From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   March 9th - St. Dominic Savio (RM)   
      
   Born in Riva, Piedmont, Italy, in 1842; died at Mondonio, Italy, on March 9,   
   1857; beatified in 1950; canonized in 1954. Dominic was one of ten children   
   of a peasant blacksmith and a seamstress. He grew up with a desire to be a   
   priest. When Saint John Bosco began to train youths as clergy to help him   
   care for neglected boys at Turin, Dominic's parish priest recommended   
   today's saint. Bosco, who would write Dominic's biography, was impressed   
   upon meeting him.   
      
   In October 1854, at the age of twelve, Dominic became a student at the   
   Oratory of Saint Francis de Sales in Turin. He is best known for the group   
   he organized there, called the Company of the Immaculate Conception. In   
   addition to its devotional measures, it handled various jobs, from sweeping   
   the floors to taking special care of boys who were misfits.   
      
   Early in his stay at the oratory, Dominic halted a fight with stones between   
   two boys. Holding a crucifix between them he said, "Before you fight, look   
   at this, both of you, and say 'Jesus Christ was sinless, and He died   
   forgiving His executioners; I am going to outrage Him by being deliberately   
   revengeful.' Then you can start-and throw your first stone at me."   
      
   He scrupulously followed the discipline of the house, incurring resentment   
   from some other boys from whom he expected the same behavior. Nevertheless,   
   he never repaid ill-treatment in kind. Bosco's guidance probably curbed   
   Dominic from becoming a young fanatic. He forbade Dominic to perform bodily   
   mortification without his permission, believing that with ". . . heat, cold,   
   sickness (and) the tiresome ways of other people-there is quite enough   
   mortification for boys in school life itself."   
      
   He found Dominic shivering in bed one cold night with only a thin sheet.   
   "Don't be crazy. You'll get pneumonia," he said. "Why should I?" replied   
   Dominic. "Our Lord didn't get pneumonia in the stable at Bethlehem."   
      
   On one occasion when Dominic was missing from morning until after dinner,   
   Bosco found him in the choir of the church, standing in a cramped position   
   by the lectern, deep in prayer. He had been there for six hours, yet he   
   thought that early Mass was not yet over. Dominic referred to these times of   
   intense prayer as "my distractions."   
      
   Bosco reports that in one strong 'distraction,' Dominic saw a wide,   
   mist-shrouded plain, with a multitude of people groping about in it. To them   
   came a pontifically vested figure carrying a torch that lighted up the whole   
   scene, and a voice seemed to say, "This torch is the Catholic faith which   
   shall bring light to the English people."   
      
   Bosco reported this to Pope Pius IX at Dominic's request, and the pope said   
   that it confirmed his intention to give attention to England. (You may   
   recall that England became a primary preoccupation of Don Bosco's later   
   life.) Some say this was the impetus for Pope Pius IX to restore a hierarchy   
   to England in 1850.   
      
   Dominic became known for his cheerfulness, friendliness, careful   
   observation, and good advice. Though only a boy, he was blessed with   
   spiritual gifts far beyond his age-knowledge of people in need, knowledge of   
   the spiritual needs of those around him, and the ability to prophesy.   
   Dominic's fragile health worsened, and in 1857, he was sent home to Mondonio   
   for a change of air. He was diagnosed with tuberculosis, and was bled, which   
   probably hastened his death.   
      
   He received the last sacraments and asked his father to read the prayers for   
   the dying. Toward the end, he tried to sit up. "Good-bye, Father," he said,   
   "the priest told me something . . . but I can't remember what. . . ."   
   Suddenly he smiled and exclaimed, "I am seeing the most wonderful things!"   
   and died. Soon afterwards John Bosco wrote his vita, which contributed to   
   his canonization. He was the youngest (15 years old) non-martyr to receive   
   official canonization in the history of the Church (Attwater, Benedictines,   
   Delaney, Farmer, White).   
      
   Dominic Savio is the patron saint of Pueri Cantors, choirs, choirboys, boys,   
   and juvenile delinquents (White).   
      
      
   Saint Quotes:   
   Death, but not sin.   
      
   Nothing seems tiresome or painful when you are working for a Master who pays   
   well; who rewards even a cup of cold water given for love of Him.   
      
   I am not capable of doing big things, but I want to do everything, even the   
   smallest things, for the greater glory of God.   
   -Saint Dominic Savio   
      
   Bible Quote:   
   : . . . The High Priest tore at his clothes and said: "What more do we need?   
   Why wait for witnesses? You have heard his blasphemy. What is your verdict?"   
   And the vote for the death sentence was unanimous. (Mark 14:63-64)   
      
      
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   Prayer to Saint Dominic Savio   
      
   Great model for God-loving boys and cherished pupil of the famous Don Bosco,   
   you died prematurely, humanly speaking, but you had already attained mature   
   spiritual wisdom. Your kindness won you many friends, but your love above   
   all sought the Master who is present in our tabernacles. His praises you   
   eucharistically sang. Make choir boys be singers like you, for the love of   
   Jesus, our most loving Master.   
   Amen.   
      
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   Indulgenced Prayers   
      
   O saving Victim, opening wide   
   The gate of heaven to man below,   
   Our foes press on from every side;   
   Thine aid supply, Thy strength bestow.   
      
   To Thy great Name be endless praise,   
   Immortal Godhead, one in three;   
   Oh, grant us endless length of days   
   In our true native land with Thee.   
   Amen.   
      
   Blessed is He Who cometh in the Name of the Lord:   
    Hosanna in the highest.   
      
   Jesu, bread of life, protect us;   
   Shepherd kind, do not reject us;   
   In Thy happy fold collect us,   
   And partakers of the bliss elect us,   
   Which shall never see an end.   
      
   Thou, the wisest and the mightiest,   
   Who us here with food delightest,   
   Seat us at Thy banquet brightest   
   With the blessed Thou invitest   
   An eternal feast to spend.   
   Amen.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)