The
Flight of My LifeThe
Flight of My Life
(from Familia Xaveriana)
was born at Parma, in Italy, very close to the Mother House of the Missionaries of Mary, the Xaverian Sisters. My mother belonged to the Christian women of the parish, and often frequented the various meetings organized by the Sisters, especially their foundress Mother Celeste Bottego. They would invite people to pray for the poor people the world over, and asked Our Lady to bless their children so that one day they might be with these people. From our small parish, we had a bishop, two Xaverian priests, two diocesan priests and various religious sisters.
I was only nine years old when my mother died, yet her memory lives on. My dad remarried, and I felt once again the love of a second mother in my family.
We came to know the various works of the Xaverians and other missionary families, especially when I met some of the missionaries from China. But there appeared, in front of my family room, a missionary magazine describing the need of missionaries in Latin America, and a seminary who was welcoming young men to journey towards the priesthood. That article was the “net” that Jesus threw at me, and “I was caught.”
Unfortunately, at that time, I had other plans, and I escaped from that “net,” and rebelled that initial call. I started to work as a mechanic engineer in one of the factories of Parma. In the evenings I would study for technical design. Because of a better salary, I moved to Ravenna, in a factory of over three thousand workers.
In this atmosphere I learned much about anticlericalism and communism. Yet the missionaries were considered in a different category, because of their involvement with the poor and their self-giving in difficult circumstances.
"Son, it is not an attraction, it is not a struggle… You have been avoiding and refusing the call of the Lord in these past three years!” When I exited the confessional, I was in tears!
Words of Padre Pio to Fr. Mezzadri
My goal in life was to form a family, but after a three-month relationship, I broke it off. I was not happy and serene in my life, but I did not want to take advantage of someone’s love to fulfill my expectations.
I also had a passion for airplanes, and dreamed that I would fly some day. While in Ravenna, I had the chance of my life to take part in a free aviation course. I received the pilot license, and now I was somebody in this world. Together with this adventure, came the call to serve in the Arm Forces, and I was enrolled in the air force, with the future goal of flying jet-planes.
It happened that I ended up at S. Giovanni Rotondo where a certain Padre Pio became famous because of his saintly life, his ability to read people’s hearts, and direct people in counseling and confession.
I waited three days so that I could meet Padre Pio, because of the number of people who wanted to see him and also because of my personal struggle. I took part at the 5:30 morning Mass, presided by Padre Pio. The church was full, standing room only, and the mass lasted about two hours. He did not speak much, but he stayed absorbed in his thoughts and meditations, focusing on the mystery of the Eucharist, with a particular reverence that all admired in him.
At the end of Mass, everyone approached the altar as he blessed the pilgrims with his covered-hands which held the stigmata. He was gracious to children, but he would get quite upset with fanatic pilgrims who would venerate him as a God.
After a quick cup of coffee, Padre Pio entered the confessional, where he would remain for hours, counseling especially the men. When my turn came, I shared with him my attraction of a missionary call. He scolded me severely: “Son, it is not an attraction, it is not a struggle… You have been avoiding and refusing the call of the Lord in these past three years!” When I exited the confessional, I was in tears!
As I returned to my dorm in the Air Force, I sat down and wrote a letter to the Xaverian Missionaries, asking for admission in the congregation. From that moment on, Saint Pio di Pietralcina protected and watched over me in the “best flight of my life.”
(From Familia Xaveriana
Newsletter of the Xaverians in
Brazil)