Italy – Book presentation: "Don Silvio Galli, prete delle Beatitudini"

24 September 2020

(ANS - Chiari) - “I'm nothing but a poor priest, I have nothing but the priestly robe I am wearing. It amazes me too that all people afflicted with problems, sometimes unsolvable, turn to me. I give my blessing also to their families, then I send them away with the conviction that if they pray and do so with faith their problems will be solved.” These words, said by Fr Silvio Galli, introduce an intense and participatory evening dedicated to the presentation of the book "Don Silvio Galli, prete delle Beatitudini - priest of the Beatitudes", in an event held on Friday 18 September in Chiari (Brescia, Italy) at the Salesian Institute "San Bernardino."

Promoted by the Salesian community and the "Centro Auxilium", the initiative saw the presence of over 500 people, a sign of the interest and reputation for holiness that accompanies this Salesian of Don Bosco who was born in 1927 and died in 2012.

The meeting was moderated by the journalist Clara Campani, who interviewed and conversed with Fr Pierluigi Cameroni, author of the book and Postulator of the Cause of Beatification of Father Galli. Fr Cameroni offered a number of interpretations of the figure and work of Father Galli: priest of welcome and hospitality, builder of peace, minister of reconciliation, sacrificed for the good of his neighbor. Even as a boy, his had been a life marked by a profound spiritual experience, as revealed by the written request to be admitted to the novitiate, when he was not yet 15 years old: “Oh how much I desire this! This is stimulated by a mysterious voice that speaks to my heart, an even mysterious force that pushes me more and more to God, a great peace that tells me how beautiful it is and how much more beautiful it will be to serve God. I do not understand the greatness of this double grace that God has given me. However, I feel so unworthy.”

This "dream" that he wanted to fulfill came true through his words and gestures, which continue to be a strong provocation that shakes consciences, having wanted to share the poverty of Jesus with respect to a culture marked by consumerism and the search for exclusively material well-being. Without proclamations, with the eloquence of life, he made the evangelical choice to be poor and to serve the poor in the name of Jesus. The poor would remain his recipients until the end, against all forms of their being cast off, set aside, and indifference.

The evening ended with a moment of prayer and with the announcement of the opening of the diocesan inquiry into the Cause of Beatification on Sunday 11 October which will be chaired by the bishop of Brescia, Msgr. Pierantonio Tremolada. On this occasion the Rector Major will be present, signifying the esteem and gratitude of the Salesian Family for this son of Don Bosco.

As one of those present testified: “He was a great Priest, a true Father for all of us, in contact with him we felt his great love which he gave to everyone.”

Audio of the evening

Short video

InfoANS

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