A Fever of Life
In the hazy, golden light of an Italian afternoon, I found myself wandering the outskirts of Milan, my mind drifting back to the days when Andrea Aziani's fervor first lit up the streets and hearts around him. Growing up in Abbiategrasso, his life seemed ordinary until a chance encounter with Fr. Giussani set his soul on fire. This wasn't just a meet-up — it was a transformative clash of spirits, one that ignited a faith so deep that it propelled Aziani into a relentless journey of education and academia.
Andrea Aziani wasn't just a man; he was a force of nature, a whirlwind of passion that swept through every life he touched. Even now, fifteen years after his death in 2008 at the too-young age of 55, his legacy still reverberates. His friends, Gian Corrado Peluso and Gianni Mereghetti, have immortalized his spirit in their book, "Andrea Aziani, Febbre di Vita" (by Itaca publishing house). The title alone hints at an existence lived with an intensity that bordered on the sublime.
I remember his words, whispered like a secret mantra to a friend, invoking the fiery spirit of St. Catherine of Siena: "May someone fall in love with what he has fallen in love with us! But for this to be so, we must burn with passion for man so that Christ may reach him. The fire has to burn." These weren't just words; they were the very essence of Aziani's being. For him, Jesus was the all-encompassing love, the burning center of his life, and he was determined to share that love with everyone he met.
From the narrow streets of Abbiategrasso to the academic halls of Milan, and later to the ancient, storied cities of Siena and Florence, and even the bustling, vibrant life of Peru, Aziani's journey was a tapestry of faith woven with threads of unwavering commitment. His life was deeply intertwined with Fr. Giussani and the Memores Domini, a lay association within the Communion and Liberation movement that was dedicated to God while living in the world.
In the 1970s, at the State University of Milan, Aziani's presence was a beacon of hope and defiance against the oppressive forces of the ultra-left. The public sphere was a battleground, but Aziani's irrepressible desire to live for Christ shone through, his life a testament to an adventure of knowledge and a profound connection with others.
Aziani was a man of simplicity and humility, his spirit marked by an unyielding dedication. Picture him, sandals on his feet in every season, a long beard framing his thoughtful face, a beret perched atop his head, and a satchel under his arm. He was always on the move, ready to share flyers and his message with anyone who crossed his path. His life was characterized by action, always pushing forward but never against anyone.
When Fr. Giussani asked, Aziani moved first to Siena, then Florence, and finally to Lima. In Lima, he held several professorships and played a crucial role in founding the Sedes Sapientiae Catholic University. This institution, situated in a working-class area, aimed to uplift the less privileged through education. Thousands of students saw in Aziani not just a teacher, but a mentor, a father figure, and a fellow traveler.
"We owe a great debt to young people," Aziani wrote. "We have received much and we must give much more. The Church has educated us in this arduous but valuable task that is teaching."
Simonetta, a fellow student who now lives in New York and is part of epochalchange.org, reminisces, "Andrea was always interested in everything, always ready to listen and participate. I would meet him in the lobby in the morning, reading the posters, and ask him what he thought. He would respond, 'What do you see in it?' Then he would ask me what I was studying, and before I could answer, I would find myself running alongside him, trying to keep up with his fast pace through the halls where he always had to meet someone. There wasn’t a person who wasn’t important to him, not worth stopping to scrutinize even for a second, with his unfailing smile, always keen to grasp what the other person cared about."
His criteria for responding to provocations from those who did not tolerate a Christian presence at the university were striking. With Aziani, all of life was always judged through the lens of faith. For him, the problem was only one: to be present, not to go against something, but to live and affirm the beauty of Christianity.
Aziani's impact was so profound that at his funeral Mass in Lima, attended by 1,500 people, a student recounted how he ended his last lecture with, "always remember: love is stronger than death." This fever of life convinced Monsignor Lino Panizza Richero, bishop of Lima-Carabayllo, to open the cause for Aziani’s beatification just eight years after his death.
Andrea Aziani's life was a beacon of selfless dedication and fervent faith. His legacy reminds us that when we burn with passion for others, we leave a lasting impact that transcends time.
Written by the editorial team at Epochalchange.org, inspired by Giorgio Paolucci's article in the Italian newspaper Avvenire on June 6, 2024, and a conversation with Simonetta d'Italia Wiener.
https://www.itacaedizioni.it/catalogo/andrea-aziani-febbre-di-vita/
