Cesare PISANO, (1900-1964) blind hermit of Divine Providence, from Pogli di Ortovero (SV, Italy),
died at Voghera (PV, Italy) on 21st January 1964, at 63 years of age, 42 of
religious profession and 52 of blindness.
Cesare Pisano became blind when he was only
12. A playground friend, accidentally, shot him in the face, with a rifle: his
eyes went dark forever. At first, he went through a period of desolation and
depression, to the point of losing his trust in God. But a religious sister
first and, subsequently, Don Orione, brought him to hope again. At 20 he
entered the "Paterno" (Mother House) of Tortona; at 23 he became a
hermit with “the task of praying", as the Founder told him.
Friar Ave Maria spent his life in seclusion,
penance and prayer in the hermitage of Sant'Alberto di Butrio (Pavia). Don
Orione referred to him as "a
beautiful soul: I would not be surprised if he performed miracles".
"The happy blind man" as Friar Ave Maria liked to call himself,
became an apostle to his brothers, physically or spiritual blind, through his
writings as well as his prayer. He wished to celebrate the "golden
jubilee" of his blindness, in 1962, inviting everyone to "a solemn hymn of thanksgiving to
blessed Jesus, who in a marvelous way knows how to change everything into good
for those who love him. You have changed my darkness into light and my sadness
into joy. You alone, oh Jesus, are my light and my joy".
Divine Intimacy, his humble and joyful
goodness, the wisdom of his words, the holy countenance of one who is absorbed
in thoughts of heaven, acquired for him the respect of many people in need of
comfort and light. He was blind, but it was enough to look at him - many people
remember - to realize that our poor everyday life and the decisions we had to
take, would become enlightened by his presence. He brought people back to
simplicity and to what is essential. You could tell that he was in constant,
heart to heart and transparent contact with God.
His body lies in the crypt of the hermitage
of Sant'Alberto di Butrio. A pontifical decree about his "heroic
virtues" of the 18th December 1997 means that the Church officially
recognizes him as "Venerable".
No comments:
Post a Comment