Silvia at nine years old. The photo shows her with her family, father Luigi, mother Luigia,
her brother Gino and their little sisters Liliana and Carla, on a meadow in Roncegno (Tn).
© CSC Audiovisivi
When Silvia was born on January 22nd in a flat in Via Prepositura in Trent, the First World War had recently ended. Despite the problematic post-war situation, she lived the first years of life in a serene family atmosphere and relative comfort. But in the process of social and economic rebirth, her father Luigi’s business failed due to the 1929 economic crisis and the family’s situation changed significantly.
Silvia Lubich aged six months.
© CSC Audiovisivi
Photo of Silvia with Gino Lubich, given by her
mother to her father on June 21st 1921 in Trent.
© CSC Audiovisivi
“I was two years old on the 22nd January 1920 but I could tell you what happened minute by minute, when I saw her just after she was born. We were living in a house in Via Prepositura that overlooked Piazza S. Maria Maggiore. Our flat was on the third floor, made up of a kitchen, a smaller long bedroom and my parents’ bedroom. She was born in the long bedroom.” (Gino Lubich)
On a trip to Roncegno with her family in 1929. Silvia is sitting in the center.
© CSC Audiovisivi
“My family was very normal. Everyone had their own views but there was always great harmony amongst us. … My dad was a socialist; he was really idealistic and against fascism; that’s why we were never wealthy. We were at first, but then things got worse. Instead, my mum was a profoundly sincere and convinced Christian.” (Chiara Lubich)
Silvia aged eight in a class photo. She is the second from the left, seated on the ground.
© CSC Audiovisivi
Her formative years were those when fascism grew in Italy and when Trent and the Trentino region were located within the borders of the Italian State. A look at the front page of Silvia’s report for her first year at school in 1926 reveals the ideological climate that spread its influence everywhere.
Pinè – Trent, May 1936. On a school trip in the mountains around Trent,
with other girls from the Rosmini Institute.
1938, the last year of teacher training at the Antonio Rosmini Institute.
Silvia is at the last desk, on the philosophy teacher’s left.
With the pupils of the elementary school beside the Seraphic Work
Orphanage in Cognola Trent, where Silvia taught from 1940 to 1943.
© CSC Audiovisivi
Qualified to teach in 1938, the young teacher with good drawing skills, prepared an abecedary, which reflected the times and propaganda of the Fascist regime, and shows the care taken in carrying out her work and the friendly relations with her colleagues. One of them was Pierita Folgheraiter.
Written messages: Pierita Folgheraiter Silvia’s colleague in the school year 1940-1941 at the Seraphic Work Institute.
CHIARA LUBICH ®
Dear Silvia,
Can you manage, taking all the time you need, to finish the 7? If you need colours they are here; otherwise it will be next week. Thanks so much and sorry to bother you.
Yours affectionately, Pierita.
When you write, tell me something beautiful.
See you soon.
Dear Pierita,
Of course I can finish it! I started on the 7 little flowerpots but was not convinced about them. So I’m doing a different one. You’ll see. I’d like to use a nice sky blue, if you’ve got it. There isn’t one here. Tell me if writing the 7 in black is ok.
A hug. Silvia.
Dear Pierita,
I will do the rainbow.
I’m sorry you’ve got a headache, but I’m consoled by the fact that I can share it with you. My head began thumping as soon as we came out of the refectory. I think and I’m sure it is due to indigestion. We eat our meals too fast. And you know that ‘prima digestio fit in ore’! [Digestion starts in the mouth] This evening let’s try eating at a snail’s pace! Agreed? If it’s too bad, I hope you will ask Miss Bice for a painkiller. Otherwise offer it up to the Lord for your little ones. I do the same and I see the benefit of this sometimes even though I’m not worthy.
A hug
Silvia
“Right from the start she was so supportive and made many valuable suggestions. She did whatever I asked her without complaining; far from it! I saw she worked hard and was very precise and careful; she was always calm and optimistic. She was the one who offered to draw the posters I used for my lessons, and I have kept them always, and I never threw away any of the notes she wrote me during that year. If I couldn’t do something I would ask her and she helped with everything. She wanted to prepare the wonderful drawings, done in charcoal or watercolours, to illustrate all the numbers from 1 to 10; and she did the same for all the letters of the alphabet.”
(Pierita Folgheraiter)
Illustrations prepared by Silvia for her colleague Pierita to explain the numbers and the letters of the alphabet to class one pupils.
CHIARA LUBICH ®
Cognola, 1941. Group photo at the Seraphic Work Institute, Silvia is second right.
Most Rev. Carlo De Ferrari, Archbishop of Trent, at the centre.
Silvia the teacher on an outing with her pupils.
Some pages of the notebook where Silvia wrote her teaching notes. The notebooks provided by the regime, with their illustrations, were also a means of propaganda during fascist times. Here the cover highlights the atmosphere of the time and the importance given to education and to sports.
A cura di:
Fondazione Museo storico del Trentino
Via Torre d'Augusto
41 38122 TRENTO - Italy
cf/p.iva 02050480223
Centro Chiara Lubich
Via della Madonnella, 10
00040 Rocca di Papa (RM)
+39 06 947 98 221
Luogo:
Piazza di Piedicastello, 38122 Trento (TN)
Orario:
Dall'8 marzo al 18 maggio 2020: CHIUSO.
Da martedì a domenica, ore 9.00-18.00.
Chiuso il lunedì, il 25 dicembre e il 1° gennaio.
Aperto durante le altre festività, salvo diversa indicazione.
Ingresso libero.
Informazioni:
Referente: Roberta Tait
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info@museostorico.it
rtait@museostorico.it
Tel. 0461 230482
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