Pietro Stella died today

This morning I had to leave the UPS at about 8.45, and don Stella was still alive at that point. I returned at noon and found that he had died during the morning. The funeral will be held at the University Church on Monday, 4 June.

At this point there is one poster in the community dining room areas; I expect more information will be posted soon.

Here is the official announcement from the UPS of the death of Pietro Stella. It was sent out this afternoon at about 13.00 hours.

È morto don Pietro Stella
Il cordoglio della comunità accademica dell’UPS

(UPS – Roma, 1 giugno 2007) – È deceduto questa mattina venerdì 1 giugno 2007 il Rev. Prof. don Pietro Stella, insigne studioso e professore dell’Università Pontificia Salesiana.

Il Rettore don Mario Toso a nome di tutta la comunità universitaria ha scritto un messaggio di cordoglio che riportiamo di seguito.

In memoriam

L’intera comunità accademica dell’Università Pontificia Salesiana (UPS) si unisce al dolore della Comunità “Gesù Maestro” della Visitatoria per la scomparsa dell’illustre Professore don Pietro Stella.

Docente ordinario di Teologia morale nella Facoltà di Teologia dell’UPS sino al 15 ottobre 1979, il Prof. Stella è stato, tra l’altro, ordinario di Storia Moderna presso la Facoltà di Magistero dell’Università di Perugia dal 1977 e, nel 1981, fu chiamato a coprire la cattedra di Storia della Chiesa nella Facoltà di Magistero dell’Università degli Studi di Roma.

Incaricato per anni del Centro Studi D. Bosco dell’UPS, il Prof. don Pietro Stella si è affermato come un grande studioso non solo dell’opera e dell’attività educativa e pastorale di Don Bosco nella storia della Religiosità cattolica, ma anche del Giansenismo in Italia.

L’Università Pontificia Salesiana è riconoscente a don Stella per il suo insigne impegno culturale. Con il suo servizio, contrassegnato da circa cinquanta anni di ricerche, ha altamente onorato la nostra Comunità accademica e salesiana, con la quale ha sempre coltivato un legame profondo.


Prof. don
Mario Toso
Rettore

I funerali avranno luogo lunedì 4 giugno alle ore 11.00 presso la chiesa dell’Università Salesiana

Prayers for the dying

This morning at 5.00 don Stella's condition changed suddenly, and he went into a slow decline. His blood pressure began to go down in gradual increments and his body temperature as well. He is breathing, but just. At 7.00 we had our community mass in the infirmry chapel, praying the mass for the dying. Afterwards a number of us went in to see him. He is surrounded by his brothers and don Nicolussi is with him, as is don Strus'. The sisters of the Sacred Hearts (don Variara's group) continue to assist as well. So I was able to spend a few minutes at his bedside with the others.

At the mass we prayed for the Lord's assistance to don Pietro in these moments. It is now 8.10 -- I just grabbed a coffee after seeing him and came to make this blog post using one of the university computers.

Pietro Stella near death - Macintosh out of commission

Yesterday Pietro Stella could not speak, although he seemed to understand enerything said. Doctors visited hiò also to try to ease pain, while more family members came to be with him during the day.

Last night, then, for the first time a number of confreres stayed by his bedside throughout the night, helping to move him from bed to chair from time to time, since it is easier for him to breathe from the chair. Tonight another group will stay with him to assist. Mood in the Gesù Maestro community is very somber these days, as it is in the Domenico Savio community (both are communities of professors). I don't know the reaction in the other communities.

For myself there has been a setback. The cord to my laptop burned this morning in what must have been an electrical surge (in spite of the fact that I was using surge protectors). The computer does not seem to be damaged, but the battery evidently was not charging and recharging, perhaps the cord and transformer have been damaged for a few days. All my data and materials are there. My backup disks, however, are safe in my desk. Tomorrow I will go to the Apple Store by Sta Maria Maggiore in hopes of getting a new cord etc.

This never happened last year, when I actually used the computer more than now -- but it makes me realize too that laptops are not made for extended use. I'll need to get a desktop mac for my use in DBH, and a desktop here next year when I come. The are cheaper but hardier and should be able to take the wear and tear better.

Pietro Stella -update

Today don Pietro Stella had a very difficult time breathing and his heartbeat was labored. For most of the morning he seemed in a coma, but became conscious in the afternoon. However, he remains in a very weakened state.

His doctor came by in the afternoon and told the sisters at the UPS infirmary that he could go at any time now.

Keeping vigil with Pietro Stella

This is an update on the condition of Fr Pietro Stella. On the feast of Mary Help (24 May) he received the Sacrament of the Sick. Since that time he has not been able to celebrate mass. On Saturday he told Jozef Strus', the rector, that he his not afraid of daying and is ready. Then he said "It is time that I pass on the torch to another". When don Strus' asked him what he meant, don Stella said he was speaking of his place in the area of Salesian research. Stella named a confrere, but Strus' did not reveal this (however, I already know that Stella means to "pass the torch" to Aldo Giraudo, for he has been very matter of fact on this score with Aldo ever since he first became sick in November).

On Sunday Pietro Stella was visibly weakening. He could no longer stand unassisted. Today, Monday, he spoke very little. Relatives of his are starting to arrive to see him; his sister spent the entire day. Of course, Prospero Stella, who is older and much more reserved than Pietro, has been with him all during these days.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Pietro Stella's ordination. He made the remark on the day that we celebrated (Ascension) all the anniversaries: "Please thank the Lord with me that he has allowed me to meet Don Bosco, and then that he allowed me to love Don Bosco, and finally that he has helped me remain faithful to the Founder until the last."

Whatever develops next, the community here keeps him tight in prayer.