Saint Benedict of Norcia, patron of Europe, protector of monks, speleologists, architects and engineers, was an abbot born in Norcia in Umbria. After completing his studies in Rome, he retired to live as an anchorite first in Subiaco, then in Cassino. There, surrounded by numerous converts, he founded a monastery and defined his rules based on prayer and work (‘Ora et labora’), and became probably the world’s most well-known monk.

St. Benedict preached the alternation of prayer, reading the Word of God, with intense work, in an environment of love and mutual service between the brothers and to all the faithful.

A concrete man, St. Benedict wanted to leave a lifestyle aimed at perfection and spiritual elevation, but not limited to transcendence. How God intervenes in the concrete situations of human life, of every man, so man himself must never forget his presence, glorifying Him with prayer but also with everyday actions, with work, and charity. Action and contemplation, therefore, is not only for monks, but also for anyone who wants to approach God and live in his light, in his way, following in the footsteps of Jesus Christ, embracing labour and daily commitments with humility and joy.

The statues of St. Benedict are devotional objects dear to the faithful of the whole Catholic world. In them, the Saint is depicted with his order in his hand, in the form of a book or sheets.

In some cases, in St. Benedict statues other symbolic elements appear related to the life and experience of the Holy, such as the chalice or the crow. In both cases, St. Benedict statues refer to two episodes in which the monk risked being poisoned by his enemies, but God saved him, preserving him.

There are St. Benedict statues of all sizes, made of different materials, from wood to resin. In any case, St. Benedict statues provide a constant life and prayer reference valuable for anyone who wants to embrace his model and his choice.

The Catholic Church attaches great importance to the figure of Mary, mother of Jesus, the incarnation of all grace. In her is manifested the infinite goodness of Christ, his immense sacrifice for his beloved children.

Our Lady of Divine Providence is one of the names the Church uses for Mary to remember this particular aspect of her figure. The word ‘Providence‘ brings together the concepts of the Incarnation and Redemption attributed to Christ.

The title Madonna of Providence is said to derive from Scipio Pulzone’s ‘Mater Divinae Providentiae’. Painted in 1580, it was exhibited in the Church of San Carlo in Catinari in Rome by the Barnabites fathers, to whom it was donated by the painter. The Secular Confraternity of Our Lady of Divine Providence, recognised by the Pope, was later created around the painting. It is a devoted charity and Christian mercy.

No incarnation of Mary is closer to the figure of the Mother than Mary of Providence.

With this title, we celebrate the superior will of God, in the name of providence and His ineffable love for us. He ordered that the Blessed Virgin became the Mother of Christ. Our Lady of Providence embodies in herself the mother who comforts, supports, protects and assists in times of need and in the worries of everyday life.

Our Lady of Providence acts as intermediary between the infinitely merciful Christ, her son, and the faithful, an unbreakable and strong bond, a sweet and solemn promise of salvation. We turn to her with devotion and hope, because nothing is more gentle and convincing than the voice of a mother who speaks in defence of her own children.

In addition, it is to this blessed Mother that Jesus entrusted all of his children from the cross. Our Lady of Providence is a bearer of Grace. She benevolently looks upon all acts of mercy and charity, which common people have devoted to her over the centuries, but also by Popes and future Saints.

Nativity lovers know it well: making realistic snow is not easy.

Although it is unlikely that there was snow in Palestine the night when Jesus was born, from the beginning there has been the tendency of setting the Nativity in the environment in which they lived. Hence the need, in some cases, to add realism to the scene with the snow.

Various methods have been devised over time to reproduce it, both more or less realistic. In the past salt, flour, powdered sugar, talcum powder, cotton wool, soda, chalk were used. Today they often use synthetic materials, such as sodium polyacrylate or the instantaneous snow spray.

Nevertheless, nativity lovers go further. There are real electronic systems to make very realistic and beautiful snow. With the aid of an aerator or a nebuliser, you can recreate the illusion of real snowfall, even creating the intensity and texture of the flakes.

A unit of LED lighting (snow generator) with electronic effects can recreate snow and ice on any surface, while a sound system will give realism to the scene with the sound of wind or flakes falling. Others prefer to use slides depicting the snowy landscape.

