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St. Dominic Savio died at the age of 15 in 1857 on the 9th of March.

Since he was canonized in 1954, his cult was alive and well in my childhood, promoted by the school sisters who taught me, along with devotion to St. Maria Goretti.

Though from a poor family, he enjoyed a loving Catholic home, and found himself in the Oratory of St. John Bosco to pursue his studies in preparation for the priesthood.

His piety was exemplary, sincerely devout, he also enjoyed mystical graces.  He was much loved  by his companions, and was a great influence in their moral lives, without being a prude.  For more on his life, Wkipedia has consise, albeit brief details.

I remember I envied Dominic Savio, coming from a good practicing Catholic home, living in the company of Don Bosco, being allowed to practice his faith and live devoutly without harassment or molestation.  My life was exactly the opposite.  I knew he understood that, hence my devotion to him.  I believe I have him to thank for my devotion to the Immaculate Conception, along with my rather early consecration to Our Lady under this title.

I owe St. Dominic many thanks for his intercession for me.  Even though his prayers did not change the circumstances of my childhood, I believe they were effective for my conversion later in life.

Blessed Laura Vicuna

Not unlike Dominic Savio, is the Blessed Laura Vicuna.  She was born in Chile in 1891 and died in Argentina 1904.  She suffered grave abuse from the hands of her mother’s lover after the death of her natural father.  She had offered her life for her mother’s return to the faith, which occurred after Laura’s death.  Her mother’s lover beat her so severely, partly because she had refused his sexual advances in the past, that she died eight days later as a result.  Catholic Forum has a brief biography.

How can the young remain sinless? 

How can young people today remain sinless and seek to live holy lives?  The example of these young saints is indeed very helpful, yet how will any kid know about these saints without a Catholic education, good Catholic teaching, or parents who not only practice, but teach the faith?  In many ways, my life is an exception, because I had the good fortune to be educated in Catholic schools when the faith was actually taught - therefore, this instruction and good influence was waiting for me when I returned from a sinful life.

Although I came from an abusive home with crazy alcoholic parents, and sexualized at a very early age, I nevertheless found solace in my devotion to the saints, the Blessed Sacrament and Our Lady, as well as frequent use of the Sacrament of Penance.  These things helped me through the confusion  of moral ambivalence that comprised my family life.  Unfortunately, having been seduced in high school, it was then I subsequently abandoned Catholic spirituality to find consolation and acceptance in a morally disordered life. 

In crises, the soul often turns to God, and it was this grace that occasioned my conversion in 1972.  Yet without Our Lady and the saints, especially saints such as Dominic Savio and my association with him as a child, I wonder if there would have been that sense of being ‘home’ once I turned away from my sinful life?

There are many children today who live in much worse moral depravity than I did.  Few, if any know devotion to the saints, much less know there are children saints they can identify with and emulate.  What will become of these kids?

(At my first Communion I begged Our Lord to let me die young, before I was able to offend Him by serious sin.  He never answered that prayer.  “Only the good die young.”  So that wicked song goes.)