HRH Prince Charles of Bourbon Two Sicilies, Duke of Castro and Grand Master, presents HE Timothy Cardinal Dolan, Cardinal Archbishop of New York, with the decoration and brevet of Bailiff Grand Cross of Justice during his visit to the United States.
FRANCE: INVESTITURE CEREMONY IN PARIS
The first investiture ceremony of the new French delegation’s Knights and Dames of the Order took place on Friday, January 19th 2018. It was preceded by a spiritual afternoon contemplation in order to spiritually prepare the aspiring Knights.
The renewed French Delegation is formally recognised by French Authorities as Association (1901 law), whose name is National Association of French Constantinian Knights and Dames. The delegation is directed by the Counsellor, Mr. Camille Pascal.
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The liturgy took place in the prestigious Saint- Roch Church, in Rue Saint- Honoré in Paris, which is one of the most important churches in the city, whose first stone was dropped off in 1653 by the young Louis XIV at the presence of his mother, Queen Anne D’Autriche. The delegation was hosted by the Abbot Thierry Laurent, who is the vicar of this church.
The liturgy was chaired by H.E. Mons. Luc Ravel, Archbishop of Strasbourg and Prior of Delegation, in the presence of H.R.H. Prince Charles of Bourbon Two Sicilies, Duke of Castro and Grand Master of the Order, H.R.H. Princess Beatrice of Bourbon Two Sicilies, Grand Prefect and H.E. the Prince Ruspoli, Grand Chancelor.
H.R.H. Princess Camilla of Bourbon Two Sicilies, Duchess of Castro, H.R.H. Princess Anna of Bourbon Two Sicilies, H.R.S. Prince Charles- Henri de Lobkowicz, member of the Royal Deputation, H.E. Ambassador of Monaco in Paris, Mr. Claude Cottalorda, the Mayor of the 8th district of Paris, Mrs. Jeanne d’Hauteserre, the Baroness Mrs. Puya Hottinguer and Mons. Arnaldo Morandi, General Secretary of the Grand Prior Office participated in this touching ceremony. During the ceremony Mons. Morandi communicated to the French Knights and Dames the message of plenary indulgency given by the Holy Father Francis to Constantinian Order of Saint George’s Knights and Dames.
An important French assembly participated in the liturgy. Then it was followed by a fraternal and convivial meeting at Hotel Saint-James & Alban, in rue de Rivoli, which allowed the presentation of the next charity initiatives of the delegation.
MESSAGE OF HIS EMINENCE THE GRAND PRIOR FOR THE SOLEMNITY OF THE HOLY CHRISTMAS 2017
Rome, december 19th 2017 In the occasion of the Solemnity of the Holy Christmas, His Eminence Cardinal Renato Raffaele Martino, Grand Prior, sent a message to all Knights and Dames, exhorting them to celebrate the Birth of Christ with charitable works.
Click HERE for the full message
H.R.H. THE GRAND MASTER IN NOTO, 22-24 SEPTEMBER 2017
 On September 23 H.R.H. Prince Charles of Bourbon Two Sicilies, Duke of Castro, visited Sicily to take part in a number of charity activities in the city of Noto. He was accompanied by his spouse, H.R.H. Princess Camilla, Duchess of Castro, and by his daughters, T.R.H. Princesses Maria Carolina and Maria Chiara. |
| During the morning the Grand Master, accompanied by Princess Beatrice of Bourbon Two Sicilies, Grand Prefect, donated three semiautomatic defibrillators on behalf of the Constantinian Order to the State Comprehensive School “G. Melodia” in Noto.
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| The donation is part of the vaster project titled “Cardio Protected City” that was initiated last year and that involved numerous Italian delegations, with the donation of first aid equipment for cardiorespiratory arrest. Given the financial difficulties of many of the families of the area, and in response to a request by the Principal of the Melodia School, the Constantinian Order decided to purchase the school books required for all the students of the school for the year 2017-2018. This action inaugurated the Project “Book Coupon”. An additional donation of toys was also made for the smaller children of the School. |
In the afternoon the Royal Family visited the bishopric of Noto and distributed essential items for children ages 0 to 3 years as part of the Crumbs of Health Program. They also donated a semiautomatic defibrillator to a local youth soccer team as well as clothes donated Mr He Jianxing (Entreprise HELI), Mr Ren Gael (VEGA’S) and Mr Jiang Yimin (GRASSTAR).  |
On Sunday, September 24, following Holy Mass celebrated in the Cathedral of Noto by His Most Rev. Eminence Mons. Antonio Staglianò, Bishop of Noto and Knight Commander of Ecclesiastical Grace, a ceremony was held to confer diplomas to several Knights and Dames of the Order. In his remarks H.R.H., the Duke of Castro and Grand Master, thanked all those who work generously to carry out the activities of the Order and pointed out that when he was young he also held the title of Duke of Noto.  |
For this reason, in noting the decision taken as Head of the Royal House to change the rules of succession by adopting the rule of absolute primogeniture, H.R.H. Prince Charles of Bourbon Two Sicilies stated that the title due to his second-born, Maria Chiara, be Duchess of Noto. Succession of titles in the Royal House of Bourbon Two Sicilies contemplates that the title Duke of Castro is to be attributed to the head of the Family, the title of the Duchy of Calabria to the first heir and that of the Duchy of Noto to the second heir in the line of succession.  |
MESSAGE OF HIS EMINENCE THE GRAND PRIOR ON THE FEAST OF THE EXALTAITON OF THE CROSS – 14 SEPTEMBER 2017
Rome, 1 September 2017 – With the approach of the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, His Eminence the Most Reverend Cardinal Renato Raffaele Martino, Grand Prior, drafted a message directed to all the Knights and Dames encouraging them to live this festivity fully as this particular commemoration, together with the festivity of St. George, is a statutory festivity of our Order.
Here is the complete message sent by the Grand Prior.