Born in Como on January 5, 1891.
Died in Brunate (Como) on August 26, 1915.
After completing his high school and high school studies in the seminaries of Como, on 3 August 1911 he entered the Institute of Foreign Missions in Milan as a first theology student. With a constantly cheerful character, he had earned the esteem of his superiors and companions. Struck by etizia he was ordained a priest on April 3, 1915 but had to serve the missions with the serene and resigned offer of his life.
Don Guanella knew well this exemplary young man who was at home at *Provvidenza - his family were furniture and tapestry dealers in via Tommaso Grossi 12, a few steps from the mother house - and whom he loved "like son and brother". On the occasion of the illness of the young aspiring missionary, Don Guanella went to see him and then wrote to his superior, Father * Giuseppe Armanasco: «I can't give you any comforting news about Don Rodolfo although he hopes to recover. We hope and pray. His prayers and fervent wishes will count with God».
Sources:
PIME General Archive, Rome, tit. VI, vol. 6, ff. 475r-477r; tit. 100, ref. 275, doc. 001, 002.
D. Rodolfo Fasola of the ME of Milan, in «The Catholic Missions», 1915, p. 412.
Guanellian sources:
Guanellian Letters, nos. (two new letters from Don Guanella to Father Giuseppe Armanasco of 26 June 1914 and of [July-August 1915] in AGPIME, tit. III, vo. 25, ff. 877r, 881r).
Necrology, in «La Divina Provvidenza», 1915, pp. 140-141.
Photographs:
PIME General Archive, Rome, tit. 100, ref. 275, doc. 001, 200 (courtesy of Father Mauro Mezzadonna).