The Council of Trento was one of the largest assemblies of bishops in history. It lasted from 1545 to 1563, its main purpose: to evaluate the impact that the Protestant Reformation was having on the Catholic Church, and discuss that. The result of this meeting was the so-called Counter-Reformation: the Catholic response to Calvinism and Lutheranism.

The arts were not spared from the consequences of this new era, especially in Southern Italy. Painters, sculptors, architects used all their skills and talent to outshine the Protestant figurative art, ultimately offering with devotion the cult of sacred images, so dear to Catholicism. The late Baroque art, which reached its highest peaks in Southern Italy, led to the production of a considerable amount of artworks, in particular of statues of the Madonna and polychrome wood sculptures of saints.

The objective of these works was to emphasize the excellence of the Roman Church, the papacy, and mostly the constant presence of these devotional figures in the life of the believers.

In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries we see the proliferation of timber’s sculpture, mostly depicting Mary.

Only a name among those of the artists who contributed to this artistic renaissance is worth mentioning: Giuseppe Picano, famous for the Veiled Christ in the Sansevero Chapel, which was also the author of some breathtaking woods of Immaculate Conceptions, which have been preserved to this day.

The Immaculate Conception was a favorite subject, together with the depiction of Madonnas and Child.

Ancient sources record a number of shops operating in the Kingdom of Naples in the seventeenth and eighteenth century, specialized in this type of wooden sculptures.

Frequent exchanges with Spain and the rest of Mediterranean led to the spread of these statues even outside the Italian territory. Many of these works have come down to us.

The wooden sculptures were often placed in churches, chapels, places of worship, and carried in procession during large religious demonstrations, whose opulence and splendor were almost theatrical. These processions contributed greatly to the spread of counter-reformed Catholic orthodoxy in all countries of the Christian West.

The Christ-Light axiom is one of the most recurring in the Catholic religion. From the origins of the Liturgy, light from lamps and candles was used as symbol of light of the Resurrection of Jesus: a light, which can dissipate the darkness of the darkest night.

Firstly, God created light, and throughout the Bible, this is considered as a sign of God’s presence, and manifestation of His greatness.

But it was with Jesus that the symbolic value of light obtained its most important role.

Jesus speaks of himself as the true light, and of his disciples as the light of the world, which must “shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.“ (Mt 5:16).

In particular, the great Paschal candle lit on the Easter Vigil, placed in the baptistery and brought in solemn procession, has itself a strong symbolic value.

In the darkness that characterizes the Easter Vigil, the Paschal candle is lit by the priest in order to enlighten the dark abyss where men wander, deprived of light and hope for new life. This weak flame is needed to revive the hope to the faithful ones. In the glow of the blessed candle, the faithful ones recognize themselves as the children of light, in communion with God and with their brothers. The light from these candles, and in particular the one from the Paschal candle, affects everyone present with the splendor of Christ rising from the darkness of death and defeating the evil.

The night, no longer dark but illuminated by the presence of Christ, is filled with songs of joy and hope. Every guilt is washed, every sin forgiven, in this common rebirth.

The Paschal candle should be at the center of all celebrations for the fifty days of Easter. It will be consumed, just as Jesus was “consumed” before God, by the love for men, sacrificing himself completely. His sacrifice is renewed every year by the burning of this symbol of salvation and redemption;  the smoke, going up to the sky, reminds the rise of the One who came back from the dead, to bring light and peace to men until the end of time.

The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary is one of the highest and most evocative points within the Catholic Christian religion. Its symbolic and spiritual value is immense, as is the exact moment in which God held out his hand to men and gave them a second chance with the miraculous incarnation of his Son in the pure and virgin womb of Mary.

The announcement is in fact led by the Archangel Gabriel to Mary about her pregnancy. It is reported in the Gospels of Luke and Matthew (in which the Annunciation is addressed to Joseph, husband of Mary, and takes place in a dream).

That is how the adventure of Jesus among men begins, his mission of love and hope of salvation for those who will welcome his message. It is the first time in the history of religions, that a God deliberately chooses to become man, to take upon himself the burden of the flesh, and all this for a gesture of pure, absolute love.

Annunciation to Mary fulfils the alliance, as promised to the prophets in the Old Testament. The date on which we celebrate the Annunciation, March 25, was a symbolic date for Christianity and many other festivals were celebrated on this day. The dialogue between the Angel and Mary became the Hail Mary, one of the most important prayers and spread of Christianity, matched only by Our Father.

The Annunciation is not just a Marian Holiday, although over time countless works of art have been created to celebrate it. Paintings of immortal masters and Madonna statues tell the world of this miraculous moment when the Word was made flesh, and did so through a young woman of Galilee. Some of the Madonna statues depict the exact moment of Annunciation and Incarnation. They represent Mary in a humble, devoted attitude, her hands clasped in her lap or chest, while pronouncing the “fiat”, with which she will accept her destiny and will mark the destiny of all men from that moment onwards.

First Communion is a very important and valuable moment in the life of the young faithful and for their family. In fact, this is the first time that the child is permitted to receive the Eucharist, after a long process of catechesis.

