Saint Dominic Savio

Dominic Savio was born in northern Italy in 1842. His parents were poor but very devout. He received his First Communion at only seven (very young for that time!). On that day he wrote four promises in a notebook: 'I will go often to Confession. I will keep Sundays holy. My friends will be Jesus and Mary. Death rather than sin.' At twelve he went to a school run by St. John Bosco (Don Bosco), a priest who took care of poor boys. Don Bosco told the boys, 'I want to make you great saints!' Dominic took him seriously. He was cheerful and funny and loved games. But he was also constantly helping other boys, breaking up fights by showing them a little picture of Mary, and inviting friends to pray with him. One time two boys were about to fight a duel with rocks; Dominic jumped between them holding a crucifix and said, 'Throw your first stone at me.' The fight ended. Dominic often fell into deep prayer — he once prayed continuously in the school chapel for six hours and didn't notice time pass. He got sick and had to go home. He died at fifteen, saying with joy, 'What wonderful things I see!' He is the youngest non-martyr saint in the Catholic Church.