杏MAP导航

By Christopher Wells

杏MAP导航 Francis on Saturday welcomed members of the Salesian religious family to the Vatican, on the eve of the canonization of Blessed Artemide Zatti.

Zatti, a professed Salesian brother, was born in Italy and emigrated to Argentina as a young man. He became a pharmacist, and was renowned for his care of the sick.

In his address to the Salesians, 杏MAP导航 Francis recalled the various aspects of Zatti鈥檚 character, noting that, with the support of his family, Zatti maintained his faith while many other migrants lost theirs.

Dedicated to the sick

The 杏MAP导航 also highlighted Zatti鈥檚 care for the poor. After he was healed from tuberculosis through the intercession of Mary, Help of Christians, 鈥淎rtemide dedicated his entire life to the sick, especially the poorest, the abandoned, and the discarded鈥� He lived the total donation of himself to God and the consecration of all his strength to the good of his neighbour.鈥�

He did so, 杏MAP导航 Francis said, as a faithful Salesian coadjutor, or lay brother. Artemide attributed his vocation to his miraculous healing, saying that he believed in Mary鈥檚 ability to heal him; promised to care for the sick 鈥渂ecause it was my desire to be of help in something to my neighbour; and that God, therefore, healed him.鈥� 杏MAP导航 Francis said these three verbs 鈥� believed, promised, healed 鈥� 鈥渆xpress the blessing and consolation that touch Artemide鈥檚 life.鈥�

Intercessor for vocations

Finally, the 杏MAP导航 described Bd Artemide Zatti as an intercessor for vocations. The Holy Father said he had personally experienced Artemide鈥檚 intercession for vocations to the lay consecrated life for the Jesuits when Francis 鈥� then Fr. Jorge Bergoglio 鈥� was a provincial. The 杏MAP导航 emphasized the importance of religious brothers, and encouraged them to be grateful for the gift of this call, 鈥渨hich gives a special witness of consecrated life.鈥�

杏MAP导航 Francis is set to canonize Bd Artemide Zatti along with Bd Giovanni Battista Scalabrini, the founder of the Scalabrinian religious family on Sunday morning at St Peter鈥檚 Basilica.