P. Salvatore Santi Amantini
Sestino (Arezzo), 18 febbraio 1911
Parma, 11 gennaio 1989
Lavorò 15 anni in Cina e poi in Italia, specialmente alla Casa Madre. Di anni 78. Sepolto a Parma
Nato a Sestino (Arezzo) il 18 febbraio 1911, entrò nel nostro noviziato nel 1926 dopo gli studi ginnasiali compiuti nel seminario di Sansepolcro, e fu ordinato sacerdote nel 1933. Nel 1937 partì per la Cina, dove lavorò in alcune missioni della diocesi di Loyang, negli anni tormentati dalla guerra cino-giapponese e dall'avvento del comunismo. Fu anche rettore del seminario e superiore religioso dei Saveriani di Loyang.
Espulso dalla Cina nel 1953, si dedicò a varie attività nelle nostre case in Italia, e dal 1964 tenne la direzione spirituale nella Casa Madre, occupan-dosi anche dei rapporti con i benefattori e del Museo Cinese.
La vita di p. Santi fu tutta dominata dall'ideale missionario che lo ispirò sia nelle attività di prima linea, come in quelle di retrovia.
Al suoi tempi il missionario mirava a "salvare le anime"; perciò la preparazione all'apostolato era sommaria e insufficiente. Se ne rese conto presto egli stesso e ne portò il peso, senza perdere però l'entusiasmo per la sua vocazione. Scrisse negli ultimi mesi di vita: "La (nostra) preparazione in patria era praticamente zero ( ... ). Una volta in Cina ho dovuto ricredermi su tanti pregiudizi. Le ricchezze della cultura cinese non furono neanche scalfite dalla mia preparazione".
Tornato in patria fece ogni sforzo per mettersi in sintonia con i nuovi tempi e con il modo moderno d'affrontare il problema missionario e quello della preparazione all'apostolato. Così passò tra noi come "l'anziano tra i giovani, non ripiegato nostalgicamente sul passato, ma sinceramente aperto al nuovo, anche quando non riusciva a capirlo e condividerlo del tutto... (Fu anche) un testimone vivente della figura di mons. Conforti, della sua amabilità ed eleganza, della sua passione per la Cina" (p. Larcher).
L'ultimo anno di vita lo passò, per vecchi e nuovi acciacchi, tra letto, ospedale e carrozzella, sopportando tutto con serenità. Morì l'11 gennaio 1989 e riposa nel cimitero di Parma
Fr. Salvatore Santi Amantini
Sestino (Arezzo), 18 febbraio 1911
Parma, 11 gennaio 1989
Fr. Salvatore Santi Amantini died on Jan. 11 1989 on his trip from the Hospital to the Mother House in Parma, of intestinal and cardiac complications. He was approaching his 78 years of life, born on Feb. 18 1911 at Sestino (Prov. of Arezzo, diocese of Sansepolcro).
He entered the Novitiate at Parma in 1926 after studies at the Seminary of Sansepolcro, and professed religious vows on Sept. 8 1927. “I got to know the Xaverians when I was in the diocesan seminary, through their magazine ‘Fede e Civiltà’. I became enthused by the various articles of the China missionaries and for their frequent personal reflections.” (Reflections on a Questionnaire in 1988) After studies of theology, he was ordained priest on Oct. 29 1933. He worked for a few years in Italy, and then departed for China in 1937, where he served in the diocese of Loyang during the difficult years of the Chinese-Japanese war and the uprising of the Communist regime. He was also rector of the Seminary and Religious Superior of the Xaverians at Loyang.
Expelled from China in 1953, he worked in various houses in Italy until his assignment at the Mother House in Parma in 1965, as spiritual director, in charge of correspondence with benefactors and of the Chinese Museum. The life of Fr. Santi was governed by the missionary ideal which inspired him both in the front lines and in the background service at Parma.
He saw the importance of the preparation of a missionary during his years of formation, and he realized how insufficient this preparation was for him. In the last years of his life, he wrote: “Our preparation was practically null… When I reached China, I had to overcome many prejudices I had in my formation years. The richness of the Chinese culture was not even touched by the level of preparation received in those years.”
Fr. Santi ever strove to update himself, trying to face the new realities and new times on the subject of missionary activity and preparation to ministry. His first assignment in Italy was Nizza Monferrato as vicerector and professor for two years. Then, he spent one year at Alzano and in 1957 went to S. Pietro in Vicoli as vice-master of the novices. He then moved to Parma at the Theology in 1965. There, he spent the rest of his years until his death, as a great example of stability in the delicate role of spiritual director and confessor. He was “the eldest among the young in the Theology at the Motherhouse, never nostalgic of the past, but sincerely opened to the new, even when he had a hard time understanding it and believe in everything… He was a living witness of the person of Msgr. Conforti, of his amiable and noble spirit, and of his enthusiasm for the China missions.” (Fr. Larcher)
Fr. Santi was not exceptional because of many human qualities, though he had them. His exceptional character was rooted on the way he lived his daily commitments, especially in the last period of his life at the Mother House.
The last year of his life was spent between bed, hospital visits, and his wheelchair, serenely accepting whatever the Lord asked him. He now rests in peace at the Cemetery of Parma.
