Father Corrado Berti and Maria Valtorta

Father Corrado Berti (1911-1980)

Father Corrado Berti (1911-1980), born in Florence, was a professed priest of the order of the Servites of Mary (O.S.M.). Like all religious of this order, he adds to his first name that of Mary.

Doctor of philosophy and theology, he was appointed in Rome to the San Alessandro Falconieri College which became in 1950 the seat of the Pontifical Faculty of Theology Marianum founded by Father Gabriele M. Roschini. He taught there dogmatic theology and sacramental theology.

In his final testimony (1980), he presents himself:

"I was born in Florence in 1911 [March 17] and I spent my early youth in the shadow of the Basilica Sanctuary of the Santissima-Annunziata where now rest, awaiting the glorious resurrection, the bones of Maria Valtorta. In this sanctuary, perhaps on the very day of my first communion, I felt the Call to the priesthood, in the order of the Servites of Mary. Then in 1928 I went to Rome where I am still (1980) with only a 5-year parenthesis spent at the Faculty of Theology of the Catholic University of Louvain."

Father Berti and the Servites of Mary

Entered the Order of the Servites of Mary (osm) at the age of 15 (the same age as Thérèse of Lisieux), he began the novitiate at Monte Senario on July 17, 1927. On July 19, 1928, he made his simple profession. He completed his philosophical and theological studies in Rome, where, on March 26, 1932, he made his solemn profession and on September 22, 1934, he was ordained priest. In 1931, he obtained his doctorate in philosophy at Propaganda Fide (Pontifical Urban University). Sent to Louvain, he obtained his theology degree there in 1939, at the age of 28.

Back in Rome, he began teaching sacramental theology, a chair he held for more than thirty years. Salton his biography established by the Servites of Mary, notes that Fr. Berti stood out "for the clarity of his Doctrine, a brilliant exposition, and a persistent balance in the defense—alongside the contribution of speculative theology—of positive theology. His thick, dense documents were rich anthologies of texts from the Magisterium, the Fathers, and the Liturgy."

He contributed to the birth of the journal "Marianum" and in 1941, in collaboration with Fr. Vincenzo M. Buffon (+1975), began a Marian bibliography which, over the years and contributors, has become the most authoritative Marian bibliography available today.

Within his teaching framework, he published essays on the Sacraments of the Eucharist, Orders, Anointing of the Sick. At the Second Vatican Council, he was a theological consultant (peritus) to two South American conciliar fathers: Bishop Gerardo M. Vielmo and Bishop Giocondo M. Grotti. He successfully contributed to the liturgical reform initiated by Pope John XXIII (Instructio de Calendariis particularibus, February 14, 1961), which explains his introduction into Vatican circles that served the work of Maria Valtorta.

In 1945, he began frequenting some hospitals in Rome, an apostolate he maintained as long as his health allowed due to his interest in marginalized publics. He was chaplain of the Roman dermatological hospital San Gallicano.

His biography also notes: "Within Father Corrado's pastoral commitment can be found his warm support for the dissemination of the voluminous publications of the writings of Maria Valtorta, published under the title Poem of the Man-God."

First contact through Father Migliorini

In 1946, he met his confrere Father Romualdo M. Migliorini, confessor of Maria Valtorta. The latter told him about the visions he had been confidant to in Viareggio. Father Berti himself became enthusiastic. They would become promoters of them within their order.

Fathers R.M. Migliorini and C.M. Berti "were both from Tuscany: Father Migliorini from the small village of Volegno, 30 km north of Viareggio, and Father Berti from Florence, the regional metropolis. The first was a Missionary, notably in South Africa. He had the fervor and nonconformity. The second, 27 years his junior, was a theology professor at a university in Rome. He had curiosity and diplomacy. They died at the same age: 69 years. The first successfully took care of Maria Valtorta's Soul, but clumsily served her writings. The second knew the author more than the great Soul, but served the work with insight."

On March 19, 1946, a dictation from Jesus mentions him as able to join the close circle working with Maria Valtorta.

On June 2, 1946, a new dictation emphasizes his indispensable theological expertise.

