In a rare interview between Mario Lanza with wife, Betty, hosted by Fr. Keller of the Christophers back in 1955, Mario told Fr. Keller that he was an altar boy in a church that was only about 75 yards from his home. During those quiet times in front of the Blessed Sacrament, Mario saw a vision of his whole singing career from beginning to finish. Mario was only nine year old.
Mario was born Alfred Arnold Cocozza in Philadephia, Pennsylvania, on January 31, 1921. He died at the young age of 38 October 7, 1959 due to a heart attack that was brought about as a result of his use of barbituates to help him to lose weight. His wife, Betty, who was born in 1922, died just 5 months later of a broken heart in 1960. She also died at the young age of 38. They were buried in a wall crypt side by side and were survived by their four children...one of whom died in 2008.
During Mario's interview with Fr. Keller, Mario made these wonderful statements:
1) "I was given this singing voice as a gift to give to the public. God gave me this gift to give be a Transmitter of Beauty to the world. This gift is not for me but placed into my keeping for others."
2) "We all are to be transmitters of beauty in the world."
3) "God showed me at the tender age of nine my whole career as a singer...from beginning to end."
4) "We all have a call from God to do something special with our lives."
5) "I love my wife, Betty. She is such a joy and beauty in my life."
6) "I met Betty from my army buddy (Bert Hicks) who showed me her picture and said, 'Isn't she beautiful?' After saying 'Yes', he told me later that she was his sister!"
Mario took his name from his mother's maiden name: "Maria Lanza".
Lesson learned by the Great Mario Lanza for our lives. God gives us gifts and lets us use them for His glory and our livelihood. But God does allow us to make mistakes. Mario who lost the role of the Student Prince because of his weight problem but did do all the singing in the movie, still -- in order to lose weight -- took the way that was dangerous. How dangerous he knew it to be only God knows. But his early death took not only his own life but the life of his wife, Betty, as well.
We learn from all of this that "fame and fortune" are not worth giving your life for...and surely not taking the life of another for. Look at all the famous people of history who have done just that: The Alexanders, the Napoleons, the Wallaces, even the Davids. All these spent their lives in seeking glory. And they all took many lives with them. Mario only took his and his wife's. He did not mean to do so. He was a good Cathoic man, faithful husband and good father; but still "fame and fortune" was his downfall. Let is not be ours.
Eternal rest be on Mario and his wife, Betty's soul, O Lord. Let Your eternal light shine upon them forever. May Mario's most beautiful singing of Shubert's "Ave Maria" be heard and replayed in heaven and echo down the halls of eternity -- as the most beautiful singing of that aria to Mary in the history of music. Amen.
Peace and love, Pio
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