RISEN WITH CHRIST

 

As we get ready to bury our Argentinian Pope, we consider several young people from Argentina who are being considered for canonization The youngest, VICTOR SCHIAVONI was born on Nov. 24, 1977, in the Argentine district of Nogoyá, the oldest of five boys.

From an early age he showed a natural inclination towards the things of the Lord, he served as an altar boy at Mass and participated in parish activities. He attended primary school at the “Castro Barrios San José” College of the Franciscan Missionary Tertiary Sisters with good results.

Feeling the call to the priesthood from an early age, after much prayer, he entered the Minor Seminary of Paraná in 1991. In the three years he spent in the seminary he matured both in his studies and in his spirituality. He proved to be a wise young man, capable of working on his own defects to conform himself more and more to Christ, the only love of his life.

 He strove, following the instructions of his superiors, to resemble Jesus in everything, from the simplicity of his clothing to the most difficult virtue of forgiveness, which he always offered even when grave wrongs were done to him.

Victor was also very devoted to the Virgin Mary and, during a visit to the Virgin of Luján, on May 8, 1995, the first symptoms of the disease appeared. At first he did not pay attention to them, thinking they were something temporary, but as the pain persisted, he has some tests done, which at first yielded nothing.

 He was then diagnosed with leukemia, necessitating frequent hospitalizations at the San Martín de Paraná Hospital for radiation and chemotherapy sessions and for blood transfusions. His sanctity was not hidden from those close to him and his superiors themselves were strongly convinced of it.

Victor endured the disease with great heroism, never complaining, even when he returned from radiotherapy sessions and could not even stand up, remaining calm, offering his suffering to the Lord. Even when his illness worsened, he continued to live his suffering with great faith, instilling peace in all those around him, so much so that he aroused the admiration of the doctors and the staff who treated him.

Victor died on September 7, 1995 on the eve of the Nativity of Mary. Brought back to his hometown, after the solemn funeral, he was buried in the local cemetery, where the tomb is often visited by people, who entrust their prayers to the young man.

On March 28, 2023, with a rescript of the Holy See, the Nihil Obstat was granted for the opening of the Beatification Process.

Victor wanted to become a priest, but he did not succeed but in his short life, made up of ordinary things, yet he demonstrated a life which conformed to Christ, giving his whole heart to Him. Such a rare life in today's world.