SETTIMIO MANELLI
Settimio studied classical literature. At the age of sixteen, being very versatile and gifted with noticeable intelligence and great culture, he already published some poetry, arousing the praise of the learned scholars of his time. When he reached his peak, he composed works of a high level such as: La Canzone del Kaiser, L’ex Kaiser, and Spartacus. Immediately after his degree in Classic Literature, he became permanent professor of literature at the school of the Regno . He also studied law.
During World War I, he served his country from 1915-18 with the rank of Aviator Lieutenant, distinguishing himself for his courage and capacity, for which he was promoted, because of his war-merits, to the rank of Lieutenant Air-force Colonel.
In matters of faith, however, until 1924 he declared himself agnostic: even though he had an admiration for Jesus because he knew the Gospel, he did not recognize the authority of his Church. A worldly man, he aspired to glory and power, but he was generous and of good heart.
In 1924 he completely changed his life with his conversion that came about through St. Pio of Pietrelcina. He became the Saint’s devoted and most faithful spiritual child. Thus he began his spiritual journey towards Heaven; taking the Holy Gospel as his guide book, which he already knew but which he read and meditated for the rest of his life, putting it into practice. It is not without reason that St. Pio once said to a group of gentlemen when he saw Settimio enter the sacristy, “Behold, a person who perfectly puts the Gospel into practice.”
LICIA GUALANDRIS
When she was little, Licia had the grace of being educated by a holy priest, Fr. Giulio Bilabini, who filled her heart with love for the Eucharist and for the Blessed Virgin Mary. An assiduous young lady, especially devoted to the Sacraments, she studied at “Armanni” High School in Bergamo. When she was 17 years old, she got a job at Benigno Crespi Factory, where her father worked.
Her love story with Settimio Manelli began in 1925. At that time Settimio Manelli was 38 years old and taught literature at the Royal College in Bergamo. Their first encounter took place in Albino, a small town near Nembro, in the house of a mutual medical friend. Settimio was immediately struck by Licia's beauty and youth. She was not yet 19 years old. He knew in his heart that she was the woman God had chosen for him. He had previously begged Padre Pio to help him meet a woman who would always be pleasing to him. In fact, as soon as he saw her he said, “How beautiful you are! I would like to sculpt 20 children in bronze out of you”, thus revealing his great desire to form a Christian family that was open to life.
Licia, who was also looking for a Christian spouse, had also entrusted herself to the Blessed Virgin who was very devoted to. Despite the age difference, she fell in love with Settimio and almost immediately allowed herself to be conquered by the nobility and loftiness of Settimio’s Christian sentiments as well as his great love and devotion for Jesus and Mary. These sentiments can be deduced by the letters that Settimio wrote to her in this period, and which their children have conserved.
The modern culture bases the relationship of fiancées only on physical knowledge, while it almost completely neglects the moral and spiritual knowledge. During their brief engagement, despite the physical attraction they felt, Settimio and Licia knew how to wait to give themselves to each other. In this way, they respected the Sacrament of Matrimony which is based on unity, indissolubility and fecundity, as this is the duty for every true Christian.
Naturally, the family that grows on these foundations will reveal itself being a family according to how God planned it to be.
For Licia and Settimio, the most important mission was precisely that of guiding their large family, with St. Pio assuming its spiritual paternity in 1926. For 52 years, they were faithful spouses until Settimio died in 1978 and Licia in 2004.
The Saint of Gargano , Padre Pio of Pietrelcina, who Settimio introduced Licia to immediately after they married, guided and protected them from many dangers.
CHRISTIAN SPOUSES BLESSED BY PADRE PIO
On July 15, 1926, Settimio and Licia were married in the parish church of Nembro, precisely in the Chapel dedicated to Our Lady.
Settimio, contrary to any form of worldliness, immediately left Nembro after the wedding took his bride to San Giovanni Rotondo to introduce her to Padre Pio. As soon as he saw them, he gave them his blessing. Licia went to Confession and asked Padre Pio to protect the new family that was about to be born. St. Pio responded with the reassuring and wonderful words, “This is my family. I have taken the duty to protect and to defend it upon myself." From then on, they began their life together, heralding joys, sorrows and very difficult trials, always comforted by Christian hope, trust in Divine Providence and often times by the miraculous intervention of St. Pio.
Their first residence was in Bergamo, where Settimio was a professor of Literature. Two children were born there who survived: Saulo and Gianbattista. The first time Licia gave birth, she had twins on April 26, the feast of Our Lady of Good Counsel, which later became an important date in the life of the family. Unfortunately, one of the twins died and she was named Consiglia (which is the feminine form in Italian of the name 'Counsel'). The joy of giving birth was also united to the suffering of the death of their first daughter.
