaven. Ask God to give us the grace to sanctify our daily duties by performing them perfectly out of love for Him. Remind us of the necessity of practicing virtue especially in times of trial. Saint Dominic Savio, you who preserved your Baptismal innocence of heart, pray for us.
