Father Mariano Cordovani and Maria Valtorta

Father Mariano Cordovani

Felice Cordovani (1883-1950) was the eldest son of a large and very modest family. Of keen intelligence, he entered at the age of 14 the Dominican convent Santa Maria del Sasso in Bibbiena (province of Arezzo in Tuscany), where he developed his vocation and completed his studies, receiving the Dominican habit and the name Mariano at the age of 16. He had a brilliant career as a teacher and researcher. He was Dean of the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas and provincial prior of the Roman province of the Order of Preachers (Dominicans). In July 1936, Pope Pius XI appointed him Master of the Sacred Palace, and Pius XII named him "Theologian ad personam" of the Secretariat of State.

The Master of the Sacred Palace is a privileged theological advisor to the Pope—always a Dominican—consulted on complex doctrinal questions and drafting official responses. He was a consultor to the Holy Office, perpetual assistant to the Index. Father Mariano was also called to sit on several Vatican congregations. He published numerous important works on philosophy, theology, the social doctrine of the Church, and spirituality in general.

"Father Mariano Cordovani was without a doubt one of the most emblematic figures of the Dominican Order and the Church of the last century."

He remains an enigma in the Maria Valtorta dossier because his brilliant career does not correspond to the severe judgment given by Maria Valtorta, who described him as the "main" opponent of the Work". No source reports the precise action he may have taken or alludes to his opinion.

In Maria Valtorta's Work

His name appears only three times in the entire work of Maria Valtorta: August 16, 1949, mid-April 1950, June 6, 1950.

August 16, 1949

In this dictation found in The Notebooks from 1945 to 1950, Jesus vehemently rebukes the deniers of the work who say: "If it is the work of God, He will take care of it and make it triumph." He considers them hypocrites, like "a challenge to charity, wisdom, justice, as well as a screen to hide their will—which is so audaciously, so pridefully, and even so cowardly opposed to Mine."

"Through you, I have given all the proof. There is no sin of rebellion, simulation, or pride in you. You are a docile victim of their will. Because they are 'the Church,' you yourself defend their will Against those who would trample it. Because of your crucifixion, it is certain that you cannot scrutinize the books of the doctors. Because of your cultural level, it is certain that you cannot write these pages. What else do they ask, if this is not enough for them to recognize: 'Yes. The Spirit of God is Good here'? There is no dogmatic error herein; indeed, there is none in the Work.

If the Spirit has given lights (lights of Grace) to fully illuminate what, in twenty centuries, such and such a school has only illuminated with a ray on a specific point, let them bless God for His Grace instead of claiming: 'But we say otherwise.'

Who is Wisdom? Is she their servant or their queen?

But so as not to call themselves rebels by human pride, to hide these wounds within themselves, they say: 'That concerns God.'

God has acted and still acts. But the prince of the world rules in this world while the King of kings reigns in heaven and, faithful—He, at least, is faithful—to the free will He has left to man for his trial, his reward, or often His condemnation; He does not force their will. He awaits them, soon, at judgment.

They would do well to meditate on the Gospel passage where, as Master of masters, Wisdom, Word, and incarnate Truth, I declare that sins Against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.

Yet, in truth, this Work is that of the Spirit of the Spirit of God, of the love of the Father and the Son, of the Spirit who knows all truth and comes to reveal it to men caught in the current whirlwind as in former whirlwinds, so that they may defend themselves Against the infernal Doctrines."

Maria Valtorta then notes:

"This dictation follows a writing by Father Cordovani on the need for laypeople also to know theology and their request to obtain a true and good theology..."

This sentence, which entrusts God with the task of taking care of the work, seems to be shared by supporters of the work in a positive spirit, because Jesus adds:

"You will inform your and my true friends that they should never say this phrase again. They say it without ill intent. But it causes Me as much suffering. Since they want to be children of Truth, let them be silent on this or let them speak the truth: 'Jesus cannot triumph Thanks to the Work because men do not want Him to'."

Mid-April 1950

In an undated letter to Mother Teresa Maria, her spiritual mother, Maria Valtorta writes, in an unusually biting tone:

"I don't know if you know," she writes, "that on Holy Thursday evening, Father Cordovani, Master of the Sacred Palace, theologian of the Secretariat of State, little chief of the Holy Office and 'main' opponent of the Work, suddenly died of a stroke, without even having time to say: 'My Jesus!' The most troubling thing in all this is that the...departure of this 'famous and powerful' Dominican was kept silent. Even the 'Notiziario del mondo cattolico' (Catholic World Bulletin) did not mention it."

June 6, 1950

Two months after the death of Father Mariano Cordovani, Maria Valtorta receives a vision reported in The Notebooks:

"Purgatory. I recognize him by his hood and habit, Father Cordovani. His face emerges from the flames, and he has an expression both bewildered and imploring. He looks at me, but he cannot say anything. But his painful and contrite gaze speaks for him. The Lord speaks in his place and says: 'Do you see? Do you recognize him? He is there, and he will remain there very, very long, for the sole reason that he fought against us—me, you, and the Work—and that he acted Against wisdom, charity, and justice. Note what you see, briefly, as well as my words, with the greatest accuracy. For this is the truth for the one you see and for many who have acted or will act like him.'"

Observations and Hypotheses

From what is understood, Father Mariano Cordovani would not have formulated fundamental criticisms but would have given a whitewash to the Holy Office, hostile to this work. The hypothesis that can be proposed is that of an opinion to override the encouragement of Pius XII and to which the theologian responded "If it is the work of God, He will take care of it and make it triumph," thus morally opening the door to the attitude of the Holy Office.

The circumstances of his death were interpreted as a sign. Therefore, the coincidence of the death and a fact must be established to found this belief. It can be seen in Jesus's severity and the very biting tone of Maria Valtorta—an unusual tone. Maria Valtorta includes her remark in the narration of events concerning the visit of the venerable Luigia Sinapi to the Holy Office. She received verbal and physical threats there. The protagonists are anonymous, but the affair caused a great stir to the point that Master Camillo Corsanego and Lorenzo Ferri came separately to report it to Maria Valtorta. Was Father Mariano Cordovani present in this scene? Was he one of the protagonists? Only the archives will one day answer this question.

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