The evening of the 1st of March saw the presentation of the book “On the wings of the cross”, edited by Don Giuseppe Ruta, with the Introduction by the Secretary of the Vatican State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone. The book compiles various writings of Nino Baglieri and important statements on his life among which are those of Card. Angelo Comastri and the Rector Major, Don Pascual Chávez.

The next morning, Sunday the 2nd of March, in the Salesian church at Modica, Baglieri`s birthplace, Mons. Giuseppe Malandrino, Emeritus Bishop of the Diocese of Noto, presided at the eucharistic concelebration.

At the end of the celebration, the Postulator General of the Salesian Family, Don Enrico dal Covolo, once again explained the introduction of a Cause for Beatification. The holiness of Baglieri was renowned, in fact, already widespread, and during the prescribed 5 years after his death, the Diocese of Noto and the Institute of the Volunteers of Don Bosco (CDB) intended to get going the canonical procedure for the beatification and canonization of Nino.

Nino Baglieri, a month before his death, attended the Spirituality Retreat of the Salesian Family in 2007 sharing his life testimony. An accident at work in 1968 forced him to live immobile in a wheelchair. As a paraplegic, he heroically offerred his life, above all to young people verbally and in writing (having learned to write by mouth), an extraordinary witness of faith, of joy and of hope. Already some special favours are being recorded, obtained it seems, through his intercession.

Among the others taking part in the commemoration, besides the Bishop, the Postulator and Don Giuseppe Ruta, were Liborio Scibetta, World Head of the CDB, with  some Volunteers; Don Luigi Tirrito, Parish Priest, and other Salesians from Modica; a Councillor from the General Council of the VDB and the local Community of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians.

Published 05/03/2008