Saint of the Day: Bl. Rolando Rivi

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.

For prayer and reflection

“Hail to you, our King;

you alone are compassionate with our errors.”—Verse before the Gospel for Wednesday of Holy Week

Prayer

O God, who willed your Son to submit for our sake

to the yoke of the Cross,

so that you might drive from us the power of the enemy,

grant us, your servants, to attain the grace of the resurrection.

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: Collect for Wednesday of Holy Week)

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