Saint Who?
Saints Who Were Instruments of Healing
Saint Artemide Zatti
Religious († 1951) Feast: March 15
Artemide’s devout parents did their best to raise their eight children, but the political turmoil of 19th-century Italy made that difficult. Artemide had to quit school at a young age to help support his family. The family emigrated to Argentina when he was seventeen years old, and there he was able to find steady work. He cared for the sick in his free time.
Artemide attempted to become a Salesian priest, but his lack of education proved too great an obstacle. While caring for a priest with tuberculosis, he contracted that disease and moved to the city of Viedma, high in the Andes mountains, where it was hoped he would recover. There Artemide met a Salesian priest who ran a hospital and pharmacy which served the poor. Artemide, still sick with tuberculosis, promised Our Lady that he would serve the sick poor for the rest of his life if he were cured.
And he was. Artemide dutifully dedicated his life to God by becoming a Salesian brother, and he fulfilled his promise to our Lady by becoming a pharmacist, operating-room assistant, nurse, and eventually administrator of the hospital and pharmacy. Patients and staff alike were inspired by his Christian joy. He died peacefully in his own hospital a few months after being diagnosed with liver cancer.
Heavenly Father, may we turn to Our Lady
for assistance when we are trying
to understand your holy will.
