The story of Giuseppe Ottone, the child who gave his life to save his mother

In this article we want to talk to you about Giuseppe Ottone, known as Peppino, a boy who left an indelible mark in the community of Torre Annunziata. Born in difficult conditions and adopted by a humble family, Peppino lived a short but intense life, characterized by a deep faith and a great love for others.

Its history is marked by gestures of generosity and altruism: every morning he brought his breakfast to an elderly man, he shared his lunch with the needy and invited his less fortunate companions to his home. His devotion to Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Madonna urged him to go to the Sanctuary of Pompeii to pray and meditate.

But the most touching moment of his life was when, faced with the prospect of lose your mother, ill and about to undergo a surgery, Peppino offered himself as a sacrifice in her place.

Peppino was very close to his mother, to whom he promised that one day he would guarantee her one more comfortable life to compensate for the humiliations inflicted by his father. There were tensions between the adoptive parents: the father was irascible and violent and he supported his mother during her drunken moments. It was his mother who passed it on to him faith. At just seven years old, he made his First Communion, developing a deep devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and to the Madonna, venerated in the image of Pompeii.

Peppino Ottone dies to save his mother's life

So to save the woman who had welcomed him and loved him, when he found an image of the Madonna on the street, he asked Mary to take his life instead of that of the mother. A few moments later, he fell unconscious and never recovered.

His gesture of supreme love and sacrifice moved all those who knew him and his death was experienced as a authentic martyrdom. His mother, at his bedside, recited the Rosary while Peppino passed away, accepting his fate with serenity and trust in God.

Peppino's reputation for holiness spread rapidly and the Church began the beatification process, which ended in 1975 with the closure of the diocesan phase. Today many believers hope that Giuseppe Ottone can be proclaimed blessed and venerated as an example of faith and sacrifice for future generations.