Luigina Sinapi and Maria Valtorta

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Luigina (or Luigia) Sinapi (1916-1978), whom Maria Valtorta calls Luciana in her letters, was a seer familiar to Pope Pius XII who would willingly consult her. She had indeed foretold him, on behalf of the Virgin Mary, of his future election when he was still only a cardinal. She also conveyed, ten years in advance, the prediction of his apparition at Tre Fontane (Rome, 1947).

At the beginning of 1950, a jubilee year during which the dogma of the Assumption was proclaimed, Luigina came, by order of Heaven, to directly challenge the Holy Office about the blockage it was imposing against the work of Maria Valtorta and reported it to the Holy Father who believed that, according to his various directives, the publication was already in effect.

The confrontation with the Holy Office

The context

The confrontation took place at the end of January 1950, but Maria Valtorta only learned of it at the beginning of April. At that time, the writings of Maria Valtorta were known at the Vatican. After the favorable 1948 [Home] following the papal audience, opposition from the Holy Office had manifested in 1949, and the protagonists were at a stalemate which was in no way the end of the matter.

Pius XII, after his encouragement to publish the work (February 1948), had passed the request for an imprimatur and a publisher that would not offend "certain prelates" (November 1948). This was done. Moreover, the Holy Father's entourage solicited Maria Valtorta to locate the tomb of St Peter that was being searched for at the time. Mgr Carinci and Father Bea, future cardinal, both familiar to the Pope, were acting alongside Father Berti to defend the work.

On the other hand, the Holy Office showed its opposition to this publication from the end of 1948, mostly anonymously, and on 22 February 1949, the day before Ash Wednesday, Father Berti was summoned and had to hand over all the originals in his possession. They were to remain at the Holy Office "like in a tomb."

This led to corridor agitations between the two protagonists: the entourage of Pius XII on the one hand, and the Holy Office on the other. Luigina's intervention occurred at this moment. Maria Valtorta specifies: "Our Lord Jesus Christ gave her the order to go to the Holy Office to reprimand these... gentlemen for the harm they have done to Souls by refusing the printing of the Work; the harm they have done to the Holy Father, whom all accuse of being the author of the blockage although he believes the Work approved and published according to his directives." There is no interference between the two seers but, in 1950, their parallel paths will cross briefly.

Maria Valtorta, in her correspondence, calls her Luciana. But two specialists on Maria Valtorta give this name as referring to Luigina Sinapi, now Venerable. Indeed, no Luciana matching this profile is known at that time.

Emilio Biagini, in his reference work, puts it forward as a hypothesis to consider. Gabriele Cajano, promoter of her case on social networks, confirms it. For him, Luciana would be a cover name to maintain discretion about this case. This is perfectly plausible in the context we are about to discover.

Luigina Sinapi was known to the Holy Office and the papal Antichamber who could not tolerate her closeness to the Holy Father, nor what she told him on that occasion. When she came to challenge the Holy Office on its blockage of Maria Valtorta's writings, the meeting took a violent turn: she suffered psychological as well as physical pressures, up to an explicit threat of rape.

The matter is therefore very serious, especially as the source informing Maria Valtorta is reliable. It is reported, on 1 April 1950, first by Camillo Corsanego then, on 2 April, by Lorenzo Ferri. Both are familiar figures in the Vatican corridors. Camillo Corsanego was the Dean of the consistorial counselors. He was the only lay member to attend the inaugural sessions of Vatican II, which speaks to his position. He was, moreover, one of the founding members of the Italian Christian Democracy. Lorenzo Ferri, meanwhile, was participating in the Holy Door competition taking place at that time.

The approach to the Holy Office which threatens her

Here is what Maria Valtorta writes, taking care to point out that "these are all verified information, confirmed by personalities," because what she reveals is a violent reality:

My Mother,

[…] Listen. And know that these are all verified information, confirmed by personalities such as the honorable Corsanego, who came to see me on Saturday, 1 April, and Professor Ferri who came on 2 April. He is a professor-sculptor-painter, winner of the sketches for the doors of Saint Peter's in Rome. He came to me because he would be the illustrator of the work (he gives his work for free to honor Jesus and Mary), and because he has been working on creating figures of Christ for 22 years; but after reading the book (he is a true Catholic), he realized he had made Christs that do not resemble Him.

