THE "NO NAME" BAND- ANOTHER HOLY TEEN

 

VENERABLE MATTEO FARINA was a young athlete and musician who played guitar and loved chemistry. He hoped to become an environmental engineer, but was diagnosed with brain cancer at 13 and died six years later. During his illness, he suffered with joy and continued to embrace Jesus as an ordinary teenager—between band practice and dates with his girlfriend.

Matteo was born in 1990 in Avellino (the birthplace of his paternal grandfather) as the second of two children born to Miky Farina (a bank clerk) and Paola Sabbatini (a housewife); his elder sister was Erika whom he was close to.

 In 2000, Matteo had a dream in which he saw St  (Padre) Pio of Pietrelcina who revealed to him the secret of Christian happiness, urging Matteo  to spread this knowledge to others. This dream made Matteo realize that he was meant to evangelize this secret in order to lead others to God.

Throughout his life, he had a deep devotion to Sts. Francis of Assisi and to Pio of Pietrelcina and would recite the rosary each day and read the Gospel. He went to confession once a week and often attended Eucharistic Adoration.

 He also had a devotion to St. Gemma Galgani and (Soon to be canonized) Pier Giorgio Frassati while the writings of Thérèse of Lisieux inspired him.

  From his father he acquired a love for music and he was trained to play several musical instruments by his father. He and friends formed a music band called "No Name". His friends would often refer to Matteo as "the moralizer" since he often spoke about God and encouraged peace. He also had a passion for chemistry and considered continuing his studies in the environmental engineering field. He also liked information technology during his time at school.

Matteo created a fund for the missions in Mozambique and deposited his savings there while urging his parents to replace Christmas shopping with sending something to the poor of Africa. 

In April 2007, he began dating a girl named Serena, with whom he remained until his death, once referring to her as "the most beautiful gift that the Lord could give."

In September 2003, he began experiencing severe headaches and vision problems and so he travelled with his parents and his uncle Rosario for a series of health checks conducted in Avellino and Verona hospitals before a two-week visit to Hannover for a brain biopsy the next month.

 On their return to Brindisi he believed his health problems were over but the tests soon showed an extended edema in the right temporo-occipital area of his brain with mallignant cells also suspected.

 Matteo had a severe seizure ten months later and found his vision was impaired. This forced him to go to Germany for a craniotomy operation to remove a third degree brain tumor in January 2005. He spent over a month undergoing chemotherapy in Milan and was able to return to Brindisi in April,  the day which Pope (St) John Paul II died.

 He had periodic checks until 2007 when it was believed that the disease was regressing. But this was short lived, as Matteo experienced the first recurrence in December 2007. In October 2008 he left for Hannover for checks in which the second recurrence was discovered, at which stage his mother felt it was appropriate for him to receive the anointing of the sick.

 Matteo had the first of three operations to remove the tumor on 9 December 2008 but his condition worsened. He returned to Brindisi on 13 February 2009 with paralysis of his arm and left leg (due to the operations) and began using a wheelchair in order to move around.

In late March he had a high fever which saw him admitted to the Antonio Perrino Hospital where he received an Easter blessing from Archbishop Rocco Talucci.

His doctors were unable to do anything more for Matteo and advised him to return home. He received his final communion on 13 April 2009 and died a week later on 24 April. His remains were relocated on 29 September 2017 to the Brindisi-Ostuni Cathedral at a Mass which was presided over by Archbishop Domenico Caliandro. 

His mission can be described in his own words : “My God, I have two hands, let one of them to be always clasped to you in order to hold you closer in every trial. And let the other hand fall throughout the world if this is your will… as I Know you by others, so let others know you through me. I want to be a mirror, the clearest possible, and if this is your will, I want to reflect your light in the heart of every man. Thanks for life. Thanks for faith. Thanks for love. I’m yours”.