Shortly before the solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist, which the Church celebrates on 24 June, the Delegation of the Marche and Romagna of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George met on Saturday 22 June 2024 for the periodic spiritual retreat at the rural Sanctuary of Madonna della Rosa near Ostra, where one can smell the scent of faith. The Father sent John the Baptist to prepare a willing people for Christ the Lord. Jesus himself indicated his exceptional humanity when he said of him: “Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no greater than John the Baptist” (Mt 11, 11). Last of the great prophets of Israel; first witness of Jesus; initiator of a baptism for the forgiveness of sins and, in this context, baptizer of Jesus; martyr for the defense of the moral law.
Saint John the Baptist is the preacher of conversion and love of neighbor because the kingdom of heaven is near; he imparts to his disciples the baptism of conversion for the remission of sins (Matthew 3, 2; Mark 1, 4) and in this context he baptises Jesus.
The Knights and Ladies gathered to share the values of the Constantinian Order and strengthen fraternal bonds, led by the Delegate Nob. Carlo of the Counts Cicconi Massi, Knight Grand Cross of Jure Sanguinis with Gold Star, with the Delegation Chaplain, Monsignor Umberto Gasparini, Chaplain of Merit, who were welcomed by Father Patrick Ekeh, Parochial Vicar of the Collegiate Basilica of Santa Croce of Ostra, the Delegation’s church.
