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Alberto Marvelli was born on March 21, 1918 in Ferrara, Kingdom of Italy, second of six children. His father was a bank teller, and his mother was a homemaker.
In his home, the children received a strong foundation in Catholic social teaching. They learned how to recognize Christ in others, especially in the poor, and to act accordingly. Alberto’s mother loved to help the poor, and her home was always open to helping those in need. As a child, for example, it would not be unusual for half of Alberto’s dinner disappear right before his eyes as his mother snatched it away saying, “Jesus has arrived and he’s hungry.”
In 1930, when he was twelve, the family moved to Rimini. There, Alberto became very active in his parish’s Catholic Action group and the Salesian school. Alberto also loved sports, especially bicycling. One of his friends was Federico Fellini, who would one day become a famous Italian filmmaker.
On March 7, 1933, Alberto’s father died suddenly, leaving his mother to care for the family alone. That same year, Alberto began keeping a spiritual journal. The journal reflected his “program of life” which he summed up in one word: “Holy.” In his journal, this 15-year described his daily schedule to include rising early; a half-hour for meditation; a half-hour for spiritual reading; Mass and Communion; confession usually once a week; frequent spiritual direction; and a daily Rosary and Angeles at noon.
When he was 18, Alberto was elected president of Catholic Action in his community and attended Bologna University, studying engineering. His primary focus was always helping the poor.
In 1941, Alberto graduated with a degree in engineering and left for military service. However, after a few months, he was discharged because two of his brothers were already in the service.
When he returned to Rimini, he became a leader in Catholic Action. He also began teaching in high school and designing projects to help the sick and poor.
Unfortunately, this was the time of World War II, and Nazi Germany frequently dropped bombs on Rimini. Therefore, the family moved four miles (seven kilometers) away to Vergiano. After each bombing, Alberto would bicycle back to Rimini to help the wounded, dying, and homeless persons. He bought people food, clothes, mattresses, and blankets, and it was not unusual for him to return home without his shoes or bicycle because he had given them to the poor.
Also, during that time of German occupation, Nazis were sending Jews and others to concentration campus. Alberto freed many from the sealed train cars before they left the station at Santarcangelo.
After Allied Forces liberated Rimini, the Marvelli family returned to the city that was in ruins without basic services such as water, electricity, or sanitation,
Alberto was chosen to be a leader of the reconstruction, and he was even coaxed into becoming a candidate for a local government position. Even opposition political parties, like the Communist party, respected Alberto and his commitment to helping others.
Unfortunately, on the evening of October 5, 1946, as he was bicycling to a meeting for local elections, an army truck ran over him. He died a few hours later at the age of 28.
Many townspeople voted for him even though he had died; his mother took his place. Alberto was beatified in 2004. Blessed Alberto Marvelli’s feast day is October 5.
