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July 26, 2025 13 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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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Section ten of the Life of Saint Dominic Savio by
Saint John Bosco. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain.
Chapter seventeen Dominic's intimate associates. From much of the foregoing,
it will be concluded that Dominic was a friend to all,
and was regarded by all as a friend. If any
one did not feel drawn to him in a particular manner,

(00:23):
it was impossible not to treat him with respectful regard.
He was of such excellent dispositions, partly from his natural gifts,
partly from his training and efforts, that he was often
given charge of boys who needed some special care and
skillful handling, so that he might gradually bring them up
to the standard that flourished at the oratory. In carrying
out these charges, he was particularly apt at profiting of

(00:44):
every occasion that presented itself, whether in recreation or walks
or church. But if he was regarded as a friend
by the boys in general, he was something more to
those who are associated with him in the sodality of
the Immaculate Conception. These were his co workers, counselors, and
intimate friends. They were brought together for their extra devotions,
their talks and arrangements, their discussions concerning the boys who

(01:05):
were entrusted to their care for special guidance, and all
other items concerning the apostolate of those who belonged to
the Fidelity, and which was far reaching in its scope.
These conferences in propositions were made with the approval of
the Director, but were held by the boys themselves. Sauvia
was the prime mover in these meetings, and in fact
was looked up to as the teacher and guiding spirit.

(01:25):
There were, however, several prominent members who are very like
him in their zeal and piety and in their skill
and capabilities, and assisting in the training of their younger companions.
Many of these are still living and engaged in the
priesthood or in prominent positions. It would therefore perhaps not
be tactful to speak of them directly. But I have
thought it useful to call attention to two of them

(01:46):
who have already been called away to their eternal reward.
They are Camilles Gavio and John Masseglia. The former only
remained at the oratory two months, but it was long
enough to leave a lasting remembrance. His piety had always
been conspicuous and With this, he hissess remarkable talents, particularly
for painting and sculpture, so much so that the municipality
of Tortona, his native city, had awarded him a scholarship

(02:09):
so that he might come to the schools of Turin
to continue his studies in artistic training. Shortly before his
arrival at the oratory, he had recovered from a serious illness.
This doubtless accounted for much of his quiet, retiring life,
for he was practically only then convalescent and at a
distance from his home and friends. Moreover, he knew none
of the boys at the oratory, and all these circumstances

(02:31):
combined to make him rather a spectator of than a
partner in the games, and he was often noticed with
a far away, abstracted look. Savio soon made his acquaintance
and gone into conversation. He had quickly elicited the main
facts of the boy's life, including his late illness. But
this last item should be described in the words of
the actual speakers. The newcomer had described briefly his illness,

(02:51):
which was concerned with the weakness of the heart, and
had brought him to death's door. You desired very much
to be cured I suppose, inquired, dominic No, not a
great deal. I only desire that the will of God
might be done. No more than this was required to
convince Savio that his new acquaintance was gifted with extraordinary piety,
and he secretly rejoiced at this acquisition to the oratory.

(03:12):
He therefore followed up the boy's response by remarking, whoever
desires to do the will of God is anxious for
his own sectification. Do you ever feel this desire? Oh? Yes,
it has long been my chief ambition. Very good. The
number of our friends increases daily. He will generate in
our circle of those who have the same ambition as
you have. The new boy agreed, and a discussion was

(03:32):
held us to his future conduct. Savio pointed out to
him that at the Oratory, sanctity consisted principally in being happy,
that the boys took every care to avoid sin as
the great enemy, to do all their duties as well
as possible, and to perform the practices of piety with exactitude.
Cervite Domino in letitia is to be armado. This advice
of Dominics seemed to fall like a healing balm on

(03:54):
the soul of Camillus. He became a close companion of Dominics,
and from him learned the secrets of great holdliness that
he had himself acquired. With such a guide and with
his own excellent good will and dispositions, it was no
wonder he made rapid progress and virtue so as to
become prominent even among those who are themselves all of
a very high standard of exactitude and piety. However, his

(04:15):
rapid progress and piety was like his swift course towards heaven.
The illness he had described a Dominic had left effects
that could not be removed by medical aid, and it
was soon evident that he was in a very dangerous condition.
Every care from physicians and friends was his, but in vain.
It was time for him to go to that divine
Lord whose will he had so faithfully sought to do,
And after receiving the sacraments with great edification, he died

