At the start of 1863, Don Bosco told the boys at his Oratory one of his many vision-like dreams, in which God would show Don Bosco the state of his boys, using various kinds of symbolism. This particular dream featured a ferocious elephant, injuring the boys who got too close. (Read Dominique’s FF #296."Don Bosco's New Year's Gift")

Nearly 30 years after this dream, one of the boys at the Oratory wrote a letter to Don Bosco’s successor, Fr. Michael Rua. This boy, Dominic N., was rather close to Father Rua, and his long letter included a reference to the dream of 1863. The letter is dated February 25, 1891.

After Dominic related the details of Don Bosco’s dream, he added that Don Bosco told the boys,

"If you want to know what part you played, come to my room and I will tell you."

When Dominic’s turn came, Don Bosco told him,

"You were one of those trailing after the elephant both before and after church services. Naturally you became a victim. The elephant flung you high into the air with its trunk. When you tumbled down, you were so badly hurt that you could not make it to safety, though you tried hard. A companion of yours, a priest, unrecognized by you, grabbed your arm and dragged you under the Madonna’s mantle."

Dominic relates that at the time of the dream, he was a model of piety and good behavior at the Oratory. It seemed strange that such a good boy should be seen falling so dangerously into the devil’s snares. But that is what Don Bosco saw.

In the summer of that year, 1863, Dominic had to go home because of poor health. When the summer vacation was over, Dominic did not return to the Oratory.

The following year, his father decided to send him to a shoemaker to learn the trade. After two years, Dominic went to France to finish training.

While in France, he had the misfortune to meet certain irreligious people, who gradually led him astray. In time, he stopped going to church, began reading bad books, and even found himself despising the Faith he had once loved so much.

After two years, he went back to Italy. But the old surroundings of his Faith did not stop him from reading bad books, and being drawn ever further from the Catholic Faith.

Submerged as he was in evil influences, still Dominic felt himself touched by the grace of God. Something within him knew that it all was wrong. He prayed constantly to God in the name of Jesus to lead him to the True Faith.

But he was gravely wounded by the devil, represented as the cruel elephant in Don Bosco’s dream. His evil companions and reading were the weapons used by hell, and though Dominic struggled to rise above it all, the attacks against his soul left him too weak to save himself.

Thus it was until the end of 1878, 15 years after Don Bosco’s dream.

There was a mission being preached, and many people flocked to hear the sermons. Dominic also went to listen to the good preachers.

It was refreshing to hear the truths of our Faith explained so well. The final sermon was about the Blessed Sacrament. Dominic had fallen so far as to no longer believe in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist.

But the preacher spoke of it in such a clear and convincing way, that, touched by the grace of God, Dominic decided to go to confession, and place himself under Our Blessed Mother’s mantle.

His soul was healed, and he forever after gave heartfelt thanks to God and Our Lady for this grace.

As to the mysterious priest in the dream who rescued him, Dominic later discovered that the missionary preacher who brought him back to God, was in fact one of Dominic’s schoolmates during his days at Don Bosco’s Oratory.