In the vibrant heart of Palermo, on May 3, 1980, Salvatore di Fazio, a Dominican priest, was born. In his family God and faith were indifferent. Brought up in a pursuit of happiness, centered on money and power, his life took an unexpected turn at the age of 14, when his parents converted and began to frequent the Church, marking the beginning of his own spiritual journey.
He began going to confession regularly and joined the Franciscan Youth in the neighborhood. Although, at the time, his commitment to the faith was more an act of respect for his parents than a personal choice. In any case, the spark of faith, although initially weak, lit a fire that would become a burning flame in the years to come and would eventually make him a Dominican priest.
Martial arts, girlfriend, house, dog and car
At the age of 18 he left home. He became a Karate and Kung-Fu instructor. At 25, Salvatore was living with his girlfriend and enjoying buoyant professional success. At 28 he had bought a house and had a dog, a car and a seemingly perfect life, dividing his time between home, work and sport. However, he was consumed by unhappiness.
At that time, thanks to an encounter with a person, he gradually began to draw closer to God again. In October 2008, he went to confession again after ten years. The change was so strong that his girlfriend could not stand it and, after eleven years of relationship, she decided to leave him.
The dark forest and the loss of a perfect life
The dark jungle, as described by Dante Alighieri in his Divine Comedybecame a vivid metaphor of Salvatore's existential crisis. The traumatic separation from his girlfriend marked the beginning of a dark and unknown stage for him. The dark forest was not an external gloom, but an internal journey, a struggle between light and darkness. Inspired by Dante Alighieri, Salvatore found himself in the middle of his life's journey, lost but searching for direction.
This period, characterized by emotional desolation, became an introspective journey. The darkness, far from being an insurmountable obstacle, became a catalyst for a deep reflection and search for meaning. "For the first time I was led down a path I had not chosen at all, and this confused me." Like Dante Alighieri, "in the middle of our life's journey, I found myself through a dark jungle, because the straight path was lost." But the jungle was "dark" not because there was darkness, but because he was not used to all that light and what he thought was his "straight path" was actually the tortuous life he himself had chosen.
Rediscovering faith and true happiness
For five years, Salvatore walked within the Catholic Church. Guided by a spiritual companion, Salvatore explored the depths of his soul, understanding the complexities of his existence and recognizing God's call. This period of redemption led him to understand his mistakes and to disassociate himself from toxic friendships. Each step brought him closer to God's love.
During this time, Salvatore underwent an inner metamorphosis, abandoning the chains of despair and dissatisfaction. The Church, to which he initially turned as a temporary refuge, became the foundation of his spiritual rebirth.
London and the existential question
In 2011, looking for answers, Salvatore moved to London. Hoping, perhaps, to find a woman with whom he could form a Christian and healthy family. But, although he met some very nice girls, the relationships did not work out because he did not find the happiness he was looking for. The work, although very well paid, no longer satisfied him. With the help of his spiritual father, he asked himself an existential question: could he find happiness in another state of life?
This seemingly simple question triggered a deep reflection. Salvatore became nervous, he was convinced that he could only be happy with a woman by his side, but he was challenged by the possibility of a different call. However, the seed of the vocation The religious order, planted years before, began to germinate, and he began to look around to see if there was any religious order that could satisfy his desire for happiness.
Our Lady of Pompeii, St. Dominic and St. Catherine of Siena, the way to become a Dominican priest
One night, immersed in these thoughts, Salvatore remembered a painting in his grandmother's room: the Madonna of Pompeii. He remembered the Madonna, but he did not know who the Dominican priest and the woman accompanying her were. He embarked on a search that led him to discover St. Dominic of Guzman and St. Catherine of Siena. The connection was instantaneous, as if the figures of these saints had been waiting for him forever.
Starting in 2012, Salvatore moved closer and closer to the Order of Preachers in Italy. However, every encounter was shrouded in doubts and trials. Vocational encounters, pre-novitiate and novitiate were steps groped towards an improbable destiny years before: to become a Dominican priest. It was in the novitiate that he discovered that he was truly happy in his new state of life.
After eight years of formation, following the path of saints such as Thomas Aquinas, Luis Bertran and Blessed Francisco de Posadas, a Dominican priest, Salvatore fulfilled his dream of preaching to others "for their salvation, my happiness and for the greater glory of God".
Gratitude of a Dominican priest
"And it is precisely for this reason that I continue my studies at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross. For a Dominican priest, study, with a view to preaching, is a sacred duty! For this reason, I would like to thank all the benefactors of the CARF Foundation for the help they give to priests and seminarians, whether they are diocesan or diocesan, and for the support they give to the priests and seminarians of the Holy Cross. religiousso that we can better serve God's people".
Gerardo Ferrara
BA in History and Political Science, specializing in the Middle East.
Head of the student body at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome.
