The celebration, held just over two years after the inscription of the Salesian nurse in the register of saints (9 October 2022), began in the middle of the afternoon, with an animated Rosary led by Salesian Brothers of various origins.
The central event of the day was then held in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, the Eucharistic celebration in honour of Saint Artemides Zatti, presided over by the Rector Major Emeritus, Card. Ángel Fernández Artime, and concelebrated by about 50 Salesians, including members of the General Council Fr Stefano Martoglio, Vicar of the Rector Major, Fr Ivo Coelho, General Councillor for Formation, Fr Alphonse Owoudou, Regional Councillor for Africa-Madagascar and Moderator of the next 29th General Chapter of the Salesian Congregation, several Provincials from Europe and the Rector of the community, Fr Francesco Marcoccio.
Before the sanctuary, in the pews of the basilica, there was a large assembly of the faithful, made up of Salesians of Don Bosco, members of the Salesian Family and pastoral workers at the Salesian Basilica of the Sacred Heart.
The Salesian cardinal began his homily by recalling his direct link with the saintly nurse over the years of his service as Provincial in Argentina, where he could get to know the places, the testimonies and above all the spiritual legacy of Zatti. Then the Rector Major Emeritus highlighted three aspects of the Salesian Brother saint to be taken as an example, in particular for consecrated persons.
First, recalling his life and vocation story and his initial desire to be a priest, in imitation of his spiritual father, he highlighted his ability to discern and decisively embrace God's will. "God brings us into life with his plans and his gaze for unexpected paths", Card. Á.F. Artime, noting how the experience Zatti had of disrupted plans happens to everyone sooner or later in life; but the choice whether or not to follow God's plans determines the fullness of a life: "We can also follow our own path, but it will not be the path of full happiness".
The second trait highlighted by Zatti's spiritual experience was his complete trust in God even at a mature age when the Bishop of Viedma, a Salesian, forced the closure of the hospital in which Zatti had worked for years, to make room for the new diocesan cathedral. It was something very hard for Zatti to bear, but even in this case he knew how to accept this from a faith perspective. "Only in faith can you find answers!" Hence the Salesian Cardinal drew a specific warning: "What is our life as consecrated persons for, if not to witness happiness to the world in entrusting ourselves to God's plans?"
The third element was the spirit of community embodied by Zatti: he who had many commitments and activities, who visited the poor and the sick in the hospital and often at home, who would have had every reason to be absent, “had branded in his heart the fact that for him, life as a Salesian and with the community was something precious. He was also a model of Salesian life in his choice for community."
The evening's celebrations then continued with a nice moment of sharing different testimonies in which various speakers, with different approaches and examining different aspects, spoke about what Saint Artemides Zatti inspired in them. Two young students spoke, a postnovice brother from the Salesian studentate at San Tarcisio, a Salesian from the Africa Nigeria-Niger Province, dedicated to Saint Artemides Zatti, Fr Ricardo Campoli, director of the medium-length film "Zatti, Our Brother", and Sister Benedetta, an Italian Sister of the Daughters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, the institute founded by Blessed Luigi Variara, who drew a parallel between Zatti and the founder of her Congregation in the spirituality of service to the sick. Through all their contributions, the various speakers made it possible to discover some realities of this "saint of the entire Salesian Family".
The evening's celebrations continued in the sharing of a fraternal agape.
https://www.infoans.org/en/sections/news/item/22710-rmg-the-salesian-family-celebrates-saint-artemides-zatti-together#sigProIdf56fbc321b