Abbey-Roads2

October 5th was his feast day.

And I forgot until this evening as I prayed the rosary in the presence of his relics. 

Blessed Alberto Marvelli, died at the age of 28 on October 5, 1946.  He was hit by a truck as he bicycled to a city election meeting.  He had been elected as a town Councillor after the war, since upon returning to Rimini he was placed in charge of securing housing for the many left homeless and destitute by the bombings.  Alberto bought food clothing, bedding and other essentials for the poor.  Since early childhood he possessed a particular devotion to the poor, a habit acquired  from his mother.

At the age of 18 he became president of Catholic Action.  He had a lively devotion to Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati who also had pursued a career in engineering.  From his earliest youth, Bl. Alberto’s goal was to become holy, which he accomplished through a discipline of prayer and service to the poor, as well as fidelity to the duties of his state in life.

He is an excellent model for young men, especially those who have chosen the single state in life.  The Vatican has a brief, yet detailed biography on Blessed Alberto.

I often like to remind people that he was friends with the Italian film director, Federico Felini, when they were young.