Blessed Sacrament Brother
1885-1940

by Daniele Bolognini

The Venerable Giovanni Nadiani was born on 20 February 1885 at St Maria Nuova, near Bertinoro (Forli). He had an older sister and brother. When he was three years old his mother died and his father, an anticlerical republican who ran a grocer’s shop-restaurant, married his wife’s sister. After only two years he became a widower and married again. All three women in a Christian manner educated Vanitti, as he was called familiarly. He was a model lad, good and generous, being available at home, diligent at school and in the parish, where he showed a particular disposition for singing and was a fine soloist. After completing elementary school in 1898, he entered the seminary of Cesena, but this was not God’s design for him.

In 1902 with much suffering he returned home and set to work in the restaurant-shop of the family. Serious and kind, when he had free time, he used to read religious books and if he heard a bad word he would leave and make the sign of the cross. He used to like taking the horses to graze near a chapel of the Blessed Mother to pray and sing. His sister from the house would listen to his lovely voice. Deep faith enabled him to mature his will to be committed socially and he entered the Christian Democratic Circle of Prodezza, where he was appointed secretary, while he continued to reflect about what would be his destiny.

He thought about becoming a missionary and went to work in Switzerland in order to learn French and German. He became a worker in a chocolate factory until 1905, when he was enlisted for military service in Italy. He returned to work in Switzerland, but in the beginning of 1907, he was transferred to Rome, where he became a bar tender.

He was devoted to visiting churches in the historical center and one day entered San Claudio. The Blessed Sacrament was solemnly exposed while two priests were in adoration and members of the faithful came in and out to pray for a long time or for a few minutes. Kneeling down he understood that this was his mission. He got to know the Blessed Sacrament Fathers, who appreciating his great interior character welcomed him, not as a candidate for the priesthood, because of his age, but as a lay-brother.

He entered the house of the Congregation at Turin on 2 July 1907 and on 14 November began the novitiate at Castelvecchio di Moncalieri under the direction of Father Carlo Maria Poletti.

At the end of the first weeks, having followed an intense ascetical path, he began to write his “Spiritual Notes.” He decided to be consecrated in a nuptial communion to Jesus in the Eucharist, through the “Eymardian Vow of Personality.” His mystical insights, his passion for the Eucharist and the Blessed Mother reached the highest levels.

He was entrusted with the task of sacristan and the promotion of the Blessed Sacrament periodicals, while being available for every humble service. The Great War took him to the Front from January 1917 to the autumn of 1918 near Strassoldo (Udine), as assistant to a military chaplain. When he returned to community, he resumed numerous services, even being vice-treasurer.

In October 1931 he was definitively transferred to Ponteranica, where the Servant of God Lodovico Longari made him the infirmarian of the community. Though not having a diploma, but with being practical, he undertook the duty with kindness and generosity.

He earned the esteem of the doctors, who recognized in him a “really maternal care for the sick.” He set down his thoughts in “The Spiritual Maternity of the Religious of the Blessed Sacrament.”

Brother Giovanni was a contemplative of the Eucharist. He used to prepare his adorations, choosing the themes and afterwards noting down the spiritual fruits.

He set up a “Eucharistic clock” in order to be in communion with the various priests who in the different parts of the world were celebrating Holy Mass. In his “Notes” we find his true and radical spirit:

“Adoration is the most sublime thing. It is the time kept for our rapport with God; during this time, we are free from all commitments to place ourselves in an intimate relation and familiar conversation with God. So, we are no longer just workers, but ambassadors of the Church before God and very dear children of God. Adoration is an angelic exercise. Yes, indeed, by means of Adoration we enter into the same task as the Angels.” “Adoration is my little Mass. Oh, with what commitment I must celebrate it!… I must every time have a victim prepared for the offering. The best Adoration is thus what brings one close to the Mass itself; it is that at 6 a.m., namely, when I receive Holy Communion. Then I renew the deep Adoration of the Virgin at the time of the Incarnation, her loving thanksgiving, her immolation and her prayer. In all the Adorations I relive the moment of the elevation – consecration – immolation; I must pray for Jesus to want me to change, to transform me, make me a little Jesus, so that I may say: it is not anymore, I who live; no, no, but Jesus who lives in me! This is my Mass that I have the joy of celebrating 3 times a day. In all the Adorations although I do not really draw Jesus to my heart, it is He from His Sacrament who transmits to me His Divine Life, His Divine Spirit the Life-giver, Transformer, Formator of Saints, who are images of the Son of God. Oh! With what an ardent desire I must prepare myself to celebrate my little Mass! With what care I must prepare the Victim to be immolated with generosity for the moment of consecration!”

The daily life of Brother Giovanni, who since his novitiate wore a hair shirt under the scrupulous guidance of his confessor, could seem monotonous, but he said: “My life must be a continual Adoration. I must always unite contemplation to the active life, making ‘spiritual’ all my ordinary actions, in a way that everything may lead me to Adoration.”

