Subject: 'austraLasia' #312, #313

Note: double-header - yet another Salesian Beatification; aftermath in

Madagascar

'austraLasia' #312

 

ROME: BEATIFICATION OF ARTEMIDE ZATTI CLOSE

(ANS) – At 11.15 a.m. on 9 March (commemoration of the death of Saint

DomInic Savio) the unanimous approval of the miracle was communicated by the

Medical Council. The miracle under scrutiny was the cure of Don Carlo Bosio,

present Provincial of Rosario, from a very serious case of septicaemia, when

a student of theology in 1980.

With the recognition of the miracle the road to the Beatification is very

near. He is the first Salesian Brother to reach this level.

The final word of the theologians and Cardinals is now awaited for the

reading of the decree and assigning of the date for the Beatification.

ARTEMIDE ZATTI (1880-1951) was born at Boretto (Reggio Emilia, Italy.) on 12

October 1880. His mother, Albina Vecchi, was sister of the grand-father of

the Rector Major Don Juan E. Vecchi. At the beginning of 1897, the family

emigrated to Argentina and settled in Bahia Blanca. It was here that

Artemide began to frequent the parish run by the Salesians, and he won the

confidence of the parish priest Father Carlo Cavalli who advised him to

become a Salesian Brother. He was accepted as an aspirant by Monsignor

Cagliero and entered the Casa di Bernal at the age of 20.

Among other things, Zatti was asked to take care of a young salesian priest

suffering from tuberculosis who later died in 1902. Artemide himself

contracted the disease which was considered to be incurable in those days.

Therefore, he was sent to the hospital of San Josè. Here he was closely

followed up by Father Evarisio Garrone, the unofficial doctor. Along with

him, Zatti asked and obtained from Mary Help of Christians the grace of a

cure. On his part, he promised that he would dedicate all his life to taking

care of sick people. He kept his promise. At first he became involved in the

pharmacy annexed to the hospital. When Father Garrone died, he took charge

of the hospital. Hospital! It became the place of his sanctity. He was

totally dedicated to his sick people.

Special care was given to those who had rather humiliating diseases: he took

them apart <I think they mean 'aside'! JBF>, because he did not want others

to know about them.

In 1950 he fell down some stairs and was forced to take some rest. After a

few months symptoms of cancer were found. He passed away on 15 March 1951.

His remains are laid to rest in the chapel of the Salesians at Viedma.

Beginning of the Process: 22 - 3 - 1980

Conclusion of the Process: 14 - 12 – 1984

Beginning of process on the Miracle : 16 – 4 - 1998