July 26, 2025 • 8 mins
Delve into the extraordinary life of St. Dominic Savio, as detailed by his mentor, St. John Bosco. This authentic biography, recounted by someone who knew him intimately, offers a profound exploration of Savios spiritual journey. (Summary by Mozartjr)
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Section six of the Life of Saint Dominic Savio by
Saint John Bosco. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain.
Chapter nine Dominic forms the resolution of striving after perfection.
In the above chapters we have considered Dominic as a
student going through his scholastic course, and have insisted principally
(00:22):
on his talents and industry. His spiritual advancement was of
even greater importance in his eyes. Savio had been at
the oratory for six months when he heard a sermon delivered
there on an easy method of arriving at the perfection
of the Saints. The preacher brought out particularly three points
that impressed themselves deeply on Salvio's mind. First, that it
(00:44):
was God's will that we should become perfect. Secondly, that
it was easy to become so. Thirdly, that an exceeding
great reward is laid up for those who arrive at perfection.
The effect of the sermon on Dominic was to set
his heart aglow with love of God. Some days he
was extraordinarily quiet, so that his companions began to remark it,
(01:04):
and I noticed it myself. I began to think that
his health was commencing to give way again. So I
questioned him about it. His answer was put very quaintly.
If I am suffering at all, he said, it is
from something beneficial. I asked him to explain. He replied
that he had been thinking over this sermon and was
seized with the desire of becoming a saint. That it
(01:24):
now appeared to him much easier than he had thought,
and asked for some special guidance in regard to his behavior.
I very naturally praised his good intentions, but pointed out
that it would not be beneficial for him to be
disturbed and uneasy about it, for in such disquiet of soul,
the voice of God could not be heard. I told
him that he should be always happy and cheerful, to
(01:45):
be exact in the practices of piety and his other duties,
and to take his recreation regularly with his companions. One
day I told him I wished to make him a
little present, but that I left the choice of it
to him. I did not desire anything else, he replied,
but to become perfect. If I do not obtain that,
I shall be fit for nothing. On another occasion, we
(02:05):
are discussing the etymology of names, and he put the
question what does Dominic mean? Someone answered belonging to God.
See then he promptly replied, if I was not right
in saying that I ought to become a saint, even
my very name says that I belong to God. Therefore
it shall be my constant endeavor to become a saint.
These and similar words on other occasions may seem extraordinary
(02:27):
in so young a boy, but Dominic meant them in
all seriousness, and his use of them just referred to
was not because he was not leading a holy life.
On the contrary, but it was because he wished to
undertake penances and remain for hours in prayer, things which
his superiors decided were not suitable for his years, or
health or his occupations. End of Chapter nine, Chapter ten,
(02:52):
Zeal for the Salvation of souls. The chief recommendation given
to Dominic to help him to attain perfection was to
endeavor to gain souls to God. For no action is
more meritorious than to cooperate in the salvation of souls
for which our divine Savior shed his precious blood. Dominic
had a particular intuition of the importance of this good work,
(03:12):
and on several occasions, he said, if I could help
to gain my companions to God, what a happiness it
would be. It was on this principle that he never
let any occasion go by of doing something to this end,
and accordingly he frequently gave friendly advice or warning to
those of the boys whose conduct was not approved of.
He had a particular horror of anything in the nature
of blasphemy or taking the name of God in vain.
(03:35):
In fact, it worked upon him to such a degree
that his health was quite affected by it. If he
heard any words of that nature as he passed along
the streets, he would look down, as though in sorrow,
and make some pious ejaculation. A companion had often noticed
him raise his cap and utter a few words of
prayer when these blasphemies had been uttered. On another occasion,
as he returned from school to the oratory, he heard
(03:57):
an elderly man utter some very blasphemous words. Dominic shuddered
and immediately offered up his pice ejaculation and reparation. But
he was satisfied, neither nor disposed to let it pass.
Summoning all his courage and not at all affected by
human respect, he went up to the man and asked
him to direct him to the oratory. The boy's gentle
manner immediately softened the man's anger, and he replied very affably, No,
(04:20):
I am sorry, I don't know where it is. Then
there is another favor you can do for me, said Dominic,
Oh what is it. The boy then came nearer and said,
in a low voice only audible to the man in question,
it would be a great pleasure to me if, when
you are angry again, you would use words that are
not blasphemous. The man was naturally astonished at such a
request from a boy, but there is something of admiration
(04:42):
in his surprise. He replied, well done. You are right.
It is a very bad habit that I am determined
to overcome. But Dominic's manner with young offenders was different.
He once heard two little boys quarreling at their games
outside the house, and one of them, in his boyish anger,
used the Holy name. Dominic was pain, as he always
was when this occurred, so he stepped between the two
(05:03):
boys and made them patch up their quarrel. Then he
turned to the one that he had heard utter the
name of God and said to him, come with me
there is something to be done with which you will
be pleased. He took him off to a church near by,
and both went up to the altar. There he made
the boy kneel down and ask pardon for his profane
use of the Holy name. The boy did not know
the act of contrition, so Dominic made him say it
(05:24):
after him, and added to it some pious ejaculations to
atone for the irreverence offered to God. Pursuing the same plan,
Dominic made himself acquainted chiefly with the lives of those
saints who had spent their lives in the salvation of souls.