[…] Know that in Rome lives a Soul guided on extraordinary paths, a Woman not yet thirty years old who is often called by the Holy Father to have supernatural insights.

Naturally, the Holy Office and papal Antichamber, as well as many prelates of the Roman Curia, hate her because she reveals to the Holy Father the unedifying depths of so many prelates ... But they cannot prevent her from going to the pontiff because she has a paralyzing power, so if she wants, she passes despite obstacles.

We notice this Protection from Heaven, found in the Gospels where the Enemies of Jesus can do nothing as long as the hour has not come. It is also found in the lives of mystics.

At the beginning of her Mission, she was slandered, labeled "hysterical," "possessed," and so on. Exorcisms were performed on her. They tried to have her confined, first in a psychiatric hospital, then in a convent. But in the end, they had to give up and let her carry on.

In January (around the end of the month), Our Lord Jesus Christ gave her the order to go to the Holy Office to reproach these... gentlemen for the harm they have done to Souls by refusing the printing of the Work; the harm done to the Holy Father, whom all accuse of being the author of the blockage although he believes the Work approved and published, approved according to his directives; the harm to me, who have been deceived by them; finally the harm done to a religious order which would gain prestige and use of its work for its Missions ravaged by the War.

Imagine what happened!

They furiously attacked her, saying "she should not have meddled, because they knew what they were doing, and if they forbade printing it was because this Work was the heretical fruit of a possessed Woman" and so on." And when Luciana declared: "I will go see His Holiness and reveal your actions to him," they warned her: "Woe to you if you speak to him about this! We forbid you." Luciana replied: "God wants me to speak, and I will speak!"

They then beat her and then exorcised her until she shouted: "It is you yourselves you must exorcise, for the devil is in you, not in me."

Then ... they tried to rape her (you understand?) Saying: "We will give you visions! When your uterus is tired and satisfied, you will see that everything will be over!" After this, they reacted badly to God dictating: "My Church is no longer holy, and this is why communism and God's punishment are coming!"

But thanks to her power, Luciana paralysed the one who was about to take away her purity (Luciana is not married) and the paralysis did not cease until, eight days later, he publicly admitted that he had tried to harm her".

Luigina reports to Pius XII

Meanwhile, Luciana went to see the Holy Father and told him everything, first that God had told her that the work (of Maria Valtorta) came from God.

The Holy Father was astounded because he had given other directives. He said: "I will call a person and question him. What is certain is that I do not have helpers, but Judases."

Luciana returned a few days later bringing a statement that said "Mgr Carinci, the honorable Corsanego and the Honorable Tredici, Mgr Lattanzi, the Father Roschini, etc., etc., have read and judged, etc., etc., so It is requested that His Holiness intervene, etc., etc." The Holy Father put it in his breviary, assuring that he had always been very favorable to the publication (of the Work) and that he wanted it. Luciana wanted this to be written on the statement to show it to those at the Holy Office. But His Holiness replied: "No. I do not want to act by intimidation. I will call them to make them think, and if they oppose, I will take the matter into my own hands." In fact, he called Mgr Ottaviani, Counselor of the Holy Office, but he did not want to hear anything.

Then His Holiness began to personally examine the matter, excluding all Congregations. He had indeed found, in each of them, indifferent or sneaky people who did not warn him of the truth of things, even though they had the opportunity to do so privately every week.

Luciana will return to see the Holy Father to repeat the direct communication of Jesus according to which the Work comes directly from God who wants its publication".

