On November 24, 1985, Fr. Egidio Viganò, then Rector Major of the Salesians, visited the Shrine of Our Lady of Tears in Syracuse, Sicily, to meet the Salesian Family during a significant Eucharistic celebration. Nino, lying in his cot in the front row, eagerly absorbed every moment. It was my first encounter with him, and I was struck by his serene gaze and warm smile. I had heard about his life—his accident at seventeen, his ten years of despair, and his inspiring conversion.
During the Offertory, Nino requested a microphone, saying, “I am Nino Baglieri, and I am confined to my bed. While many have brought gifts, I cannot move to the altar, but I offer my prayer, my cross, my suffering, and my life for you, Rector Major, for the Salesian Family, for vocations, and for young people.” His heartfelt words moved us to tears, including Fr. Viganò, who later embraced Nino.
That day revealed the depth of Nino’s holiness. While he may have seemed to some as a person to be pitied, his powerful testimony had shown the immense value of every life and the possibility of joy, even in the face of suffering. His legacy continues to inspire hope and resilience for us all.
‘I was healthy, strong and robust’
Born on May 1, 1951, in Modica, Sicily, he grew up in a modest family. His childhood was filled with playful mischief, typical for boys his age. Although he completed elementary school at the Salesian Institute, he chose to leave academics after Year 5 to become an apprentice bricklayer.
Despite this, he still enjoyed the Salesian oratory, where he played football with friends. He often slipped away during prayer, finding it boring, but eagerly attended Sunday Mass for the rewards: a loaf of bread with mortadella or a cinema ticket, and points toward an annual prize for regular attendees.
As a teenager, he was lively and social, enjoying swimming in the sea, walks, and card games. With first crushes and dreams forming, he felt as if the world was at his fingertips. Years later, he reflected in his diary: “So many desires and plans! I was starting my journey: to be someone important, to have a loving partner, and to raise children. I was healthy, strong, and eager, believing I could conquer the world; all I had to do was reach out my hand.”
A few days after his seventeenth birthday on 6 May 1968, Nino enjoyed a sunny day at the seaside with friends, participating in swimming races and games. However, when he returned to work the following Monday and was plastering a building, the plank he stood on snapped, causing him to fall seventeen meters to the ground.
He was rushed to the hospital with a broken spine and complete paralysis. Doctors feared he might die, and one suggested euthanasia as a way to spare suffering. Nino’s mother, however, firmly stated, “If God wishes to take him, let Him take him. But if He allows him to live, I will care for him.”
Thus began a long and painful journey through hospitals and surgeries. Sadly, they learned he would remain permanently immobile, able only to move his head slightly. Nino felt his life had ended, losing all his dreams and hopes in an instant.
‘I accepted it and was reborn’
Nino returned to Modica but was met with sympathetic glances that deepened his isolation. Rather than receiving support, he withdrew into himself, shutting out everyone around him.
During this time, various church-based groups, including the Renewal in the Spirit, emerged in Modica, dedicated to the study of God’s Word and prayer. A friend of the Baglieri family invited some young members from this group to visit Nino, and hoping for a miracle, he agreed to see them.
On 24 March 1978, at around 5:00 p.m., Nino asked his mother to dress him in new pyjamas, wishing to be presentable if a miracle occurred. The priest laid hands on him and invoked the Holy Spirit, while everyone prayed. Nino later described the moment: “I felt an overwhelming warmth flooding my body and a tingling in my limbs, as if new strength was entering me and something old was leaving. In that moment, I said ‘yes’ to the Lord; I accepted my cross and was reborn. Years of despair vanished as an extraordinary joy filled my heart. Although I longed for physical healing, the Lord granted me even greater spiritual healing.” Trusting in God’s plan, Nino discovered the true meaning of his life.
‘Put a pencil in my mouth’
One afternoon, some schoolchildren visited Nino to keep him company while they worked on their homework. One child struggled with a drawing, and Nino suggested, “Put a pencil in my mouth and bring your notebook closer.” He discovered he could skilfully move the pencil with his mouth, which filled him with joy. Soon, he was writing fluently in cursive and began creating poems, reflections, and memories.
A local radio station invited him to share his writings, attracting many listeners. People started reaching out to him for advice and to learn about this remarkable young man who maintained a positive spirit despite his challenges. Nino’s story gained attention beyond his island; media outlets reported on him, and letters flooded in from around the world.
When the Volunteers with Don Bosco (CDB) were established, Nino eagerly joined and took his perpetual vows on August 31, 2004. In 2007, despite suffering from bronchitis, he was invited to share his testimony in Rome. Although initially advised not to travel, he felt compelled to go. In front of an engaged audience, he spoke about his life, his love for Don Bosco, and the need to reach out to young people. “We must bring Christ to young people not just with words but through the witness of our lives... Let us go out and seek young people where they are.” His message resonates with Pope Francis’s call for a Church that goes forth.
Running shoes
As his health rapidly declined, the hospital staff delivered the difficult news that they could do nothing more. Despite this, he remained conscious and at peace. He entrusted his confessor with his spiritual testament for his funeral and asked his sister to dress him in his tracksuit, placing his running shoes on his feet to symbolize his desire to run freely in Paradise after 39 years of immobility.
Soon after the news spread, a crowd gathered in the narrow lane outside his home, united in prayer for his final journey. On March 2nd, he whispered to his sister, “I can see the Lord, I can see Our Lady!”—his last words before passing into the Father’s House the following morning, the first Friday of Lent.
A flood of people came to bid farewell to the ‘Saint of Modica,’ a title embraced by many newspapers that day. Nino’s life was solely focused on holiness. Years earlier, he met Cardinal Sodano, who jokingly placed his red biretta on Nino’s head and asked if he wanted to be a cardinal. Nino replied, “No.” When asked if he would like to be Pope, he simply stated, “No, Your Emin-ence; I’d just like to be a saint!” This moment captured the essence of his selfless desire.