Armida Barelli
Towards the beatification, the events
Made in collaboration with Università Cattolica, this documentary by Monica Mondo (edited by Cecilia Pronti, directed by Maurizio Carta) will be broadcast on Tv2000 at 8.55 p.m.
From 8.00 a.m. to 8.00 p.m., at the Largo Gemelli 1 campus in Milan, it will be possible to visit the crypt that has housed the tomb of Armida Barelli since 1953.
The 98^ Day for Università Cattolica is closely related to the beatification of Armida Barelli, co-founder of the University. The theme of the Day reads: With a woman's heart. At the service of culture and society.
The Holy Mass will be celebrated in the Aula Magna on Sunday, May 1 at 11:00 a.m. and broadcast live on television on RAI UNO.
THE SPOT
The 30 seconds of the video tell the story of the inspiring role that the figure of Armida Barelli still has for the University today through an alternation of images and words: her words spoken by a voice-over and the words of others dedicated to her, such as those of Father Agostino Gemelli and former Rector Franco Anelli.
The OJ 2022 commercial
Italian Catholic Action, the Secular Institute of the Missionaries of the Kingship of Christ and the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore have promoted the conception and creation of an original multimedia exhibition extremely suitable for the contemporary public.
It is an exhibition conceived simultaneously as can be visited both in a "digital space" and in "physical spaces".
"Between Heaven and Earth. A Lay Holiness" can be visited on the https://mostra.armidabarelli.net/ website, with a graphic interface that allows an agile and, at the same time, analytical visit. You can choose an immersive navigation on the homepage, through colored modules referring to the main segments of Armida Barelli's life, or follow the path of a more classic discovery through the nine main thematic sections, each divided into various in-depth chapters; the Timeline, which allows you to discover the main dates of Armida Barelli's life; the nine video clips (each lasting about 3 minutes) related to the respective Thematic Sections.
The physical version of the exhibition is manifested in 15 exhibition structures created to house the 60 panels with the contents of "Between Heaven and Earth": these are light, easy-to-assemble structures, each consisting of a parallelepiped about 2 meters high where the accompanying texts, photographs and graphics are printed on the 4 sides. The video clips can be enjoyed through monitors or projectors, allowing you to enjoy all the contents of the online version.
In these days the exhibition will be hosted in the spaces of the Università Cattolica in Milan (Scalone d'onore) and will subsequently be exhibited on the other campuses of the University.
You can contact the dedicated email mostrabarelli@gmail.com (which can also be reached in the "Reservations" area of the site) to find out how to purchase a printed version of the physical exhibition or how to receive the drawings of all the panels to download and print them independently.
The conception and implementation was handled by Mediacor srl, a company specialized in multimedia storytelling projects, both through the enhancement of the historical heritage of Bodies and Institutions, and through the setting up of temporary or permanent exhibition spaces, physical or digital.
The ceremony took place in Milan Cathedral at 10 a.m.
For further information write to beatificazione.barelli@unicatt.it
The prayer vigil in preparation for the beatification at the Basilica of St. Ambrogio.
Event organised in collaboration with Istituto Toniolo.
6.00 p.m., Pius XI Hall of Università Cattolica
First Festival of the Colleges of the University, an initiative promoted by the Rectorate and the Alumni Università Cattolica community in the context of the celebrations of the Centenary of Università Cattolica, aimed in particular at graduating students from all colleges to reflect on knowledge and the rediscovery of the freedom of learning, understood as an increase in personal culture.
At 11.30 a.m., in live streaming from the Multimedia Studio of the Università Cattolica, all the information on the ceremony of April 30 for the beatification of Armida Barelli and priest Don Mario Ciceri.
On this occasion, a short preview of the documentary Armida Barelli will be screened.
In view of the beatification of Armida Barelli and on the occasion of the University Day, promoted by the Toniolo Institute, the founding body of the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore University, the theatrical performance "1921. On the brink of the future." The two authors and protagonists, Paolo Colombo and Chiara Continisio, recreate the atmosphere, the climate and the situation of that year, mostly neglected by historical reconstructions, yet the beginning of a decade elsewhere defined as "roaring", and a prelude to other, dramatic, changes.
By and with Paolo Colombo and Chiara Continisio
Images and sounds: Stefano Tumiati
In the days immediately preceding the beatification of Armida Barelli, the Marianum College wished to express its gratitude to the co-founder of Università Cattolica for having strongly desired the establishment of the women's college, in years when the University of Italian Catholics had other priorities, considering that various religious boarding schools would still offer hospitality to those who came to study from distant Italian regions, especially in the South.
A tablecloth for Armida Barelli's altar made by the political refugee tailors in Italy that were welcomed by the Francesco Realmonte Association. This association works in close collaboration with the Università Cattolica, it promotes Università Cattolica's inspiring principles and institutional aims, it supports, safeguards and fosters the rights of the person with particular regard to minors and those living in difficult situations.
In recent weeks, many events and publications have been dedicated to making the figure of Armida Barelli known in view of her beatification, which will take place on Saturday 30 April. The interest in her person concerns the many fields of her activity in the first half of the last century as co-founder of the Università Cattolica as well as active in many ecclesial, cultural, social and spiritual activities that saw the advancement of women in society and in the Church.
