FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS - PART 9
Trying to fix things that don't work is a must. But then one must also understand when hope is futile. The fusion had failed, and the sound was not what was expected. On 22 July 1937 the Mayor of Rovereto decided to send a statement to Don Rossaro suspending « the swinging of the Sacred Bell ». The answer was clear: «It will be my concern to restore to Rovereto, safely and with optimal and long-lasting efficiency, the soulful Bell of the Fallen, which, looking at its future with unshakeable faith, cries: post fata resurgo!».
Support for the new project came from various governments. Belgium, Romania, Austria, England, Bulgaria, France, Czechoslovakia, Japan, Portugal and Italy donated cannons to be melted down. Despite the veto of the fascist regime, Don Rossaro asked European governments to send lyrics of popular military songs and thoughts on war and peace to be engraved in gold inside the Bell. A panel from the Accademia degli Agiati translated and evaluated the words.
The Second World War was upon us, the Bell had been silent for some time, and there were those who continued to weave the web of peace, which sometimes seemed like that of Penelope, but in reverse: woven at night, undone during the day.
We were working towards the future, but in the meantime, we had to deal with the present and remove the Bell. Don Rossaro had written a farewell hymn and had it set to music by Romano Mojoli.
From your illustrious throne
descend, oh pious Bell.
Already an age is moving away,
a new age shines.
Maria Dolens was lowered into the square below the Malipiero bastion, but contrary to supposition, she remained almost intact.
That day, among the singers called to salute Maria Dolens was Rita Bortolotti, a student from the «Beata Vergine Maria» Institute. A few days later, on March 18, 1938, the little girl gave the teacher an essay, after having copied it out, entitled Goodbye Bell!.
«Oh, how beautiful Tuesday was! The director, at the request of Commendatore Don Rossaro, invited us to bid farewell to the bell before it left for Verona to be recast. As soon as we reached the castle, I looked for the bell; I really wanted to see it up close. It lay on the ground, silent, calm, motionless and mute, covered by a tricolour cloth. As I looked at it, I thought that when I heard her ringing those sad one hundred chimes of hers in the evening, she seemed to be telling me: "Little girl, pray for the poor victims of war".
I also remembered when I went to salute the beautiful big bell with my little bell on Easter Saturday. In a few minutes the fourth and fifth classes formed a circle around the memorable bell. Commendatore Don Rossaro, the director and other authorities were also present. There was a call for attention and the girls sang a farewell hymn to the bell. Commendatore Don Rossaro then gave us a short but beautiful speech. He told us that although the bell would be brought to Verona, it would not be Verona's, but would forever be ours and that it would be brought to 150 quintals. The director also said some nice words to us. Before leaving they showed us the first strikes of the clapper. At the first strike the bell chipped slightly, at the second it cracked, at the third…it broke. We paraded in front of the bell and saluted her again. Goodbye bell, come back soon to our city, come more beautiful, bigger, brighter and sharper. I want to hear your chimes again that tell me: “Little girl, pray for the poor victims of war!”».
The Bell being lowered from the Malipiero Bastion
