When Franco arrived at Villa San Benedetto Menni, he was searching for answers amidst the chaos. His wife, Anna, had been diagnosed with a complex condition, and he felt lost, filled with uncertainty and countless questions. However, as he crossed the doors of the Villa, something changed:

I arrived at Villa San Benedetto Menni “by chance,” and over time, I began to perceive what I can only describe as a supernatural help. After what had happened to my wife, I was overwhelmed by chaos, filled with doubts and questions. But upon arriving here, I started to feel something different.

As soon as I arrived, I met someone—a doctor—who captivated me with his kindness and his way of being. It was a warm “welcome” for both Anna and me. Immediately, I noticed that all the staff were genuinely committed, unlike other care settings I had known before.

So, I began to feel at ease, convinced that Anna had found a place that, while it might not offer her a complete cure, at least provided a space of peace and care—especially considering her condition (the so-called vegetative state), in which we truly don’t know what happens in the person’s mind.

I can say that, between the two of us, I am probably the one who has experienced the most positive change. By being in contact with the staff—nurses, caregivers, and even the Sisters themselves—I have witnessed how “extremely caring” they are. You can always talk to them, from trivial topics to deep philosophical questions… And this is a sign of how this place, which could easily be one of sadness, has instead become a source of psychological support for me and, at the same time, a manifestation of the Lord’s Mercy.

At this point, I must make a personal reflection: over time, situations arise that one would never have imagined… When I was born, my mother “offered” me to the Virgin, just as she did with my siblings—to the Virgin of San Materno in Figino Serenza (her birthplace), to whom she was deeply devoted. That “consecration” was, in a way, like giving us a backpack—not a heavy one, but a meaningful one: a responsibility, the responsibility of faith, and of passing on that experience to others.

Coming here, I also had this thought: clearly, someone has been looking down upon us… After all, it is much easier to speak with the Virgin than with her Son—because she is a woman, and women have that maternal instinct, that innate ability to listen…

All these experiences have helped me to truly “mature in tranquility,” if I can put it that way. In fact, I gave up the idea of bringing my wife home, even though it seemed like the logical solution—fewer kilometers, less travel time, less stress… However, I preferred for Anna to stay here because it is the right environment for her, where I feel at peace leaving her. So, while a physical healing for my wife may be unlikely, perhaps there is a different kind of healing taking place—a psychological healing, a path toward inner peace, for both her and me.

Franco’s story is a testament to the fact that even in the midst of pain and uncertainty, the love and mercy of God are ever present.