Saint of the Day: St. Artemide Zatti

Salesian Lay Brother (1880-1951)

His life

+ Artimede was born to a poor family in Boretto, Reggio Emilia, Italy, and he was forced to drop out of school at age nine to help provide for his family.

+ The family immigrated to Argentia in 1897 and Artimede worked in a tile factory and attended the local parish school, which was run by the Salesians of Saint John Bosco. Feeling drawn to the Salesians, he entered the community and professed final vows as a lay brother in 1908.

+ Artimede contracted tuberculosis while caring for a Salesian priest who later died of the disease. Although he was sent to a local hospital, there was little hope of recovery. With his friend and unofficial doctor, Father Evarisio Garrone, Artimede prayed to the Blessed Virgin under her title “Our Lady, Help of Christians,” offering to dedicate his life to serving the sick, if he could be cured.

+ Artimede was cured and worked in the hospital where he himself had been a patient, and he learned hospital management from Father Garrone. He eventually became the administrator of the hospital, but continued to care for the patients. Today, that hospital is named in his honor.

+ After years of service to the care of the sick and those in need, Blessed Artimede Zatti died from cancer on March 15, 1951, in Bahia Blanca, Argentina. He was canonized in 2022.

For reflection

“The three verbs believed, promised, healed express the blessing and consolation that touched Artemide’s life. He lived this mission in communion with his Salesian confreres: he was the first to be present at community events, and he inspired the fraternity with his joy and good nature.”—Pope Francis

Prayer

O God, who have taught your Church to keep all the heavenly commandments by love of you as God and love of neighbor; grant that, practicing the works of charity after the example of blessed Artimede, we may be worthy to be numbered among the blessed in your Kingdom. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.

(from The Roman Missal: Common of Holy Men and Women—For Those Who Practiced Works of Mercy)

Saint profiles prepared by Brother Silas Henderson, S.D.S.