St. Dominic Savio
On The Grapevine 59
St. Dominic Savio (1842 - 1857) was an Italian boy devoted to Christ at a very early age. At age 4 he was lost, only to be found tucked away praying in a corner. Gentle, extraordinarily loving and Christ-centered, Dominic's one goal in life was to become a saint. At his first Communion, he adopted the motto, "Death, but not sin!" When Dominic Savio entered St. John Bosco's school for boys, he asked Fr. Bosco what he thought of him. "I think you are good material,' said the priest with a smile. "Well, then," answered Dominic, "You are a good tailor, so if the material is good, take me and make a new suit out of me for Our Lord!" Most of what we know of St. Dominic Savio is from St. John Bosco's biography of the saint.
When two very angry boys took up stones to throw at each other, Dominic stepped between them holding a small crucifix high in the air. "Before you fight," he told them, "look at this and say, 'Jesus Christ was innocent and He died forgiving His murderers. I am a sinner, and I am going to hurt Him by not forgiving my enemies.' Then you can start - and throw your first stone at me!" After a guilt trip like that (and unable to bring themselves to throw a stone at Dominic), the two boys not only dropped their stones, but also promised to go to confession for their anger.
St. Dominic Savio became ill and died when he was only 15 years old. He is the patron saint of choir boys and the falsely accused. He is the only saint in his age group who was declared a saint, not based on martyrdom, but on holiness of life. You can read more about him HERE.
When two very angry boys took up stones to throw at each other, Dominic stepped between them holding a small crucifix high in the air. "Before you fight," he told them, "look at this and say, 'Jesus Christ was innocent and He died forgiving His murderers. I am a sinner, and I am going to hurt Him by not forgiving my enemies.' Then you can start - and throw your first stone at me!" After a guilt trip like that (and unable to bring themselves to throw a stone at Dominic), the two boys not only dropped their stones, but also promised to go to confession for their anger.
St. Dominic Savio became ill and died when he was only 15 years old. He is the patron saint of choir boys and the falsely accused. He is the only saint in his age group who was declared a saint, not based on martyrdom, but on holiness of life. You can read more about him HERE.
Prayer to St. Dominic Savio
O Lord,
you have given us your word
for a light to shine upon our path;
grant us so to meditate on that word,
and follow its teaching,
that we may find in it
the light that shines more and more
until the perfect day.
you have given us your word
for a light to shine upon our path;
grant us so to meditate on that word,
and follow its teaching,
that we may find in it
the light that shines more and more
until the perfect day.