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PONTIFICIUM OPUS A SANCTA INFANTIA

 

SAINT DOMINIC SAVIO
SO YOUNG AND ALREADY SO HOLY

 

Dominic was born on 2 April 1842 in the province of Turin, in northern Italy, to humble but very devout Christian parents. While still a boy he decided to become a faithful imitator of Jesus Christ and avoid anything that would distance him from the Lord. At the age of 7 he made his First Holy Communion and at 12 became a spiritual son of John Bosco. Under the personal direction of this great Salesian saint, Dominic became a tabernacle for the Lord and a model and example of God’s love for all people. With his life style he was an apostle and missionary of Jesus.

Those who met him said he was not small in stature but rather frail and thin. He preferred to listen rather than speak. Humble and respectful towards all, he had a natural gift for settling arguments and quarrels which, at that age, often arose among his companions.

His sole interest was God and how to lead others to use all their strength to serve him. What he lacked in physical strength was compensated by his moral stature, courage and acceptance of God’s will whatever it might be.

The first biography of Dominic was written by his teacher Saint John Bosco and those pages led to many vocations including that of future Pope Benedict XV who watched over the Holy Childhood Society with loving concern.

Dominique died at the age of 15 on 9 March 1857. He was canonised by Pope Pius XII in 1954, exactly fifty years ago.


"Like Saint Dominic Savio, be missionaries of good example, good words, good action at home, with neighbours and colleagues at work. At every age we can and we must bear witness to Christ! Commitment to bear witness is permanent and daily"

(His Holiness Pope John Paul II, Homily 7 December 1997)

 


 

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