Born in Turin on June 12, 1974, Fabrizio Boero lived his life in Canale, a town in the Diocese of Alba. His life was short but rich in spiritual fruits. He died at just 19 following a car accident and ten months in a coma, leaving an indelible mark on everyone who knew him. “Transparency and humility: this is the legacy he left us, along with his love for the Eucharist and the Madonna,” emphasizes Father Eligio Mantovani, the young man’s spiritual director. Let us discover more about this young servant of God.
A great love for the Madonna
Fabrizio’s devotion to the Virgin Mary was great, so intense that it had led him to join the Gam movement, the Marian Ardor Youth. He would leave a profound mark on the hearts of many young people in the movement. His great love for the Madonna led him to pray more than one Rosary a day. At 15, he composed a prayer to the Virgin, in which he asked her to help him become like her.
Hours and hours before the Tabernacle
From an early age, he would go to church alone to greet Jesus and pray to the Madonna. Later, he would always cherish solitary adoration of Jesus in the tabernacle. Friends looking for him would often see his bicycle leaning against the church; if they looked inside, they would see him absorbed in prayer. The Sacramentine nuns of Canale also gazed in awe at the very young Fabrizio, adoring Jesus in their church even when it was empty. Many young people belonging to the Gam movement have recounted how important adoration was to Fabrizio.
His “heroes” were two saints
Fabrizio was a humble, gentle, good, sweet boy. His life was a testimony of authentic faith. His role models, his “heroes,” were Saint Dominic Savio and Saint Maria Goretti. In the prayer he had written to the Virgin Mary, he asked her: “Grant me purity of heart so that I may become, like Maria Goretti, a small wildflower.” One of his friends spoke about Fabrizio’s faith, a faith that was never shouted out, but testified to with humility in everyday life. Because of this faith and devotion, he was mocked, and he responded by offering it to the Lord and praying for those who ridiculed him.
The rosary given by Saint John Paul II
When Fabrizio fell into a coma, three nuns who were fond of him went to an audience with Pope John Paul II to ask him to pray for Fabrizio. The Pope agreed and, through the nuns, sent a rosary to his mother so that she could pray and find courage. The rosary given by John Paul II was then placed by Fabrizio’s mother in his hands, so that he could take it with him to Heaven and pray it forever in eternity.
Many graces
The canonization process is in the investigative phase taking place in Alba. All the witnesses are being heard. In the meantime, many graces have been received through the intercession of the servant of God, some of them very important. We are now awaiting a miracle that can be legally proven.“Being committed Christians means entrusting ourselves totally to Him, aware of our nothingness, so that He may make of us according to His designs, so that we may manage to see Him in those who are close to us, in those who suffer, in those who need hope.” This text by Fabrizio Boero makes us reflect, challenges us, and invites us to an attitude of complete trust and abandonment to God. Fabrizio’s testimony is truly clear and inspiring, and he has so much to teach us. Did you know his story?
