Argentina – "Zatti camino a Dios": a new song for Artemide Zatti

13 January 2023

(ANS - Córdoba) - A new song dedicated to the saint of the poor and the sick, the relative of all the poor, the saintly nurse of Viedma, has been released; its title: "Zatti camino a Dios" (Zatti on his way to God), born as a challenge to offer a more festive and lively material than the equally beautiful song "La aventura de sanar" (The adventure of healing). In fact, the authors of both songs are the same: Salesian coadjutors Br. Isaac Aguilera, from the Province of Argentina North (ARN), and Br. Stefan Crescia, from the Province of Argentina South (ARS).

"Neither work aimed to be better than the other, but simply the songs complement each other, expressing this double face of Salesian spirituality, which Br. Zatti knew how to embody to the levels of holiness," explains Br. Crescia, author of the lyrics.

"The text of this new production seeks to reflect the identity of the new Salesian saint, highlighting the Oratorian traits that came to life in the hospital of Viedma: the stretchers were his courtyard, the smile counted as a 'good night.' Everyday life, the poor and everyday holiness - all aspects that Don Bosco himself lived in Valdocco - find space in this new song."

Again, along the notes of the song, other central elements of Christian life and of Zatti's life are emphasized: contrarieties and adversities; and the Cross, "Christian symbol par excellence, which knows how to contain Death and Life, since it is there that Christ experienced both," Br. Crescia continues. "Thanks to this, everything makes sense in the Christian life and in the discipleship of the Master, which in Don Bosco's story has a singular parallel in the well-known dream of the roses with thorns, in which those close to him saw Don Bosco walking on roses, but no one noticed the wounds caused by the thorns. This link between the Rose and the Thorn, between Life and Death, Br. Zatti experienced in his flesh, through the many difficulties he encountered in the administration of the hospital: he experienced the Crucifix, and Love was able to redeem him."

As for the refrain sung by the choir, it expresses Zatti's role as Christ's remedy, that is, as part of Christ's plan to heal Man.

Speaking of this second work dedicated to Zatti and the synergy now developed with ARN's Salesian coadjutor, Br. Isaac Aguilera, Br. Crescia shares, finally, "The composition work is more than satisfactory. We complement each other tremendously with Isaac. We usually start the work with lyrics I share with him, which he reads and rereads to find the right melody for what the writing expresses. At the same time, we accompany each other in the creative process: Isaac comments on the writing and I comment on the music."

To listen to the song "Zatti camino a Dios" simply click here.

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