A candid soul in life who did not know how to hide anything, Don Armando was even more so in death with such a disruptive force that he opened up to understanding that was not new the experience of a priest entirely of God. It is the spiritual testament, kept in the archives of the confreres of the Congregation, elaborated not to exalt merits and virtues but only to sing a magnificat to the Most High who has showered him with gifts. His attentive reading - in that writing all flights and large spaces revealing a simple soul - in its many facets, reveals above all that Don Armando possessed an adamantine personality mixed with God in his intentions and works and that love was the flame that devoured him. Thus he writes: «I believed in him, I loved him, I made him loved... Spending so many years testifying only to God, his justice, his love is truly divine... I wished that the whole earth was a single temple, to make the song of love of all creatures rise up to heaven". Moreover, this movement of all his being towards God was felt in the simple contact with Him. It was as if in him the body made unity with his soul, the will with the intelligence. It was perceived as if there was only one desire in him: to love God. Only God. So much so that he couldn't help but wish it on others as well: «The Lord loves you, you know! Make yourself holy!». Of course, everything came to him from God. He was the first to recognize that everything had been given to him: «Thank you, Lord, for all the favors bestowed upon me; I don't count them anymore; they are innumerable".
Life above all: he was born in Pavia d'Udine into a "Christian family, governed by a holy mother". He has a poignant memory of his father, who fell on Monte S. Michele (GO) in 1917, when he was four years old. He has veneration for his mother, guardian angel of his life, who educated him with every concern and offered him with gratitude to the Lord, when he manifested the desire to start the priesthood. "I was admitted to First Communion at the age of 9": that gift kindled in him the great flame of his youth and adulthood, the Eucharist, seen "as a source of light, comfort and infinite hope. I believed in his presence. I entrusted myself to Jesus in the Eucharist with evident certainty and, in the tremendous grip of innumerable trials, I cried out to him: "Lord, that I believe!": light and comfort unfailingly arrived". Then there is "the gift of the priestly and religious vocation". He entered the Udine seminar first. He attended the first four years of gymnasium there. Then he came to the Opera Don Guanella, where he diligently carried out his ecclesiastical studies, at the same time attending, with an evident spirit of sacrifice, to assisting needy childhood in the Guanellian institutes of S. Luigi in Albizzate (VA), Blessed Tomitano of Vellai di Feltre (BL), Divine Providence House of Ferentino (FR). He made his first profession in 1937, his perpetual profession in 1940. He was ordained a priest in 1943. In characterizing the formative period, he has only one hint: «I tried to do what was possible in me ... I only wanted to be a good example ». Instead, he affirms much more of his priesthood, of religious life, the first fruits of which were dedicated almost exclusively to the formation of Guanellian clerics, first as an educator, then as vice-master and finally as master of novices: 11 long years between the Studentato S Gerolamo di Fara Novarese and the Casa don Guanella di Barza, then the seat of the Novitiate and full of youthful presences, to which it was necessary to devote oneself with generosity on a daily basis, without showing tiredness, inevitable suffering.
Many of the confreres had him as an indefatigable educator and teacher of the spirit, spurred on to virtue by the short phrases he used to enter their young hearts: "We are men made for God...". «Love him, love him with joy», because: «The priest of faith is always a happy soul... It brings light where there is darkness, it brings peace where there is war. He is usually with a smile, even if crosses and suffering torment him. Serene, generous, balanced, cordial... We form a bloc of optimism... Let joy shine in everyone's eyes and always stay in our homes". And still almost punctually every day the recommendation: «Love the Church, the Pope, the Congregation». A magisterium that found correspondence in his life and that could not fail to emerge from his spiritual testament: «In the Congregation I lived with joy, even if I suffered so much. I loved the Church and the Congregation. I cannot divide these two large families. For me they formed a single love. I loved the Pope because I saw Christ in him. Loving him and following his directives is an obligation, it is light, it is joy. I loved Our Lady and I would have liked everyone to understand the greatness and beauty of this flower, the most beautiful on earth". Don Armando, chosen by the Holy Spirit for great commitments in the Congregation, had reached the goal of major responsibilities. In 1958, he was chosen and sent by the Major Superiors, who recognized in him a wealth of natural and supernatural gifts, as Delegate of the Superior General in the Latin American nations of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Chile. He spent six years there. In 1964, good character, quality of life and vast preparation, made even more concrete by the experience among