Interviews with the speakers: Roberto Cauda, Maria Caterina Silveri, Barbara Pandolfi and Elena Esposito
"There are many ways to approach biographies. A simpler one is to start from youth and follow the stages of life, another is to give the floor to the person concerned. Armida Barelli in her Spiritual Diary, addressing the Women's Youth of Catholic Action, writes: 'Do not content yourself of being good enough"
Interview with speakers Tiziana Ferrario and Aldo Carera
On the occasion of the centenary of Università Cattolica and the twentieth anniversary of the establishment of the women's wing of the Sant'Isidoro College in Piacenza
"The idea that life is a vocation for Armida Barelli was the meaning." A theme to which contemporary sensibility is not very inclined but which tells the actuality and provocation of his figure. This is how the Archbishop of Milan and President of the Toniolo Institute, Monsignor Mario Delpini, introduced the figure of the co-foundress of the University during the first of three meetings (8 March, 1 and 29 April) towards her beatification on 30 April and the Università Cattolica Day on 1 May entitled "With a woman's heart".
In the year of the centenary of Università Cattolica and in the approach of the beatification of Armida Barelli, it is right and proper to highlight not only the ideas and intentions of the protagonists who led, amidst difficulties of all kinds, to the founding of the University of Italian Catholics, but also to grasp their strong personality and the contribution they have made to the country in their various undertakings.
The video message of the Archbishop of Milan, Monsignor Mario Delpini
The book Armida Barelli is dedicated to a determined and tireless woman, who marked the first half of the twentieth century, promoting lay initiatives, especially aimed at the female component of the country. Nothing would have been possible without her.
From Puglia, Armida Barelli's writings return to Milan, as if to restore the passion that had driven her a century ago, starting from Milan, to travel the Italian peninsula through all the dioceses to promote the Women's Youth of Catholic Action and the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore.
The foundation of Università Cattolica, commitment and love for the Sacred Heart
Armida Barelli was an exceptional figure of a woman who left a significant mark on the Church but also on Italian culture and society " straddling two centuries", the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The aspects of her remarkable activity are different aspects of the same commitment to collaboration characterised by an ideal bond: love for the Sacred Heart.
Interviews that outline the traits of the co-founder of Università Cattolica
The Decree for Beatification
On February 20, 2021, Pope Francis authorized the Congregation to promulgate the decree concerning a miracle attributed to the intercession of the Venerable Servant of God Armida Barelli.
The statement of the Archbishop of Milan, Mons. Mario Delpini
The intervention in Avvenire by H.E. Mons, Claudio Giuliodori, General Ecclesiastical Assistant of the University
Don Andrea Vena of the Pastoral Centre of Università Cattolica
Biographical notes
1882 - 1 December. Armida Barelli was born in Milan to Napoleone Barelli and Savina Candiani.
1895/1900 She studied at the Swiss boarding school in Menzingen run by the Sisters of the Holy Cross, where she obtained her Graduate degree.
1909 She collaborates with Rita Tonoli, founder of the volunteer educational organisation "Piccola Opera per la salvezza del Fanciullo", in helping orphans and abandoned children in precarious conditions.
1910 - 11 February. She met Father Gemelli.
1913 - 30 May. She took a vow of chastity in the Cathedral, in front of Our Lady of the Tree.
1916 She meets Count Ernesto Lombardo, who will support his works from a financial point of view.
1917 - 1st Friday of January. The consecration of the Italian military to the Sacred Heart took place thanks to the collaboration with Father Gemelli.
1918 - 20 January. She is appointed sole director of the new publishing company "Vita e pensiero".
1918 - 17 February. On behalf of Archbishop Cardinal Ferrari, she founded the Gioventù Femminile Cattolica [Female Catholic Youth] in Milan, taking on the position of president.
1918 - 28 September. She was appointed by Pope Benedict XV as national president of the Women's Youth.
1919 - 2 April. For the first time, the Promoting Committee of Università Cattolica gathers and Armida took on the role of cashier.
1919 - 19 November. She consecrated herself with eleven sisters in the choir of the Holy Church in Assisi, laying the foundations of the future secular Institute of the Missionaries of the Kingship of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
1920s The Missionary Work of Girls' Youth begins in Sian-Fu (northern China), entitled "Benedict XV Institute".
1921 - 15 November. At the suggestion of Armida Barelli, the Friends of Università Cattolica Association was established by Benedict XV.
1921 - 7 December. Inauguration of Università Cattolica.
1924 After several requests from Armida, Pius XI formalizes the University Day to be held every year in the Italian Church.
1928 Together with Father Gemelli, she promoted the foundation of the Opera della Regalità for the greater understanding and vitality of the liturgy.
1933 - 21June. Inauguration of the first "Oasis" in Assisi.
1946 She leaves the presidency of the Girls' Youth. On 14 October, by papal appointment, she assumed the position of vice-president general for the women's associations of Catholic Action.
1950s Early signs of the disease that will lead to her death.
1951 - 22 October . Last audience with Pope Pius XII.
1952 - 15 August. She dies in Marzio.
1953 - 8 March. At the behest of Father Gemelli and the Board of Directors, her body was transferred to the crypt of the Università Cattolica.
1962 - 17 July. The process of beatification begins in the diocese of Milan.
2021 - 20 February. Pope Francis authorizes the Congregation for the Causes of Saints to promulgate the decree concerning a miracle attributed to the intercession of the Venerable Servant of God Armida Barelli
2022 - 30 April. Beatification