Members of the Tuscia and Sabina Delegation of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George who live in Casamari participated in the Eucharistic Celebration at the ancient church of San Pietro Ispano on Friday 5 April 2024. The church is in Boville Ernica in the province of Frosinone, in the heart of Ciociaria, near the adjacent Filonardi castle, where the Monastery of San Giovanni Battista of the Benedictine nuns is located, to whose care the church is entrusted.
By decree of the Bishop of Frosinone, the Most Reverend Angelo Cella, the Benedictine nuns obtained the use of the church with full autonomy in its management and liturgical celebrations, without prejudice to the right of supervision of the Bishop. The decree implements the intent, expressed in the document Mutuae relationes of the Sacred Congregation for Religious and Secular Institutes and of the Sacred Congregation for Bishops, on the directive criteria on relations between bishops and religious in the Church of 14 May 1978, to make contemplative communities centers of spirituality radiation, in search of God in dialogue with the world. Thus the church has been opened to the faithful to allow them to participate in the nuns’ liturgical celebrations, in compliance with the rules of enclosure.
The Eucharistic Celebration was presided over at 6 pm by the Representative for the Casamari Abbey of the Delegation of Tuscia and Sabina, Father Pierdomenico Volpi, O. Cist., Chaplain of Merit, who thanked the Benedictine nuns for enriching the liturgy with Gregorian chant.
Then, before the final blessing, Abbess Mother Maddalena thanked the Constantinian Order for the help it brings to the monastery and assured each member of being remembered in the prayers of the Sisters.
In his homily, Father Volpi recalled the importance of belonging to an order of chivalry, which is not to be confused with an association or a brotherhood. He recalled that the Constantinian Knights and Ladies must constantly and in all circumstances manifest love for God and love for others.
The ancient Filonardi castle, the largest architectural complex on the highest point of the historic center of the region, is distributed on five fronts, with courtyards, splendid portals, three-mullioned windows and inside there are wooden ceilings, majestic staircases, imposing fireplaces and precious floorings, decorated with the lily and the oak, symbols of the Farnese and Della Rovere families respectively. The complex is enriched by valuable architectural details, attributed to Jacopo Barozzi, known as Vignola, one of the most important architects of the Renaissance, who was also responsible for the creation of the entrance portal to the castle.
The building was built in 1532 by Cardinal Ennio Filonardi (Bauco, today Boville Ernica, 1466-Rome, Castel Sant’Angelo, 1549) for the holiday resort of the papal court and he dedicated it to his benefactor Pope Paul III, on the remains of ancient baronial castle of his ancestors. He was a highly esteemed figure in the Holy See and thanks to his skills as a diplomat, administrator and humanist, he enjoyed the trust of seven popes, from Innocent VIII to Paul III. He died just as the Conclave that probably would have elected him Pope was underway.