Heaven was apparently also outraged if one believes the fact that Maria Valtorta reports in a later letter:

"I do not know if you learned that on Holy Thursday evening, Father Mariano Cordovani, Master of the Sacred Palaces, theologian of the Secretariat of State, minor chief of the Holy Office and the main opponent of the Work, died suddenly of a striking paralysis without even having time to say "My Jesus!".

Shortly after, Maria Valtorta sees the face of Father Cordovani emerge from the flames of Purgatory. He looks at her contritely, unable to speak. It is Jesus who comments: "Do you see him? Do you recognize him? He is there. And he will be there for a long, long, long time for the sole reason of having fought Me, you, and the Work, acting against Wisdom, Charity, Justice. Mark what you see, briefly, and what I say, with the greatest accuracy. Because it is the truth, for the one you saw and for many who have acted or will act like him." That is why his death was interpreted as a sign.

We see in these episodes that Pope Pius XII is neither respected nor obeyed by certain members of the Holy Office who eventually believed themselves entitled to censor this 74-year-old pope. This lack of consideration would be found again two years later when Mgr Giovanni Pepe, in charge of censoring books placed on the Index in 1952, books speaking of Padre Pio without referring to the Holy Father, who dismissed him.

The work goes through tribulations

The Holy Father continued to see Luciana who informed him of the counteroffensive that was being organized at the Vatican to block the Work given to Maria Valtorta. She speaks about it in another letter:

I - Luciana, this person I told you about, went back to His Holiness on 29 March (1950). His Holiness reconfirmed that he was personally taking care of the matter. In fact, the Memorandum that Luciana had brought him some time before, setting out the petition and purpose of the honorable Corsanego and Tredici and of Mgr Lattanzi, and which His Holiness had put in his Breviary, had been passed on by His Holiness to Cardinal Nicola Canali, who is one of the cardinals of the Holy Office and Cardinal Protector of the Servite Order.

II. He then told Luciana that the honorable Corsanego and Tredici, Mgr Lattanzi and Father Roschini, principal theologian of the Servite Order, and book reviewer at the Holy Office, as well as member of the Congregation of Rites (therefore with His Excellency Mgr Carinci) were again requesting a special audience.

III. Father Roschini, before doing so, had spoken with Luciana and had been persuaded that everything was true. To such an extent that he wrote me with these words: "It seems that the resurrection of the work is now near."

IV - Professor Ferri also spoke with Luciana, he who made the two heads of Jesus, in my room on Palm Sunday. He showed her several heads, including these two, and Luciana confidently said: "This is Him, the others are not." More evidence in my favor.

V. On the evening of the 17th, Fathers Migliorini and Berti went to the honorable Corsanego to tell him to renew the request for an audience with the chief of the Antichamber, Mgr Callori di Vignale. Now we will see if he repeats the sham of saying "Yes" and then saying "not granted by order of His Holiness." In that case, Luciana will return to the Holy Pontiff and report. But I believe that after God's punishments, such a desire will pass!

[…] VI. Luciana's spiritual director also wrote to me saying: "Do not worry that the work will be printed, because Jesus said so clearly, even through Luciana. We are waiting for the opportune time which will certainly come. We await it with great faith and we strengthen the effect with the contribution of our suffering and prayer."

Faced with this wind of optimism Maria Valtorta does not want to believe the pessimistic predictions of Father Luigi Maria, who more likely senses the blockage of the work. This priest, Lopalco Francesco his real name, was a Passionist spiritual director of Mother Teresa Maria and, from 1946, of Maria Valtorta. He was frankly not a supporter of the seer.

The opportune hour of the publication nevertheless arrived with much apprehension and prudence, in 1956. Nothing happened, neither in 1957 for the second volume, nor in 1958 for the third volume and the year of the death of Pius XII. Everything changed in December 1959: the protective pope of the work having died, the Holy Office took its revenge by placing it on the Index. It lasted six years, the time of its abolition. As for the readership, its enthusiasm barely waned before taking off again because it is the nature of the sheep to listen to the voice of the Good Shepherd (John 10:27) and no one can separate them from it.

