Saintly Nino Baglieri is on the Path to Canonization for his Life as a Missionary Evangelist despite being Disabled as a Quadriplegic
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A quadriplegic named Nino Baglieri, is on the path to canonization. Servant of God, Nino, was a volunteer with Salesians of St John Bosco (CDB). Many faithful from the diocese of Noto and the various Salesian works in Sicily also took part in a moving and solemn celebration presided over by Bishop Salvatore Rumeo, Bishop of Noto, with several diocesan and Salesian priests.
Biography of Nino Baglieri (Antonino), Layman, Servant of God
Opening of Diocesan Inquiry: 03-03-2014
Nino Baglieri was born in Modica on 1 May 1951. After attending primary school he became an apprentice bricklayer at 17 years of age, and on 6 May 1968, he fell from a 17 metre high scaffolding. Admitted to the emergency ward, Nino was bitterly disappointed to understand that he was completely paralysed. Faced with a very dramatic situation his mother Giuseppina confiding in God, bravely made herself available to personally care for him for the rest of her life. thus began Nino's journey of suffering as he went from one hospital to another, but without improvement. Back in his home village in 1970, after the early days of visits from friends, ten long years of obscurity began for Nino, without leaving home, lonely, suffering and almost despairing. On 24 March 1978, Good Friday, at four in the afternoon, a group of people who were part of Renewal in the Spirit prayed for him; Nino felt himself transformed. From that moment he accepted his Cross and said his 'yes' to the Lord. He began to read the Gospels and the Bible: He discovered the wonders of faith. Helping some children who were near by to do their homework, he learnt to write with his mouth. And thus he began to write his memoirs, letters to all kinds of people around the world, writing personal holy pictures for people who visited him. He began to write down telephone numbers and got into direct contact with sick people and his calm and convincing word calmed them down.Thus began a constant flow of relationships that not only brought him out of his isolation, but led him to trestify to the Gospel of joy and hope. From 6 May 1982 onwards, Nino celebrated the anniversary of his Cross, He became a member of the Salesian Family as a Salesian Cooperator. On 31 August 2004 he made his perpetual profession with the Volunteers With Don Bosco (CDB). On 2 March 2007, at 8 a.m., Nino Baglieri, afer a lengthy time of suffering and trial, gave up his soul to God. After his death he was dressed in his running clothes, so that, as he said "on my last journey to God I can run to meet him."glieri:
At the Mass, in addition, all Nino Baglieri’s relatives were present, together with the Volunteers with Don Bosco, the Salesians in Sicily, led by the Provincial, Fr Giovanni d'Andrea, the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, Salesian Cooperators and the Volunteers of Don Bosco, together with the civil and military authorities of Modica and other regional authorities.
During the homily, the Bishop retraced and interpreted the life of the Servant of God. In particular, he focused on the salient features of his spirituality. He was looking for meaning, he asked himself questions, and Mgr Rumeo therefore observed: "To these questions everyone gives answers that conform to their faith that offers the light to see things in the right way, that is, how God sees them. And that is why we need prayer, to enter into a dialogue of love with the Lord. Prayer is the breath of the soul" he explained.
"Nino", Bishop Rumeo said again, "did not 'belong' to himself, he annulled himself in the crucible of the cross to such an extent that he was an instrument of salvation in God's hands. He spent his earthly day immersed in prayer and, in the silence of his soul, he brought all those he met to the bright Tabor of his life. Prayer for Nino was everything: despite his suffering, as a light that shines and burns, he was able to imbue others with the sense of true prayer."
Despite his suffering, he was a missionary of the Gospel, an apostle of everyday life. He married his cross and was chosen "by God for a mission of love. He responded with fidelity and love. How many young people, adults and families rediscovered the faith and given Christian value to their suffering by meeting Nino. The meaning of real apostolate is measured starting from the pain and participation in the sufferings of Christ!" said Bishop Rumeo.
In closing the homily, Bishop Rumeo addressed Nino Baglieri directly and said: "We are grateful to you for your evangelical teaching, because in your life we see the movement of God's grace that continues to speak to us of holiness."
The crucial moment was the solemn signing of the final minutes which established the end of the work carried out by the tribunal over these 12 years. During the last session of the tribunal, the 86th, presided over by Mgr Rumeo, was sworn in before the faithful, and eight packages of documentation were sealed and signed that will be sent in the coming days to the Vatican: thousands of pages of documents containing writings, letters, messages and testimonies of Nino and his life. At the beginning, Fr Ignazio La China retraced the highlights of these 12 years of intense work. Notaries Pietro Di Rosa and Daniela Vindigni were also present at the closing and signing of the minutes.
The folders were finally entrusted to Fr Cameroni, who will hand them over to the Dicastery of the Causes of Saints in Rome for the continuation of the Cause.
Prayer for the beatification of Nino Baglieri,
“Volunteer With Don Bosco”
We adore you in your mystery as the God of love
guide our souls, Shepherd and Father
safeguard our life, Son and Redeemer,
Holy Spirit, burning bush,
inflame our hearts.
We praise you for the epiphnay of your love
in your beloved disciple Nino Baglieri,
who following Don Bosco's example
took your Cross upon himself
loved Jesus in the Eucharist, Mary Help of Christians and the Church
and made himself a victim like yourself.
We bless you for your way of love
that urged Nino Baglieri to make such a gift
consecrated in the world, in the Salesian family,
ahe testified to the joy of Christ to all,
to the young and to those who were suffering,
so that our life might be more human.
We thank you for the fruitfulness of your love
in the great works of charity
that you accomplished in Nino Baglieri
to the glory of your name and on our behalf,
so that today we may be true Christians
and we ask you in all humility:
that this exemplary witness to holiness
may be recognised by your Church
Grant through his intercession,
the grace that we now ask …,
especially our conversion
that we may adhere with faith to your truth
and do not eveyr allow us to tire
of always doing your will.
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