On March 1, 2024, Father Armando Pierucci, a renowned Franciscan and witness to contemporary spirituality, was hosted by the Erede di Maria Valtorta Foundation in Isola del Liri. He was accompanied by his friends and collaborators, Véronique and Polus. Father Armando shared his personal testimony regarding the writings of Maria Valtorta with those present. Additionally, Father Armando gifted the Foundation a collection of pieces on the theme “The Immaculate Heart of Mary” from The Gospel as Revealed to Me.

Father Armando Pierucci is a Franciscan friar and a well-known Italian musician, recognized especially for his contributions as an organist, composer, and choir director. Born in Italy in 1935, Pierucci is a member of the Order of Friars Minor (Franciscans) and has dedicated much of his life to sacred music.

One of the most important aspects of his career has been his long service in the Holy Land, particularly in Jerusalem, where he served as the organist at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. He was also the director of the “Magnificat” music school, an institution founded by the Franciscans in Jerusalem to promote musical education and interreligious dialogue through music. The school is attended by Christian, Jewish, and Muslim students, and serves as an example of how music can bridge different cultures.

A prominent figure in the international sacred music scene and a promoter of intercultural and interreligious dialogue through the arts, Father Pierucci is also the author of numerous sacred music compositions, many of which are performed in liturgical and spiritual contexts. His music reflects a deep connection to Franciscan spirituality and the Christian tradition, with a particular interest in both ancient and contemporary sacred repertoire.

Several months after the first meeting, a new project took shape with the goal of merging the beauty of music with the sacred, offering participants an engaging and enriching experience that draws the soul closer to the contemplation of the divine through the expressive power of sound. In the introduction, Father Armando writes:

In the 1970s, a kind elderly lady gifted me the 5th volume of The Poem of the Man-God by Maria Valtorta. She had won it in a parish charity raffle. I randomly opened the book: “Jesus in Alessandria.”

I had never heard of this name. At that time, no one had conducted even preliminary investigations to confirm its existence. So, I thought to myself, “What are these stories!” In reality, it was geography. I thanked her for the gift and placed it on the most remote shelf of my library.

The moment came when Our Lady Curiosity urged me to open the book. I acquired all ten volumes of the Poem. Since then, for 50 years, it has been my guidebook.

In my desire to express my gratitude to the Lord and to Maria Valtorta, I have now composed these Tales for Saxophone and Organ. While continuing my compositional style based on musical criteria, I have sought to describe the four episodes that inspired me. Many musicians have done the same.

I am convinced that the artists’ intuition will spark someone’s curiosity, encouraging them to read The Gospel as  Revealed to Me by Maria Valtorta; and the simplicity of these pieces will delight the listener with the light that emanates from those pages.

Pesaro, June 8, 2024

(Memory of the Immaculate Heart of Mary)

Armando Pierucci, ofm

On Friday, October 4, 2024, at 9:00 PM, the world premiere of the work for saxophone and organ will take place in Pesaro at the Church of San Giovanni Monumentale, located at Via Passeri 98. The event is supported by the Laus Plena Foundation.