A favorite topic with him was the missionary life and
what missionaries were actually undertaking at that time, and as
it was impossible for him to help them materiorly, he
(05:46):
offered daily prayers for their welfare, and at least one
coming in a week. Strangely enough, I have often heard
him exclaim, how many souls there are in England awaiting
our assistance. There is nothing would please me more had
either strength and virtue, than to go there and help
by preaching and good works to gain them to Jesus Christ.
He frequently lamented the lack of zeal in this direction,
(06:07):
and also as regards the proper instruction of children in
the truths of the faith. It was his idea that
as soon as he was a cleric, he would go
back to Mondonio, gather the children together and teach them
their catechism and to lead good lives. And he gave
practical proof of this, for he often taught catechism in
the church of the Oratory, and if any boy was
backward or had been neglected in regard to his religion,
(06:29):
Dominic was always glad to take him in hand to
instruct him and prepare him for the sacraments. This, of course,
could not be carried on without remarks from those who
thought his zeal was out of place, and that such
things should only be mentioned in church. A companion rebuked
him once for talking on the life of some saint
in recreation time, and asked him why he did so.
Dominic's answer was so full of genuine zeal for the
(06:50):
good of souls, which he remarked had been redeemed with
a great price, that it made a deep impression on
those around. During the intervals he spent at home for
the holidays, Dominic put the zeal of his into practical effort,
for he would gather other boys around him, and he
had quite a gift for attracting them, and by conversations
and stories he gave them good instruction and counsel. He
(07:11):
also took home several objects of piety from the oratory
and distributed them judiciously by way of rewards among these companions.
It was therefore quite customary for several to accompany him
to Mass and the sacraments, and this good work had
a lasting effect. During these holidays, he was brought into
contact with many people of all ages and conditions, for
Dominic's manner had an attraction for all, and to all
(07:33):
of them, in one way or another, he was the
means of some spiritual advantage. No wonder that his reputation
began to spread even at that time. Dominic's guiding motto
was that no occasion for doing good to souls, or
of offering some little act of reveration to God should
be missed, and this accounts for his constant zeal and
his visits to the blessed sacrament, in which he generally
(07:53):
managed to be accompanied by a friend or someone he
wished to bring to a better life. End of Chapter
tix ten,
Section six of the Life of Saint Dominic Savio by
Saint John Bosco. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain.
Chapter nine Dominic forms the resolution of striving after perfection.
In the above chapters we have considered Dominic as a
student going through his scholastic course, and have insisted principally
(00:22):
on his talents and industry. His spiritual advancement was of
even greater importance in his eyes. Savio had been at
the oratory for six months when he heard a sermon delivered
there on an easy method of arriving at the perfection
of the Saints. The preacher brought out particularly three points
that impressed themselves deeply on Salvio's mind. First, that it
(00:44):
was God's will that we should become perfect. Secondly, that
it was easy to become so. Thirdly, that an exceeding
great reward is laid up for those who arrive at perfection.
The effect of the sermon on Dominic was to set
his heart aglow with love of God. Some days he
was extraordinarily quiet, so that his companions began to remark it,
(01:04):
and I noticed it myself. I began to think that
his health was commencing to give way again. So I
questioned him about it. His answer was put very quaintly.
If I am suffering at all, he said, it is
from something beneficial. I asked him to explain. He replied
that he had been thinking over this sermon and was
seized with the desire of becoming a saint. That it
(01:24):
now appeared to him much easier than he had thought,
and asked for some special guidance in regard to his behavior.
I very naturally praised his good intentions, but pointed out
that it would not be beneficial for him to be
disturbed and uneasy about it, for in such disquiet of soul,
the voice of God could not be heard. I told
him that he should be always happy and cheerful, to
(01:45):
be exact in the practices of piety and his other duties,
and to take his recreation regularly with his companions. One
day I told him I wished to make him a
little present, but that I left the choice of it
to him. I did not desire anything else, he replied,
but to become perfect. If I do not obtain that,
I shall be fit for nothing. On another occasion, we
(02:05):
are discussing the etymology of names, and he put the
question what does Dominic mean? Someone answered belonging to God.
See then he promptly replied, if I was not right
in saying that I ought to become a saint, even
my very name says that I belong to God. Therefore
it shall be my constant endeavor to become a saint.
These and similar words on other occasions may seem extraordinary
(02:27):
in so young a boy, but Dominic meant them in
all seriousness, and his use of them just referred to
was not because he was not leading a holy life.
