Discovery of the work
In the 80s, I was visiting the Franciscan Conventuals in Frigento (later they became the Franciscans of the Immaculate). Father Stefano Maria Manelli, O.F.M. Conv., was the Superior. "The Poem of the Man-God" was in their library. That is how I discovered the works of Maria Valtorta. As soon as I was back in Genoa, I went to the diocesan bookstore and bought the whole 10 volumes (there was the possibility to buy them one at a time). The Catholic bookstores "Paoline" were also selling them in every Italian city—Rome, e.g. Later, living in the U.S., I ordered them from the Pauline Store in Canada.
Impact on love for the Gospel
I read the 10 volumes during a period of 4 years, reading every chapter twice, at least once in front of the Blessed Sacrament Exposed, in the famous church of Santa Marta, downtown Genoa, with nuns in charge of perpetual exposition. My understanding of Scriptures and Dogmatic Theology grew exponentially. Daily Mass became the foundation of the following 40 years of my life. In Genoa, under Cardinal Siri, I completed the formation at "Maria Mater Veritatis School of Theology" (later replaced by the "Superior Institute of Religious Sciences"). In the 90s, I studied Theology for a year in Toulouse at the Interregional Seminary, and at the Catholic Institute of the Dominican friars. In spite of being a foreigner and taking all the courses in French, I was the best student of my class that year.
Concrete impact on faith life
Powerful meditations on the Mysteries of the Rosary, strength in Exegesis, Dogmatic Theology, ordained as a Permanent Deacon, and 20 years serving 3 bishops as a member of their Curia.
What would you say to someone who hesitates to discover this work?
If Fr. Stefano Maria Manelli, spiritual son of Padre Pio (very close to him), allowed the work in the Convent Library, GO FOR IT!!!!