July 26, 2025 • 10 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 eleven of the Life of Saint Dominic Savio by
Saint John Bosco. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain,
Chapter nineteen special graces granted to Dominic some particular incidents.
As far as the generality of boys is concerned, it
would be considered quite extraordinary for them to maintain the
(00:21):
high standard of conduct and the continual endeavor after virtue
that has been described above, That innocence of life, and
performance of good works, penances and acts of special fervor.
But these things made up the ordinary rule of Savio's life.
Nothing short of extraordinary. Again, were his wonderful faith, his
constant hope, his ardent charity, and his perseverance till his
(00:43):
last breath. I now wish to describe certain facts that
are really out of the common and which may perhaps
some day be the subject of criticism. It may be
well to point out to the reader that the facts
to be related are very like others related in the
Bible or in the lives of the saints. Moreover, I
am relating what occurred under my own notice, and the
incidents are given with scrupulous care. The conclusions to be
(01:05):
drawn must be left for the discreet reader. Very often
when Dominic went into the church, principally on his communion days,
or when the blessed sacrament was exposed, he fell into
what was clearly a sort of rapture or ecstasy, and
thus he would remain for a very long time if
he were not called away to fulfill his ordinary tasks.
It happened one day that he was absent from breakfast,
(01:25):
from class, from the midday meal, and no one knew
where he was. He was not in the study nor
in the dormitory. The director was informed, and he had
a suspicion that he knew where to find him, namely
in the church, as had happened before. He went to
the church and up into the choir near the sanctuary.
There stood the boy like a statue. One foot was
in front of the other, and one hand was on
(01:46):
a book stand near by, while the other was on
his breast. His face was turned towards the sanctuary, and
his gaze fixed on the tabernacle. His lips were not moving.
The director called him no reply. He shook him gently.
Then he turned and said, oh is the mass over see,
said the priest, showing him his watch. It is two
(02:06):
o'clock The boy said he was sorry for his transgression
of the rule, and the director sent him off to dinner, saying,
if anyone asks you where you have been, say that
you have been carrying out an order of mine. This
was in case any inquisitive boy should put in opportune
questions to him. Another day, after making my usual Thanksgiving,
I was going out of the sacristy when I heard
(02:26):
a voice in the choir, as if someone were disputing.
I went in to see what was the matter, and
found Savvio there. He was talking and waiting every now
and then, as though listening to the answer. Among other things,
he said, I distinctly caught the words yes, O, my God,
I have already said it, and I say so again.
I love THEE and will love THEE till my last breath.
If thou knowest that I should ever offend THEE, let
(02:48):
me die. Yes, I would rather die than commit sin.
I sometimes asked him what happened when he stayed behind
like that? He would answer in all simplicity. I became
distracted and losing the threat of my prayers. I behold
such beautiful and entrancing sights that ours seemed to go
in a moment. One day he came to my room
and said, come quickly, father, come with me. There is
a good work to be done. Where am I to go?
(03:10):
I said, make haste, Make haste, he said. I hesitated,
but as he insisted, and past experience had shown me
the importance of such invitations, I went down with him.
He and first I followed down one street, then another,
then a third, all in silence. There was yet another turning,
and at a certain door he stopped. There. He went
up the stairs to the third floor, rang the bell vigorously,
(03:31):
and turning to me, said it is here that you
are wanted. Then he went away. The door was opened
and a woman appeared. Oh, make haste, she said, quicker,
it will be too late. My husband has abandoned his faith.
Now he is at the point of death and wishes
to die a Catholic. I went over at once to
the bedside to the sick man, who is indeed very
anxious to put the affairs of his soul in order.
(03:52):
I did what I could for the man without loss
of time, and his confession was just completed. When the
parish priest who had been sent for arrived. He just
had time to administer extreme unction with one anointing when
the man breathed his last. Afterwards, I asked Dominic how
he knew that there was a man ill at the house.
