Emilio Pisani
 Emilio Pisani
| |
| General Information | |
|---|---|
| Birth | March 11, 1935, Isola del Liri, Italy |
| Death | September 29, 2023 |
| Nationality | Italian |
| Education | Law studies (Jurisprudence) |
| Occupation | Publisher, author |
| Main roles | Founding President of the Maria Valtorta Heir Foundation
Director of the Valtortian Editorial Center |
| Spouse | Claudia Vecchiarelli († 2012) |
Emilio Pisani (March 11, 1935 – September 29, 2023) was an Italian publisher and author, known for dedicating most of his life to the dissemination and preservation of the writings of the Italian mystic writer Maria Valtorta. Heir to a family tradition in publishing, he was one of the main architects of the international publication of her works, notably through the creation of the Valtortian Editorial Center and the Maria Valtorta Heir Foundation, which he chaired until his death.
Biography[edit | edit source]
Youth and education[edit | edit source]
Emilio Pisani was born on March 11, 1935, in Isola del Liri, in the province of Frosinone, Italy. He was the son of Michele Pisani, a publisher and printer, heir to a typographic tradition dating back to the early 20th century. He thus grew up in an environment deeply influenced by the world of books and publishing[1].
He undertook law studies and obtained a degree in jurisprudence. However, he chose not to pursue a legal profession in order to devote himself to the family publishing business and later, almost exclusively, to the work of Maria Valtorta[2].
Alongside his professional activity, he was involved in local ecclesiastical life, notably within the Catholic Action of the diocese of Sora-Aquino-Pontecorvo.
Encounter with the work of Maria Valtorta[edit | edit source]
On October 6, 1952, the family publishing house signed a contract for the publication of the writings of Maria Valtorta. This event marked a decisive turning point in Emilio Pisani's life. He then participated directly in the work of composing, layout, and printing the first volumes of Valtorta’s work[1].
Gradually, this work became a true vocation for him. Convinced of the spiritual and literary value of these writings, he decided to devote most of his activities to them. To fully commit himself to this mission, he later transferred his share of the family business to his brother, focusing henceforth almost exclusively on promoting the work of Maria Valtorta[3].
Editorial commitment[edit | edit source]
The Valtortian Editorial Center[edit | edit source]
In 1985, Emilio Pisani founded with his wife Claudia Vecchiarelli the Valtortian Editorial Center (CEV)[4], a publishing house entirely dedicated to the publication of the writings of Maria Valtorta. This initiative aimed to provide a stable and specialized framework for a work whose dissemination was then taking on an international dimension[5].
Under his direction, the CEV developed new editions, revisions, and translations. Maria Valtorta's main work, now known under the title The Gospel as It Was Revealed to Me, was published and distributed in many languages. Pisani personally supervised all editorial projects and ensured the preservation of the original manuscripts.
Creation of the Maria Valtorta Heir Foundation[edit | edit source]
Aware of the need to durably protect the material and literary heritage left by Maria Valtorta, Emilio Pisani worked on the creation of an independent institution capable of ensuring its safeguarding. These efforts resulted in 2010 in the creation of the Maria Valtorta CEV Foundation, which became in 2020 the Maria Valtorta Heir Foundation[5].
The foundation’s mission is to conserve the original manuscripts, protect the Maria Valtorta house in Viareggio, and promote the academic study and international dissemination of her work. Emilio Pisani was its first president and played a decisive role in its legal and institutional structuring[2].
Personal works[edit | edit source]
Besides his publishing activity, Emilio Pisani was also the author of several books and studies dedicated to Maria Valtorta and spiritual themes. Among his main publications are notably:
- Pro e contro Maria Valtorta (1995)
- Lettera a Claudia (2014)
- Una lettura delle parabole di Gesù (2020)
- Il mistero di Giuda (2021)[2]
These writings reflect his personal reflections on Valtorta’s work and his desire to deepen its theological, literary, and spiritual aspects.
Intellectual activities[edit | edit source]
Alongside his editorial work, Emilio Pisani regularly gave lectures and public talks dedicated to the work of Maria Valtorta. He took part in various congresses, encounters, and seminars in Italy and abroad, during which he presented the context of the writing of Valtorta’s manuscripts and their editorial history.
He also wrote numerous articles, prefaces, and explanatory texts intended to accompany the different editions of Maria Valtorta’s works. His contributions mainly focused on the historical, literary, and editorial aspects of the original manuscripts.
Distinctions[edit | edit source]
After his death, Emilio Pisani received posthumously the International Peace Prize "Saint Paul VI, Pope". This distinction was awarded in recognition of his commitment to promoting the writings of Maria Valtorta[1].
Death and legacy[edit | edit source]
Emilio Pisani died on September 29, 2023, at the age of 88.
He left behind the Valtortian Editorial Center and the Maria Valtorta Heir Foundation, structures he helped create and develop to ensure the preservation of the manuscripts and the dissemination of Maria Valtorta’s works. His editorial and institutional work played a decisive role in the transmission and preservation of this literary heritage.
See also[edit | edit source]
External links[edit | edit source]
- Official website of the Valtortian Editorial Center: https://www.centroeditorialevaltortiano.com/fr/
- Official website of the Maria Valtorta Heir Foundation: https://mariavaltorta.com/fr/home-francais/
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 https://mariavaltorta.com/fr/la-fondation/les-fondateurs/
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 https://mariavaltorta.com/la-fondazione/i-fondatori/
- ↑ https://mariavaltorta.com/la-fondazione/chi-siamo/
- ↑ Official website of the Valtortian Editorial Center: https://www.centroeditorialevaltortiano.com/fr/.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 https://mariavaltorta.com/fr/la-fondation/histoire-de-la-fondation/