INTERVIEW/ANTONIO DELLA GATTA

What did you do?

With tears streaming down from my eyes, I prayed for guidance. I also purchased a copy of the Catholic Jerusalem Bible, which had recently been published in Italian, and began reading it. Then, one Sunday morning as I was hanging up my robes after Mass, two men came to the seminary.  They introduced themselves as Jehovah's Witnesses.  We talked for more than an hour about the Bible and what it says about the identifying marks of true religion.

What was your impression of the visitors?

I admired their conviction and the ease with which they referred to passages in a Catholic edition of the Bible. Later, another Witness, named Mario, began visiting me. He was patient and faithful-every Saturday morning, rain or shine, he rang the seminary doorbell at nine 0'clock. 

What did the other priests think of these visits?

I invited them  to join in our discussions, but none took Bible study seriously. I, however, enjoyed it. I was learning wonder things, such as why God tolerates evil and suffering-something that had long puzzled me. 

Did your superiors try to dissuade you from studying the Bible?  

In 1975, I visited Rome to explain my views. My superiors tried to change my thinking, but none used the Bible.  Finally, on January 9, 1976, I wrote to Rome stating that I no  longer  considered myself a Catholic. Two days later, I left the seminary and took a train to attend my first meeting of Jehovah's Witnesses, which turned out to be an assembly involving several congregations.  Everything was so different from what I was accustomed to! Each Witness had a Bible and followed along with the speakers as they discussed various topics. 

What did your family think about all of this?

Most of them bitterly opposed me. I found out, however, that one of my brothers was studying with the Witnesses in Lombardy, a region in northern Italy. I went to see him, and the Witnesses there helped me to find work and a place to live. Later that year, I was baptized  as one of Jehovah's Witnesses.

Do you have any regrets?

Not at all!  At last, I feel truly close to God, because what I know about him is based on the Bible, not philosophy or church tradition. And I can teach others with conviction and sincerity.

Next time: THE BIBLE'S VIEWPOINT/THE MESSIAH

From the AWAKE! magazine, 2015