Luigi Versiglia was born in Oliva Gessi (Pavia) on June 5, 1873. At the age of twelve, he entered the oratory of Valdocco where he met Don Bosco. Ordained priest (1895), after being Director and master of novices in Genzano di Roma, he led the first Salesian missionary expedition to China in 1906. In 1918, the Salesians received the mission of Shiu Chow from the Apostolic Vicar of Canton. Fr Luigi Versiglia was appointed Apostolic Vicar and on 9 January, 1921, he was consecrated Bishop. He was a true shepherd, entirely devoted to his flock. He gave the Vicariate a solid structure with a seminary, houses of formation, himself designing various residences and shelters for the elderly and needy. He looked after the formation of the catechists with true conviction.
Callisto Caravario was born in Cuorgné (Turin) on June 8, 1903, and was a student at the Valdocco oratory. In 1924, still a cleric, he left for China as a missionary. He was sent to Macau, and then for two years on the island of Timor, edifying everyone with all his goodness and his apostolic zeal. On May 18, 1929, Msgr. Versiglia ordained him a priest.
On February 25, 1930, the two missionaries were travelling by boat for a pastoral visit when a gang of Bolshevik pirates intercepted them. The Communists climbed on board and, finding three young catechists, wanted to take them away with them. The two missionaries interposed and were attacked and tied, while the pirates ransacked their possessions. One of the bandits, snatching the crucifixes from a catechist, shouted: “Why do you love these crosses? We hate them with all our souls!" The young women were able to see the missionaries confess to each other in a low voice before being shot in a forest. Thus the two chalices dreamed by Don Bosco were raised to Heaven!
John Paul II beatified them on May 15, 1983, and canonized them on October 1, 2000. On the occasion of the beatification, he said: "The blood of the two Blesseds is at the foundations of the Chinese Church, just as the blood of Peter is at the foundations of the Church of Rome."
Because of this anniversary, the Provincial of the “Mary Help of Christians” Province based in Hong Kong is promoting a series of events from February 25 to November 13, and issued a message in which he said: “I hope that through the various activities that we are organizing this year we will know how to learn the spirit of martyrdom from these two Saints ... Every Christian participates in the 'white martyrdom' if he puts the Gospel into practice and carries his own cross. Let's model ourselves on the example of Saints Luigi Versiglia and Callisto Caravario!”
