Antique silver reliquary Box pendant of Blessed Rolando Rivi Martyr

Antique silver reliquary Box pendant of Blessed Rolando Rivi Martyr

( B. Rolando Rivi)

Italy: 2015

Size: 4 cm L x 2.5 cm W x 0.4 cm H

Rolando Maria Rivi (7 January 1931 – 13 April 1945) was an Italian Roman Catholic seminarian. Rivi was noted for his studious and pious nature with an intense love for Jesus Christ, which was evident through frequent confession and the reception of the Eucharist. He was amiable to all and wore his cassock with great pride in order to affirm that he belonged to Christ and his church.  Accusing him of having spied for the Italian Social Republic, Communist partisans murdered him in odium fidei (in hatred of the faith) towards the end of World War II in Modena because he was learning to become a priest.

Rivi's holiness was well-noted in his lifetime and people began to hail him as a saint after his vicious murder after which people called for him to be beatified. The cause for his sainthood did not open until 30 September 2005 when he was accorded the title "Servant of God" and subsequently Pope Francis oversaw his beatification later on 5 October 2013