He did not answer, but looked at me with an
air of sadness, and I noticed that tears were beginning
(04:14):
to come. I did not question him further. Purity of life,
love of God, and his longing for heavenly things had
made Dominic almost habitually absorbed in God. At times, even
during recreation, these visitations would occur to him, he would
drop out of the game and walk away alone. Asked
why he left his companions, he would answer, my usual
distractions are assailing me. It seemed to me that Heaven opened,
(04:36):
and I have to leave my companions for fear that
I should say something that would appear to them ridiculous.
On one occasion, something was being said about the reward
of the innocent souls. Dominic had given his opinion, and
by the thought of such things he was quite carried away.
He became motionless at first, then dropped into the arms
of someone standing near. These ecstasies, in fact, came on
(04:57):
in many different places in this study, going to and
from school, and even during class. It was remarkable that
he often spoke about the Sovereign Pontiff and expressed the
desire of being able to see him as he had
something of great importance to tell him. As he had
repeated this on several occasions, I one day asked him
what the important matter was. He replied, if I could
(05:17):
have an interview with the Pope, I would tell him that,
in spite of the great tribulations which he has to
endure at present, he should never slacken in his particular
solicitude for England. God is preparing a great triumph for
Catholicism in that kingdom. Why what grounds of you for
that statement? I will tell you, But do not mention
it to others, for they might think it ridiculous if
(05:38):
you go to Rome till Pius the ninth. For me,
this is why I think so. One morning during my
Thanksgiving after Communion, I had a repeated distraction which was
strange for me. I thought, I saw a great stretch
of country enveloped in a thick mist, and it was
filled with a multitude of people. They were moving about,
but like men who having missed their way, are not
sure of their footing. Someone near by, said, this is England.
(06:01):
I was going to ask some questions about it when
I saw His Holiness Pies the Ninth, as I had
seen him represented in pictures. He was majestically clad and
was carrying a shining torch with which he approached the
multitude as if to enlighten their darkness. As he drew near,
the light of the torch seemed to disperse the mist,
and the people were left in broad daylight. This torch, said,
(06:21):
mindformant is the Catholic religion, which is to illuminate England.
When I was in Rome in eighteen fifty eight, I
related this to the Holy Father, who is greatly interested,
and said, what you have told me confirms me in
my resolution to do all that is possible for England,
which has long been the object of my special care.
What you have related is to put it at its
lowest estimation, the council of a devout soul. There are
(06:44):
many other facts of a somewhat similar nature, but which
are out of place in a small life like this.
I have left them on record, so that when in
the opinion of others their publication is demanded, they may
be given to the world. End of Chapter nineteen, Chapter
twenty Dominic's ideas about dying and his preparation for a
happy death. The brief years of Dominic's innocent life, as
(07:09):
above related, may well be considered as a continual preparation
for death. But he regarded the sodality of the Immaculate conception,
which he had practically founded, as a secure means for
obtaining the assistance of the blessed Virgin at the point
of death, which many thought to be a not very
remote contingency. In Dominic's case. I do not know exactly
whether he had a revelation concerning the time or circumstances
(07:30):
of his death, or merely a presentiment of it. But
it is certain that he spoke of it a good
time before it occurred, and with such clearness and circumstantial
knowledge that it could not have been described more exactly
by one who had actually witnessed his death. On account
of the state of his health, every care was taken
to moderate his studies and his exercises of piety, but
as an effect of his natural delicate build and the
(07:52):
constant spiritual effort, his strength gradually gave way. He had
no misgivings about this himself, and had often said, I
must hurry, or else Knight will overtake me on the way,
which meant that he had only a short time left
to him, and that he should use it well in
the performance of good works. It is the custom at
the oratory for the boys to make the exercises for
(08:13):
a good death every month. This consists chiefly in approaching
the sacraments of Confession and Holy Communion, as though it
were to be for the last time. Pious the Ninth
had granted several indulgences to this pious exercise. Dominic always
made this preparation for a good death with an exactitude
that could not be excelled. Among the prayers said in
public on this day are in our Father in hil Mary,
(08:35):
for the one amongst us who shall be the first
to die. On one of the monthly exercise days, Dominic
playfully said, instead of saying for the first one amongst
us who is to die, it ought rather to be
for Dominic Savio, who will be the first one amongst
us to die. And this here marked on more than
one occasion. In eighteen fifty six, just before the month
of May began, he went to his director to ask
(08:56):
for some spiritual guidance in order to keep the month
with particular devotion. The director told him it should be
done by the most exact fulfillment of one's duties, by
receiving Holy Communion daily and performing some little act in
honor of our Lady every day. Dominic then wished to
know what special grace he should ask for, and was
told to ask that our Lady might obtain for him
an improvement in health and the grace to become more
(09:17):
pleasing in the sight of God. To this, Dominic replied, yes,
I shall ask the grace to become a saint, that
she may help me in the last movement of my life,
and that I may die a holy death. In fact,
during that month he seemed to live only outwardly amongst
us and to be more than usually in communion with
the world of angels, and his evers to do something
in honor of our Lady every day were remarkably successful,
(09:39):
so much so that a companion was prompted to remark
about him, if you do so much this year, how
will you be able to improve upon it next year?
