In the heart of Italy, amidst the timeless allure of Rome, there unfolds a story that bridges the chasm between the secular and the sacred, the mundane and the divine. Father Salvatore Di Fazio, an Italian Dominican priest, embodies this remarkable journey of transformation, which carries echoes of Dante's verse, "I found myself within a forest dark, for the straightforward pathway had been lost." Father Salvatore's odyssey unfolds against a backdrop of Foundation support and a newfound faith, transcending the secular values that once defined his life.

Born in Palermo, Sicily, in 1980, Father Salvatore entered the world as part of an atheist, if not agnostic, family. Early on, his parents embarked on a journey of faith and conversion, leading the family toward God's embrace. Around the age of 14, Father Salvatore reluctantly joined his family in their newfound spiritual quest, attending church and prayer groups. These initial steps laid the foundation for his later spiritual awakening.

As his parents delved deeper into their newfound faith, a growing divide emerged within the family. Father Salvatore's journey was marked by a deliberate distancing from the path his parents chose. The very values instilled in his youth, centered on money, fame, and power, compelling him to seek these worldly pursuits. He embarked on a trajectory of ambition and success, becoming a young manager by the age of 25, sharing his life with his girlfriend, and accumulating the trappings of a prosperous existence, from a house to a dog, a car, and even a motorcycle. His days were a cacophony of work, home, and sport, as he dedicated himself to disciplines like Karate and Kung-Fu, even serving as an instructor in the latter.

Yet, beneath this veneer of success lay a profound emptiness, an unrelenting unhappiness that gnawed at Father Salvatore's soul. In August 2008, a pivotal encounter and a series of life-altering events led him back to the Church, albeit with caution and skepticism. It was as though the Lord was weaving an intricate tapestry of love around him, guiding him back into the fold. In October 2008, after a decade-long absence, he returned to the confessional and experienced a profound transformation. This transformation was so profound that it led to the end of his relationship with his girlfriend, who could not reconcile with the newfound spiritual fervor that consumed him.

This event marked the beginning of a dark and tumultuous period in Father Salvatore's life. He likened it to Dante's journey “through a forest dark”, an analogy that poignantly captured his sense of confusion and disorientation. The path he had meticulously chosen over the years had led him astray, and now he found himself confronting the unfamiliar terrain of faith and spirituality. For the next five years, he navigated this uncharted territory within the Catholic Church, guided by a spiritual mentor who helped him confront his mistakes, acknowledge his strengths, and discern God's calling.

During this period of self-discovery, Father Salvatore gradually shed old friendships that had proven toxic to his newfound happiness, making way for new relationships and connections. As he delved deeper into the church's teachings and embraced a life guided by faith, he could no longer ignore the pervasive sense of dissatisfaction that pervaded his career and personal life. In 2011, he relocated to London in pursuit of his professional aspirations and the hope of building a Christian family.

However, his time in London was marked by failed relationships and a growing sense of unfulfillment. He grappled with a profound question: Could he find happiness in a different vocation? While his initial conviction was that happiness could only be found in the company of a woman, he began to explore alternative possibilities. It was during this period of introspection that a particular painting from his grandmother's room reemerged in his thoughts—a depiction of the Madonna of Pompeii, accompanied by St. Dominic of Guzman and St. Catherine of Siena.

This seemingly innocuous recollection set Father Salvatore on a path of inquiry into religious orders that could offer him the contentment he sought. Despite initial doubts and uncertainties, he embarked on a journey to discover where his true happiness lay. The process was marked by trials, vocational meetings, a pre-novitiate phase, and ultimately, the novitiate, where he finally found genuine happiness and fulfillment by his own admission.

Eight years into his formative journey, Father Salvatore had the privilege of fulfilling a dream he had never truly envisioned for himself: to preach for the salvation of others, share his happiness, and glorify God. His pursuit of higher education brought him to the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross, an institution chosen for its esteemed faculty, alignment with the Catholic Church's doctrine, and its dedication to his discipline: moral theology.

Father Salvatore's unwavering commitment to his calling and studies is indebted to the generosity of benefactors, including foundations like the Formation Foundation. Their support enables him and countless other priests and seminarians, both diocesan and religious, to better serve the people of God.

In the heart of Rome, the eternal city, Father Salvatore Di Fazio's life narrative unfolds as a testament to the transformative power of faith, the pursuit of happiness, and the guiding hand of the divine. His journey from a secular existence, marked by worldly aspirations, to a life devoted to God's service resonates with the timeless themes of spiritual awakening and self-discovery, encapsulated in the verses of Dante Alighieri. Through trials and tribulations, doubts and revelations, Father Salvatore found his path within the Catholic Church, where his newfound happiness is not measured by worldly standards but by the immeasurable grace of faith and the unwavering pursuit of God's love.