5500(II)_A Good Samaritan in Salesian Style - Brother Artemide Zatti

5500(II)_A Good Samaritan in Salesian Style - Brother Artemide Zatti

November 03, 2020

By our own correspondent


Salesian world, 3 November 2020 -- Some 44 years ago a Jesuit provincial in Argentina, Fr Jorge Maria Bergoglio, asked his confreres to pray through the intercession of Salesian Brother Artemide Zatti to obtain more new Jesuit Brother vocations. And already in those times, Brother Zatti 'did the miracles' and the Jesuits, a few years later, had dozens of solid Brothers in their province.


Yes, Blessed Artemide Zatti is not just an 'asset' of the Salesian Family, he is among those many Saints - Blesseds - Venerables - declared by the Universal Church as models we follow and as our intercessors on our journey in this world.


November 13, the liturgical memory of Brother Artemide Zatti is coming up. Maybe it's a good chance for personal or community novena prayer for new Salesian Brother vocations. We already have many tools at hand (see Boscolink) including a Quiz, Biography, short movie and many photos. Blessed Artemide Zatti, pray for us!


Short life-sketch of Blessed Artemide Zatti:

  • 1880: Born in Boretto (Italy) three children, mother Albina Vecchi, father Luigi Zatti
  • 1887: Sacrament of confirmation
  • 1886: Elementary school (3 years only) in Boretto, while already working in the farm
  • 1889: Working experience in one well-off family
  • 1897: Migration - whole family moved to Argentina, settled in Bahia Blanca (Patagonia)
  • 1897: Works in a brick factory, Fr. Carlo Cavalli, parish priest becomes his spiritual guide
  • 1900: Enters Salesian Aspirantate in Bernal (Buenos Aires), senior than his companions
  • 1902: Assists a young priest, TB patient and gets TB during his prenovitiate, sent to Viedma
  • 1902: Fr Evasio Garrone, parish priest-doctor in Viedma, director of the only Patagonia hospital of San Jose takes medical care of Zatti; here meets also Ceferino Namuncura
  • 1904: After a promise to Our Lady, Zatti is healed of TBC
  • 1906: Novitiate started as Salesian (Lay) Brother (Coadjutor)
  • 1908: First profession
  • 1911: Final profession
  • 1911: Fr Evasio Garrone dies, his pharmacy entrusted to Zatti, then slowly the hospital, too
  • 1914: Zatti becomes an Argentina citizen
  • 1915: Zatti becomes officially the Viedma, San José hospital Director
  • 1916: Zatti’s father Luigi passed away in Bahia Blanca
  • 1917: Zatti gets the official pharmacy, professional nurse license (distance course La Plata)
  • 1925: Zatti’s brother Eliseo passed away, FMA’s arrive to Viedma, taking care of women
  • 1934: Zatti participates in DB Canonization in Italy as province Salesian Brothers delegate
  • 1935: Bishop Nicolas Esandi is consecrated in Viedma, hospital would become his Curia
  • 1941: San Jose hospital is demolished and transferred to the Agricultural school San Isidro
  • 1947: Zatti ends the hospital administration responsibility
  • 1950: Zatti falls from the ladder, discovered advanced liver cancer
  • 1951: Zatti treated in Bahia Blanca, then transferred in his hospital, dies on March 15
  • 1976: Argentina Jesuit Provincial Jorge Mario Bergoglio requests to pray through Zatti's intercession for Brother's vocations
  • 1980: Viedma bishop Miguel Esteban Hesayne, introduces the Cause of Beatification
  • 1980: Salesian Carlo Alberto Bosio is healed through the intercession of Artemide Zatti
  • 1982: Conclusion of the diocesan process
  • 1997: Zatti becomes a Venerable
  • 2001: Pope John Paul II approves the decree of the miracle
  • 2002: Pope John Paul II proclaims Artemide Zatti a Blessed

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