The widower and former Italian Air Force general who was ordained a priest at 68

After his wife’s death, Celletti eventually became a permanent deacon, and then the idea of the priesthood came up.

Antonio was born into a simple family – his father was a factory worker, his mother a housewife – and as a boy he took part in the Scouts. That experience would prove to be very important for his formation.

He had a happy marriage with Luciana, and their dream was crowned with the birth of their daughter. Shortly thereafter, however, his wife was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease that soon led to a need for dialysis.

Antonio and Luciana faced all the trials of the disease together, including a complex organ transplant operation and 20 surgeries. They were always by each other's side:

On November 23, 2006, Luciana died, an indelible date in Antonio's memory:

Fr. Antonio, barely containing his emotion, says, “Faith has helped me, because I’ve always considered her to be alive, and in fact I feel her close to me, and she’s here right now, together with us.”

When Antonio informed his daughter that he would become a priest, she was initially stunned, afraid of losing her father. However, she then came around and accepted it with joy. Fr. Antonio says, “Things that come from God always have a positive connotation. In the end she admitted, ‘I was afraid of losing you, but not only did I not lose you; I actually gained something.” 

His two granddaughters were also stunned at their grandpa's decision. Maria, his oldest granddaughter (9 years old at the time) had a sweet conversation with him: "But will you still be my grandpa?" "Of course." "And will I still be able to play with you?" "Of course." "Then that's fine." 

Fr. Celletti concludes his testimony by sharing memories of his first Eucharistic celebration:

The story of this vocation is a shining testimony to what Blessed Chiara Corbella Petrillo said: “What God wants for us is much more beautiful than anything we could imagine to ask for.”