San Domenico Savio, saint of the day

San Domenico Savio: so many holy people seem to die young. Among them was Domenico Savio, the patron saint of singers.

Born into a peasant family in Riva, Italy, the young Domenico joined San Giovanni Bosco as a student at the Turin Oratory at the age of 12. boys. Peacemaker and organizer, the young Domenico founded a group that he called the Company of the Immaculate Conception which, in addition to being devotional, helped Giovanni Bosco with the boys and with manual work. All the members except one, Dominic, in 1859 will join Don Bosco at the beginning of his Salesian congregation. By then, Dominic had been called home to heaven.

As a young man, Domenico spent hours enraptured in prayer. His kidnapping he called "my distractions". Even during the game, he said that at times, “It seems like heaven is opening up right above me. I'm afraid I can say or do something that will make other kids laugh. " Domenico used to say: “I cannot do great things. But I want everything I do, even the smallest thing, to be for the greater glory of God “.

The health of San Domenico Savio, always fragile, led to lung problems and he was sent home to recover. As was the custom of the day, he bled out at the thought that this would help, but it only worsened his condition. He died on March 9, 1857, after having received the last sacraments. St. John Bosco himself wrote the story of his life.

Some thought Dominic was too young to be considered a saint. Saint Pius X he declared that exactly the opposite was true and went on with his cause. Dominic was canonized in 1954. His liturgical feast is celebrated on 9 March.

Reflection: Like many young people, Domenico was painfully aware that he was different from his peers. He tried to keep his pity from his friends by not having to put up with their laughter. Even after his death, his youth marked him as a misfit among the Saints and some claimed he was too young to be canonized. Pope Pius X wisely disagreed. Because no one is too young - or too old or too much anything else - to attain the holiness to which we are all called.