The Servites of Mary prepare the publication of the work

From June 1946, the publication project takes shape. The Superior General is cautious but several Servites are enthusiastic. On June 17, Father Berti has dictations read to Bishop Carinci. The one on Purgatory particularly strikes him and he gives advice to get the work printed. On July 12, for the first time, recourse to the Holy Father is mentioned. On August 27, Father Gabriele M. Roschini (1900-1977), a leading figure among the Servites, completes examination of partial visions at the request of the Order's Prior.

Meeting with Maria Valtorta

From June 1946, Maria Valtorta began corresponding with Father Berti alongside her increasingly difficult relations with Father Migliorini. But it was only late September 1946 that she received his actual visit. Her impression was "excellent" (Letters to Mother Teresa Maria, Volume 1). In his final testimony, Father Berti describes the role he then played:

"I am therefore an eyewitness of Maria Valtorta. Why? Because Father Migliorini could not, because it was forbidden to him, set foot again in Tuscany. So the one who began to go to Maria Valtorta in 1946 was me. From 1946 to 1961, at least once a month, I went to Maria Valtorta. I affirm that on my arrival I was never left outside the door, but immediately invited inside.

Upon entering, I never found the infirm Maria Valtorta with her legs out of bed, never sitting on a chair, never at a table, never with a book in hand, but always in bed, sitting or half-lying down.

I observed her for 16 years. I never found her studying, I never found her reading theology books or in any case books that could somehow be used to compose the great works she was composing then. Maria Valtorta thus wrote over 120 notebooks, but never after consulting books. I am an eyewitness."

Appeal to the Holy Father

But it was only on January 31, 1947, that the effective preparation of the appeal to the pope entered its active phase. A first file was prepared with a memorandum on the seer and her visions to which Father Berti attached some dictations and excerpts from visions examined by Father Roschini. The framework of this file had been prepared with Bishop Francesco Norese, archivist of the Holy Father.

Tensions began to arise among the Servites: Father Migliorini wanted to proclaim one of the Servites of Mary as the author of the Work. Almost certainly a tactical move, for in the world a priest is more likely to publish the life of Jesus than a mere laywoman. But this attempt would have deprived the Lord of the paternity of the Work. "They want to appropriate the Work to make money" Maria Valtorta confided to Mother Teresa Maria. On the contrary, Father Berti always spoke of submitting Maria Valtorta’s writings directly to the Holy Father.

All this became public. On October 30, 1947, Maria Valtorta reports several rumors circulating in Rome and Viareggio. She worries about it. The next day Jesus showed severity about these indiscretions but gave Father Berti the affectionate nickname of Isaac of Jutta, one of the characters of his earthly life: "so much like the one of my time: far from having the harsh severity of a furious Jeremiah, he had the sweetness of a lamb worthy to follow the divine Lamb and guide others to him."

He therefore became one of the main promoters, if not the first, of Maria Valtorta’s work and replaced Father Migliorini, whose excess enthusiasm had led him to disobey Jesus’s directives on the management of the work and of the attitude towards Maria Valtorta.

Father Berti oversees the publication of the work

In Pro e contro, Emilio Pisani recalls his memories of the publication of the "Poem" (today The Gospel as it was revealed to me). This is an opportunity to sketch his portrait: an affable and enterprising man, more concerned with the writings than with Maria Valtorta. "Maria Valtorta did not have great confidence in Father Berti," writes Emilio Pisani, "who, on his part, did not depict her as a very likable person. He criticized her because she found fault with the steps taken for the Work, because she insisted on ecclesiastical approval, because she homilied him by shaking his hand “like a shovel” when he visited her in Viareggio. It does not seem to me that they came to quarrel, but they were in deep disagreement. Without doubt, Father Berti found a treasure in the Work, but he did not admire the writer to the same extent. I always thought this came from a certain inability to understand that the Work came to us from Heaven thanks to the complete offering of Maria Valtorta."

All our work contacts were with Father Berti: on our side, it was tacitly accepted that he could act on behalf of Maria Valtorta, with whom we had, from time to time, a courteous exchange of letters.

I must say, on this topic, that I had not thought for a moment to meet the “demoiSaltle” [misheard or misspelled 'demoiselle'], because I had the same conception of her as she says she has of herself in the Writings: the instrument, the Lord's penholder, nothing. This idea seized me the moment I discovered the Work. Also, as I have mentioned, Father Berti spoke of Maria Valtorta in a way that did not make her very likeable. Only on reading the Autobiography, some years later, did I discover the rich personality of the writer and understood that her annihilation in the Lord was not the natural path of a devout Woman, but a heroic conquest of her Soul.

