This May 25, 2026, the SCJ General House hosted a night of shared memory. Father Pier Luigi Cameroni, Salesian Postulator General, and his collaborator, Dr. Lodovica Maria Zanet, spoke to the community about the deep fraternity between Dehonian Martino Capelli and Salesian Elia Comini, ahead of their beatification this coming September 27.
Organized by the SCJ General Postulation, an evening of thanksgiving and meditation was held at the SCJ General House to honor the memory and fraternal friendship between Father Martino Capelli (SCJ) and Don Elia Comini (SDB). The guests of honor, Father Pier Luigi Cameroni, Postulator General of the Salesians, and his collaborator, Dr. Lodovica Maria Zanet—whose collaboration in overseeing the two causes of beatification was warmly praised—allowed the members of the community to rediscover the unique bond that united these two martyrs of the Second World War.
A Priestly Friendship
On September 29, 1944, in San Michele a Salvaro (Bologna), Nazi barbarism cut down two young priestly lives. Yet, as the keynote speaker Dr. Lodovica Maria Zanet reminded the audience, their martyrdom was not the result of a tragic coincidence, but the logical culmination of two deeply convergent spiritual trajectories.
Although they shared only three months of life together (from July to September 1944), their priestly friendship proved to be a true fresco of shared virtues. Both coming from poor families who were rich in faith and deeply marked by Marian devotion, they learned the art of concrete service from childhood. “In war, we put into practice what we learned in peace,” the speaker emphasized. Their final sacrifice was merely the continuation of the “virtuous habits” solidified throughout their lives.
From the “School of Fire” to Choosing Risk
The journey back into the youth of the two future Blesseds captured the special attention of the community members. On one hand, Father Martino, nicknamed “il Kika” in his childhood, was always running to help his neighbor. On the other hand, Don Elia was formed at the “scuola di fuoco” (the school of fire) of Monsignor Mellini, a direct disciple of Don Bosco. Both possessed a phenomenal capacity to attract youth: children crowded around Don Elia “like chicks around a hen,” while those around Father Martino literally clung to the cord of his cassock during outings.
This dedication transformed into pure heroism during the dark hours of the occupation. Dr. Zanet recalled the superhuman gesture of Don Elia, who moved a gigantic wardrobe to conceal seventy men from the eyes of German soldiers. Instead of hiding, the two priests chose to brave the danger for a single reason: to bring the Eucharist and comfort to the dying.
The “Gift of Bonds” Against Modern Indifference
Drawing from the lives of the two martyrs, Dr. Zanet, collaborator of the Salesian Postulator General, offered a striking critique of contemporary individualism. Using the trivial yet telling example of human attitudes in the Rome metro, where the distress and needs of the elderly often go unnoticed, she contrasted it with the evangelical altruism of the two future Blesseds.
A powerful concept left a deep impression on the audience: “the gift of bonds.” Don Elia and Father Martino found their freedom and sanctification in accepting daily constraints, religious obedience, and acts of renunciation—such as when Father Martino had to give up his dream of going to the missions. In this spirit, the upcoming publication of a comprehensive book tracing the life and spiritual correspondence of these two great figures was announced. In it, readers will be able to discover the “caro librettino,” the personal journal where Don Elia, from the age of 17, expressed his desire to offer his life as a “holocaust.”
“We Are Priests and We Must Go”
The doctor’s presentation concluded with a poignant evocation of the morning of September 29, 1944. In front of the small church of San Michele, despite the pleas of the village women who tried to hold them back for their own protection, the two priests remained steadfast. Their final words still resonate in everyone’s hearts: “We are priests and we must go.” Go to bring Christ to those in need.
The Rest of the Programme
Following a vibrant expression of gratitude, the community immersed itself in a brief silence of recollection before the prayer of Vespers. A solemn dinner featuring an exchange of gifts then marked a joyful end to this memorable gathering, where Father Martino and Don Elia proved once again that holiness is not an abstraction, but a series of daily choices guided by love.
