Saint of the Month - March 2022: Saint Artemide Zatti

St. Artemide Zatti

Embodying "Living Medicine"

Feast: March 15th

I really like this month's featured holy person - St. Artemide Zatti.  Although he was a consecrated religious, his program of sanctity was comprised mainly of fulfilling his religious duties combined with joyful service to the sick-poor; a no-frills, down-to-earth approach this author personally believes is do-able for all people who endeavor to reach Heaven.  Allow me to share his life...

Artemide born on October 12, 1880 in the town of Boretto, located in Reggio Emilia, Italy. Because of their struggles with extreme poverty, his family emigrated to Argentina in February 1897 hoping for a better life.  They settled in Bahia Blanca where our Saint worked in a hotel and in a brick factory in his early youth.  Providentially, the Salesians administered Artemide's parish and, under their positive influence, he was drawn to serve his local church as a Sacristan, as well as, became an active member with various charitable and social ministries.  In a short time he decided to apply with his spiritual mentors to become a priest, and was accepted into the Salesian house at Bernal as an aspirant seminarian.  He was 20-years-old.  

Things didn't quite go as Artemide hoped for, however, because he contracted tuberculosis from a young, dying priest he was caring for.  Back in his time, tuberculosis was almost always fatal so it was a precarious situation; he was sent to the mountain city of Viedma for treatment where he prayed fervently to Our Lady for restoration of health, adding a private vow that he would spend the rest of his life helping the sick if she cured him.  He recovered.

Another photo of St. Artemide

In 1903, Artemide's superiors assigned him to work in a pharmacy in Viedma's St. Joseph Hospital... but there was a minor setback to his vocation - because of his compromised health, he was no longer deemed a suitable candidate for the priesthood (probably due to the physical demands of the role).  Following the advice of his spiritual director, he switched his goal to become a Salesian "Coadjuter" instead, which is essentially a consecrated "Brother" in the congregation.  He professed vows in January 1908.

The turn of events actually worked in Artemide's favor because, as a Coadjuter, he realized that he had more opportunities and freedom to fulfill his earlier promise to the Blessed Virgin... and by all accounts, he did an admirable job doing it.  At the hospital, he not only took excellent care of the infirm but he also cooked, cleaned, and assisted with surgeries.  He was apparently so proficient at his job, he was made manager of the hospital and pharmacy after the priest who formerly ran operations died in 1911.

It should also be mentioned that while successfully running the hospital, Artemide fulfilled his religious obligations to God and the Salesians admirably.  In fact, each of his long days began with Mass attendance and the Eucharist, followed by prayer and meditation.  It was also common to see him zooming around Viedma's streets on his trusty old bike, making house calls to patients too ill to leave home or unable to afford hospital care; his days ended with more prayer and spiritual reading.  It was through this consistent practice of faith and charity that Artemide grew in holiness, while earning the respect of his patients and fellow Salesians.

The Saint (far left) in action

... and one more thing about this particular Saint - he was also noted for the immense joy he emanated and his sense of humor.  For example, I read somewhere that one of Artemide's customary morning greetings to his hospital staff and patients went something like this: "Good morning.  Long live Jesus, Joseph, and Mary!  Is everyone breathing?" 

Sadly, beginning in mid-1950, Bro. Artemide began exhibiting the first signs of a serious illness - liver cancer.  The disease progressed quickly and he died from it on March 15, 1951.  The  populace of Viedma, who the Saint had selflessly served for over 40 years, deeply mourned his passing with affection and veneration.  Popular devotion to the medic-religious never faded with the passing of time but only increased, culminating in Artemide Zatti's Beatification on April 4, 2002 and then his Canonization in October 2022.  His mortal remains are today venerated in the chapel of the Salesian House in Viedma, Argentina.

St. Artemide, pray for us!