Hong Shui - Vatican News
Angiolino Bonetta was born in Cigole, province of Brescia, Italy on September 18, 1948 and died on January 22, 1963. An active but virtuous boy, Angiolino excelled in school subjects and excelled in sports. He has always attended Mass since he was 5 years old.
The "little hero" sacrificed himself to pray for the conversion of sinners
When he started having knee pain, Angiolino thought it might be due to playing sports. But when the boy began to thin and lose weight, his mother took him to the hospital for a check-up. He was diagnosed with bone cancer, received chemotherapy, and doctors were forced to amputate one of his legs. Even though he was only 12 years old, Angiolino acted like a little hero. Those close to the boy understood where he drew his light and strength. Angiolino read stories of Fatima's teenagers who saw Our Lady in 1917 and, at Our Lady's invitation, offered their prayers and sacrifices for the conversion of sinners. Angiolino wanted to imitate those children and pray. "Lord, I give you all to pray for sinners, but now help me."
While being transported to the operating room, a nun asked the boy: "Angolino, have you thought about offering your suffering to pray for someone?". The boy replied, "Yes. I have given everything to Jesus to pray for the conversion of sinners." One woman expressed pity when she saw Angiolino walking painfully on crutches, he said: "But don't you know that every step I take can save a soul?"
Center of Suffering Volunteers
The morning after the surgery, Angiolino gave the surgeon who had performed her surgery a bouquet of red roses and said with a smile: “These flowers are given to you to thank you for all that you have done for me. ". Angiolino spent many days in the hospital, praying and doing good things for the sick. It was in those days that he came to know the "Center for Volunteers suffering from the diocese" and understood that a The sick must offer their sufferings to God, for the sake of others, with joy and courage.
"What God asks is never too much"
It was Angiolino who comforted family members. He said to his mother: "Mom, don't be afraid, what God asks is never too much, I feel strong." During a retreat, Angiolino met Monsignor Luigi Novarese, founder of the association Center of Suffering Volunteers, the Silent Workers of the Cross, the union of priests of Mary and the Brothers of the Poor. . Monsignor Novarese was beatified in May 2013. There was a profound spiritual dialogue between him and Angiolino. He asked: "Angiolino, why do you want to go to Lourdes?" The boy replied, "To ask Our Lady to heal." "And why do you want to be healed?" "To be with my father and work for the sick."
Find solace in Our Lady
While sick, Angiolino discovered the beauty of prayer and learned to turn to Our Lady with the Rosary. The boy attached himself to the rosary, prayed and invited everyone to pray.
When the cancer metastasized, increasing the pain, Angiolino ran to seek the comfort of the Virgin Mary and received Holy Communion daily. The boy clutched a crucifix and other holy objects, including a relic of Saint Bernadette of Lourdes. He spent the night praying the rosary for other patients with mental and physical ailments. He was consecrated to God in the Silent Workers of the Cross. He wrote to the members of the association: “Ever since I joined the Silent Workers, God has given me a storm of grace, until now I have not known. I feel as strong as a lion and I sing from morning to night”.
On the night of January 28, 1963, when he looked at his mother and the statue of Our Lady of Lourdes for the last time, Angiolino's soul flew to heaven, after a long time of suffering.
Covenant with Our Lady
In Angiolino's biography, it is reported that the day before his death, Angiolino said to his mother: "I have signed a covenant with Our Lady. When the time comes, Mother will come and take you away. I asked you to let me do penance in this world, not in the next. When you die, you will immediately fly straight to heaven.”
The beatification of the teenager Angiolino began in 1999.
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