St Edbert, St Dominic Savio

St Edbert

Bishop of Lindisfarne. Bede described this seventh century saint as a priest of great learning, famous for his knowledge of the Bible, and for his great generosity.

He used to give a tenth of his livestock, fruit, grain and clothing to the poor each year. While he was bishop of Lindisfarne he roofed the wooden church with lead. He also built a new shrine for St Cuthbert. Each year during Lent he would make a retreat on St Cuthbert's Isle.

St Edbert died on this day in 698.

Many miracles were reported at his tomb and he was soon considered a saint locally. In 875 his relics were carried with those of St Cuthbert throughout Northumbria. His shrine was later at Durham.

and St Dominic Savio - moved from 9 March

Child saint. St Dominic was born in 1842 at Riva near Turin. He was one of ten children - his father was a blacksmith and his mother a seamstress. At the age of twelve he joined the school of St John Bosco where it is said he developed a spirituality well beyond his years. Under John Bosco's guidance he managed to avoid becoming a prig or a fanatic. He was known for his cheerfulness and friendliness to all. People would come to him for advice.

Once he was rapt in prayer for six hours. Another time he had a vision of a bishop 'bringing light to the English people'. St Dominic died of tuberculosis on this day in 1857, when he was just fifteen. John Bosco wrote his life story soon afterwards and this contributed a great deal to his canonization in 1954.

As a child saint, he has been compared with Aloysius Gonzaga and Maria Goretti.

Read more about St Dominic Savio here: www.salesianschools.com/post/i-spy-saints