Some aspects of the life of Luigina Sinapi

On 22 May 2009, at the end of a 5-year investigation, the Vicariate of Rome (Diocesan Chancellery of Rome, pope's diocese) submitted her "Positio" (= final report) to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints to initiate her beatification cause. On 27 January 2025, the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints declared her "Venerable."

Relations with Saint Padre Pio

Luigina (Luigia) Sinapi was born in Itri between Rome and Naples, on 8 September 1916, the feast of the Nativity of Mary. Very young, she was familiar with playing with the Infant Jesus and the Angels whom she called upon for help for people in difficulty. Intrigued by these gifts, her mother took her, in the mid-1920s, to Padre Pio who blessed Luigina and declared that God was manifesting Himself in her. To those who wondered how Heaven could manifest so early in life, Jesus had answered, about the childhood of the Virgin Mary, with the examples of young saints such as Imelda Lambertini, Rose of Viterbo, Nellie Organ, or Nennolina (see EMV 7.7). From this encounter, Luigina maintained a close relationship with Padre Pio, receiving his advice and spiritual support throughout her life. She visited him several times in San Giovanni Rotondo. It can thus be assumed that the saint was informed of the difficulties with the Holy Office since he appeared several times to Maria Valtorta, whose writings he recommended.

Relations with Blessed Timoteo Giaccardo

Blessed Timoteo Giaccardo, spiritual director of Luigina Sinapi

Luigina's adolescence does not contradict this life in proximity to God and the Virgin Mary. In November 1931, her mother died. Then began Luigina's "Via Crucis". The following year, at 16, Luigina entered the young congregation of the Daughters of Saint Paul whose mission is evangelization through media. Her spiritual director was the Vicar General of the order, Father Timoteo Giaccardo (beatified in 1989). But she could not stay because of her delicate health. On Christmas Eve 1932, Don Giaccardo asked her: "For the love of Jesus, will you offer yourself as a victim for the salvation of Souls?" Luigina answered yes. Don Giaccardo then concluded: "Go, my child, your vocation is elsewhere."

Luigina and Maria Valtorta had the illumination of their victim soul vocation almost at the same age (over 15 years old). They were both Franciscan tertiaries. They both took their spiritual references from Saint Francis of Assisi and Saint Thérèse of Lisieux.

Shortly after her offering, Luigina felt an excruciating pain in her pelvis. It was a tumor. She remained bedridden in her home in Itri for two years, praying, offering herself and continuing to care for her siblings after her mother's death, as she was the eldest. On 15 August 1935, the solemnity of the Assumption of Mary, the parish priest administered Extreme Unction to her. Luigina then saw Jesus and Mary who questioned her: "Do you want to come immediately with us to Heaven or stay on earth and offer yourself still as a victim for the Church and for the priests?" In an instant, Luigina saw the consequences of apostasy and defections that would come in the following years. She accepted the second proposal, offering herself as a victim to God. Jesus then said to her:

"As an ordinary person, you will live sheltered from the world's gaze. You will be little understood, you will suffer much, and you will die alone like me. You will be, as your name indicates, the mustard seed in a furrow of Rome. You will experience the extraordinary in the ordinary. I will entrust you to my Mother: she will guide and comfort you. Do not be afraid."

She did indeed live a very ordinary life and experienced the extraordinary which is illuminated by the many messages she received from the Virgin Mary:

"I want you to be my lamp in the night to dispel so much Darkness that the devil sows in these times, especially Against the Church; be a light for the bitterness of the Pope, for the deviations of consecrated persons, for the threats Against youth through the press, entertainment, secret sects and festivities devoted to rob Christian purity."

This warning about the time of trial and Purification of the Church is a constant of the 20th century: In a vision of 1884, Leo XIII saw the 20th century granted to Satan to test the world and try to destroy the Church. It is not without recall of the message from Heaven, of 23 December 1948, that Maria Valtorta gave to the Holy Father warning him notably that Hell was advancing and urging him not to falter in defending the Work given to Maria Valtorta. This also recalls the later declaration of Pope Paul VI on 29 June 1972 regarding "the smoke of Satan" rising from the midst of the people of God.

