Saint Dominic Savio 1842-1857

Dominic was born on 2nd April 1842 at San Giovanni di Riva, near Chieri (Turin). When he made his first Holy Communion, at the age of seven, he wrote down the following as his plan of life: “I will go to confession very often and go to communion as often as my confessor gives me permission. I will celebrate Sundays and feast days as holy days. Jesus and Mary will be my friends. Death rather than sin.” When he was twelve he was accepted by Don Bosco to go to the Oratory in Turin, and he asked Don Bosco to help him ‘become a saint’. He was a gentle lad, always calm and cheerful, and he put great efforts into his studies and into helping his companions in every way, teaching them their Catechism, tending the sick, sorting out quarrels, etc.

One day he told a boy who had just arrived at the Oratory: “You ought to know that here we find holiness through being very happy! We try to avoid sin, which robs us of God’s grace and our peace of mind, and we carry out our duties as well as we can.”
Dominic kept faithfully to this plan, strengthened by the sacraments and his devotion to Mary, and accepted hardships gladly. God blessed him with special gifts. When Pius IX proclaimed the dogma of the Immaculate Conception on 8th December 1854, Dominic consecrated himself to Mary and began to make even greater progress in holiness. In 1856 he set up the ‘Sodality of Mary Immaculate’ with a group of his friends, to carry out apostolic work together. Mamma Margaret (Don Bosco’s mother), who had come to Turin to help her priest son, said one day: “You have many good boys, but none can match the good heart and soul of Dominic Savio. I see him so often at prayer, staying in church after the others; every day he slips out of the playground to make a visit to the Blessed Sacrament. When he is in church he is like an angel living in Paradise.”

Dominic died in Mondonio on 9th March 1857, just under a month before his fifteenth birthday. His remains are in the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians. He was canonized on 12th June 1954. Pope Pius XI described him as “small in size, but a towering giant in spirit.” He is the patron saint of boy choristers.

Blessed Phillip Rinaldi 1856-1931

Phillip was born on 28th May 1856 at Lu Monferrato (Alessandria) and at twenty one years old he joined Don Bosco. When he was ordained priest his first responsibility was the formation of aspirants and novices. In 1889 Don Rua sent him to Spain as Rector of the community at Sarria. Later he was asked to be Provincial and made a decisive contribution to the development of the Salesians in Spain. As Vicar General of the Congregation he displayed even more of his fatherly gifts and his willingness to take new initiatives: care of vocations, setting up centres for spiritual and social support of young workers, guide and support of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians at an important stage of their history. He gave great encouragement to the Cooperators and founded the world Federation of Past Pupils. While working with the ‘Zelatrici di Maria Ausiliatrice’ he conceived and saw through a plan to set up a new form of consecrated life in the world, which would later grow into the Secular Institute of ‘Volunteers of Don Bosco’ (VDB). He was elected Rector Major in 1922 and focussed his energy on adapting the spirit of Don Bosco to the current situation. Don Francesia wrote “Don Rinaldi was only missing the voice of Don Bosco: he had everything else!” He was a master of Salesian ways and spirituality and brought about a renewal in the interior life of Salesians, absolute confidence in God and unlimited trust in Mary Help of Christians. He asked Pope Pius XI for an indulgence for ‘sanctified work’. He took great care of the missions and sent many young Salesians to learn languages and customs so that they could be more immersed in local culture and spread the gospel more effectively.

He died on 5th December 1931 and was beatified by Pope John Paul II on 29th April 1990. His remains are venerated in the crypt of the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians and his memory is celebrated on 5th December.

Saint Callisto Caravario 1903-1930

Callisto Caravario was born at Cuorgne (Turin) on 18th June 1903. When he met Monsignor Versiglia in Turin in 1921 he said: ”I will come and join you in China”. He kept his word and left for China two years later. As a young priest, faithful to his religious consecration and fervent in charity, he was on a pastoral visit in the Lin Chow area with Mons. Versiglia, two teachers, two catechists and a student, when they were attacked by communist pirates. As they tried to protect the young people the two missionaries were brutally beaten and then shot, because of the pirates’ hatred of their Christian faith. At their beatification, in 1983, Pope John Paul II said that they were examples of ‘the gospel ideal of the shepherd… who gives his life for his flock… for the cause of truth and justice, defending the weak and the poor, triumphing over the evils of sin and death.