On the contrary, but it was because he wished to
undertake penances and remain for hours in prayer, things which
his superiors decided were not suitable for his years, or
health or his occupations. End of Chapter nine, Chapter ten,
(02:52):
Zeal for the Salvation of souls. The chief recommendation given
to Dominic to help him to attain perfection was to
endeavor to gain souls to God. For no action is
more meritorious than to cooperate in the salvation of souls
for which our divine Savior shed his precious blood. Dominic
had a particular intuition of the importance of this good work,
(03:12):
and on several occasions, he said, if I could help
to gain my companions to God, what a happiness it
would be. It was on this principle that he never
let any occasion go by of doing something to this end,
and accordingly he frequently gave friendly advice or warning to
those of the boys whose conduct was not approved of.
He had a particular horror of anything in the nature
of blasphemy or taking the name of God in vain.
(03:35):
In fact, it worked upon him to such a degree
that his health was quite affected by it. If he
heard any words of that nature as he passed along
the streets, he would look down, as though in sorrow,
and make some pious ejaculation. A companion had often noticed
him raise his cap and utter a few words of
prayer when these blasphemies had been uttered. On another occasion,
as he returned from school to the oratory, he heard
(03:57):
an elderly man utter some very blasphemous words. Dominic shuddered
and immediately offered up his pice ejaculation and reparation. But
he was satisfied, neither nor disposed to let it pass.
Summoning all his courage and not at all affected by
human respect, he went up to the man and asked
him to direct him to the oratory. The boy's gentle
manner immediately softened the man's anger, and he replied very affably, No,
(04:20):
I am sorry, I don't know where it is. Then
there is another favor you can do for me, said Dominic,
Oh what is it. The boy then came nearer and said,
in a low voice only audible to the man in question,
it would be a great pleasure to me if, when
you are angry again, you would use words that are
not blasphemous. The man was naturally astonished at such a
request from a boy, but there is something of admiration
(04:42):
in his surprise. He replied, well done. You are right.
It is a very bad habit that I am determined
to overcome. But Dominic's manner with young offenders was different.
He once heard two little boys quarreling at their games
outside the house, and one of them, in his boyish anger,
used the Holy name. Dominic was pain, as he always
was when this occurred, so he stepped between the two
(05:03):
boys and made them patch up their quarrel. Then he
turned to the one that he had heard utter the
name of God and said to him, come with me
there is something to be done with which you will
be pleased. He took him off to a church near by,
and both went up to the altar. There he made
the boy kneel down and ask pardon for his profane
use of the Holy name. The boy did not know
the act of contrition, so Dominic made him say it
(05:24):
after him, and added to it some pious ejaculations to
atone for the irreverence offered to God. Pursuing the same plan,
Dominic made himself acquainted chiefly with the lives of those
saints who had spent their lives in the salvation of souls.
A favorite topic with him was the missionary life and
what missionaries were actually undertaking at that time, and as
it was impossible for him to help them materiorly, he
(05:46):
offered daily prayers for their welfare, and at least one
coming in a week. Strangely enough, I have often heard
him exclaim, how many souls there are in England awaiting
our assistance. There is nothing would please me more had
either strength and virtue, than to go there and help
by preaching and good works to gain them to Jesus Christ.
He frequently lamented the lack of zeal in this direction,
(06:07):
and also as regards the proper instruction of children in
the truths of the faith. It was his idea that
as soon as he was a cleric, he would go
back to Mondonio, gather the children together and teach them
their catechism and to lead good lives. And he gave
practical proof of this, for he often taught catechism in
the church of the Oratory, and if any boy was
backward or had been neglected in regard to his religion,
(06:29):
Dominic was always glad to take him in hand to
instruct him and prepare him for the sacraments. This, of course,
could not be carried on without remarks from those who
thought his zeal was out of place, and that such
things should only be mentioned in church. A companion rebuked
him once for talking on the life of some saint
in recreation time, and asked him why he did so.
Dominic's answer was so full of genuine zeal for the
(06:50):
good of souls, which he remarked had been redeemed with
a great price, that it made a deep impression on
those around. During the intervals he spent at home for
the holidays, Dominic put the zeal of his into practical effort,
for he would gather other boys around him, and he
had quite a gift for attracting them, and by conversations
and stories he gave them good instruction and counsel. He
(07:11):
also took home several objects of piety from the oratory
and distributed them judiciously by way of rewards among these companions.
It was therefore quite customary for several to accompany him
to Mass and the sacraments, and this good work had
a lasting effect. During these holidays, he was brought into
contact with many people of all ages and conditions, for
Dominic's manner had an attraction for all, and to all
(07:33):
of them, in one way or another, he was the
means of some spiritual advantage. No wonder that his reputation
began to spread even at that time. Dominic's guiding motto
was that no occasion for doing good to souls, or
of offering some little act of reveration to God should
be missed, and this accounts for his constant zeal and
his visits to the blessed sacrament, in which he generally
(07:53):
managed to be accompanied by a friend or someone he
wished to bring to a better life. End of Chapter
tix ten,
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