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 March
9
St. Dominic Savio
St. Dominic Savio model of the youth in the entire world.
"I can't do big things," St. Dominic Savio once said,
"but I want everything to be for the glory of God." At
an early age he already knew how to work for God. This heroism in
little things is the stuff of holiness.
At the age of five Dominic had already learned to serve Mass. Neither
rain nor heavy snows could keep him away from the altar. The parish
priest more than once found the boy kneeling on the church steps,
awaiting his arrival. Closer to the Eucharist as an altar boy, he
had still to wait two more years before he was allowed to make his
First Holy Communion. At the age of seven he was admitted to the
Eucharistic Banquet—a remarkably early age for those times.
When Don Bosco was looking for young men to train as priests for
his Salesian Order, his parish priest suggested Dominic Savio. Dominic
became more than a credit to Don Bosco's school— everyone
in the school saw from the way he prayed that this boy was different.
He single-handedly organized those who were to be the nucleus of
Don Bosco's order.
At the age of twelve confided to his Confessor, St. John Bosco:
“I feel the need of becoming a saint. If I do not become a
saint, I am wasting my time. God wants me to be a saint, and I must
become one.” Then Saint John Bosco, who is his mentor, said
to him: The prescription was as follows: “Cheerfulness always.
Constant piety. Perseverant study. Remember, Dominic, no need to
get upset. ‘The Lord is not in the whirlwind”
The formula worked magic in the heart of the boy. His holiness overflowed
in the apostolic zeal that soon manifested itself among his companions.
He exposed himself to physical danger in order to conciliate older
boys who had decided to settle a furious quarrel with stones. His
zeal to do good urged him to found the Immaculate Conception Sodality,
the purpose of which was to draw many young boys to Christ, especially
through the frequent reception of the Sacraments and through devotion
to Our Lady.
For all that, Dominic was a normal, high-spirited boy who sometimes
got into trouble with his teachers because he would often break
out laughing. However, he was generally well disciplined and gradually
gained the respect of the tougher boys in Don Bosco's school.
One day Dominic began to feel sick and was sent home to get better.
While at home he grew worse, instead, and received the last Sacraments.
He was only fifteen then, but he did not fear death. In fact, he
was overjoyed at the thought of going to Heaven. Just before he
died, he tried to sit up and asked his father to read some prayers
for him.
"Goodbye," he murmured to his good father. Suddenly his
face lit up with a smile of great joy and happiness. "I am
seeing such wonderful things!" he exclaimed. Then he spoke
no more, for he had gone to Heaven. '
>>
St. Dominic Savio prayers and inspiring profile. |
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| LIVES
OF THE SAINTS |
May
12
ST. NEREUS, ST. ACHILLEUS AND ST. PANCRAS
Sts. Nereus and Achilleus were Roman soldiers who died around
304. They were probably Praetorian guards under Emperor Trajan.
We know little else about them.
May
13
ST. ANDREW FOURNET
St. Andrew Fournet was born on December 6, 1752.
He was from Maille, a little town near Poitiers, in France.
Andrew's parents were religious people. Mrs. Fournet had her
heart set on Andrew becoming a priest.
May
14
ST. MATTHIAS
St. Matthias was one of Our Lord's seventy-two disciples.
He had been a follower of Jesus during his public life. St.
Peter asked the 120 people gathered in prayer to choose an
apostle to replace Judas.
May
15
ST.
ISIDORE THE FARMER
Saint Isidore was born in 1070, in Madrid, Spain. His parents
were deeply religious. They named their son after the great
St. Isidore, archbishop of Seville, Spain.
May
16
ST. UBALD
St. Ubald lived in twelfth-century Italy. He was
an orphan raised by his uncle, a bishop. Ubald was given a
good education. When he finished his schooling, he had the
chance to marry. But he became a priest instead. Eventually,
the pope made him bishop of Gubbio, the city of his birth.
May
17
ST. PASCHAL
BAYLON
St. Paschal, a Spanish saint, was born in 1540. From
the time he was seven, he worked as a shepherd. He never had
the opportunity to go to school. Yet he taught himself to
read and write.
May
18
ST. JOHN
I
St. John I was a priest of Rome. He became pope after
the death of Pope St. Hormisdas in 523. At that time, Italy's
ruler, Theodoric the Goth, was an Arian. (The Arians did not
believe that Jesus is God.) Theodoric let Catholics alone
at the beginning of his reign. Later, however, he changed
and became arrogant and suspicious of everyone.
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PHOTO OF THE MONTH |
Tour
of the Relics of the Passion
(International Center
for Holy Relics)
www.HolyRelics.org
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| REFLECTIONS |
 “Jesus’
Baptism”
Why did Jesus, the sinless one sent from the Father in heaven,
submit himself to John’s baptism? John preached a
baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins (Luke
3:3). In this humble submission we see a foreshadowing of
the “baptism” of Jesus bloody death upon the
cross. Jesus’ baptism is the acceptance and the beginning
of his mission as God’s suffering Servant (Isaiah
52:13-15; 53:1-12). He allowed himself to be numbered among
sinners. Jesus submitted himself entirely to his Father’s
will. Out of love he consented to this baptism of death
for the remission of our sins. Do you know the joy of trust
and submission to God?
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