Winter in northern Italy is
freezing cold. On such a day in winter,
after having travelled 14 kilometers, most part on foot,he arrived in
Alba from his village at about 9.00 in the morning. He
was hungry, tired and numb with cold, but he refused a
cup of hot milk offered to him and said: "I must first
receive Holy Communion".
As a young boy, he proposed "progress a
little everyday" as the programme of his life. He was
faithful to this resolution until death, progressing
visibly in virtue and in the mission.
At fourteen, stricken with a serious
illness, he gave this response to Fr Alberione when
asked whether he preferred to recover or to go to
Paradise: "my desire is to do the will of God".
While his companions concluded a triduum
of prayer offered for him, Maggiorino left this earth on
Saturday, July 27, 1918. His last words were; "Salute
all of my companions for me that they may pray for me
and that we might be united in Paradise".
"With the grace of God and the
assistance of the Blessed Mother, I want to become a
saint, a great saint, quickly." These were the words
spoken and written by an aspiring Maggiorino, convinced
that sanctity is possible even for the young. The
process of his beatification is going on in Rome. Our
saintly Founder presented Maggiorino to the Pauline
Aspirants as their model and patron.
