Martyr in Burundi

Chapter 2. A kind, smiling Priest

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Parma, November 9, 1958: Fr. Aldo (kneeling on left) is ordained priest

He was ordained priest on November 9, 1958. Though his path to the priesthood was nothing exceptional in terms of performance, Aldo Marchiol was well liked by his classmates. One of them, Father Marcelli, remembers: “He was always very kind, modest and shy. I always admired him for his kindness, wisdom and commitment to everything he undertook”. After his death, they called him “the man with the kind smile”.

Shortly after his ordination, he went to Massa Lucana, in the province of Salerno, to work as spiritual director in the Xaverian community. Father Regazzoli remembers: “The three of us were appointed to vocation work, the school and missionary propaganda. For various reasons, it was a difficult experience and Aldo Marchiol demonstrated his personal worth: he was silent, but not taciturn; prudent and wise; calm and modest. On the surface he appeared rather cold, but he was, in fact, blessed with an extraordinarily profound sensitivity to others. In 1959, he went to my home village to direct a retreat in preparation to my first Mass. He was not very successful as a preacher, but the people appreciated his kindness and humility”.  

He was always very kind, modest and shy. I always admired him for his kindness, wisdom and commitment to everything he undertook.
Fr. Marcelli on Fr. Aldo Marchiol

Another Xaverian, Father Enrico Di Nicolò, remembered the four years spent in Massa Lucana: “I remember above all his calm way of going about things, his facial statement that betrayed his persistent physical suffering. He had been sent to Massa Lucana precisely because it was thought that the climate would be good for his health.

His presence with us (I was assistant at the time) and with the students was not a frequent occurrence because the liveliness of the boys caused him some distress. Nevertheless, when he did frequent the students, he was always cheerful, serene and cordial. He was a very good man who inspired serenity in those who approached him. It was not easy for me to get close to him, considering our age difference and the fact that he was a very reserved person. He was obviously a man of intense prayer and meditation: he would take frequent walks carrying his rosary and breviary. He was an example to us in our frenetic activity with the young students. His calm way of doing things made him look older than he really was. He was a silent, often secluded, man who, despite his sufferings, was not a sad person.

The clear beauty of his soul shone through his physical suffering. He was a true brother to us all. He was respected and admired by those who knew him. He also stood out for his austerity (his room bore ample witness to his personal poverty) and his sober use of the spoken word (he preferred to listen); he was reluctant to judge anyone and, when he did, he was always prudent, preferring to understand and excuse. He also was very sober in his approach to relationships with people on the outside. I sometimes had the impression he suffered because he was unable to do more for the community.

Nevertheless, he was a much loved and esteemed member of our community. The way in which he bore his physical suffering was a most precious example to the community and the memory of it still edifies me and fills me with admiration”.

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