【慈幼通訊社 ─ 2023 年6月 5 日羅馬慈幼總部訊】 ─ 位於巴維亞省的一個熱情好客的村莊奧利華澤斯(Oliva Gessi)，即聖雷鳴道的誕生地，正充滿著節日的氣氛：因為這位傑出市民誕生150周年的慶典，正好於6月5日舉行。他與聖高惠黎，同時獲認定為慈幼會首批殉道聖人。慶典包括由他出生地至本堂的遊行，接著舉行由Tortona教區Guido Marini主教主持的聖祭。有關這位奧利華地方聖人的展覽，以及兩套有關聖人生平及殉道電影的播放，也是慶典的一部份。此外，一本目前以意大利文出版，名叫慈幼會首批中國殉道聖人聖雷鳴道的書，也會發送出去。這是一套有關雷鳴道話語的編年記錄，於2020年出版，為慶祝聖雷鳴道榮進天國九十周年。
出生於奧利華澤斯的雷鳴道，於12歲時到都靈華道角唸書，深受鮑思高神恩所感動。這使他徹底改變一生的計劃，由成為獸醫的夢想，轉變成一位慈幼會司鐸及傳教士。他於1895年，22歲那年晉鐸。1906年，當他獲派率領傳教士團隊到中國時，他帶領的團隊展現出慈幼會的特徵，與青少年建立以仁愛為基礎的關係，並運用遊戲、歌曲和音樂，作為基本的教育工具。
1911至1918年間，在廣闊的中國香山地區，正被帝國主義者與共和主義者之間的內戰，以及嚴重的疫症所蹂躪，傳教工作十分艱辛，他偉大的基督徒愛德，以及持續不斷的自我獻身，幫助他人，使救靈工作十分卓越。當他獲任命為韶州代牧時，這些美德繼續壯大，並於1921年獲晉昇為主教。
縱使充滿各種危險與艱辛，他仍能在韶州代牧區進行密集的牧民工作，這也有賴他對聖母進教之佑及鮑思高的強大信賴。他帶領首批母佑會傳教士來到中國。她們對女子的福傳及教育十分重要。這些年間，又爆發另一場蔣介石國民黨部隊與張發奎共產黨部隊之間的內戰。一場反歐洲運動擴散起來，觸發虐殺及破壞事件，傳教士成為排外者的目標。即使有著重大的艱難，居住環境十分惡劣，又受到排外者敵對行動的威脅，然而有賴雷鳴道主教所領受的神恩及他的偉大傳教熱忱，依然能夠設計建造學校、宿舍、小堂、長者庇護所及藥房。
1930年2月25日，在一次前往連州的牧民探訪中，他與年輕的傳教士高惠黎神父、兩位年輕的教師及其兩位姊姊，以及一位傳道員，正坐船沿連江往上游，被一群海盜攔阻，海盜要求金錢並企圖綁架女子。主教及高惠黎神父決意保護少女免受侵害。海盜大力擊打他們、侮辱宗教、瘋狂地襲擊他們。接著海盜帶他們到樹林中、射殺他們，並把遺體藏起來。雷鳴道主教與新晉鐸的高惠黎神父的一生，便以殉道結束。
聖雷鳴道完全獻身服務中國人民，交出他的性命，為拯救年輕的傳道員。他愛到底，毫不計較。他以語言、行為及一生，愛護他人。因此他成為牧職生活的模範，以重大的犠牲及毅力，日復一日地，成就完美的聖德。在教會正因醜聞與不道德事件受損的時候，他與殉道同伴高惠黎的形象，因其偉大聖德而燦爛發光，他們牧民愛德的典範，把生命的恩賜完全活現出來。
5 June 2023: 150th anniversary of the birth of Saint Louis Versiglia, SDB
(ANS – Rome–RMG, 05 June 2023) – Oliva Gessi, a welcoming village in Oltrepò Pavese, which gave birth to St Aloysius (Louis) Versiglia, is celebrating: because on 5 June it celebrates the 150th anniversary of the birth of its most illustrious fellow citizen. Together with St Callistus Caravario he is recognised as a Salesian saint and protomartyr. The celebrations include a procession from the saint’s birthplace to the parish church, followed by the Eucharist celebrated by Bishop Guido Marini, diocesan Bishop of Tortona. An exhibition dedicated to the Olivese saint and the screening of two films on life and martyrdom was also set up for the occasion. In addition, the book, currently in Italian, called San Luigi Versiglia, Protomartire Salesiano in Cina will be disseminated. It is a chronological account containing the words of Versiglia himself, and was published in 2020 (Ed. Velar) on the occasion of the ninetieth anniversary of St Louis Versiglia’s entry into Paradise.
From Oliva Gessi and at the age of twelve, Louis Versiglia arrived at Valdocco in Turin for his studies, and was won over by Don Bosco’s charism. This led him to profoundly change his plans for his life, transforming his dream of becoming a veterinarian into that of becoming a Salesian priest and missionary. He was ordained a priest in 1895 at the age of 22. In 1906 , when he was appointed head of the missionary expedition to China, he gave his leadership a Salesian imprint, basing his relationship with children and young people on loving-kindness, and using play, song and music as fundamental educational tools.
In the years between 1911 and 1918, in the difficult work of evangelisation of the vast Chinese district of Heung-shan, torn by the civil war between imperialists and republicans and raging epidemics, his great Christian charity and continuous self-giving to help others and save souls stood out. These virtues grew when he was entrusted with the Vicariate of Shiu-chow; he was consecrated bishop in 1921.
Despite dangers and hardships of all kinds, he managed to carry out an intense apostolic work In the Vicariate of Shiu-chow, also by virtue of his great trust in the protection of Mary Help of Christians and Don Bosco. He brought the first missionary group of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians to China. They were essential for the evangelisation and education of girls. These were the years of another civil war between Chang-Kai-Shek’s nationalist troops and Chang-Fat-Kwai’s communist ones. An anti-European movement spread, abuses and devastation were carried out, missionaries were no longer tolerated, and they became targets of Bolshevik xenophobia. Despite the enormous difficulties, the harsh living conditions, the strong hostilities and the dangers that arose as a result of Bolshevik propaganda, thanks to his gifts and great apostolic zeal, Bishop Versiglia was able to design and build schools, residences, small churches, shelters for the elderly and medical dispensaries.
On 25 February 1930, during a pastoral visit to Catholics Lin-chow together, with the young missionary Fr Callistus Caravario, two young teachers, their two sisters and a catechist, while going up the River Lin-chow by boat, they were stopped by a dozen pirates who asked for money and tried to kidnap the girls. The bishop and Fr Caravario resolutely tried to protect the dignity of the young women. The pirates then lashed out at them, insulting religion, and beat them savagely. Then they led them into a bush, shot them, and hid their bodies. Martyrdom thus became the epilogue of the life of Bishop Luigi Versiglia and the newly-ordained priest Callistus Caravario.
St Louis Versiglia dedicated himself entirely to the Chinese people, and by giving his own life saved that of the young catechists. He loved to the end, without measure. He loved with words, deeds and his entire life. He is therefore a model of pastoral life lived in fully holy way, achieved through great sacrifice and determination, day after day. At a time when the Church is wounded by scandals and immorality, his figure and that of his companion in martyrdom, Callistus Caravario, are resplendent for their great virtues and the exemplary nature of pastoral charity lived to the point of the gift of life.