First Communion can therefore be considered one of the milestones of “Christian initiation”, together with Baptism and Confirmation. Pope Francis said, “By this sacrament of love, comes every authentic path of faith, of communion and testimony.”

However, the First Communion is also a festive occasion, and to make it truly memorable, we want to give you some helpful advice.

1. Clothing for the First Communion. Young people about to receive the sacrament are usually given an alb that they will have to wear for the ceremony. To the alb, you can also add a dress to wear during the Communion or during the reception that follows. In general, the alb must be white and a quite simple shape.
2. Head wreaths or veils for the First Communion. Girls often choose a simple hairstyle, enriched by a white veil or a wreath of flowers and ribbons.
3. First Communion Bonbonnière. The favours will be offered to guests. They will naturally contain confetti and represent a beautiful memory for the future. There are many types of favours for First Communion in the form of ornaments, small jewellery, rosaries, icons, etc.
4. Souvenirs. If you choose a nicer or maybe personalised First Communion Party Favour, homemade by you, make sure that the guests have any kind of souvenir to cherish, even a prayer card or a card maybe made by the little celebrated child.
5. The Gift. It is customary that the child receives a gift on this occasion, something important, especially from a symbolic point of view.
6. Reception. This can be organised at home or at a restaurant, and should involve the child and his friends, so they really can associate this day with a very special party.
7. The cake. Even the cake must satisfy eyes and taste, but also reminds us of the reason for celebrating, perhaps with decorations that remind us of Communion.
8. Photographs. Like all great events, the First Communion deserves to be remembered and documented by an extensive photo reportage. If you do not want to rely on a professional, simply rely on the enthusiasm of friends and relatives.
9. Flowers. As decorations for the church or as gift for the child, the flowers will be a precious asset. Strictly white, for tradition and for the value and religious meaning. Pale pink is allowed. The flowers will be decorated with simple ribbons. Favorites are calla lilies, white roses, lilies, daisies.
10. Book. A beautiful edition of the Gospel or the Bible, or a prayer book for kids can be a nice gift for the First Communion and a precious memory for the life of the young faithful.

Baptism is the first sacrament that the young faithful approaches. It is a time of great celebration for the whole family, with which it celebrates its entrance into a fuller life, accompanying him in his first steps to the discovery of spirituality.

Like any celebration, the Baptism is characterised by objects, accessories and gifts that emphasise value and make it a unique and unrepeatable moment. Baptism accessories are varied and can carry a very valuable and important spiritual significance.

Take, for example, the immaculate gown, also called the ‘gown of fortune’. It is a little double tunic robe, usually donated to the mother after the third month of pregnancy as a good omen. It is worn by the child to the rite of Baptism and is then preserved by the family as a souvenir. It is a delicate garment, adorned with lace, and usually decorated with embroidery depicting a golden cross, an angel, and a lighted candle.

Another typical Baptism accessory is the Baptism candle, which represents the faith of the little newborn, the throbbing light of his soul. It is also usually kept as a souvenir or gift. There are many other Baptism accessories, which can be offered as a gift and precious memory, as small terracotta icons, wooden sculptures, prayers and blessings written on cardboard or thin wood. Then there are the christening accessories used by the priest in the celebration itself. The jars containing holy oils, for example, often encased in boxes or leather cases, Baptism services, consisting of chalice, ciborium and paten, made of precious metals, bottles for holy water, the plates and all necessary furnishings.

Baptism accessories help make this celebration a precious and unforgettable moment.

The use of oil lamps is very old. It dates back to Greek civilisation, and is also documented in the Mediterranean regions by the Phoenicians or the Romans, already many centuries before the birth of Christ.

In ancient times, oil lamps were simple flat containers with no lid and with a spout on the rim, which contained the wick. The risk of burns or fire was notable due to the lack of protection. Modern oil lamps have changed in this sense, but given the very flammable nature of the oil, it is still best to follow a few precautions.

1. The first trick is to never leave the lamp unattended, which means that it is advisable to turn it off when you leave the house or if you go to sleep, in order to prevent accidental falls or other accidents. For the same reasons, and to ensure the best conditions to the lamp, it is always better not to store it with the oil in the tank.
2. The oil lamp must be placed out of reach of children and pets, who may accidentally bump into it and drop it.
3. It is better to use refined white oil (kerosene), rather than colourful and fragrant oil. These last ones can spoil the wick.
4. Before ignition, the wick must be moistened with oil. The best wicks are the old style ones, with one side cut and slightly rounded. The cotton used in its composition absorbs the oil by capillarity, making it rise very slowly between the fibres and giving it time to warm up.
5. You should remove the cover of the lamp, take off the burner, in which you will insert the wick, and add the oil, which you should not overfill to avoid spills. The wick must have 1 or 2 cm distance between the flame and the oil. In fact, if the flame comes in direct contact with the oil in the tank, everything would ignite. At the same time, however, an excessive distance would prevent the oil to go up along the wick to ensure the flame.