Afterwards, a period of both serenity and suffering followed. The union of the two spouses was troubled by a persecution against Settimio at school because he was anti-Fascist (1928 was the full blown Fascist period in Italy). In fact, at school, things went badly for Settimio who, in the end, was transferred to Fiume, a city on the Italian border . One can only imagine the suffering of both spouses who found themselves transferred to an almost foreign place without relatives or friends.
However, Padre Pio of Pietrelcina, who they went to visit before transferring, consoled and reassured them, predicting that they would stay in Fiume for seven years, and that all would go well. Everything turned out as he predicted.
For both of them, Fiume was an oasis of peace. Settimio struck up a friendship with the Bishop of Fiume, Msgr. Isidoro Sain, who also became a devotee of St. Pio after having made friends with Settimio.
Divine Providence always came to help the family as the number of births gradually increased.
As a professor of Literature, Settimio taught at the Royal College “Leonardo da Vinci”. The Bishop also entrusted to him the teaching of literature at the diocesan minor seminary.
Because of his culture and profound patristic knowledge, as well as his knowledge of the works of St. Augustine, of St. Thomas and of the Catholic philosophers and theologians, Settimio was elected president of the Catholic Action Group.
In 1931, he became a Franciscan Tertiary. Wherever Settimio found himself - at school, at church, or at home - he carried out the apostolate of exalting Christ and His Gospel, awakening and enlightening souls. He participated in the activities of the Capuchin Fathers who were in Fiume, writing for their magazine “Annali Francescani” (Franciscan Annals). He spoke with enthusiasm about Padre Pio and often brought groups of people in need, above all, of spiritual help to San Giovanni Rotondo, such as Dr. Lusardi who was converted by St. Pio.
THE FAMILY GROWS
Meanwhile the pregnancies continued and the family grew steadily. For Settimio and Licia every child was a gift from God, a grace from the God of life. Every year, they would stop at the Shrine of Loreto on their way to San Giovanni Rotondo. Here, in the Holy House of Nazareth, they would consecrate every newborn to Our Lady.
Licia took care of the family and did not stop for a moment: she washed, cleaned, cooked, ironed and sewed. Like Settimio, though, she always found time to pray and to make her children pray. At that time she already had four children and was expecting the fifth. She also cared for her mother-in-law, who was very sick, with great attention and charity. Settimio had provided for the good of his mother's soul by taking her to meet St. Pio of Pietrelcina. She died peacefully, lovingly assisted by her son and daughter-in-law.
Licia and Settimio lived according to the plan they had established for their spiritual life when they were first married. This walk of faith was never interrupted but continued to strengthen and elevate itself, despite the painful trials they were subjected to over the course of the years.
St. Pio was always present, protecting and helping them. In 1935, Settimio was reported by the Headmaster, Gino Sirola, for not having a Fascist membership card. He was called to the “Disciplinare ” in Rome, and thanks to the miraculous intervention of Padre Pio, he didn’t lose his job as a professor. These were terrible moments for Licia as well, who had just given birth to their seventh child, Francesco. Settimio losing his job would have meant misery and hunger for the whole family because there was no other income other than what he earned. They never despaired from the moment they places their absolute trust in Divine Providence and the God's help, together with St. Pio's; this was nurtured by prayer and the continual reception of the Sacraments.
On the advice of Padre, though, the whole family moved to the small town of Lucera, in the province of Foggia, about 35 miles (60 Km) from San Giovanni Rotondo. Padre Pio wanted “his family” closer, and told the parents that “Lucera era luce” (Lucera was light).
Settimio and Licia remained in this little town for thirteen years. Although they lacked the many commodities and services they had taken advantage of in Fiume, at Lucera, they were saved from the horrors of War World II and the bombing that Fiume underwent. More so when Settimio, who had been called to military service once more as a Senior Officer in the Air Force, was sent home as Padre Pio had predicted. Licia would have otherwise found herself alone with eleven little children.
During in the war, the sufferings were certainly many: extreme poverty, a lack of beds, blankets, and clothes… But Padre Pio provided for two essential things: health and daily bread. In fact, he made sure that these things were never lacking, not to mention the many other times Padre Pio miraculously intervened.
A LIFE EVER MORE RICH WITH CHILDREN
Licia and Settimio willingly accepted the sacrifices, rolling up their sleeves and keeping themselves busy in every field, as the family continued to grow. They continued to strengthen their prayer life even more and taught their children to do so as well. They also took care of their children’s studies, their growth, and their formation.