He was fifty-five years old when the doctor found that he had a stomach ulcer, which turned out to be cancer. The Servant of God thanked the Sorrowful Virgin for “that little living cross.” He continued the task as infirmarian and with sacrifice did not omit to go to Bergamo on various assignments. On 9 September 1939, not without unbearable suffering, he went alone to the city on foot to visit a clinic. On hearing the unhappy diagnosis, he responded: “Deo gratias.” On 22 December he was taken to the main hospital and an operation was performed. He wrote a last letter to a confrere:

“Ask all to pray to obtain from the Blessed Father a miracle for me. So much love moves me! If then the good Jesus will wish otherwise, may he be likewise thanked ‘with joy.’ Help me also, dear Father, so that if I am operated, I may celebrate my bloody Mass as a true Blessed Sacrament religious, freely and joyfully allowing Jesus-Victim to complete in this his unworthy member His Passion and thus redeem me of my many sins! If then the Lord would call me… Deo gratias! The beloved heavenly Mother, I am sure, will accompany me.”

He died on 6 January 1940, the solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord. In 1957 the process of canonization began. When his coffin was opened on 8 November 1988, his body was found to be intact.

GOOD NEWS!

On 28 May 2019 Father Bernard Mauri, SSS, postulator of the cause, informed us that, after so many years of work and preparation, finally the Servant of God Brother Giovanni Nadiani, who was professed in the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament on 14 November 1909, is about to be declared Venerable. Brother Giovanni was born on 20 February 1885 at Santa Maria Nuova in the province of Forlì and died at Ponteranica on 6 January 1940.

At the Ordinary Meeting of the Congregation of the Causes of Saints on 21 May 2019 the Bishops and Cardinals unanimously voted in favor. We await Pope Francis’ signed Decree regarding the heroicity of the virtues of Brother Giovanni Nadiani, who will be henceforth officially Venerable.

Brother Giovanni Nadiani will be beatified if we succeed in presenting the proof of a miracle. To obtain this we pray with persons who are ill:

PRAYER

“O Most Holy Trinity, we thank you for the gift of the Eucharist, the font and strength of all holiness, and ask you to glorify the Venerable GIOVANNI NADIANI, who witnessed in humility and service the life of love springing from this Sacrament.  Through his intercession grant us the graces that we are asking from you.”

Say 3 “Glory be to the Father…,” to the Most Holy Trinity.

Pope Moves Eight Closer to Sainthood

Declarations of Heroic Virtue Approved

JUNE 12, 2019 16:20ZENIT STAFF   CATHOLIC CHURCH  

On feature2June 11, 2019, the Holy Father Francis received in audience His Eminence Cardinal Angelo Becciu, prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. During the audience, the Supreme Pontiff authorized the same Congregation to promulgate the Decrees regarding:

• the martyrdom of the Servants of God MARIA COLÓN GULLÓN YTURRIAGA and two companions, laypeople, killed in hatred of the faith in Pola de Somiedo, Spain, on 28 October 1936;
• the heroic virtues of the Servant of God AUGUSTUS TOLTON, diocesan priest, born in Brush Creek, United States of America, on 1 April 1854 and died in Chicago, United States of America, on 9 July 1897;
• the heroic virtues of the Servant of God ENZO BOSCHETTI, diocesan priest, born in Costa de’ Nobili, Italy on 19 November 1939 and died in Valcamonica, Italy on 15 February 1993;
• the heroic virtues of the Servant of God FELICE TANTARDINI, brother of the Pontifical Institute for the Foreign Missions, born in Introbio, Italy on 28 June 1898 and died in Taunggy, Myanmar on 23 March 1991;
• the heroic virtues of the Servant of God GIOVANNI NADIANI, converted layperson of the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament; born in Santa Maria Nuova, Italy on 20 February 1885 and died in Bergamo, Italy on 6 January 1940;
• the heroic virtues of the Servant of God ROSARIO DELLA VISITAZIONE (NÉ MARIA BEATRICE ROSARIO ARROYO), founder of the Congregation of Dominican Sisters of the Holy Rosary, born in Molo, Philippines on 17 February 1884 and died there on 14 June 1957;
• the heroic virtues of the Servant of God MARIA PAOLA MUZZEDDU, founder of the Company of the Daughters of “Mater Purissima”, born in Aggius, Italy on 26 February 1913 and died there on 12 August 1971;
• the heroic virtues of the Servant of God MARIA SANTINA COLLANI, professed sister of the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy, born in Isorella, Italy on 2 March 1914 and died in Borgo d’Ale, Italy on 22 December 1956.

JUNE 12, 2019 16:20CATHOLIC CHURCH