Then there are machines that create the snow, which allow you to reproduce spectacular snowfalls with flakes that really dissolve. They are scenographic-patented devices for the production of artificial snow. The snow machine is created to produce real snow starting from a liquid ingredient, with the ability to adjust the intensity and direction of the flakes according to their needs. The technology ensures low noise and almost dry, light snow that dissolves as it touches the ground. Alternatively, you can set up a very intense snowfall that will play during a few minutes of the nativity with a beautiful and realistic white blanket.

What would Christmas be without the subtle, magic atmosphere that only festive candles can create? The whole house seems to be lit with pulsating lights that emit a lovely heat, making you feel united and closer together!

Christmas candles are refined compliments suitable for all types of houses and furnishings. They give a sense of festive spirit and make the house feel special, lighting it up with its bright lights, red, white, gold, and silver, and with their shapes and refined decorations.

You can put them anywhere, even with holly decorations, or together with a table centrepiece decorated with red berries. Christmas candles make the festive season even more special and unrepeatable. The wax scent spreads around, bringing out the soul and warming up your heart.

Placed on the meal table, or simply lit every night to warm up the house, Christmas candles cannot be absent from the celebration period. The house will become more welcoming, wrapped up in a magical atmosphere.

Christmas candles can also be sculpted into real works of art, or be in the shape of angels, Christmas trees, stars, pine cones, or flowers. An endless range of subjects and colours for all tastes and houses. There are also Christmas candles enclosed in delicate glass candleholders, decorated in gold and silver or with Christmas pictures. Little by little, the wax takes over and the light becomes even warmer, dimmer, making the beautiful decorations glimmer.

On colder nights, on the Night of all nights, the warm Christmas candle light designs a fluttery and magical pathway, a quivering glitter, that goes up from the warmth of every single house to the night sky like a procession of pulsating stars.

The tradition of the nativity scene has always been very strong in Italy. Nativities made of every material and size enrich Italian homes, small and large churches, and all places where the Christmas spirit lingers and spreads.

In recent years, this tradition has taken on a new and very particular ‘trend’: assembling your own crib by yourself, according to your whim, creativity and own tastes. Almost a child’s game, you create a perfect detailed little village, but it is a very serious game, which in certain cases results in small works of art, as used to happen with dollhouses.

The DIY Nativity offers an infinite range of possible combinations. In addition to sets and locations for DIY nativities made of real moss, cork and wood, you can buy accessories that allow you to customise it to the tiniest detail: animals of the manger, miniature food, gates, railings and balconies, lanterns and lights cribs, lichen and moss plants, pumps and electric motors for electric fountains, electric mills, furnaces, waterfalls, streams, even tiles for the roofs of houses! Backdrops and panels can be useful to create even richer and more suggestive scenes.

This wealth of detail guarantees the DIY nativity a wonderful realistic effect. The manger comes alive with small details that seem to live their own lives. The commitment and dedication in achieving such a work reflects the spirit of devotion, which manifests itself in an activity, which is at the same time old and new, requiring care, imagination, and attention. The DIY manger is an act that enriches its creator that forms small, special and unique worlds, making a manifestation of an inner vision of spirituality, tradition and beauty.

The sort devotion around the figure of Pio of Pietrelcina, better known by the faithful as Padre Pio, exceeds in dissemination and ardor that dedicated to many other saints and famous historic holy.

This affection and enthusiasm come from the same religious character of Pietrelcina, from his deep humanity, from his being entirely and constantly straining toward the people, his people, who loved him and always followed, attracted by his sanctity and his mystery. His fame as a miracle worker did not only increase the affection and devotion of his devotees

After his death and canonization, the figure of Padre Pio has assumed a magnitude even greater and his veneration has reached global proportions.

Padre Pio statues are among the objects to which more the worship of the devotees to the Holy targets.

Padre Pio statues, both those produced in series and the real sculptures and monuments, are works that attempt to give the grace of the Holy in the materials of all kinds, to allow anyone to feel closer.

Padre Pio statues are often made of wood, natural and living material, which over time acquires greater beauty and value. However, Padre Pio statues in any shape and size, can also be made of bronze, fiberglass, marble, glass, clay.

They are often unique pieces, hand worked, precious and refined artistic achievements, but mass production is also widespread: daily devotional objects, that protect and preserve the house, offering in every instant comfort and support to those who live there.

Padre Pio statues often hark back to the original created in San Giovanni Rotondo, by local artisans: the Holy usually appears in blessing position, his face bathed in sweetness and devotion, the secret hope of those who know they have been chosen to bring Love in the world.