They were canonized on 1st October 2000 and they are honoured on 13th November, the day when in 1875 the first Salesian missionaries left the port of Genova for South America.

Saint Luigi Versiglia 1873-1930

Luigi Versiglia was born at Oliva Gessi (Pavia) on 5th June 1873. He came to Don Bosco’s Oratory when he was twelve years old and went on to become a Salesian Priest. After his ordination in 1895 he spent ten years as novice master at Genzano di Roma. In 1906 he led the first Salesian missionary expedition to China, fulfilling a prophecy often repeated by Don Bosco. Once he had established a ‘mother house’ in Macau, he opened a mission in the area of Shiu Chow. He became its first bishop on 22nd April 1920. He was a man of wisdom and tireless energy, a real shepherd totally dedicated to his flock. He gave his Vicariate a solid infrastructure with a seminary, houses of formation, various residences, an orphanage and old people’s homes. He was more of a father than an authoritarian. He led by his example of hard work and Christian love and never asked people to do anything without first weighing up their capabilities.

On 25th February 1930 he was with Don Caravario and five others, all young people, on the way to visit the small Christian Community at Lin Chow (Li Tau Tseu). They were stopped by a group of armed men, who first demanded protection money and then made to take away the three women in the party. Don Versiglia and Don Caravario stood in their way and were knocked to the ground and tied up. Their crucifixes were ripped away and, as they prayed, they were shot dead.

Don Versiglia and Don Caravario were canonized by Pope John Paul II on 1st October 2000 and their Feast Day is on 13th November, which is the day on which each Salesian Community celebrates Mass for deceased benefactors and members of the Salesian Family.

Saint Mary Mazzarello 1837-1881

Maria Domenica was born on 9th May 1837 at Mornese in the Alessandria region of Italy. In her family she received a grounding in solid piety, hard work and a remarkable common sense and judgement which stood her in good stead when she became a Religious Superior. At the age of fifteen she enrolled in the Association of Daughters of Mary Immaculate and started to take part in apostolic work for the girls of the area. A serious bout of typhoid contracted when she was 23 had a profound effect on her spiritual development. This experience of being physically frail deepened her sense of abandonment to God, but also moved her to open a dressmaking workshop in order to teach girls about work, prayer and the love of God. Thanks to her devout sacramental life and the wise guidance of Don Pestarino she made great progress in spirituality.

When Don Bosco visited Mornese on 8th October 1864 she remarked ‘Don Bosco is a saint – I can sense it”. In 1872 Don Bosco chose her to help him found the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians. As Superior she showed herself to be an able teacher and guide in the spiritual life. She had the gift of serene and comforting cheerfulness, radiating joy and drawing other young people to dedicate themselves to the education of girls. After her death the Institute continued to develop rapidly. She left her Daughters a style of education permeated with gospel values: the search for God, known through enlightened teaching and fervent love, responsibility in work, openness and humility, austerity of life and joyful self giving.

She died at Nizza Monferrato on 14th May 1881. Her body is venerated in the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians in Turin. She was canonized on 24th June 1951 and her feast is celebrated on 13th May.

Blessed Michael Rua 1837-1910

Michael Rua was born on 9th June 1837, the last of nine children. He entered Don Bosco’s Oratory in 1852. One day Don Bosco told him: “We two will go halves in everything”. He was among the first few with whom Don Bosco shared the idea of forming the ‘Salesian Society’. For 36 years he was Don Bosco’s closest collaborator in the development of the Congregation. He made his first profession in 1855, was the first Spiritual Director of the Society at the age of 22 years (1859), ordained priest in 1860, first Rector of the college at Mirabello at 26 years (1863-65), Vice Rector at Valdocco, manager of the “Letture Cattoliche” (Catholic Readings), involved in formation, director of the FMA (1875), companion of Don Bosco on his journeys, etc, etc. At the explicit request of Don Bosco, Pope Leo XIII designated him to succeed our Founder and confirmed him as Rector Major in 1888.