the young novices in Italy and the confreres in Latin America, were the elements that guided the Guanellian religious delegates to the X General Chapter in entrust him with the reins of the entire Congregation. During the years of his intense service, he had the joy of seeing the Founder beatified by Paul VI, of increasing the Work in Italy and abroad, of giving a great impetus to the updating of people and structures wanted by the Second Vatican Council, to lead the first Guanellian pilgrimage to the Holy Land. These are just some of his implementations in the directive field, because Don Armando always becomes a valid animator, a convincing communicator for the faithful confreres in moments of heavy difficulty for the moral and disciplinary life of the Congregation. He testifies to this in his Spiritual Diary: «I have loved the confreres and all the people I have known on earth: I have always seen in each one the reflection of God and the immortal soul. I could not love everyone; but in God and for God". However, it is the letters sent to the confreres during the six-year period that reveal the delicate and passionate feelings with which he directs the Congregation. There is a pressing invitation to generosity, that is, to generate goodness in us and around us with dedication, according to the etymological meaning of the term. For him, this seems to be the best portrait of the Guanellian: «The more we nourish spirituality, the more we increase the power of good in souls. May the Servant of Charity always keep the spirit of prayer, humility, sacrifice and charity. Always be a friend, confidant, educator of souls... Above all, it will be light that shines in the darkness; it will be a fire that will kindle everyone with the love of Christ». Finally, a third date should be mentioned here, because it still forms part of his active ministry and full of responsibility: the taking possession, on 22 September 1970, the feast of Christ the King, of the Church of S. Gaetano of Milan as parish priest. While everything around him is colored with celebration and he is welcomed with an irrepressible cry of joy «Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord», he notes: «On the day of my entry as parish priest of St. Gaetano, in simplicity of heart, in poverty of spirit, in generosity of intentions I come to consecrate myself for the good and salvation of this portion of God's people as a brother, guide and shepherd". Those among the parishioners who lived next to him can testify how faithful he was to this program: "I consecrate myself": these are the words of Jesus to the disciples at the last supper. It was and is a sacrificial gesture, it is the offering of life without calculations or regrets until the sacrifice. In fact, in 14 years, he spent it between the confessional, preaching, caring for the least, the suffering, and those souls who, attracted by his radical life, wanted to form a prayer and apostolic group around him, and set themselves the goal of living the Christian life intensely and fully.
In 1984, he returned to Barza. Here in hiding - at least apparent - he places himself at everyone's disposal and becomes the comforter of those who are afflicted, distressed, the counselor of souls, a call of hope and life. For him it was a preparation - as he often said - for death, but for the others who turned to him it was a tap into the gushing life of the spirit. Sister Death knocks on the door of the house; Don Armando intuits this when she writes: «My life was a breath, it flew like a whirlwind, it ended in a moment. Brothers, don't waste time! Tell everyone not to waste time. An hour spent with God or witnessing good is a wonderful thing. Spending so many years testifying only to God, his justice, his love for him is truly divine. Do this, do this, so that good may return to the world, the light may shine and there may be peace. God, Trinity whom I adore, mercy and mercy on me. Most Holy Virgin, help me in extreme moments and, so that I don't feel the tremendous fear of just judgement, bring me You who have always been a loving and benign mother. My Guardian Angel, thank you for having fulfilled your divine mission with me so magnificently. God rewards you with his eternal gifts. Thank you all for your examples, for your faith, for your charity. If by God's mercy I am saved, I will not be at peace in Paradise, but I will want to repay everyone, everyone, for the good I have received from you here. In what manner? Obtaining for you so much light, so much comfort, security and so much good. For everyone. After my death, do not communicate the news to anyone before the funeral. Don't worry about anything, about nothing. The funeral is modest and simple. And more what to say? celebrate, not mourn. Why? Because I'm done offending God and you. It seems to me right that those present in the House of my death should enjoy and celebrate. Excuse me and forgive so much inconvenience. Once again, however, I repeat to you: pray for me. I will repay you, I hope, soon with God's grace. Brothers, brothers in the Faith, relatives, life is short. But don't waste it; live in the sign of God, but be quick and always do well. Trials, humiliations, sufferings pass, but the good done remains for eternal life. Courage! A few more years and we will meet again in life that will never fail forever. Party, party! Glory to the Trinity and salvation to all".