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Prayer
through St. Dominic Savio’s Intercession
Dear Saint Dominic, you spent your short life
totally for love of Jesus and His Mother. Help youth today
to realize the importance of God in their lives. You became
a saint through fervent participation in the sacraments; enlighten
parents and children to the importance of frequent Confession
and Holy Communion. At a young age you meditated on the sorrowful
Passion of Our Lord. Obtain for us the grace of a fervent
desire to suffer for love of Him.
We desperately need your intercession to protect today's children
from the snares of the world. Watch over them and lead them
on the narrow road to Heaven. Ask God to give us the grace
to sanctify our daily duties by performing them perfectly
out of love for Him. Remind us of the necessity of practicing
virtue especially in times of trial.
Saint Dominic Savio, you who preserved your Baptismal innocence
of heart, pray for us.
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St
Dominc Savio’s Resolutions on his Communion
On day of his first communion, he chose a
motto: "Death, but not sin!" and he kept it always.
He is only seven years old when he received his First communion
but Dominic was able to make resolutions on this important
event on his life.
1. “I will go to Confession frequently and receive Holy
Communion as often as my Confessor allows.
2. I will sanctify Sundays and Holy Days.
3. My friends shall be Jesus and Mary.
4. Death, but not sin.” St. John Bosco testified that
these resolutions were his whole program of sanctity and were
faithfully kept. |
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St.
Dominic Inspiring Profile
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.
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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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YOUTH
St.
Dominic Savio
is the model of all youth same with his mentor, St. John don
Bosco, the patron saint of the youth. Dominic is also patron
saint of choir boys and of the falsely accused. This latter
title was given to him due to the following incident. One
time, two boys filled the school stove with snow and garbage
during the cold winter months. When the teacher came back
into the room, they falsely accused Dominic of doing the "dirty"
deed. Although disciplined in front of the entire class, Dominic
refused to tell on the two mischievous boys. When the truth
was later revealed, Dominic was asked why he didn't confess
to his innocence. He remarked that he was imitating Our Lord,
Who remained silent during His persecutions and crucifixion.
Yes, Dominic was an ordinary boy with an extraordinary love
for God.
