The Almost-Youngest Saint, Dominic Savio
(Dominic Savio’s feast in the usus antiquior is on the day of his death, March 9th. In the revision of the calendar, it’s been moved to today, May 6th, which here in Canada is the feast of our first bishop, Francois de Laval. So we will re-post our reflection on this nearly-youngest of canonized saints. He was so, until the canonization of the two seers of Fatima, Jacinta and Francesco. They are all an inspiration to us who have passed many more years on this Earth, and are nowhere near his sanctity. God can do much, with little.
Dominic Savio died on March 9th, 1857, at the age of 14, his last words, ‘what beautiful things I see…! When he was declared a saint on June 12, 1954 by Pope Pius II, Dominic Savio was the youngest non-martyr ever to be canonized in the history of the Church, until the visionaries of Fatima, Jacinta and Francesco Marto, were declared saints in 2017.
Dominic was one of ten children of, as the saying goes, ‘poor and pious’ parents, which is a noble alliterative description, and should be applied even more often. They raised their children well, but Dominic especially was receptive to grace from his earliest years, imposing on himself strict obedience to his parents, a regular prayer life, and adherence to the moral law, from which he never deviated.
His spiritual life only mature more deeply when he met Saint John Bosco in 1854, who was to be his mentor for the short span that remained in his life. Dominic joined his ‘Oratory’ for boys, excelling in his studies on the way to the priesthood, but even more so in his spiritual growth. Dominic would quell feuds amongst the other lads – many of whom were rather rough and still feral – and even seemed to have supernatural knowledge from God. He once led Father Bosco to a dying man, through twisted alleyways, just in time. When the good priest asked his student how he knew, Dominic became uncomfortable, so Don Bosco didn’t press the matter. What he did do was write a short biography of Dominic Savio, which became immensely popular, a masterpiece of Italian, and spiritual, prose.
Before Pius X’s decree lowering the age in 1910 by his decree, Quam Singulari, most people made their Holy Communion at about 12. Dominic, his virtue so attested, was permitted to receive at 7, calling that day the ‘happiest of his life‘, and he was soon communicating daily, in an era where most went but a few times a year, if that.
He traversed a long way quickly, and knew that his own death was approaching – likely from pleurisy. He prepared as well as any saint might, with a good confession, Communion, and devoutly going through the Exercises for a Holy Death.
And a holy death he made, on the evening of March 9th, 1864, as though falling asleep, after seeing what seemed the glory of heaven itself. He never reached the priesthood, but, as a later young saint was to say, ‘I will do more good from heaven‘.
May a few more Dominic Savio’s arise from the ‘poor and pious’ families out there, and shine like sparks amongst the stubble.
Saint Dominic Savio, ora pro nobis! +
Carney’s Amoral Majority
After five defections – euphemistically described as ‘crossing the floor’ – and three by-elections, Mark Carney and his Liberals how have their coveted majority. One wonders what bowls of pottage were offered in back-room deals. In the archaic monarchical system that is the Dominion of Canada, this majority allows the newly-minted Prime Minister to rule[…]Continue reading→
Saint Kateri , Canada’s Protectress
This was the title given to Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, by Pope Benedict XVI, when he canonized her on October 28th, 2012, along with six others, in Saint Peter’ Square (she had been beatified by Pope John Paul II back in 1980). With Saint Joseph as our protector, along with the Canadian martyrs, we seem to[…]Continue reading→
A Closed, Unsustainable, Descending Loop
As a follow-up to my thoughts on Payette’s payout, here be a stark image of where are here in Canada. As the graph shows in, well, graphic terms, since 2025, the public sector has contributed to 95.5% of economic growth. The private sector – which funds the public sector, or is supposed to – has[…]Continue reading→
A Tale of Two Benedicts
A grace-filled Holy Week to all our readers! As we await and prepare for the Resurrection about to dawn upon us, we might keep in mind two Benedicts: Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, requiescat in pace, elected on this day in 2005; and today’s commemoration of the mystic pilgrim, Benedict Joseph Labre, who died on this[…]Continue reading→
My Name is Bernadette
April 16th is a propitious day, for besides the anniversary of Father de Valk’s death, who founded Catholic Insight in its print form decades ago, and the commemoration of the ‘two Benedicts’, mentioned in accompanying posts, today we also recall Saint Bernadette Soubirous, the young visionary to whom the Virgin Mary appeared numerous times at[…]Continue reading→
Presidential Pardon of Weronika Krawczyk
As a good news, follow-up to our story from Poland, of the persecution of Weronika Krawczyk for her pro-life views, we heard that she has been granted a presidential pardon. One might still wonder why one needs a presidential pardon for simply holding the long-held belief that the child within the womb is a child,[…]Continue reading→
Saint Lydwina of Schiedam and Suffering Joyfully
Saint Lydwina of Schiedam (1380 – 1433) was one of the countless and glorious ‘victim souls’ in the history of the Church, those whose lives are filled with suffering, often of an unimaginable intensity, but who suffer joyfully. She was a fifteen-year old Dutch girl, out skating one day, when she fell and broke one[…]Continue reading→
The Glorious Martyrdoms of Martin and Maximus
As we enter into Eastertide, we recall on this 13th of April Pope Saint Martin I (+655), one of the noblest, if most tragic, of the successors of Saint Peter. Born in Umbria, Italy, he was of noble lineage, with great intelligence combined with charity and love of the poor and the Church. While still[…]Continue reading→
Pope Leo and a Rosary for Peace
Pope Leo XIV has asked Catholics across the world to join him in a Rosary for peace today, at 18:00 Rome time (6 pm), which would be noon from where I write (EST). If you are able, whether at that time or another, and in whatever way you pray, to join in intercession with the[…]Continue reading→
Payette’s Payout
I was glancing through some headlines, and noticed a mention of Julie Payette – engineer and astronaut and sometime the Queen’s representative in Canada – which brought back vague memories. She was appointed Governor-General by Justin Trudeau in 2017. Ms. Payette resigned in 2021, amidst claims that she created a ‘toxic work environment’, with allegations[…]Continue reading→