Today we read about Blessed Carlo Gnocchi in the book In Caelo et in Terra. This remarkable man began suffering at a young age, when first his father, Enrico Gnocchi, and then his brothers Mario and Andre, passed away. His mother Clementina Pasta (I'm not making this up... his dad was named Gnocchi and his mom was named Pasta) raised him with a love of the church, and in his young 20's he joined the priesthood. He was a chaplain for many years, during World War II, and took the belongings and mementos of many soldiers to their families to remember them by. As he was dying at the age of 53, he declared that the blind children who were guests in one of the houses he'd begun for children with disabilities, should receive his eyes once he had passed away. Quite a remarkable saint! You can read more about him here.
His amazing and exemplary gift inspires us to find ways that we too can give to the poor and needy in the world today. What can you do today to help those in need? At the very least, we can pray for them.
God, thanks for the inspirational life of this very Italian man. Blessed Carlo Gnocchi, pray for us.
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