After his death, St. Dominic Savio was interred at Turin’s Basilica of Our Lady Help of Christians (St. John Bosco’s later burial place). Nearby are many baby items left in thanksgiving: St. Dominic especially interceded for sick babies. After Dominic’s death, St. John Bosco dreamt the Virgin Mary telling him that the shepherds would come from the sheep – clearly, his order’s priests would come from his students. In 1854, he gathered followers to form the Salesian Order under the example of St. Francis de Sales, who emphasized the universal call to sainthood. While devising the order’s rule, he was attacked by devils – he would hear crying, his inkwell spilled onto his papers, and his desk would shake. But he received support from the Italian government and Blessed Pope Pius IX. In 1859, he and 17 followers formally established the Salesian Order and once he received approval from the Holy See, the Order grew to 251 members. In addition, a Salesian Family of Don Bosco grew to bring about the Salesian mission. The Daughters of Mary Help of Christians was a sister order established to educate girls, and the Association of Salesian Cooperators was established for laity to cooperate with the Salesians.
Spiritual Talk – Fr Ho talks about St. John Bosco (57)