(04:38):
on December thirtieth, eighteen fifty six. Dominic was his constant
attendant during his illness, and would readily have watched by
him all night, but he was not allowed. When he
was told that his companion had died, he asked to
go and see the body, and looking at the face
of his friend, he said, with emotion, farewell, Gavio. I
am quite sure that you have gone to heaven, so
prepare a place for me. However, I shall always be

(05:00):
a friend to you, and shall pray for the repose
of your soul as long as I am here on earth.
The Sodality of the Immaculate Conception had special rules for
the prayers and comedians to be offered for the deceased members,
and Dominic immediately arranged for them to be carried out.
His words and recommendations to his companions on this occasion
were typical of that gravity which he always displayed in
regard to things of the spiritual life, of the importance

(05:23):
of which he had always an intimate conviction. End of
Chapter seventeen. Chapter eighteen, Dominic Savio and John Masiglia. There
was a boy at the oratory whose character and career
bore a striking similarity to Dominic's. He had come to
turn at the same time. He had come from a

(05:43):
little place quite close to Mondonio, so that though practically
from the one district, he had the same intentions as Dominic,
to embrace the ecclesiastical state and he was inspired with
a like eagerness to advance in the science of this saints.
This was John Masiglia. He had been talking one day
to his friends about their fear your hopes, and after
their exchange of ideas, Dominic said, it will not be

(06:03):
sufficient for us merely to desire to become priests. There
are means to be adopted to acquire the virtues that
are suitable to that state. John replied that he was
fully aware of it, but that he had confidence that
they would have the grace to acquire them if they
were chosen to be among the ministers of Jesus Christ.
There had been some especial sermons and exercises in preparation
for the Eastern communions, and these two had taken part

(06:25):
in them with singular devotion. After their communion, Dominic said
to his companion, I very much desire that we should
be true friends, friends, that is, in regard to the
affairs of the soul. I propose that from now on
we each admonished the other in regard to anything that
may be thought useful for our spiritual advancement. If you
see anything wrong in my conduct, tell me immediately that
I may correct it. Or if you think of any

(06:46):
good hourt to perform, point it out to me. His
friend promised to do so, though he said there will
be no opportunity, and on the condition that you do
the same for me, who am in much greater need
of such an arrangement. Dominic replied that this was not
the time for compliments, but that henceforth they would help
each other in the progress of their soul. From that time, Dominic,
Savio and John Massiglia were intimate friends, and it was

(07:07):
a true and perfect friendship, since it was founded upon
real charity and nourished by the frequent intercommunion of those
pious suggestions and experiences which are prompted only by solid virtue.
At the end of the scholastic year, after the examinations,
all the boys were allowed to go to their homes
for the vacation, but some always preferred to men at
the oratory, both for the advantages of extra study and

(07:29):
to continue their exercises of piety, which could scarcely be
carried on at home. Savio and Massiglia are among the number,
but I knew that both were eagerly expected by their
parents to spend the holidays at home and that a
change and rest were necessary after their year's work at
their books. I therefore met them both together and said,
why do you not prefer to go home for a time.
No answer was at first forthcoming. Both began to smile.

(07:51):
What is the meaning of that smile? I inquired? Then
Dominic replied, we know that our parents would like us
to go home, and in one way were you are
anxious to go. But as long as birds are in
their cage there safe from the hawk. Once out of
it there is risk of falling into the toils of
the enemy of souls. But in spite of their good
intentions and their desires to stay, I insisted on their
going home for a time. They obeyed, but only stayed

(08:13):
away the minimum time that I had appointed. If a
detailed description were to be given of this friend, it
would be very similar to the one being given of
Dominic himself, for they had the same ideals and were
led in the same paths of virtue. Mosiglia was of
far more robust Bilbian Dominic, and his health never gave anxiety.
In fact, he was most promising in every way, particularly
in regard to his progress in his studies. He had

(08:35):
finished his course of rhetoric, and had received the clerical
habit for which he had so ardently longed, But he
was destined to enjoy his happiness only for a few months.
Some indisposition slightly it appeared to be, caused us to
insist on his studies being laid aside for a time,
and as he did not appear to recover, he was
sent to his native place by the advice of the doctors.

