A loving, well-rounded personality
One witness who met Father Cimatti as a seminary student said:
"Father Cimatti was a man of great humanity who expressed love for all he came into contact with, members, believers and non-believers alike."
"Humanity" here has a broad meaning, including compassion, understanding, and affection, and especially the "love" that Christ taught:
"Love one another as I have loved you."
It should be remembered that, although Father Cimatti possessed a strong temperament and a great sensitivity,
he worked hard from an early age to refine his character, which resulted in him becoming a well-rounded,
humble, and loving person both as a human being and as a believer.
It was love that led to God
The testimony of many who came into contact with him and the authoritative judgment of the Church show that his love for his neighbor was "heroic."
Here, I would like to emphasize his rich humanity, or his love for his neighbors without discrimination.
In the testimonies, we often hear expressions such as "like a father," "a good father," and "he loved like a mother."
One Sister from the Society of Our Lady Help of Christians offered an interesting observation.
"Father Cimatti, despite being a man, showed more consideration and love for people than a mother."
Bishop Furuya of Kyoto testified as follows:
"He had such strong emotions that he wanted to embrace everyone, but he was also pure, wise, and strict with himself."
"His humanity was captivating."
"His love was spiritual, and it was a love that led to God."
Let me give you some examples.
Let me give some examples. At Valsalice, Father Cimatti also served as "attendant of the sick" for 20 years. At that time,
sick people were cared for within the chapter and were not taken to the hospital except for emergencies.
Because Valsalice had a large student population, someone was almost always in the patient's room.
Father Cimatti studied medicine and nursing a little, but even more than that, he cared for the sick with a great heart.
Those who were cared for by him when they were sick have left moving testimonies.
"Even his mother couldn't have done more than he did."
Although he was busy all day with classes, assistenzas, and music lessons, he would, if necessary,
spend the whole night at the sick person's side and the next morning be at work as if he had slept in his own bed.
The first group of Salesian seminarians in Japan studied philosophy in Miyazaki, but spent the summer vacation of 1931 in Hotokezaki, between Oita and Beppu.
One member of this group wrote:
"At the end of the summer holidays, one of us (Zanarini) contracted typhus. Until he was taken to hospital in Oita,
Father Cimatti nursed him like a mother, staying by his side all night, lying under him and supporting him
so that his body did not touch the tatami mat to ease the heat and the agony of the fever."
When he returned to Italy, Father Cimatti made sure to visit the homes of missionaries in Japan and inform their relatives of the news
and happenings of the missionaries.
These home visits were time-consuming and laborious, but they left unforgettable memories for the relatives. Such was Father Cimatti's love.
From Renato Tassinari's "My Days with Father Cimatti"
Cimatti Museum
Father Marsiglio
February 6, 2025
Go to the index page of Father Cimatti's life
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