FROM THE YEAR 2016 RECOVERED
REMITTANCE TO PUBLIC WORSHIP
IN THE CHURCH OF CALENDASCO
The ancient statue of the Patron Saint Conrad
REMITTANCE TO PUBLIC WORSHIP
IN THE CHURCH OF CALENDASCO
The ancient statue of the Patron Saint Conrad
 |
| THE 1907 STATUE OF ST. CORRADO IN CHURCH IN CALENDASCO |
Here is the story of recovery
It had been abandoned since the 1970s in the attic of the Canonical House of the parish church of Calendasco
And even, with great devotion, even if very heavy, it was carried in procession on the solemn Feast of February 19, the day of the Dies Natalis of San Corrado Confalonieri.
One morning in a winter month, Umberto Battini, scholar and historian of S. Corrado, a devotee, found the precious statue in the attic, covered with a plastic sheet.
Looking at it he saw that it was blackened by time, but it was still in more than excellent condition, although it was painted and made of plaster it had no damage.
With the permission of the parish priest of those days, who was Don Fabio Battiato, it was taken to the first floor of the rectory, where Umberto Battini cleaned it over several days.
And so on the feast of February 19th of that 2016 she was once again exposed to public devotion in the church and is still on display today with the Cilio donated by the Netini in 2015 when they came to Calendasco as pilgrims.
At the end of Holy Mass the devout historian, always in agreement with the parish priest, traced a brief history of this beautiful statue, which obviously the elders remembered well.
Searching the parish archives and studying them for some time and several years, Battini discovered the documentation relating to the statue: the report of July 3, 1907, from the Parish Council of Calendasco, chaired by the parish priest and archpriest Don Giovanni Caprara and other lay people of the town, approved its purchase.
The price is indicated: "an expense of approximately L. 40", which at today's value corresponds to approximately 4000 euros.
And even, with great devotion, even if very heavy, it was carried in procession on the solemn Feast of February 19, the day of the Dies Natalis of San Corrado Confalonieri.
One morning in a winter month, Umberto Battini, scholar and historian of S. Corrado, a devotee, found the precious statue in the attic, covered with a plastic sheet.
Looking at it he saw that it was blackened by time, but it was still in more than excellent condition, although it was painted and made of plaster it had no damage.
With the permission of the parish priest of those days, who was Don Fabio Battiato, it was taken to the first floor of the rectory, where Umberto Battini cleaned it over several days.
And so on the feast of February 19th of that 2016 she was once again exposed to public devotion in the church and is still on display today with the Cilio donated by the Netini in 2015 when they came to Calendasco as pilgrims.
At the end of Holy Mass the devout historian, always in agreement with the parish priest, traced a brief history of this beautiful statue, which obviously the elders remembered well.
Searching the parish archives and studying them for some time and several years, Battini discovered the documentation relating to the statue: the report of July 3, 1907, from the Parish Council of Calendasco, chaired by the parish priest and archpriest Don Giovanni Caprara and other lay people of the town, approved its purchase.
The price is indicated: "an expense of approximately L. 40", which at today's value corresponds to approximately 4000 euros.
The documentation is also published in Umberto Battini's 2024 book "The Documents of the Cult of San Corrado - The Original Papers of Calendasco on the Secular Patronage."
Some time later, the parish priest Don Fabio Battiato had the beautiful raised wooden base that stands today built.
Since September 2025, the current parish priest, Don Fabio Galli (who resides in San Nicolò a Trebbia), has displayed it in a new setting, at the entrance to the church, still next to the majestic Cilio di Noto and four brilliant wooden candlesticks.
The patron saint of the village, where he was also physically born in the large castle, as per the notarial deed made in the curia in Piacenza on 9 August 1617 signed by the Bishop, after historical research, has been Saint Corrado Confalonieri for over 400 years.
In the hospitable hermitage of the village of S. Corrado, welcomed by Brother Aristide in 1315, began his lay mission as a Franciscan tertiary penitent.
He will leave and after various pilgrimages he arrives in Noto where he lives in the Valle dei Tre Pizzoni in a cave living as a hermit.
There were many miracles in his life and after his death, in that rocky cave.
Calendasco and Known for these historical facts are united in the cult and devotion to their sole Patron of Heaven.
To be fair in the historical account of the facts, we would like to point out that Umberto Battini has published some study books with documents relating to S. Corrado, in addition to dozens of popular articles on the Holy Hermit in local Piacenza newspapers and having participated in several popular conferences on the Saint of Calendasco, has organized important documentary exhibitions.
Since 2015 he has been an Honorary Member of the Cilii Bearers of Noto, a conferral that took place in the church in Calendasco.
In 2019 he was awarded the Proserpina Siciliani nel Mondo Prize, in the Hall of Honour of the Municipality of Caravaggio, for his studies on S. Corrado and the Confalonieri family.
Some time later, the parish priest Don Fabio Battiato had the beautiful raised wooden base that stands today built.
Since September 2025, the current parish priest, Don Fabio Galli (who resides in San Nicolò a Trebbia), has displayed it in a new setting, at the entrance to the church, still next to the majestic Cilio di Noto and four brilliant wooden candlesticks.
The patron saint of the village, where he was also physically born in the large castle, as per the notarial deed made in the curia in Piacenza on 9 August 1617 signed by the Bishop, after historical research, has been Saint Corrado Confalonieri for over 400 years.
In the hospitable hermitage of the village of S. Corrado, welcomed by Brother Aristide in 1315, began his lay mission as a Franciscan tertiary penitent.
He will leave and after various pilgrimages he arrives in Noto where he lives in the Valle dei Tre Pizzoni in a cave living as a hermit.
There were many miracles in his life and after his death, in that rocky cave.
Calendasco and Known for these historical facts are united in the cult and devotion to their sole Patron of Heaven.
To be fair in the historical account of the facts, we would like to point out that Umberto Battini has published some study books with documents relating to S. Corrado, in addition to dozens of popular articles on the Holy Hermit in local Piacenza newspapers and having participated in several popular conferences on the Saint of Calendasco, has organized important documentary exhibitions.
Since 2015 he has been an Honorary Member of the Cilii Bearers of Noto, a conferral that took place in the church in Calendasco.
In 2019 he was awarded the Proserpina Siciliani nel Mondo Prize, in the Hall of Honour of the Municipality of Caravaggio, for his studies on S. Corrado and the Confalonieri family.
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