|
|
|
Beatified
on 14-4-02
Early life
Artemides Zatti was born in Boretto, in the province of Reggio Emilia,
on the 12th October
1880, to Louis Zatti and Albina Vecchi, a farming
family. Since he was a small child he was accustomed to work and
sacrifice. Already by the time he was nine, he was earning money as a
hired hand. In 1897 the Zatti family, forced by poverty, emigrated to Argentina
to establish life anew at Bahia Blanca. Here Artemides began
to attend the parish run by the Salesians and became a helper to the
parish priest, Fr Carlo Cavalli, with whom he often shared work and
prayer. He felt a desire
to become a Salesian, and was accepted as an aspirant by
Bishop Cagliero and, by the time he was twenty, went to the Community at Bernal.
Tuberculosis - and a promise
He began studying in earnest to make up for lost time. Providence
entrusted him with assisting a young priest who was ill with
tuberculosis, and who then died in 1902. The day when Artemides was to receive his clerical habit,
he too contracted the disease. When he got back to the community, Fr
Cavalli sent him to the mission hospital in Viedma. Fr Evarisio
Garrone, with wide experience in the task, was in charge of the
hospital. Artemides, along with him, asked and obtained from Mary Help of
Christians the grace of recovery, promising to dedicate
his entire life to looking after the sick.
Responsibility for the pharmacy
He recovered and kept his promise. At first he began to look after the
pharmacy attached to the hospital, where he learned how Fr Garrone worked:
only those who could need pay. When Fr Garrone died, he took on the
entire resposibility. In 1908 he made his perpetual profession. He was
completely dedicated to the sick. People sought him out and admired
him. For the personnel at the hospital he was not only an excellent
director, but an excellent
Christian above all.
A day in the life of...
This is how his day was spent: “At 4.30 he was
already up. Meditation and Mass. Visit to all the sick. Then on his bike he would
head out to visit the sick around the city. After lunch he would play
an enthusiastic game
of bocce with those who were recovering. From 2 pm till
6 pm he would visit those in the hospital again as well as those
outside. Then until 8 pm he would work in the pharmacy.
Then back to the hospital again. Until 11 pm he
would study medicine, and finally, some spiritual reading. Then he
would rest but was always available for anyone who called for
help”.
An exemplary Salesian Brother
He gained his diploma
as a nurse. In 1913 he led the construction of the new hospital then,
much to his displeasure, it was demolished. Without being discouraged
he started out afresh. Like Don Bosco, Providence was his first
and certain entry in any of the accounting he had to do. Mary Help of
Christians never abandoned him. When Don Bosco was dreaming of his
Salesian Brothers, he certainly wanted them to be holy
like Artemides. In 1950, he fell on the stairs and was confined to bed.
Death
After some months signs of cancer showed up. He breathed his last on
the 15th March 1951.
John Paul II declared him Beatified on the 14thApril 2002. His body is
laid to rest in the Salesian chapel at Viedma.
|
