I guarantee you can't guess the ending of today's story. We read about Blessed Alberto Marvelli, who gave it all. We read about him in the book In Caelo et in Terra. He was a smart young man, and one of six children in a good Italian family. He studied engineering and graduated in 1941. Then the whole world changed. He and his family moved to a safer city, but he rode his bicycle back to his home town and brought food and help to those in need due to the war. He gave away everything - his jacket, his shoes, even his bicycle and walked home.
He saw what the Nazis were doing, and volunteered to JOIN the Nazis so he could learn what they were up to and save many people from death, helping Jewish people leave the country and using his stamp of approval as a Nazi engineer to save lives. The Nazis finally realized what he was doing and arrested him. In a brilliant move, he slipped his stamp of approval into a friend's pocket when he pretended to hug him goodbye. His friend used the stamp to secure Alberto's freedom.
Alberto was riding another bicycle down the road one day when he was 28 years old, and was struck by a passing car and died.
You thought since he fought the Nazis and the title says he gave it all, that he was killed by the Nazis, didn't you? Well, God is good at surprising us. And Blessed Alberto Marvelli was surprised the day that God brought him home. You can read more about him here.
But we can learn from his example. He gave the literal jacket off his back, the shoes off his feet, and the bicycle he used to get around to those who were in need. His example challenges us today to do more to help those who need help. What can you give up today to help those who suffer?
God, thanks for the inspiring example of this young man. Blessed Alberto Marvelli, pray for us.
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