About ten months before his death Dominic confided to Don Bosco: "Father, I desire to do something for Mary, but I must do it at once. I want to share my love for the Blessed Mother with my companions. What can I do?" Together they agreed to start a group of students interested in promoting devotion to Mary, the Immaculate Mother of Jesus, and the good of the Oratory. He drew up a few rules and guidelines for the group, which he called Sodality of the Immaculate Conception. On June 8, 1856, nine months before his death, Dominic had the rules approved by Don Bosco, and the first members were enrolled. Today the function of the sodality remains in the Campus Ministry Teams in Salesian Schools and the Youth Ministry Teams in youth centers and parishes.

If we put the founding of the Immaculate Conception Sodality by Dominic Savio together with the apostolic direction that he received from Don Bosco, it becomes clear that for Don Bosco Salesian Spirituality is always a forward movement of prayer motivating ministry and ministry motivating prayer.

Before going to Don Bosco's Oratory, Dominic would to go to confession and Communion once a month, as was the practice of the day. Dominic heard Don Bosco tell the boys that to keep on the path to heaven, they should do three things: "Go to Confession regularly choosing a steady confessor to whom you can unburden the heart, receive Communion often, and promote goodness among your friends." He observed that advice diligently. He had a great love for the Eucharist. At first he went to Confession and Communion every two weeks, then every week. Observing his spiritual progress, his confessor (Don Bosco) advised him to go to Communion three times a week and by the end of the year every day. Dominic placed unlimited confidence in Don Bosco, sometimes speaking to him of his spiritual problems even outside of Confession. To spend time in adoration before the Blessed Sacrament was his delight, and he made at least one visit to church a day, taking other boys with him,

We should remember that Dominic lived at a time when Northern Italy was still influenced by Jansenism, which had a very negative understanding of confession and the Eucharist. In simple terms it regarded humanity as basically evil. The Holy Communion (Eucharist) was to be received only rarely and only by those who were worthy. Don Bosco was among those who were trying to combat this heresy. In today’s climate he would suggest frequent celebration of the Eucharist. His Salesians do so daily and offer their students the opportunity for daily Eucharist. Don Bosco knew well that we all need spiritual advise through a spiritual director and through regular celebration of the sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession).

Don Bosco himself was an eyewitness to extraordinary events concerning Dominic Savio. Don Bosco wrote, "I am recording things I have seen with my own eyes. I assure you I am adhering strictly to truth …"

When Dominic received Communion or when he made a visit to Church he became completely absorbed in prayer. One day Dominic was missing from breakfast, from class, and from lunch. No one knew where he was. On being informed, Don Bosco guessed that he was in church as he had been at other times. His guess was right. He went into the sanctuary behind the main altar. There was Dominic, standing as immovable as a rock. One foot was over the other; one hand rested on a bookstand, the other was pressed against his heart. His face was fixed toward the tabernacle. Don Bosco called to him, "Dominic." He looked at Don Bosco and asked, "Is Mass over already?"

"Look, Dominic," said Don Bosco as he showed him the time. "It's two o'clock in the afternoon."

Dominic apologized. Don Bosco then sent him for something to eat, adding, "If anyone asks where you were, say you were doing something for me."

Another time, Don Bosco had just finished his thanksgiving after Mass and was about to leave the sacristy when he heard someone talking in the sanctuary. He found Dominic alone but speaking as if in a conversation with some invisible person. Don Bosco heard Dominic say, "Yes, Lord, I have said it before, and I will keep on saying it, I love you and I want to love you all my life. If you see that I am about to commit a sin, make me die first! Yes, death first, but not sin!"

Don Bosco asked Dominic what was happening. "I don't know," was his answer. "I get distracted and lose track of my prayer, and then I see such wonderful things that the hours fly by like seconds!"

One night after all had gone to bed Dominic rushed into Don Bosco's room, waking him, "Don Bosco come with me!

"What," asked Don Bosco?

"Please Don Bosco, hurry!"