Many factors led us to consider Father Berti not as a mere intermediary but as a fully authorized delegate. And it was a pleasure to collaborate with him: intelligent, cultured, he was ready to face all situations and confront anyone with the greatest ease.

He did not have the profile of a manager, quite the opposite. He insisted on recognizing no practical sense, lest it harm his priestly function. For example, it was impossible to get him to accept an argument based on calculations and percentages. Nevertheless, with his way of acting, both insightful and ingenuous, he managed to obtain more than a real businessman would have.

Despite some reservations, I admit I owe him a lot.

He edified me by his example as a faithful priest and tireless worker: he never missed his ministerial obligations and never took even the slightest vacation.

He clearly transmitted principles of Doctrine and rules of life: his explanations were schematic and striking, perhaps from his habit as a teacher. Similarly, his homelies were very clear lessons.

He instilled in me the importance of order and method, at least as a principle because in practice he sometimes gave the impression of respecting the first out of obsession and applying the second in a tendentious way.

He gave me proof of his friendship, which made him rush to sad events, such as the unexpected death of my father, and join joyful ones, like my wedding with Claudia.

He introduced me more into ecclesiastical circles, which I was already frequenting for my work and which have always attracted me. And he made me acquainted with illustrious personalities..

Defender of the work before the Holy Office

It was Jesus’s will to replace Father Migliorini with Father Berti. He was the one who led the work through all the vicissitudes it had to endure, especially since Father Migliorini died in 1953.

Father Berti was therefore on the front line during the troubles with the Holy Office. He was summoned in 1949 to the interview where two censors tried, without Pius XII’s knowledge, to destroy Maria Valtorta’s work.

He studied and annotated all of Maria Valtorta's writings

"I read all the writings only once, to serve, to annotate. I wrote the first necessary notes in 1959, then I wrote all the notes from 1960 until today, 1980: 20 years of work, including 15 intense years from morning till evening [...] I made theological notes, especially biblical notes, and I noticed two very important things:

1) Maria Valtorta in her writings is always in harmony with the faith, she is always also in harmony with the best and most accredited Catholic Doctrine, always in harmony with divine Revelation, always in harmony (or at least not in disagreement) with the best Catholic Doctrine.

Maria Valtorta’s books can be read calmly, they enlighten, they inflame, they never stray from the Faith, never stray from the Church, never deviate from what we believe to be the most solid, serious Doctrine accepted in the Catholic Church, even in this time of pluralism (as it is said).

2) Another important consideration. I read Maria Valtorta's writings only once, as I said, to annotate them. But I read them studying, I read them penetrating them, I read them weighing them, I read them classifying them, searching for difficulty, points to clarify, and being impressed by wonderful pearls of either great clarity or even, in a certain way, the completion of what we knew but did not know so thoroughly. I remember an old saint, the great protector of the Valtortian writings, the archbishop over 100 years old, Alfonso Carinci, who said: "I have never read a writing so perfect, so clear and deep on Purgatory."

He testifies that in her visions Maria Valtorta had used about 600 biblical references and that for his part, in his theological footnotes and appendices (5,675 in total) he mentioned about 7,000 (REF).

Epitaph

On January 29, 1970, he gave a founding lecture in Rome. It was reported in the first issue of what would become the uninterrupted semiannual series of the Bollettino valtortiano.

In 1978, two years before his death, he wrote a sworn testimony in which he recounts — and attests to — the events experienced.

It is therefore a key document for knowing the history of this work. The full text follows below, followed by the summary he made of it, also under oath.

Further reading

• Selection of dictations to Maria Valtorta about Father Berti
• Text of Father Berti’s lecture of Thursday, January 29, 1970
• Father Berti: final testimony

In a Christian sense, study concerning God and divine things in the light of Revelation.

In a Christian sense, study concerning God and divine things in the light of Revelation.

In-depth research on God, faith, religious Doctrine.

Authority in matters of faith and morals exercised over the Catholic faithful by the pope and all bishops in communion with the pope.

Person who is not religious or a non-religious affair.