On the occasion of March 8th, International Women’s Day, we want to celebrate it with some of the female figures who symbolize Umbria, a land rich in history, art, culture, and spirituality. Luisa Spagnoli, Marchioness Elena Guglielmi, Maria Vittoria Semolesti, Saint Clare of Assisi, and Saint Rita of Cascia… Women symbols of entrepreneurial spirit, faith and devotion, and still universal values of strength, courage, and independence, which continue to inspire women and men all over the world.

Luisa Spagnoli
A name that immediately evokes images of refined fashion and chocolaty delights. However, her legacy goes far beyond catwalks and delicacies. After the devastations of World War II, Luisa Spagnoli became passionate about Angora rabbits, not only starting to collect them but also discovering a secret that would revolutionize the world of fashion: the art of combing, rather than shearing, these animals. A gentle gesture that allowed for a yarn of unprecedented softness, a fabric that caressed the skin like no other. And what about her delicious chocolates? The Bacio Perugina is a name known all over the world, but there’s another bar that bears her name, a creation some Perugians affectionately call “Carrarmato” (“Tank”), perhaps as a tribute to her tenacity and strength of spirit.

Saint Chiara of Assisi
Born in Assisi in 1194, Chiara Offreduccio degli Scifi, better known as Saint Clare, was a revolutionary figure of her time. A friend and follower of Saint Francis, Clare renounced her comfortable life to embrace a life of poverty and service. The founder of the Order of Poor Clares, she placed prayer and dedication to others at the center of her existence, becoming a model of inner strength and determination.

Saint Rita of Cascia
Saint Rita, born Margherita Lotti in Roccaporena, near Cascia, in 1381, is known all over the world as the saint of impossible cases. Her life was marked by great suffering and challenges, from her youth, when she was forced to marry against her will, to the death of her sons and her husband’s illness. Despite the adversities, Saint Rita found refuge in the Augustinian monastery of Cascia, where she lived until her death in 1457. Her tomb, located in the Sanctuary of Saint Rita of Cascia, attracts thousands of faithful and visitors every year, testifying to the power of hope and perseverance even in the most desperate situations.

Elena Guglielmi and Maria Vittoria Semolesti
At the beginning of the 20th century, Marchioness Elena Guglielmi brought the technique of Irish lace making to Isola Maggiore in Lake Trasimeno, inspired by the traditions born in Irish monasteries at the end of the 19th century, according to the ancient art of Venetian lace. Instead of being made with needle and bobbins, the peculiarity of this lace is created with a crochet hook using an extremely thin yarn. In 1963, the islander Maria Vittoria Semolesti restarted the activity by founding a cooperative of lace makers for the sale of Irish lace.

Photo credits by:
Cittàdelladomenica.it
NestlèItalia.it

The story of Saint Valentine of Terni is shrouded in mystery and folklore, with various legends intertwining over the centuries.

Saint Valentine is revered as the patron saint of lovers, and his feast day on February 14th is celebrated worldwide. Valentine was a Christian bishop from Terni, who died as a martyr in Rome on February 14th, 273 AD. He was laid to rest in Terni, in the Basilica where his relics can still be found today.

One of the most famous legends tells that Emperor Claudius II in the 3rd century AD had issued a decree that prohibited the marriage of young men, believing that singles made better soldiers. However, Valentine disobeyed this decree and continued to perform secret weddings for young couples. When his disobedience was discovered, Valentine was arrested and brought before the Emperor. During his imprisonment, legend has it that Valentine healed the blindness of his jailer’s daughter and that, before his execution, he wrote her a farewell letter, signing it “From your Valentine.”

This story has helped to cement Saint Valentine’s association with romantic love. Another version of the Saint Valentine story suggests that he might have been martyred for aiding persecuted Christians during the reign of Claudius II. Yet another legend tells of Valentine witnessing two young lovers arguing and giving them a rose, urging them to hold it together as a way to reconcile, and then having doves fly around them, hence the term “lovebirds.” In any case, the figure of Saint Valentine quickly became a symbol of love and devotion, and his feast day became associated with romantic love over the centuries.

Umbria, with its picturesque hilly landscapes, medieval villages, and deep spiritual roots, is one of Italy’s gems. Among the numerous attractions this region has to offer, the Sanctuary of Collevalenza stands out as a place of devotion, hope, and reflection.

Located just a few kilometers from Todi, the Sanctuary of Collevalenza was founded at the behest of Mother Hope and built by the Spanish architect Julio Lafuente in 1951, with the intent of creating a place that represented and expressed God’s Mercy for all the faithful who had committed a sin and were seeking forgiveness and spiritual comfort.

An Enchanting Architecture
Beyond its spiritual significance, the Sanctuary also captivates visitors from an architectural standpoint: it has a circular plan with two large sacred halls, the crypt, and the upper church, which converge into a single architectural entity.

The Sanctuary creates a serene, welcoming, and bright atmosphere, thanks to a huge concave glass window.

Pilgrims visiting this sacred place are greeted with genuine smiles and a kindness typical of Umbrian hospitality. They can always confess, in the name of the same Mercy that the Sanctuary represents.

The Message of Water and the Famous Pools
Since March 1, 1979, the Water of the Sanctuary, coming from a nearby well, has been flowing into the pools (separated for men and women) and open to pilgrims or for the immersion of the sick, who could immerse themselves during the “Liturgy of the Waters” by the priests of the Sanctuary.

Currently, the “Liturgies of the Waters” are still active, while due to post-pandemic restrictions, immersions have been temporarily suspended, but at the same time, pilgrims who go to the Sanctuary and participate in the liturgy will be accompanied by the priest to the feet of the statue of Mary the Mediatrix to drink from the small fountains while reciting the prayer of the proper use of the Water and its spiritual meanings as “refreshment to the body and health to the soul and renewal of wonders for healings,” as always said by Mother Hope.

The Water of the Sanctuary is still considered a sign of Grace and an instrument of the Lord’s Mercy.