With Dominic's insistence, Don Bosco dressed quickly and followed him. They left the Oratory, hurried down one street, into another, and up a third, without saying a word, and then into another street. They walked quickly along a line of tenements, and finally Dominic stopped before one. He ran up the stairs to the third floor with Don Bosco following. Dominic stopped at one door, knocking on the door and told Don Bosco, "Here!"

The door of the apartment opened, and a woman stood before Don Bosco. "Thank God!" cried the woman, "There's little time. My husband is dying. He left the Church, but now he wants to die a good Catholic!" The man made his peace with God. Don Bosco heard his confession and blessed him. The man died a few moments later.

Days later, Don Bosco asked Dominic how he knew about that dying man. His face clouded over with a look of distress, and tears came to his eyes. Don Bosco did not insist.

"Innocence of life," wrote Don Bosco, "love of God, and the desire of heaven had so elevated his soul that he could be said to be living always absorbed in God…"

Dominic's sister, Theresa, testified that on the morning of September 12, 1856, Dominic rushed into Don Bosco's room.

"Please, Father," he asked, "may I go home?"

"Why?"

"My mother is very sick, and Our Lady wants to take care her. "

"How do you know?"

"I just know, that's all."

"Has someone written to you?"

"No, but I know just the same."

Don Bosco gave him permission because, as he later told Mr. Savio, "When your son insists on anything, I do well to agree with him."

Don Bosco gave Dominic fare for the coach to Chieri and then a carriage to Mondonio. When Dominic arrived he met his father, who was on his way to find a doctor.

"What are you doing here?" he asked his son.

"I'm going to see mother. She's very sick."

"Go to grandma's!" insisted Mr. Savio and rushed on. Dominic ran home. His mother was in labor. The neighboring women were doing what they could for her but could not help her. Dominic suddenly rushed into the house. Disregarding the objections of the women he ran upstairs to his mother, saying, "I know she's sick. That's why I came!" His mother was alone.

"Dominic, what are you doing here?" she asked.

"I found out that you were sick, and I came to see you."

Forcing herself to sit up, she replied, "Oh, it's nothing. Go downstairs. I'll see you later." "I'll go, Mama, but first I want to hug you!"

He quickly embraced his mother and kissed her. Then he left the house and returned immediately to Turin.

A few minutes later Brigit’s labor pains reached their climax and subsided. It was at five that evening that Dominic's baby sister, Catherine, was born. By the time Charles returned with a doctor the birth was over.

The women who assisted Mrs. Savio noticed she was wearing a green scapular. Not having seen it before, they asked where she got it. She too was surprised but then replied, " Dominic must have put this scapular on me as he embraced me, because I've never had one like this before. That is why I have been safely delivered!"

On his return to the Oratory, the only answer Dominic gave Don Bosco was, "My mother is all right. I gave her a scapular of our Blessed Mother."

That same scapular later saved the life of Theresa herself in a similar condition, as well as the lives of several women. While Dominic was at home, during his last illness, he told his mother, "Do you remember the time I came to see you when you in labor with my sister? I left a scapular of Our Lady around your neck? It was Our Mother Mary who eased your Labor. Take good care of the scapular and lend it to other women in the same condition. Our Blessed Mother will take care of them also."

The scapular, however, was lost. "I had very many requests for this miraculous scapular," testified Theresa. "It was lent to many women in labor who were in danger of death. To my regret, it has been lost."

Don Bosco promoted a practice he called The Exercise of a Happy Death. This monthly celebration consisted in conference by one the Salesians or a guest speaker on some aspect of faith development, an opportunity for confession, the celebration of the Eucharist, and prayers for a Happy Death. Don Bosco did not intend this to be a gloomy or frightening experience, but an educational opportunity to help the young people to examine their life and their relationship with God. Today the Salesians call it The Monthly Day of Recollection. Dominic always carried it out with great devotion. At the end of the prayers an Our Father and Hail Mary were recited "for the one among us who shall be the first to die." One time Dominic playfully remarked, "Don't say 'for the one among us'. Just say 'for Dominic Savio, who will be the first among us to die.'"

