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The Final Years

Using, as always, his characteristic discourse that aimed directly at provoking heart-felt emotions without indulging in scientific or sociological analysis, don Mazzolari published other significant works in the fifties.
In 1952 La pieve sull'argine (The Parish on the Dam), an in-depth and highly autobiographical story, that retraced the events and vicissitudes of a country priest (don Stefano) during the last years of Fascism.

The anonymous Tu non uccidere (Thou Shalt Not Kill), which confronted the question of war, appeared in 1955. Here, Mazzolari resumed work on one of his unpublished texts from 1941, Risposta a un aviatore (Response to an Aviator), which posed the problem of the lawfulness of war. Indeed, don Primo came to accept conscientious objection and harshly condemned all wars. ("War is not only a calamity, it is a sin." "War does not hold up to Christianity and logic.")

Apart from his books, don Primo spent his remaining energy confronting new themes and familiarizing himself with social problems in other regions. In 1951 he visited the Po Delta, in 1952 he took a trip to Sicily that had a strong impact on him, and in 1953 he went to Sardinia.

Apart from his books, don Primo spent his remaining energy confronting new themes and familiarizing himself with social problems in other regions. In 1951 he visited the Po Delta, in 1952 he took a trip to Sicily that had a strong impact on him, and in 1953 he went to Sardinia.

In the Italian Church, the name Mazzolari continued to spark divisions; many friends, admirers, and disciples of all types, who identified with his struggles and spread his ideas throughout Italy, opposed the way he was, in practice, prohibited from assuming official positions and confined to Bozzolo. Yet, he remained consistent in his intent to "obey on his feet," that is, to submit to his superiors while retaining his dignity and his true sentiments.

At the end of his life, some significant signs indicated that the situation was getting better. In November 1957 the archbishop of Milan, Montini (the future pope Paul VI) called upon him to preach at the Mission of Milan, a well-known and extraordinary initiative of preaching and pastoral intervention. Finally, in February 1959 the new pope, John XXIII, received him in the Vatican - an intensely emotional event for don Primo.

By this time, however, the health of don Mazzolari was in decline. In fact, he died soon after on April 12, 1959. Years later, Paolo VI said of him, "He took a difficult path and it was hard to keep after him. As a result, he suffered and we suffered. That is the destiny of prophets.

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