Palermo, 13 May 2015. In what has now become a tradition, the Constantinian Knights were invited to join the Constantinian Chaplain and Priest, Father Giuseppe Di Giovanni to participate in the procession of the Pilgrim Virgin, during the celebration of the liturgical memory of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Fatima.
The afternoon, which began with the offering of flowers from the confraternities, proceeded with Mass celebrated by the Provincial Father of the Domenican Friars and concelebrated with Monsignor Salvatore Sapienza, after which the solemn procession of the statue of the Virgin took place.
The square, packed with thousands of believers who came to greet the Virgin with white handkerchiefs and accompanied by Schubert’s ‘Ave Maria’. At the end, dozens of coloured balloons and doves were released, followed by the act of giving gifts to Mary by the youngest children in the neighbourhood.
Thousands of believers, numerous confraternities, prayer groups and Knights took part in the procession which was led by the priest, Monsignor Sapienza and which weaved through the streets of the densely populated district.
Monsignor Sapienza, in a conversation with some Knights, recalled the invitation from Pope Francis “to multiply our daily gestures of respect and imitation of the Mother of God” and to trust the Virgin with “everything that you are, everything you have, and then you will be able to be a vehicle for the compassion and kindness of God for your relatives, your neighbours and friends”.