At the end of April 1856, Dominic went to Don Bosco and asked how he should spend the month of May in honor of Our Lady.

"Do your duties carefully," said Don Bosco. "Speak of Mary to your companions every day, and receive Communion every day."

"I will, Father. What should I pray for?"

"Ask Our Lady for health and the favor of becoming a saint."

"Yes, to become a saint and to die a happy death and have her help in my last moments and be taken by her to Heaven!"

Since Dominic began showing signs of failing health, Don Bosco called in several doctors. All admired his lightheartedness, bright wit and quick responses. Doctor Vallauri examined him and remarked to Don Bosco, "What a fine treasure you have in this boy!"

"But what is causing him to fail so quickly day by day?" asked Don Bosco.

"He seems to be generally in poor health. He is an intense young man and puts himself under constant pressure to succeed especially in his spiritual life."

"What remedy can we use?"

"There is nothing we can do medically. The only thing that might prolong his life is to relieve him of his studies completely for some time and just give him little odd jobs that will not tire him."

The doctor’s advice was based on the practice of the day, 1857. Today a doctor would have put Dominic in a hospital. The general opinion today is that Dominic was suffering from a respiratory infection. We should remember that in the mid 19^th century childhood death was very common. Respiratory deceases were not well understood.

Dominic spent some days in bed. On days when he felt better he attended classes and study hall, and joined the community for prayer. However, his health continued to decline, Dominic did not want to go home. He did not want to interrupt his studies. He enjoyed very much the life at the Oratory, and would miss the regular prayer life of the community. Some months before, Don Bosco had sent him home. He returned to the Oratory after only a few days. Dominic valued the experience of Don Bosco’s Oratory.

Dominic had developed a persistent cough. Don Bosco with the doctor decided that it would be better if Dominic went home so that he could receive the attention his mother and family could give him. Dominic was not happy with the decision.

"Why are you so sorry to go home?" asked Don Bosco. "You should be glad to be with your parents again."

"I want to end my days at the Oratory," he replied.

"You will go home for a while, and, when you are better, you can come back. "

"No, Don Bosco, I'll go, but I'll never come back!"

The night before he left, he refused to budge from Don Bosco's side, looking for all sorts of questions to ask.

"What can a sick boy do to gain merit before God?" Dominic asked.

"Offer your sufferings to God," replied Don Bosco.

"Will I be able to see my parents and friends from Heaven?"

"Yes, you will be able to see everything at the Oratory and your parents. You will know everything that concerns them, and so many other wonderful things besides, but that is not to concern you now. You are going home to get well."

Dominic kept asking many other questions

On the morning of his departure from the Oratory, Dominic made the Exercise For A Happy Death with his companions. With great devotion he went to Confession and Communion. He spent the rest of the morning packing and said goodbye to his friends He paid back two cents he owed to a friend saying, "Let's get this fixed, so I won't have to worry about it when I present my accounts to God." He spoke to the members of the Immaculate Conception Sodality, insisting that they be faithful to their promises to Mary and to place the utmost confidence in her.

Before leaving, he told Don Bosco, "Since you don't want this poor body of mine, I'll have to take it back to Mondonio. But it would have burdened you only a few days, and all would soon be over. But God's will be done! Pray that I may die well. Goodbye till we meet in Heaven."

As they approached the gate to the main road, Dominic was holding on to Don Bosco's hand. He turned to his companions. "Goodbye. Pray for me. We'll see each other where we will always be with God." Upon reaching the gate, Dominic turned back and asked Don Bosco, "Will you give me a present to remember you?"

"How about a book, Don Bosco proposed?"

"No, I want something better."

"Do you want money for your trip?"

"Yes, that's it, money for my trip to eternity. You told me once that the Pope had granted you plenary indulgences for the hour of death. Put my name among those who can gain that indulgence."