Dominic replied, you may leave that to me. I must
do all that is possible this year, and if I
am here next year, I will answer your question. In
order that his failing health might have every care, I
arranged for a medical consultation. Mlach was examined by these specialists,
(10:02):
and all wondered at his bright, cheerfulness of disposition, the
acuteness of his intellect, and the prudence displayed in his replies.
Doctor Valardi, of distinguished memory, who was one of the
most eminent consulting physicians, said, what a priceless treasure you
have in this boy. I asked him what was the
cause of the boy's gradual decline that could be noticed
almost day by day? He said, it was the delicacy
(10:24):
of his constitution, his precocious knowledge, and the constant, highly
strung tension of his whole being. These were too great
a strain on his vital powers. Is there any remedy
that you can suggest? The best remedy, as far as
I can see, is to let him go to paradise,
for which he seems to be quite ready. But the
only thing that can prolong his life is to make
him put his studies entirely aside, and let him have
(10:46):
some light occupation suitable to his strength. End of chapter
twenty
Section eleven of the Life of Saint Dominic Savio by
Saint John Bosco. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain,
Chapter nineteen special graces granted to Dominic some particular incidents.
As far as the generality of boys is concerned, it
would be considered quite extraordinary for them to maintain the
(00:21):
high standard of conduct and the continual endeavor after virtue
that has been described above, That innocence of life, and
performance of good works, penances and acts of special fervor.
But these things made up the ordinary rule of Savio's life.
Nothing short of extraordinary. Again, were his wonderful faith, his
constant hope, his ardent charity, and his perseverance till his
(00:43):
last breath. I now wish to describe certain facts that
are really out of the common and which may perhaps
some day be the subject of criticism. It may be
well to point out to the reader that the facts
to be related are very like others related in the
Bible or in the lives of the saints. Moreover, I
am relating what occurred under my own notice, and the
incidents are given with scrupulous care. The conclusions to be
(01:05):
drawn must be left for the discreet reader. Very often
when Dominic went into the church, principally on his communion days,
or when the blessed sacrament was exposed, he fell into
what was clearly a sort of rapture or ecstasy, and
thus he would remain for a very long time if
he were not called away to fulfill his ordinary tasks.
It happened one day that he was absent from breakfast,
(01:25):
from class, from the midday meal, and no one knew
where he was. He was not in the study nor
in the dormitory. The director was informed, and he had
a suspicion that he knew where to find him, namely
in the church, as had happened before. He went to
the church and up into the choir near the sanctuary.
There stood the boy like a statue. One foot was
in front of the other, and one hand was on
(01:46):
a book stand near by, while the other was on
his breast. His face was turned towards the sanctuary, and
his gaze fixed on the tabernacle. His lips were not moving.
The director called him no reply. He shook him gently.
Then he turned and said, oh is the mass over see,
said the priest, showing him his watch. It is two
(02:06):
o'clock The boy said he was sorry for his transgression
of the rule, and the director sent him off to dinner, saying,
if anyone asks you where you have been, say that
you have been carrying out an order of mine. This
was in case any inquisitive boy should put in opportune
questions to him. Another day, after making my usual Thanksgiving,
I was going out of the sacristy when I heard
(02:26):
a voice in the choir, as if someone were disputing.
