The Delegation of Rome and Lazio has postponed the celebration of the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross to Sunday 19 September 2021, combining it with the liturgical memorial of Saint Januarius, Bishop and Martyr.
The Holy Mass was officiated at the Church of Santa Maria della Consolazione by the Reverend Priest Ettore Capra, Ecclesiastical Knight of Grace and Vice Prior for the City of Rome, with the assistance of Don Teodoro Beccia, Ecclesiastical Knight of Grace. The homily was given by the Most Reverend Mons. Karel Kasteel, Knight Grand Cross of Ecclesiastical Grace, Protonotary Apostolic, former Secretary of the Pontifical Council “Cor Unum”. The celebration on the occasion of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross – closely connected to the history and spirituality of our Venerable Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George – ended with the solemn blessing given by the Prior Vicar with an authentic relic of the Cross of Our Lord.
Among the various participants, we mention the Delegate for Rome and Lazio, HH Prince Don Lelio Niccolò Orsini d’Aragona; the Vice Delegate, Count Riccardo Langosco; Don Guglielmo dei Principi Giovanelli Marconi – Knight of Justice and Donna Vittoria Giovanelli Marconi – Dame of Justice; Don Alessandro Arborio Mella – Knight of Justice; Nob. Gian Marco dei Baroni Vismara Currò; General Luigi Infussi – Official Knight of Merit; Dr. Antonietta Capparella – Official Dame of Merit; lawyer Andrea Pasqualini – Knight of Merit; Dr. Fabio Cassani Pironti.
At the end of the Holy Mass, the Prince Delegate greeted the guests at the vin d’honneur held at the premises of the large Sacristy, during which Georgian wine was served, donated by the Delegate himself. Georgia is in fact known for being the cradle of wine; Homer already talks about it in the Odyssey, and Apollonius Rhodius in the Argonautics; in addition to the Georgian National Museum, even the world academia, such as the University of Milan, the University of Pennsylvania and many other academic bodies, agree in attributing to Georgia, which has over 520 native vines, the primacy on the origin of the wine. A particular thanks is due to Father Radek, of the Order of the Capuchin Friars Minor, Rector of the Church who hosted the Holy Mass and the subsequent banquet, and to Mons. Sandro Corradini, former Promoter of the Faith of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, for his presence at the delegation initiative as well as for having given his contribution in finding the Church that hosted the ceremony.
