St. Dominic Savio (1842–1857) was a pupil of St. John Bosco in Turin who, in a short life of fourteen years, became a model of joyful holiness for young people; at his First Communion, aged seven, he made the resolution “Death rather than sin.” He was canonized in 1954, at the time the youngest non-martyr to be declared a saint. He is the patron of teenagers, choirboys, the falsely accused and expectant mothers. His feast day is March 9 (May 6 in the Salesian calendar). Below are prayers to St. Dominic Savio and his story.
Prayer to St. Dominic Savio
Written for this page.
St. Dominic Savio, you loved Jesus and Mary with all your heart and chose death rather than sin.
Pray for me in my need: (name your intention).
Help me to be pure, cheerful and kind, and to do my ordinary duties well for love of God. Amen.
For a teenager
St. Dominic Savio, pray for (name).
Protect them from bad company and temptation,
give them good friends, and help them to grow in faith and joy. Amen.
For an expectant mother
St. Dominic Savio, you prayed for your mother when she was in danger at childbirth.
Pray for (name) and her baby: protect them both,
and give them a safe and happy delivery. Amen.
Who was St. Dominic Savio?
Dominic was born on April 2, 1842, at Riva, near Chieri, in Piedmont, the son of a blacksmith and a seamstress. He served Mass from the age of five, and he was admitted to First Communion at seven, younger than was usual then. On that day he wrote four resolutions, the last of which became his motto: “Death rather than sin.”
In 1854 he met Don Bosco, who took him into his Oratory in Turin. Dominic told him that he wanted to become a saint, and Don Bosco taught him that holiness consists in doing ordinary duties well, being cheerful, and helping others. Dominic stopped two boys from fighting with stones by holding up a crucifix between them, cared for sick companions, and founded among the boys the Sodality of the Immaculate Conception to help one another to be good.
According to Don Bosco, when Dominic heard that his mother was in danger in childbirth, he hurried home and put a little scapular around her neck, and she safely gave birth; ever since, mothers have worn the “scapular of St. Dominic Savio” during pregnancy. Weakened by illness, he was sent home to Mondonio and died there on March 9, 1857, at fourteen. Don Bosco wrote his life, which made him known throughout the world. He was canonized by Pope Pius XII in 1954.
Scripture
Psalm 118:9 (Douay-Rheims):
By what doth a young man correct his way? by observing thy words.
Matthew 5:8 (Douay-Rheims):
Blessed are the clean of heart: for they shall see God.
What is St. Dominic Savio the patron saint of?
- Teenagers and young people, especially altar servers and choirboys
- Expectant mothers
- The falsely accused
Frequently asked questions
What was St. Dominic Savio’s motto?
“Death rather than sin,” a resolution he made at his First Communion.
When is his feast day?
March 9, the day of his death; the Salesians celebrate him on May 6.
How old was St. Dominic Savio when he died?
Fourteen; he died on March 9, 1857.
More saints
- St. John Bosco prayer
- Patron saint of altar servers
- Patron saint of children
- Catholic prayer for pregnancy
- St. Aloysius Gonzaga
- Prayers to popular saints
Texts and sources
- Psalm 118:9 and Matthew 5:8 (Douay-Rheims).