On Sunday, September 27, Dehonian Father Martino Capelli was beatified at the Basilica of San Petronio in Bologna, Italy, along with Salesian Father Elia Comini and a diocesan priest, Fr. Ubaldo Marchioni. The three were martyred in 1944 in the Monte Sole massacres, which took place near the site of the beatification.
Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, presided over the celebration on behalf of the Holy Father. He was joined by 150 concelebrants, among them: Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, archbishop of Bologna, Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, Archbishop Antonio Sozzo, apostolic nuncio emeritus, Fr. Carlos Luis Suárez, SCJ superior general, Don Fabio Attard, rector major of the Salesian Society, and dozens of SCJ priests from around the world.
Fr. Francis Vu Tran, SCJ, represented the US Province (Fr. Greg Schill, SCJ, was also to have attended but was sidelined by a last-minute foot injury). Fr. Francis is pictured above, in the middle.
“The Pope called them [the three to be beatified] ‘pastores et boni Samaritani,’ shepherds and Good Samaritans who shared the sufferings of their flock ‘even to the shedding of blood.’” wrote Fr. Francis. “When their image was unveiled and the relics carried forward, the whole basilica rose to its feet. For those of us who share Fr. Dehon’s charism, one of our own had just been raised to the altars.”
Reflecting on the sacrifice of the martyrs, Fr. Francis wrote that “Few of us will be asked for our blood but all of us are asked for the daily offering… Blessed Martino, Elia, and Ubaldo, pray for us.”
Click here to read Fr. Francis’ full reflection on Saturday’s vigil and Sunday’s beatification Mass.
Click here to view photos and videos from the beatification weekend posted on the general Facebook page (DehoniansWorldwide).
Click here to read the summary of the beatification on the general website.
