[8][9] The son of Carlo and Brigitta Savio, Dominic was born on 2 April 1842 in the village of Riva, 2 miles (3 km) from the town of Chieri, in Piedmont, northern Italy.

The chaplain also notes that Savio made good progress at the village school not merely due to his cleverness, but also by working hard.

"[16] John Bosco records that on the day of his First Communion, Dominic made some promises which he wrote in a "little book", and re-read them many times.

In his biography of Dominic Savio, John Bosco records how a local farmer once asked him, on a hot sunny day, if he was not tired from walking, and received the reply: "Nothing seems tiresome or painful when you are working for a master who pays well.

Allora, the head of this school, had this to say about Dominic: "...Hence it may very well be said that he was Savio (wise), not only in name, but in fact, viz., in his studies, in piety, in conversation and his dealing with others, and in all his actions.

He notes that Dominic was eager to go to Turin with John Bosco, and that he wished to become a priest after completing his studies in that town.

He would happily listen to talks and sermons (even if they tended to be lengthy at times), and would, without hesitation, ask for clarification on points that were not clear to him.

Don Bosco records that, at the advice of his confessor, Dominic renewed his First Communion promises at the altar of Mary at the Oratory.

Noticing this, John Bosco spoke to him and advised him to resume his customary cheerfulness, persevere in his regular life of study and religious practices, and especially not neglect being with his companions in games and recreation.

Clifford Stevens says in his biography of Savio, "In other circumstances, Dominic might have become a little self-righteous snob, but Don Bosco showed him the heroism of the ordinary and the sanctity of common sense.

"[33] In his desire to become a saint, Dominic attempted to perform physical penances, like making his bed uncomfortable with small stones and pieces of wood, sleeping with a thin covering in winter, wearing a hair shirt, fasting on bread and water, walking slowly during very cold weather to suffer more and pricking himself with a pen nib or needle.

[34][35] John Bosco told Dominic that as a schoolboy, the best penance would be to perform all his duties with perfection and humility, and that obedience was the greatest sacrifice.

[36] Thus, he formed an important aspect of his philosophy of life, which was, in his words, "I can't do big things but I want everything to be for the glory of God.

"[37] Don Bosco notes that from that time on, Dominic did not complain about the food or the weather, unlike some other boys at the Oratory, bore all suffering cheerfully, and practised custody of his eyes and tongue.

[35] Eugenio Ceria, a Salesian commentator on the autobiography of John Bosco, (Memoirs of the Oratory of Saint Francis de Sales) notes that by this time, owing to his experience as an educator, John Bosco's ideas on several pedagogical and spiritual principles were well developed and linked and this led him to associate the fulfillment of daily duties with holiness in his advice to Savio.

[38] The definition of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception of Mary influenced Dominic and he was anxious to create at the school a lasting reminder of this event.

On the recommendation of doctors, Dominic was sent home to recover from his ill health, but a few days later Bosco found him back at the Oratory.

Though Dominic said that he wanted to spend his last days at the Oratory, he accepted this decision and spent the evening before his departure at John Bosco's side, discussing spiritual matters.

[43] On the morning of his departure, Don Bosco notes that Dominic made the Exercise of a Happy Death with great zeal, even saying that this would be his final such devotion.

[44] In his first four days at home his appetite decreased and his cough worsened; this prompted his parents to send him to the doctor, who, at once, ordered bed rest.

[48] On the evening of 9 March 1857, after being visited by his parish priest, he asked his father to read him the prayers for the Exercise of a Happy Death from his book of devotions.

[50] One day, in the absence of his teacher, two of Dominic's classmates stuffed the room-heating iron stove with snow and rubbish as a prank.

[46] Mary Reed Newland, in her book, suggests that, since Dominic was yet to meet John Bosco, this incident is indicative of the upbringing his parents had given him.

"[35] John Bosco records that Dominic spent a lot of time with his friends, encouraging them in their devotions, discouraging those with a habit of swearing,[54] and teaching Catechism at Sunday School.

After hearing a homily on the Sacraments, he chose a priest as his regular Confessor, (to whom Dominic made his Confessions until the end of his stay at the Oratory).

[62] On another occasion, John Bosco records that he saw Dominic in the chapel, speaking to God, and then waiting, as though listening to a reply.

When the door opened, John Bosco found that within, there was a dying man who was desperately asking for a priest to make his last confession.

[61] John Bosco records that Dominic once recounted to him a vision he had:[61] ...One morning as I was making my thanksgiving after Communion, a very strong distraction took hold of me.

"That torch", said the one beside me, "is the Catholic Faith, which is going to light up England"At his last goodbyes, Dominic requested John Bosco to tell the pope of his vision, which he did in 1858.

[64] The veneration of Dominic Savio grew with an event narrated by his father:[65] I was in the greatest affliction at the loss of my son, and was consumed by a desire to know what was his position in the other world.