Relations with the Venerable Pius XII

Virgin of the Revelation (Tre Fontane, Rome)

The event that secured Luigina's privileged place with Pius XII occurred in April 1937 at the Tre Fontane Abbey, a place believed to be where Saint Paul was beheaded in Rome. She was about to turn 21. She was walking there with a group of young women from her parish whom she had taken on a pilgrimage. It was then a grim place. Luigina buried what seemed to be the remains of an aborted child. The Virgin then appeared to her and entrusted her:

"Exactly in ten years, I will come back to this place. I will use a man who today persecutes the Church and wants to kill the Pope... Now go to St. Peter's Square, you will find a lady dressed like this... and you will ask her to lead you to her brother Cardinal. You will bring him my message. From this place, I will establish the throne of my glory in Rome... You will also tell the Cardinal that he will be the future Pope."

She thus went to St. Peter's Square where she noticed the person described. It was Elisabetta, one of the two sisters of Cardinal Pacelli, future Pius XII, then a close collaborator of Pius XI and head of his Secretariat, the most important dicastery in the Vatican. In 1937, he had written for Pius XI, in connection with the Archbishop of Munich, the encyclical Mit Brennender Sorge which denounced Nazism.

The encounter took place and the prophecies were fulfilled: first, Pius XII's election two years later, in March 1939, then the Apparitions at Tre Fontane in April 1947, almost exactly ten years later, to Bruno Cornacchiola who converted and went to tell the Pope whom he had previously wanted to assassinate. But Pius XII had already told Father Ricardo Lombardi, a Jesuit, that he already knew everything.

Maria Valtorta mentions this apparition in her notes of 28 and 31 December 1947. They are interesting rereads because they describe the machismo reigning at that time among some, who called the seers "hysterical" but gave immediate credibility to the seers. This partly confirms and sheds light on the violent reactions that befell Luigina.

These notes are also interesting to reread for this prophecy (p. 466): "Science will deny God". What she did, but we know that it is the science of the Work which today comes to the rescue of the eternal Gospel.

Having become Pope, Pius XII continued to meet regularly with Luigina, either by phone or by audience. She reports that one day, arriving covered in bruises from blows received from Satan, he gave her a relic of the Cross telling her to always wear it in Protection Against these attacks. She would need it and it would prove effective in the events that Maria Valtorta would later report of Messrs. Corsanego and Ferri.

For now, the Holy Year of 1950 has arrived and Luigina strengthens in the name of Heaven the promulgation of the Dogma of the Assumption, about the opportunity of which Pius XII was questioning himself. Maria Valtorta also received such a message from Heaven in 1947, the year of the Apparitions at Tre Fontane, and this wish from Heaven ended with this enigmatic message: "If what I say through the Work is understood, you will communicate these other words to whom you know."

Relations with the Venerable Enrico Medi

From 1956 to 1970, she worked at the National Institute of Geophysics as secretary to the venerable Enrico Medi, an Italian physicist and politician (1911-1974). This scientist, author of numerous works, was a deputy of the Italian Christian Democracy and vice-president of Euratom, the European Atomic Energy Community founded in 1957 by the Treaty of Rome.

Notes and references

External resources

• The life of Luigina Sinapi {it} on the Trefontane site
• Dedicated article {it} on mariadiNazareth.it
• Presentation {it} on the Servants of Mary site.
• Monograph {it} on Santi e Beati.

Explanatory notes and references

(University) Responsible for the quality of teaching, management of faculty and students. (Institution) Head of the corporation.

Preliminary stage to canonization recognizing that a deceased person can be called Blessed because of their holiness.

Action of a person (called an "apostate") who renounces their Religion and faith, who publicly abandons their Religion (to adopt another or not). It thus announces their choice to religious representatives.

Layperson (laic) living in the world but following the rules of life of a particular religious order.