Nicknamed “The Living Rule” because of his austere fidelity, Don Rua was also known for his fatherliness and goodness. As the numbers of members and communities increased he sent Salesians all over the world, showing special care for the missionary expeditions. In the long journeys which he undertook to visit the Salesian works in Europe and in the Middle East he was a constant source of comfort and encouragement, always referring to our Founder: “Don Bosco used to say… Don Bosco used to do it this way… Don Bosco wanted…”

When he died, on 6th April 1910 at the age of 73, the Society had grown from 773 to 4000 Salesians, from 57 to 345 communities, for 6 to 34 Provinces in 33 countries. During the Beatification ceremony on 29th October 1972, Pope Paul VI declared “The Salesian Family had its origin in Don Bosco, its continuity in Don Rua… He made the example of Don Bosco into a school, his Rule into a spirit, his holiness into a model; he made a spring into a river.”
His body is venerated in the crypt of the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians and his memory is celebrated on 29th October.

Blessed Laura Vicuna 1891-1904

Laura Carmen Vicuna was born in Santiago, Chile, in 1891. When her father died suddenly, her mother took Laura and her sister to Argentina. In 1900 Laura entered a school run by the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians. The following year she made her first Holy Communion and, like Dominic Savio, she made resolutions to love God with all her strength, to do penance and die rather than sin, to make Jesus more widely known and to make reparation for sins against him. When she realised that her mother was living in a sinful situation, she offered herself to the Lord to bring about her conversion; she increased her penances and, with the permission of her confessor, took private vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. Worn out by sacrifices and sickness she confided in her mother “Mummy, I am dying! Some time ago I asked Jesus to bring you back to God and I offered my life for you… Mummy, before I die, can I have the joy of seeing you turn back to him?” Her request was granted and she died peacefully on the evening of 22nd January 1904.

Her remains are in the chapel of the Salesian Sisters at Bahia Blanca, Argentina. Laura, whose life was a poem of innocence, daughterly love and sacrifice, was beatified on 3rd September 1988 at Colle Don Bosco, near Castelnuovo, Asti.

Saint John Bosco 1815-1888

John Bosco was born in August 16th, 1815, in the North of Italy. His father died when John was only two. All during his boyhood he knew little, apart from the poverty of a small farm. His desire was to study so as to become a priest, but disappointments met him at every turn. His older brother Joseph was helpful, but his stepbrother, Anthony, ten years his senior, was violently against the idea.

What kept him carrying on with his plans for the future was a dream he had had at the age of nine. It seemed to him that he was playing with his friends on the slope just outside his house. The boys broke into a violent quarrel, cursing and swearing. He tried to stop them punching in all directions. Then a “Man” was beside him saying, “No, not this way!” “Who are you?” asked John. “I am the son of Mary. Your mother taught you to salute her three times a day. “But what’s your name?” “My mother will tell you.” John noticed a beautiful Lady who said to him, “Watch what I do”. She stretched out her hands. The boys in front of them turned into a pack of snarling wild animals. John clung to her side. She put out her hands again. The animals changed into playful friendly lambs. “But what does this mean?” “Some day you will understand. Just now make yourself humble, strong and courageous.” The dream vanished. John awoke to the poverty of the Bosco farm.

Despite all the difficulties John kept up his good spirits. Some day he would be a priest for the boys. For the time being he kept the local youngsters together. He learned lots of tricks and magic to give interesting shows, which always contained some religious input and time for praying the Rosary.

Time passed and after his studies in the Seminary, young John became a priest. He still maintained his option for the young especially those in need and poor. It was on December 8th 1841 when the significant event took place. Fr John Bosco met Bartholomew Garelli, an orphan boy, out of work and an easy target for some swindler. He took care of him and soon many other youngsters were his regular visitors. Fr Bosco carried on with his valuable work in the outskirts of Turin, Valdocco, a place having a bad name. The school of Fr Bosco attracted more and more attention from all over the Italy and Europe for its successful method of changing young “rogues” into good citizens and Christians, just like in the dream. Because of the needs of the time, fast urbanization and migration to the cities, the needs of the society for education and social development were tremendous and Fr John Bosco would not certainly manage this himself alone. That is why, despite the anti-religious atmosphere of the time, Fr Bosco was encouraged to found a religious congregation of followers to continue his beneficial work. They were called “Salesians” after Francis de Sales, a saint who won people with love and kindness. Even today Salesians favour a special system of educating youth called “preventive system” based on the religious values of reason and loving kindness. The preventive system is characterized by not using any punishment, rather the educator accompanies the youngsters in overcoming their difficulties of everyday life. It is an excellent system of education and a very demanding one for any educator.

Fr John Bosco died on January 31st with the words: “Tell my boys I will be waiting for them in heaven.”