"PRIEST OF THE LAST - PRIEST OF THE FIRST"
On Friday, September 18 – in Regoledo, Valtellina (Italy) – took place the funeral of Don Roberto Malgesini, killed Tuesday morning in Como [by a man suffering from psychiatric problems whom Don Roberto was helping].
In his grief over this absurd death, a friend of the deceased priest wrote a few lines about a good man who was killed on the day [September 15] when the Church remembers Mary at the foot of the cross, a scene so similar to the many poor people he took in: "He did not judge them, nor criticize them, nor use them; he took care of the 'uncomfortable' and the most fragile."
"There is a family in Valtellina, in the town of Regoledo, that mourns a son, a brother, an uncle, a nephew, a cousin, a friend. Our thoughts and prayers go out to them: Mama Ida, Papa Bruno, his brothers Mario, Caterina, Enrico.
There are many families in Gravedona, Lipomo, Como and throughout the diocese who are mourning a father, a friend, a brother." This is how Don Roberto Secchi's letter begins, marking the day of the final farewell of Don Roberto Malgesini, the "street priest" killed in Como.
"There are – writes Don Roberto Secchi – the poor, the forgotten, the "bad" who have lost that shoulder to cry on, one of the few that remain, capable of making them feel the warmth of that humanity that we all so badly need.
Many voices were heard during these hours, slogans and definitions of Don Roberto, but we must not forget that he was killed on the very day [September 15] that the Church remembers Mary at the foot of the cross: one of the most solitary and silent days of the Gospel; and it could not be otherwise because Don Roberto spent his entire life at the foot of the crosses of so many men and women who were tormented in body and spirit.
He reminds us that the cross is not on display, it is not a trophy, because the cross is carried or embraced, and he embraced dirty and uncomfortable crosses throughout his years of priesthood. He did not judge them, he did not criticize them, he did not use them, he did not step aside, he bowed every day, in concealment and humility, and he cared for the "uncomfortable" and the most fragile."
"He is defined as the priest of the last; but I prefer to call him the priest of the first, because he has understood that the last in line for the world are and always will be the first before God. Servant in life, servant in death, servant out of love."
"Don Roberto Malgesini – his friend continues – is defined as the priest of the last.
I prefer to call him the priest of the first, because he understood that the last in the eyes of the world are and always will be the first before God: Servant in life, servant in death, servant for love.
Those who knew him know that in the light of what happened, and whatever instrumental use some people might want to make of it, he would slip away, smile, raise his shoulders and, with his hands folded behind his back, set out again for those places and those streets where the many crucified of history and life demand to be heard, under-stood and dignified; and to the question: "Why are you doing this?" his answer remains the same: "In them there is Jesus".
"Today – Don Roberto Secchi stresses – his death hits the headlines, but stronger resonates the echo of love. Those who speak only of the felled tree do not realize that the greatest sign of these days is the forest of kindness and welcome that he had sown in recent years, and which is now germinating. And this city of Como, as well as the whole Church, seem to have awakened from little or great evil; and suddenly a ray of light allows us to see the first branches appearing and touching us with the delicacy of Don Roberto, reminding us of the words spoken by Jesus, the true Samaritan: "Go and do likewise."
Yes, Don Roberto, it seems to me that I see you and hear you say: "Come on, what's the problem? Go and do the same, Jesus is there".
Will I do it, will we be able to do it?".
(From Vatican News Website of September 18, 2020)
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