I went in to see what was the matter, and
found Savvio there. He was talking and waiting every now
and then, as though listening to the answer. Among other things,
he said, I distinctly caught the words yes, O, my God,
I have already said it, and I say so again.
I love THEE and will love THEE till my last breath.
If thou knowest that I should ever offend THEE, let
(02:48):
me die. Yes, I would rather die than commit sin.
I sometimes asked him what happened when he stayed behind
like that? He would answer in all simplicity. I became
distracted and losing the threat of my prayers. I behold
such beautiful and entrancing sights that ours seemed to go
in a moment. One day he came to my room
and said, come quickly, father, come with me. There is
a good work to be done. Where am I to go?
(03:10):
I said, make haste, Make haste, he said. I hesitated,
but as he insisted, and past experience had shown me
the importance of such invitations, I went down with him.
He and first I followed down one street, then another,
then a third, all in silence. There was yet another turning,
and at a certain door he stopped. There. He went
up the stairs to the third floor, rang the bell vigorously,
(03:31):
and turning to me, said it is here that you
are wanted. Then he went away. The door was opened
and a woman appeared. Oh, make haste, she said, quicker,
it will be too late. My husband has abandoned his faith.
Now he is at the point of death and wishes
to die a Catholic. I went over at once to
the bedside to the sick man, who is indeed very
anxious to put the affairs of his soul in order.
(03:52):
I did what I could for the man without loss
of time, and his confession was just completed. When the
parish priest who had been sent for arrived. He just
had time to administer extreme unction with one anointing when
the man breathed his last. Afterwards, I asked Dominic how
he knew that there was a man ill at the house.
He did not answer, but looked at me with an
air of sadness, and I noticed that tears were beginning
(04:14):
to come. I did not question him further. Purity of life,
love of God, and his longing for heavenly things had
made Dominic almost habitually absorbed in God. At times, even
during recreation, these visitations would occur to him, he would
drop out of the game and walk away alone. Asked
why he left his companions, he would answer, my usual
distractions are assailing me. It seemed to me that Heaven opened,
(04:36):
and I have to leave my companions for fear that
I should say something that would appear to them ridiculous.
On one occasion, something was being said about the reward
of the innocent souls. Dominic had given his opinion, and
by the thought of such things he was quite carried away.
He became motionless at first, then dropped into the arms
of someone standing near. These ecstasies, in fact, came on
(04:57):
in many different places in this study, going to and
from school, and even during class. It was remarkable that
he often spoke about the Sovereign Pontiff and expressed the
desire of being able to see him as he had
something of great importance to tell him. As he had
repeated this on several occasions, I one day asked him
what the important matter was. He replied, if I could
(05:17):
have an interview with the Pope, I would tell him that,
in spite of the great tribulations which he has to
endure at present, he should never slacken in his particular
solicitude for England. God is preparing a great triumph for
Catholicism in that kingdom. Why what grounds of you for
that statement? I will tell you, But do not mention
it to others, for they might think it ridiculous if
(05:38):
you go to Rome till Pius the ninth. For me,
this is why I think so. One morning during my
Thanksgiving after Communion, I had a repeated distraction which was
strange for me. I thought, I saw a great stretch
of country enveloped in a thick mist, and it was
filled with a multitude of people. They were moving about,
but like men who having missed their way, are not
sure of their footing. Someone near by, said, this is England.
(06:01):
I was going to ask some questions about it when
I saw His Holiness Pies the Ninth, as I had
seen him represented in pictures. He was majestically clad and
was carrying a shining torch with which he approached the
multitude as if to enlighten their darkness. As he drew near,
the light of the torch seemed to disperse the mist,
and the people were left in broad daylight. This torch, said,
(06:21):
mindformant is the Catholic religion, which is to illuminate England.
