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| (Angiolino consoling mother on the day before his death) |
Angiolino who was born at Cigole in northern Italy on 18th September, 1948 to a truck-driver father and tailor mother. He was described as a playful and mischievous boy during his early years but was very loving and virtuous. He excelled both at studies and in sports. But at the age of 12, when some pain developed in his knee, he neglected it and attributed it to his athletic activities. But when his mother observed him losing weight gradually and limping, she took him to a hospital for medical checkup. In the tests, he was diagnosed with bone cancer. Though he was a young boy, he submitted himself wholly to the will of God and endured willingly all the pains while undergoing chemotherapy treatment and the amputation of his leg.
According to an account of his life in a book by Joan Carroll Cruz published in 2010 titles as 'Saints for the Sick', Angio always remained cheerful and accepted his pains and sufferings for the conversion of souls. Once when a nun suggested that he should offer up his sufferings for souls, he replied: “I have already offered all to Jesus for the conversion of sinners. I am not afraid; Jesus always comes to help me”...!
When people expressed sympathy on seeing him limping with much pain on crutches, he used to say thus, "But don't you know that at every step I could save a soul?" This shows the level of his spiritual maturity to know the value of 'souls'!
When the metastasis of cancer and medical procedures caused him extreme pain, he prayed ardently to the Holy Virgin Mother Mary and found solace in the Holy Eucharist which he received daily and in other Sacraments that were given to him. He also held a Crucifix always and a Holy Relic of St Dominic.
The nuns in the hospital observed the extraordinary devotion of this young patient and requested him to pray for other patients in the hospital who found difficulty in suffering their pains. And Bonetta spent many nights praying 'Holy Rosary' for other suffering souls.
Angiolino Bonetta was often found on his bed in silent prayers. 'Saints for the Sick' mentions that the day before his death, ie on 28th January, 1963, he consoled his grieving mother saying, “I have made a pact with the Madonna (Holy Virgin). When the hour (of my death) arrives, She (Holy Mother Mary) will come to take me. I have asked Her to permit me to make my purgatory on this earth, not in the other world. When I die, I will immediately fly to heaven.”
Let the lives of such youngsters of our time, inspire us and our young ones also. Let everyone realise the need to lead a holy life, because it is absolutely essential for all of us to grow in holiness, as we are called to become holy... "just as HE Who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do" (1 Peter 1:15).