"Gladly, Dominic, you can consider yourself in that number now,

Dominic then walked out of the Oratory gate with his father. It was two o'clock in the afternoon of March 1,1857. He had lived at the Oratory almost three years to his great joy, and to the edification of both his companions and the teachers. He was never to return.

For the first four days at home Dominic did well. Then he took a turn for the worse. He became weaker, his appetite failed, and his cough became more persistent. The doctor found that the boy's illness was much worse than it seemed. Thinking that Dominic had an infection, the doctor used the accepted remedy of the time, bleeding. Dominic was bled several times. He seemed to rally.

However, Dominic asked to have the priest hear his Confession and give him Communion. They called for the pastor who heard his confession and gave him Communion. Dominic then recalled the resolutions at his first Communion. Several times he repeated, "Jesus, Mary, you will always be my friends… death but not sin!"

After four days, the doctor had good news for the parents. "Thank God," he said. "We are past danger. All he needs now is rest." They were overjoyed at the news. Dominic smiled. After the doctor left, he asked for the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. To please him, his parents agreed. On being anointed he prayed: "My God, forgive me my sins. I love you and I want to love you forever. Dominic's mind was so clear and his voice so loud, that all thought he was fine and on his way to recovery.

He had been bled ten times. He was very weak. The priest gave him a special Papal Blessing, which deeply consoled him. He repeated often, "Thanks be to God!"

No one but Dominic suspected he was so close to death. An hour and a half before he died, the pastor came to see him, and, noting how calmly he rested, was surprised to hear him recommend his soul to God. The boy kept praying in long, drawn out sighs. After reciting a few prayers with Dominic, the pastor turned to leave.

"Please, Father," called Dominic, "give me a little remembrance before you go."

"What remembrance can I leave you?"

"A word of comfort!"

"I know of nothing better than to recall the passion of Christ."

"Thanks be to God!" Dominic answered.

He then fell asleep and rested for half an hour. He then opened his eyes, looked at his parents, and gasped, "Papa, it's time! Take my prayer book and read for me the prayers for a happy death!"

For a while he seemed to be resting. Then slowly he awoke. Smiling, he said clearly, "Goodbye, Papa, goodbye, goodbye Mama! Oh, what a beautiful sight I see!" With these words and a smile on his lips, Dominic breathed his last...

According to the testimony of Charles Savio, Dominic’s father, shortly after his death Dominic appeared to him. After verifying it was his son, Charles said, "Oh, my dear boy! How wonderful you look! I don’t know what to say! Are you in Heaven?"

"Yes, Papa, I am in Heaven."

"Will you pray for us, for mother and me?"

"Yes, I will pray for you!"

With that the vision faded.

On December 6, 1876 nineteen years after his death Dominic appeared to Don Bosco. Dominic came to encourage and to advise Don Bosco about the future of his work for youth. In that vision Don Bosco asked his pupil, "Dominic, what gave you the most comfort at the hour of death?"

"What comforted me most at the point of death was the assistance of the powerful and loving Mother of God."

On March 5, 1950, Pope Pius XII beatified Dominic Savio. It is a curious coincidence that March 5, 1950, was the second Sunday of Lent. It was the second Sunday of Lent, 1855, when St. John Bosco gave the boys at the Oratory where Dominic Savio was a pupil, the sermon on how easy it was to become a saint.

On June 12, 1954. Pope Pius XII canonized Dominic Savio, this 14-year-old boy from Don Bosco’s Oratory a Saint.

Saint Dominic Savio is a wonderful hero for young people today. He died as a teenager who was admired and liked by his classmates and his teachers. His way to holiness was to follow the spirituality taught him by St. John Bosco and his Salesians, namely a life lived simply by doing the every day duties of life in an extra ordinary way. It is a youth spirituality that can be lived by people of all ages. The Salesian spirituality responds to the Gospel imperative given by Jesus to his disciples and to all who follow Jesus, "Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Let the children come to me; do not prevent them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it.’ Then he embraced them and blessed them, placing his hands on them." (Mark 10: 14-16)