The Delegation of Abruzzo and Molise organized the spiritual retreat for the Knights and aspiring candidates of the Order, as every year. The spiritual exercises were held at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Sorrows of Castelpetroso (IS) on September 9, 10 and 11. The theme of the 2021 Spiritual Retreat was inspired by the Apostolic Exhortation of His Holiness Pope Francis, “Patris Corde”, who, on the occasion of the celebrations of the 150th anniversary of the proclamation of Saint Joseph as Patron of the universal Church, declared the year 2021 a special year dedicated to the figure of the adoptive father of Jesus, until 8 December 2021. The day of Friday September 9 ended with a wonderful concert in the Cathedral, coordinated by Master Marciano Oliva, organist and composer, and composed by the masters: Angelo Scungio, clarinet, Nicandro Rodi, trumpet, Angela Cicerone, soprano, Gian Piero Frattaruolo, tenor. The ensemble has performed pieces by J.G. Walther, G. Donizzetti, C. Frank, E. Morricone, G.P. Telemann, J.S. Bach, W.A. Mozart. The concert, which began with the song “Laudate Dominum in Sanctis”, by Master Marciano Oliva, was the prologue of the musical path of the evening as a support to an intense and fruitful journey of reflection and meditation on the theme of our Spiritual Retreat “Patris Corde”. The spiritual exercises ended on Saturday September 11 with the celebration of the Solemn Mass in honor of the Feast of the Name of Mary and the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, concelebrated in the suggestive Shrine. All those present went in procession to the Grotto of the Apparitions, after the Solemn Eucharistic Celebration, through a difficult and tiring mountain path, pausing in prayer at the Aedicules representing the seven Sorrows of Our Lady in witnessing the sufferings of her beloved Son.
On 14th of September, the Knights and Dames of the delegation of Abruzzo and Molise, together with many faithful that rushed for the occasion, gathered in the small mountain church in Spigno, dedicated to the Holy Cross, to celebrate the important feast of the Holy Cross.