Messina, the archbishop opens the cause of beatification and canonization on the life of Don Antonio Musumeci

John

By John

Among the figures of holiness of the local church who deserve to be known is that of the priest Antonio Musumecivictim of the Nazi soldiers. For this reason, Archbishop Giovanni Accolla announced his intention to start the cause of beatification and canonization on the life, martyrdom and fame of martyrdom of the Servant of God Don Musumeci, establishing and electing Msgr. Giò Tavilla postulator. Born in Aci S. Antonio on 15 December 1899, Musumeci was ordained a priest on 11 April 1925 by the bishop of Acireale Fernando Cento and subsequently requested for the archdiocese of Messina. Appointed parish priest of the S. Maria delle Grazie community in S. Alessio Siculo, he exercised his priestly ministry in an atmosphere of priestly brotherhood with his other brothers, distinguishing himself for his zeal and charity, particularly towards the most vulnerable. The outbreak of the war saw Don Musumeci among his people, alongside those who could not leave the country due to poverty, physical problems or advanced age, even though the majority of the faithful of his community had found refuge in other places. For each of them he offered himself in the administration of the sacraments, in pastoral life and in concrete charity, even going to find food in the nearby countryside for the poorest. The highest proof of his ministry was given on the morning of 14 August 1943 when, taking the defense of some faithful attacked by the Nazi soldiers during their retreat, he was first wounded by a grenade used to raid the rectory and then finished from two gunshots to the head. “I want to start the diocesan investigation convinced of the testimony of charity and the continuing reputation for sanctity of this priest, especially in the territories where he carried out his ministry,” said Mgr. He accepts inviting the faithful to “send to the postulation, within two months, all the information from which it is possible to acquire elements favorable or contrary to his reputation for martyrdom”.