Vincenzo Cimatti

Vincenzo Cimatti SDB (born July 15, 1879 in Faenza , Province of Ravenna , † October 6, 1965 in Tokyo ) was an Italian Salesian of Don Bosco, educator , composer , missionary and prefect in Japan .

Life

His calling to become a Salesian of Don Bosco matured through the Salesians in his city. Then he came to Turin , where he became a student in Valsalice . In 1900 he qualified as a professor for choral singing at the Music Conservatory in Parma . This is followed by the laureate in Natural Sciences (Faculty of Agriculture) and Philosophy (University of Turin).

He was ordained a priest on March 19, 1905. Eventually he became a teacher in clerical training himself, teaching in particular agriculture, pedagogy and singing.

From 1912 to 1919 he was director of the Oratorio San Luigi in Turin, then from 1919 to 1925 he was director in Valsalice. He applied for the Japan Mission, which was approved in 1925.

There he developed an extensive pastoral and missionary activity in accordance with the charism of Don Bosco . He promoted the establishment of the Miyazaki Sisters of Charity, became an apostle of the "good press" and expanded the Salesian work with vocational schools and oratorios. After he was appointed on August 1, 1928 as a superior (head) of the Church of Miyazaki , followed on January 28, 1935, the appointment as prefect in Miyazaki and Ōita .

He left behind numerous writings in the field of education, agriculture, hagiography and also around 950 musical works, including 49 operettas. The first opera in Japanese, "Hosokawa Grazia", is also known. 6138 letters have been received and will soon be published in Italian.

Vincenzo Cimatti

After his death, he was introduced primarily by Superior General Zigiotti as a model of Salesian holiness. The postponed and collected work is exhibited in the Cimatti Museum in Tokyo.

Beatification process

The beatification process began very early. In 1977 the body was recovered and found intact. On December 21, 1991 he was declared "Venerabile" by Pope John Paul II .

Web links

Commons : Vincenzo Cimatti - collection of images, videos and audio files

personal data
SURNAME	Cimatti, Vincenzo
ALTERNATIVE NAMES	Cimatti, Vincenzo SDB
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	Italian religious, educator, composer and missionary in Japan
DATE OF BIRTH	July 15, 1879
PLACE OF BIRTH	Faenza , Province of Ravenna
DATE OF DEATH	October 6, 1965
Place of death	Tokyo