On the occasion of the 130th anniversary of the death of Servant of God Francis II of Bourbon (Naples, 16 January 1836-Arco, 27 December 1894), last King of the Two Sicilies (22 May 1859-20 March 1861) and Grand Master of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George, solemn Holy Masses will be celebrated on Friday 27 December 2024 in Nola and Naples in his memory. As has been the case for over twenty years, the annual commemorative Mass organized by the Constantinian Order’s Delegation of Naples and Campania will be held at 6.30 pm at the cathedral basilica of Santa Maria Assunta in Nola. In addition, at 7.00 pm Mass will be celebrated in memory of the Servant of God Francis II of Bourbon and Queen Marie Sophie Amalie at the Royal Basilica of Santa Chiara in Naples where they are buried in the Royal Chapel of the Bourbons. This has been organized by the Constantinian Order’s Delegation of Naples and Campania and by the Guard of Honor to the Royal Tombs of the Bourbon Sovereigns.
On 11 December 2020 Crescenzio Cardinal Sepe, Archbishop of Naples, introduced the cause of the beatification of King Francis II. Pope Francis has declared King Francis II a Servant of God, the first step on the path to possible canonization as a saint.
The commemoration of Francis II of Bourbon, last King of the Two Sicilies
Today, more than ever, we need to be witnesses of our faith. This is because the world is moving further and further away from the Lord. A worthy witness was the Servant of God Francis II, the last King of the Two Sicilies. He was a very noble figure, displaying moral greatness, Christian virtues, dignity, self-sacrifice, and love for his people. These qualities make him an example of a “perfect knight”, a reference model for the Constantinian Knights as Grand Master of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George.
Image above: Engraving of King Francis II, 1860, by August Weger – steel engraving, 10 x 9.5 cm, Leipzig.
