Biography of Don Milani
June 26, 1967
Carlo Domenico Lorenzo Milani was born on 27 May 1923 in Florence, the son of Alice and Albano: the father is a chemist owner of properties in Montespertoli, while her mother, a pupil of James Joyce. comes from a family of Czech Jews.
Childhood
In 1930 Lorenzo moves in Milan together with the rest of the family, boost the transfer on economic considerations: here, however, the Milani are isolated from the rest of society, because of their positions Agnostics and anticlerical. To fix that, Lorenzo's parents (who were married in a civil ceremony only) decide to unite in marriage by religious ceremony and baptize their children, including Lorenzo. Growing up, he turns out to be a very smart guy and vivacious, interested in painting: develops such a passion at first privately, and later enrolling at the Brera Academy. During a vacation to Holly, in the summer of 1942, he devoted himself to the fresco of a chapel, and on this occasion finds an old Missal, which begins to read with great interest.The vocation
Returned to Milan, is passionate about the liturgy. A year later, in June 1943, Lorenzo Milani decides to convert, thanks to an interview with don Raffaele Bensi: the 12 of that month is confirmed by Cardinal Elia Dalla Costa. In November, however, enters the workshop of basket in Oltrarno: this is the start of a challenging period, partly because of the clash between the way of doing and thinking of Lorenzo with the mentality of the Curia and the Church, of which the young Tan doesn't understand many things; mannerisms, prudence and rules that, in his opinion, differ significantly from the sincerity and the immediacy of the Gospel.Don Milani
Nevertheless, he was ordained a priest on 13 July 1947, always by Cardinal Elia Dalla Costa, in the duomo of Florence. Later Don Milani is shipped in San Donato di Calenzano, near Florence, as coadjutor: here he became friends with several priests (including Renzo Rossi, Bruno villages and Danilo Cubattoli) and works for a popular school workers. During his years in Florence works with Augustine Ammannati, teacher in a grammar school, and writes "pastoral experiences": the opera, which receives the imprimatur, is retired a few months after publication. In the winter of 1954 he ships in a mountain resort in Mugello, Barbiana, relatively isolated small village located in the municipality of Vicchio: his "exile" in a place so remote is due to his ongoing rifts with the Florentine Curia. At Barbiana Don Milani embarks on first attempt at school full time dedicated to the working classes, and experience the collective writing. The local school is, in fact, a real collective where all collaborate and work together, 365 days a year, in an atmosphere of cooperation. The school is located in some rooms in the rectory near the Church, but often the lesson takes place directly outside.Gli anni ' 60
In 1965 is published by Libreria Editrice Fiorentina "obedience isn't a virtue. Process documents of Don Milani ": because of such a publication he is included among the so-called cattocomunisti, despite having always arrayed against totalitarianism and dictatorships like Communism.Conscientious objection
Always in 1965 dates from another publication, "conscientious objection", published by vicentina locust. This is an essay in which Don Milani is in favour of the right of conscientious objection to military (and which had already been circulated in the weekly "rebirth"): because of this publication, he even tried for apology of crime, and on 15 February of 1966 is acquitted at first instance. Later the school of Barbiana (i.e. the Group of students from Lawrence) gives birth to "letter to a teacher", created in May 1967 in which students, in collaboration with Don Milani, highlight the contradictions of a teaching method and a school system that force most of the country to illiteracy by encouraging the education of only guys who belong to the wealthiest social classes. Among other things, Lorenzo Milani uses the slogan "I care" (meaning "I don't care", "I care", in contrast with the motto "I don't care" typical of fascism): the phrase appears on a sign placed at the entrance of the school, and highlights the main purpose of a statement aimed at civil awareness and social conscience.death
When you write "letter to a teacher," Lorenzo Milani gets sick: Nevertheless, he decides to stay as close as possible to his boys, even to teach them what is death. It's only a few days before rip through leaving Barbiana to return to Florence, resting in his mother's House. Don Milani dies on 26 June 1967 for consequences of a Lymphogranuloma. His body is buried in the cemetery that is located near the Church of Barbiana: he was buried wearing hiking boots and wearing the cassock. "Letter to a teacher" will be published only after the death of Don Milani, and will advance the student movement of 1968. The process for condoning crime that he saw defendant, and he would have to issue the ruling on appeal in October 1967, culminating in a stalemate: the offence is declared extinct for death of the offender.Article contributed by the team of collaborators.