Feast day of Saint Francis of Assisi
Father Cimatti became a Salesian at the age of 17, having completed his novitiate in the Salesian Congregation.
While most people make probationary vows for one or three years, Vincenzo immediately made perpetual vows.
The day of his vows was October 4, 1896, the same day the Catholic Church commemorates the feast of Saint Francis of Assisi.
Father Cimatti later came to Japan in 1926 at the age of 46. The very next year, in 1927, the Franciscan Order celebrated the 700th anniversary of the death of St. Francis of Assisi on Amami Oshima in Kyushu.
To mark the occasion, the Franciscan Order wanted to hold an unusual event, so they came up with the idea of a music concert and invited Father Cimatti, a missionary and musician who lived in a neighboring prefecture.
Father Cimatti gave his first music concert on this occasion, which made him famous, and he would later perform more than 2,000 concerts throughout Japan at the time.
Father Cimatti and Saint Francis of Assisi
Thus, twice, Saint Francis of Assisi came into contact with Father Cimatti's life.
Was it a coincidence?
What is certain is that there are many similarities between the two.
St. Francis is a saint well known in the Catholic world for his love of nature, singing, friendship with others, humility, joy and prayer.
These are qualities we also see in Father Cimatti.
Father Cimatti earned a PhD in physics and biology at a young age and taught these subjects in both Italy and Japan.
He and his students collected living organisms, fossils, insects, and other materials,
believing that the wonders of God could be seen in the order of the natural world.
「Allegro, sempre allegro」
Father Cimatti was a born musician and a man of great sensitivity.
He once said, "Just meeting people makes me like them and makes me want to compose music for them."
He truly believed that he could see the image of God in people.
Although Father Cimatti had been in a position of leadership for many years, he had tried to resign from his position many times, saying,
"I am not the kind of person who can give orders."
When speaking to people and saying goodbye, he would always say the words that had become his catchphrase: "Allegro, sempre allegro" - "Rejoice, rejoice."
And who doesn't remember Father Cimatti praying?
I will never forget the sight of him visiting the tabernacle of the church early in the morning and several times throughout the day with a rosary in his hand,
and devoting himself before it...the way he lived his life forever for God.
Cimatti Museum
Father Marsiglio
June 6, 2024
Go to the index page of Father Cimatti's life
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