Every morning, Licia would run to the church for the first Mass and Settimio would then go as soon as she came home. After this, they would recite their prayers before breakfast with all their children. After this brief interval of serenity, Settimio would go to school and also the older children. The little ones would stay at home with Licia who would begin her laborious day of work. Unlike many mothers who are always nervous and unhappy even with only two children, Licia, instead was always smiling, serene, full of joy and good will. A very active and practical woman. She would work continuously and only stop when she had to breast feed the latest new born. For her, this break of about an hour was a special moment for her to pray, recite the Rosary, read the life of the saints and books that speak of the Virgin Mary, meditating deeply on the way to educate her children. Then she began her work again until evening when, with Settimio, the family gathered to recite the Holy Rosary.
The pregnancies continued. By now the children were many: 2 were born in Bergamo, 5 in Fiume, 2 in Pescara, 3 in Lucera until 1945; in 1947 Marcella was born, and Francesco Pio had been born and subsequently died in San Giovanni Rotondo in 1941. When they moved to Rome in 1950, Giuseppe, the twenty-first child was born and this concluded the series of births.
Educating the children was certainly not easy; it required strength and constancy. Licia and Settimio, following the counsels of Padre Pio who recommended to “keep them on a tight rein”, never gave in to their caprices, even if it cost them to do so. All of the children received their First Communion from St. Pio. They learned to pray in the morning and the evening, say grace before meals, respect the 10 Commandments, frequent the Sacrament of the Eucharist and Confession every Sunday and Holy Days of Obligation, make the nine First Fridays of the month, the five First Saturdays for Our Lady and the month of May with “little flowers” to offer to the Immaculate. Only this way the family could grow united and devoted and be able to face adversities with faith, hope, charity and great trust in Divine Providence. “Providence has arrived”, the children would cry out when help would arrive in difficult moments.
Settimio and Licia were also exemplary in accepting sufferings, humiliations and privations with Christian resignation. Their situation did not permit them to give the family that decorum required in a provincial city such as Lucera, and the social position Settimio had obtained as a School Principal and as a Colonel in the Air Force. But they were above human respect: they wanted to be poor because evangelically, they understood that poverty is a "treasure”.
After World War II, Settimio also successively entered a political career in the Christian Democratic Party, next to Amintore Fanfani. When the elections came around, however, it was proposed that Settimio should join the Liberal party but he categorically refused because he knew that many of them were free masons. This cost him the candidacy to Parliament. He accepted the great injustice in silence. As a great defender of Christ, no power or human strength could set him against Him.
In the years lived at Lucera, the presence of Padre Pio made itself felt . The greatest miracle happened when the Freemasons started to persecute Settimio at school. As it had happened in Fiume these were also terrible moments. Once more, there was the grave risk of Settimio losing his job. Licia immediately turned to St. Pio and begged him to help. The children also participated in their parents' suffering and worry, and all prayed the Rosary in particular. As always, the saint of Gargano intervened and the affair resolved itself. St. Pio, however, advised Settimio to move to Rome so his children could go to university. They obeyed and in 1948 they arrived in Rome to everybody's great joy. This was the last time the family moved house.
FROM EARTH TO HEAVEN
The first years of their life in Rome were perhaps the most difficult the family had experienced. It was much more expensive living in Rome, and at times they were lacking food, clothes, shoes and books for studying. But Divine Providence, that the two spouses strongly trusted in, greatly intervened. Although obtaining only the bare necessities, everyone was happy and grateful, giving thanks to God, the Blessed Virgin and St. Pio. Licia and Settimio would never forget the fatigue and the sacrifices of those years but despite everything, Christian joy pervaded their souls. They thanked God for the hard blows because they understood that God wanted to strengthen them ever more; it is by the way of the cross that one reaches Paradise.
With the help of Divine Providence and St. Pio, little by little one child graduated after the other and settled down in life. This was a relief for them but the greatest joy they had was when their son Stefano, who was already a Franciscan friar was ordained a priest. They had prayed for their children's vocations but only one responded to God's call. Stefano was the greatest consolation for them. Later on, he founded a new branch of the Seraphic Order, the Franciscans of the Immaculate, as well as an Association for the Laity: the Missionaries of the Immaculate Mediatrix (M.I.M.).
Settimio and Licia fulfilled their duty as Christian spouses, respecting the indissolubility and fidelity of Matrimony. They fulfilled their duty of parents, accepting all the children God had wanted to send them, raising them for Heaven. They ended their life after having heroically fulfilled the duties in their proper state of life, accepting suffering with great patience, always trusting infinitely in Providence, always conserving the joy and peace of God in their hearts.
For both of them, the last period of their life was a journey to complete their conformity to Christ through the cross of sickness, supported with love and resignation and sustained by incessant prayer. Settimio returned to the Father’s house in 1978. Licia outlived him by another 25 years, living a life dedicated to prayer and charity, always coming to the aid of her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and to whomever was in need.
SERVANTS OF GOD SETTIMIO MANELLI AND LICIA GUALANDRIS, intercede for Husband and Wives, for their children and for the whole family, THE DOMESTIC CHURCH!
