Monreale, 27 October 2015. Having elicited the choral response “In nomine Christi, amen” from the clergy and the illustrious Knights and Dames, Don Antonio Cipriano’s pronouncement “Procedamus in pace” marked the beginning of the procession which took place in the Duomo of Monreale on Tuesday 27 October and which was followed by a Eucharistic celebration heralding new knightly investitures into the Order. The religious ceremony was officiated by His Most Reverend Eminence Renato Raffaele Cardinal Martino, Grand Prior, and concelebrated by the Archbishop of Monreale HE Mons. Michele Pennisi, Prior of Sicily and by HE Mons. Giorgio Demetrio Gallaro, Bishop for the Italo-Albanian communities across Sicily and the Isles of Italy, together with Don Calogero D’Ugo, parish priest of the Chiesa Madre “SS. Crocifisso” at Belmonte Mezzagno, Don Giuseppe Scrivano, parish priest of the church of San Francesco di Paola alla Civita at Catania, and Don Porfilio Traficanti, parish priest of the Latin church of “Santa Cristina Gela”. While delivering his sermon, the Grand Prior – clearly inspired by the Crucifix donated by the “Accademia Internazionale Giuseppe Pitrè” of Palermo, which was here represented by the President of the association, Professor Giovanni Gianpino – thought it worthwhile to remind all new appointees, most notably Mr Salvatore Vassallo, Mr Antonino Smiroldo, Mr Felice Alessandro Gambad’Oro and Mr Renato Milazzo, along with the Ecclesiastical Knights, Don Porfilio Traficanti and Don Calogero Falcone, of how the Order is historically committed to the delivery of the following principal duties: the Glorification of the Cross, the dissemination of the Faith, and the defence of the Holy Roman Church. For this reason, Knights and Dames are not only required to lead perfectly Christian lives but it also expected that they will affiliate themselves with all initiatives directly contributing to the furtherance of religious principles among people, and that they will establish – by all available means – close cooperative ties with the purpose of reviving Christian religious practice. At the close of the ceremony too, as HE Mons. Pennisi, HE Don Augusto Ruffo di Calabria dei Principi di Scilla and the Vice Delegate proceeded to express their heartfelt thanks and gratitude, there were further opportunities for the Order’s charitable activities currently ongoing across Sicily and in the Norman city to be brought into sharp focus, over and above what remains a part the Order’s foundational guidelines. Deserving of a special mention was the commendable work performed in connection with humanitarian project “Nuove Briciole di Salute”. Quite aside from the Grand Prefect, also attending the event were HE Don Augusto Ruffo di Calabria dei Principi di Scilla, who gave a reading of the Prayer of the Constantinian Knight, the Grand Chancellor HRH The Princess Beatrice of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, the Grand Master of Ceremonies Mr Piero Cutellè, the Vice Delegate for Tuscany Mr Edoardo Puccetti (Commander), the Vice Delegate for Calabria Mr Aurelio Badolati, the representative for the city of Brescia Don Arnaldo Morandi along with the Tuscan clergy, numerous knights and dames, coming from Lombardy, Tuscany, Campania, Calabria and from all over Sicily. The Sovereign Military Order of Malta was represented by the Delegate for Western Sicily Baron Vincenzo Calefati di Canalotti who received the parchment certificate of investiture into the Constantinian Order in the capacity of ‘Knight Grand Cross of Justice’ whilst acting on behalf of HE Fra’ Luigi Naselli of Gela, Grand Prior of Naples and Sicily of the S.M.O.M.. Other parchment certificates of investiture were handed over to HE Mons. Pennisi on the occasion of his appointment to the rank of Ecclesiastical Knight Grand Cross of Grace and to Mr Giuseppe Grandinetti, Mr Vincenzo Nuccio and Mr Carmelo Sammarco who were created Commanders of Merit. The solemn ceremony was further enlivened by the Choir of the Cathedral of Monreale which featured the addition of Mother Eleusa, Sister Tenerezza and Sister Dolce Nombre, Sister Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matarà. At the end of a very hectic day, a celebratory luncheon was held at a panoramic restaurant on the 14th floor of the Hotel San Paolo in Palermo.
