Seminarian and Martyr: (1931-1945)
His life
+ Rolando was born into a family of farmers in San Valentino di Castellarano, Italy
+ A seminarian for the diocese of Reggio Emilia-Guastalla, Italy, he hoped to one day serve as a missionary priest
+ On April 10, 1945, he was kidnapped by Communist partisans and after three days of abuse and torture was shot near Piani di Monchio, Italy. The day before his execution the commanding officer anticipated Rolando’s death by exclaiming, “Tomorrow we will have one less priest.”
+ Blessed Rolando Rivi was beatified in 2013
Worth knowing
Between 1943 and 1949, approximately 4,500 people were killed in the region of Emilia-Reggio by Communist forces, including 93 priests and five seminarians.
Quote
“Jesus Christ has made us into a kingdom, priests for his God and Father. To him be glory and power for ever and ever.”—Revelation 1:6
Prayer
O God, who have called us to participate
in this most sacred Supper,
in which your Only Begotten Son,
when about to hand himself over to death,
entrusted to the Church a sacrifice new for all eternity,
the banquet of his love,
grant, we pray,
that we may draw from so great a mystery,
the fullness of charity and of life.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
(from The Roman Missal: Collect for Holy Thursday—Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper)
~
Saint profiles prepared by Brother Silas Henderson, S.D.S.
And today we celebrate...