When I was in Rome in eighteen fifty eight, I
related this to the Holy Father, who is greatly interested,
and said, what you have told me confirms me in
my resolution to do all that is possible for England,
which has long been the object of my special care.
What you have related is to put it at its
lowest estimation, the council of a devout soul. There are
(06:44):
many other facts of a somewhat similar nature, but which
are out of place in a small life like this.
I have left them on record, so that when in
the opinion of others their publication is demanded, they may
be given to the world. End of Chapter nineteen, Chapter
twenty Dominic's ideas about dying and his preparation for a
happy death. The brief years of Dominic's innocent life, as
(07:09):
above related, may well be considered as a continual preparation
for death. But he regarded the sodality of the Immaculate conception,
which he had practically founded, as a secure means for
obtaining the assistance of the blessed Virgin at the point
of death, which many thought to be a not very
remote contingency. In Dominic's case. I do not know exactly
whether he had a revelation concerning the time or circumstances
(07:30):
of his death, or merely a presentiment of it. But
it is certain that he spoke of it a good
time before it occurred, and with such clearness and circumstantial
knowledge that it could not have been described more exactly
by one who had actually witnessed his death. On account
of the state of his health, every care was taken
to moderate his studies and his exercises of piety, but
as an effect of his natural delicate build and the
(07:52):
constant spiritual effort, his strength gradually gave way. He had
no misgivings about this himself, and had often said, I
must hurry, or else Knight will overtake me on the way,
which meant that he had only a short time left
to him, and that he should use it well in
the performance of good works. It is the custom at
the oratory for the boys to make the exercises for
(08:13):
a good death every month. This consists chiefly in approaching
the sacraments of Confession and Holy Communion, as though it
were to be for the last time. Pious the Ninth
had granted several indulgences to this pious exercise. Dominic always
made this preparation for a good death with an exactitude
that could not be excelled. Among the prayers said in
public on this day are in our Father in hil Mary,
(08:35):
for the one amongst us who shall be the first
to die. On one of the monthly exercise days, Dominic
playfully said, instead of saying for the first one amongst
us who is to die, it ought rather to be
for Dominic Savio, who will be the first one amongst
us to die. And this here marked on more than
one occasion. In eighteen fifty six, just before the month
of May began, he went to his director to ask
(08:56):
for some spiritual guidance in order to keep the month
with particular devotion. The director told him it should be
done by the most exact fulfillment of one's duties, by
receiving Holy Communion daily and performing some little act in
honor of our Lady every day. Dominic then wished to
know what special grace he should ask for, and was
told to ask that our Lady might obtain for him
an improvement in health and the grace to become more
(09:17):
pleasing in the sight of God. To this, Dominic replied, yes,
I shall ask the grace to become a saint, that
she may help me in the last movement of my life,
and that I may die a holy death. In fact,
during that month he seemed to live only outwardly amongst
us and to be more than usually in communion with
the world of angels, and his evers to do something
in honor of our Lady every day were remarkably successful,
(09:39):
so much so that a companion was prompted to remark
about him, if you do so much this year, how
will you be able to improve upon it next year?
Dominic replied, you may leave that to me. I must
do all that is possible this year, and if I
am here next year, I will answer your question. In
order that his failing health might have every care, I
arranged for a medical consultation. Mlach was examined by these specialists,
(10:02):
and all wondered at his bright, cheerfulness of disposition, the
acuteness of his intellect, and the prudence displayed in his replies.
Doctor Valardi, of distinguished memory, who was one of the
most eminent consulting physicians, said, what a priceless treasure you
have in this boy. I asked him what was the
cause of the boy's gradual decline that could be noticed
almost day by day? He said, it was the delicacy
(10:24):
of his constitution, his precocious knowledge, and the constant, highly
strung tension of his whole being. These were too great
a strain on his vital powers. Is there any remedy
that you can suggest? The best remedy, as far as
I can see, is to let him go to paradise,
for which he seems to be quite ready. But the
only thing that can prolong his life is to make
him put his studies entirely aside, and let him have
(10:46):
some light occupation suitable to his strength. End of chapter
twenty
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