Giacomo Samek Lodovici
Coppia di Santi
Nowadays, more than two children are being accused by some environmentalists of polluting the planet or, in any case, in widespread consideration, it is often judged an irresponsible, even by some Catholics. Even the latter can be reported to the couple of spouses who deal with this text, which has generously and Christianly conceived 21 children (of which six are dead at birth and two at a tender age) and is a candidate for altars. Obviously having no children is not in itself a reason for blame (it depends on the motives, case by case), nor must you fall into the son's fault at all costs (artificial fertilization, etc.) or race to the maximum number of possible children.
The Servants of God and Franciscan ministers Licia Gualandris (1907-2004) and Settimio Mannelli (1886-1978) were encouraged by Father Pio da Pietrelcina, whose spiritual children, and represent an exemplary model of heroic virtues, proposed by Giuseppe Brienza, who is a journalist and publicist, is eager to promote the Church's social doctrine. Settimio's life also includes a conversion: in spite of a youthful mystical experience, he underwent the fascination of decadentism and dandyism in the early twentieth century, he is not practicing and engaging in a sensationally conjoined relationship with a very worldly girl; but then begins a healthy spiritual crisis, which leads him to 38 years to meet Christ. He was mobilized during the First World War, earned the rank of captain for war merits and, once dismissed, having previously obtained two degrees (in Letters and Philosophy and Jurisprudence), Septimius will teach literary subjects in various Italian cities. At age 40 she marries Licia, known in the meantime, and despite the opposition of their respective families of origin, who do not share their spiritual aspirations, they base a family by designing them numerous and feeling called to this vocation. The care of the family was especially heroic during World War II and the First World War, but the testimonies collected on Licia, most of which were responsible for this task, speak of an extraordinary woman for constant smile, continued prayer, and supernatural charity.
One of the children of these spouses is the living father Stefano Manelli, founder of the Franciscans of the Immaculate in 1970, whose text re-appends the highlights of the controversial commissariate that began in 2013.