(08:56):
While there he wrote to his friend the following letter,
My dear friend, when I left the oratory, I thought
I should be away only for a short time, so
that I did not think it necessary to bring any
books or school things with me. But now it appears
that my recovery will take time, and in fact the
issue of my illness is quite uncertain. The doctor says,
I am improving, but I think I am gradually getting worse.

(09:17):
We shall see which of us is right. My chief
regret is that I must be away from the oratory
and from you, and have had to give up most
of the exercises of piety which we used to practice.
My only consolation is in the recollection of the days
when we went together to holy communion and the preparation
we used to make for them. However, although we are
to be separated in body, we shall remain united in

(09:37):
heart and spirit. I want to ask you to get
from my desks some manuscripts and the Latin copy of
the Imitation of Christ, which is beside them, and send
both on to me. You may imagine how tired I
am of doing nothing. The doctor will not hear of
my study at all. I have plenty of time for consideration,
and often wonder whether I am be be cured, or
to go back again to the oratory, or whether this

(09:58):
is destined to be my last illness. In any case,
I feel ready to submit with joy to the holy
will of God. If you have any suggestion to make
tell me of it. Do not forget to pray for me.
And if we may not have the opportunity of enjoying
our former friendship, I trust we shall enjoy together one
day a happy eternity. Remember me to all my friends,
particularly to the sodality of our lady Immaculate. Believe me,

(10:20):
your affectionate friend, John Massiglia dominic At once carried out
his friend's request and enclosed the following letter. My dear Missiglia,
your letter was a source of consolation to me and
all your friends, for it at least showed that you
are alive, a fact which we were beginning to doubt
and did not know whether to sing the Gloria patri
or the day profundis. The things you have asked for

(10:41):
are being sent. I will only remark that though Thomas A.
Kempis is a good friend, he is dead and gone.
You must search for him in his writings and make
his counsel living again by putting it into practice. I
see that you are desirous for the opportunities we have
here for the performance of the spiritual exercises. You are right.
When I am away from the oratory, I feel same need.
I used to try to make up for it by

(11:02):
visiting this blessed sacrament every day and getting some companions
to go with me if they would. Besides the imitation,
I used to read The Hidden Treasure by Saint Leonard
of Portmris. You could do the same. Perhaps if he
feel disposed, You say that you do not know whether
you will return to the oratory or not. Truth to tell,
I also feel that my health is showing alarming symptoms,
and I have a presentiment that I am advancing with

(11:24):
rapid strides towards the end of my studies and of
my life. We can at least pray for each other
that we may have the grace of a happy death.
Whichever one of us goes to heaven first must prepare
a place for the other, and will be able to
stretch out a helping hand to lead him to his
heavenly home. May God keep us in his grace and
help us to become saints, for we may not have
long to live. All your friends are longing for your

(11:45):
return to the oratory, and send their kinder membrances to you.
For myself, I remain your most affectionate friend. Dominic Savio.
The illness of young Missiglia, as we have said, appeared
slight at first. More than once he seemed quite recovered,
but again relapsed until he was quite suddenly brought to
the point of death. Father Vaffrey, who was his director

(12:07):
while at Mondonio, writes he had time to receive the
last comforts of religion, and did so with greatest edification.
He died the death of the just man who leaves
this world to go straight to his reward. Saviu was
profoundly grieved at the death of his close friend, and
although resigned to the will of God, he mourned his
loss for some time. It was almost the only occasion
that I had seen his gentle face covered with the

(12:28):
tears of sorrow. His one consolation was to pray for
his friend's soul, and to get others to pray for him.
More than once he said, Massiglia has gone to join
Gavio in heaven? When shall I go to join them
in the bliss of paradise. As long as Dominic lived,
he had his friend often in mind, particularly at Mass
and at their spiritual exercises. He never ceased to recommend

(12:49):
to God the soul of that friend, who he felt
had been of such assistance to him. In fact, this
loss had more serious results than one would think, for
it seriously affected the already and frame of the friend,
and his health, which had never been robust. End of
Chapter eighteen.
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