Thursday, January 23, 2025

Cause of Nino Baglieri Moves Forward

Diocesan Inquiry into the Cause of Antonino Baglieri, Volunteer with Don Bosco, Has Been Verified


(ANS – Vatican City – January 22, 2025)
 – On January 21, a communiqué was sent to the postulator general for the causes of saints of the Salesian Family, Fr. Pierluigi Cameroni, that the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, in a meeting on January 8, had certified the validity to the diocesan inquiry for the cause of beatification and canonization of the Servant of God Antonino "Nino" Baglieri. The formal aspects of the procedural documents and the consistency of the evidentiary apparatus: number and quality of witnesses, documents collected were verified.

Fr. Cameroni stresses that “this is a great achievement, the result of the work done with passion and competence by the members of the diocesan tribunal and by those who have contributed, in particular by the historical commission and the vice postulator, Fr. Gabriel Cruz, SDB.”

This stage of the canonical process was greeted with joy by Abp. Salvatore Rumeo of Noto, together with the entire diocese, the family of the Servant of God, and the Salesian Family of Sicily. The postulator general will now ask the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints to appoint a rapporteur to guide the preparation of the report on the virtues of the Servant of God, which will be drawn up by Dr. Lodovica Maria Zanet, collaborator of the postulator’s office. The diocesan inquiry was held at the diocesan chancery in Noto (Syracuse) from March 2 to May 5, 2024.

Nino Baglieri was born in Modica on May 1, 1951. After attending elementary schools and taking up the trade of bricklayer, when he was 17 he fell on May 6, 1968, from a scaffolding 55 feet high. Urgently hospitalized, Nino realized bitterly that he had been completely paralyzed. Faced with a very dramatic situation, his mother Josephine, courageously trusting in God, made herself available to take care of him personally thruout his life. This is how Nino's path of suffering began as he went from one hospital to another, but without any improvement. Returning in 1970 to his native town, after the 1st days of visits from friends, 10 long, dark years began for Nino, who didn’t leave the house and was lonely, suffering, and despairing.

On March 24, 1978, Good Friday, at 4:00 p.m., a group of people belonging to the Renewal in the Spirit prayed over him; Nino felt a transformation in himself. From that moment, he accepted the Cross and said his “yes” to the Lord. He began reading the Bible, especially the Gospels and rediscovered the wonders of faith. By helping some neighboring youngsters to do their homework, he learned to write with his mouth. Thus, he wrote his memoirs, letters to people of every category in various parts of the world, personalized reminders that paid homage to those who visited him. A tool helped him dial phone numbers and get in direct contact with many sick people; his calm and convincing word comforted them.

A continuous flow of relationships began that not only brought him out of isolation, but led him to witness to the Gospel of joy and hope. From May 6, 1982, onward, Nino celebrated the anniversary of his cross and, the same year, he joined the Salesian Family as a Salesian Cooperator. On August 31, 2004, he made his perpetual profession among the Volunteers with Don Bosco (CDB), a secular institute for men. After a long period of suffering and trial, on March 2, 2007, at 8:00 a.m. Nino Baglieri, rendered his soul to God. After death, he was dressed in a suit and sneakers, so that, as he had said, “on my last trip to God, I will be able to run toward him.”

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