On Sunday, 14 December 2025, the Third Sunday of Advent “Gaudete,” in the splendid setting of the Sanctuary of Saint Agnellus the Abbot in Gargani di Roccarainola, in the Province of Naples, at the invitation of the parish priest, a representation of Knights of the Naples and Campania Delegation of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George took part in the solemn Pontifical Mass on the feast of the Holy Patron.

The liturgy was presided over by the Bishop of Nola, H.E. the Most Reverend Francesco Marino, with concelebrants the Parish Priest–Rector Father Carlo Giuliano, Chaplain of Merit; Fr. Marco Zerere, O.F.M., professor at the Faculty of Theology of the Pontifical Antonianum University; and Father Stefano Mautone, parish priest of Lucinasco and a native of Roccarainola. They were assisted by the Master of Ceremonies, Father Arcangelo Iovino, Secretary to the Bishop, and by two permanent deacons of the Diocese of Nola—Lt. (GF) Dr. Giovanni Prevete, Knight of Office, and Francesco Fasulo—together with five altar servers from the parish.

At the beginning of the Mass, Father Carlo Giuliano thanked the Bishop of Nola for his presence, the other concelebrants, as well as the deacons and altar servers of the parish for their liturgical service; the parish choir directed by Maestro Nello Lettieri for the liturgical animation; Mayor Giuseppe Russo with the municipal administration and council members; and the Constantinian Knights, expressing appreciation for their commitment to charitable works and for their service in the healthcare ministry entrusted to him, as well as all those who contributed to the celebration of Saint Agnellus.

Continuing his opening greeting, Father Carlo Giuliano stated:

“Our community, as every year, is always attentive to your word and your witness. We are here together with our Saint, as we have also recalled in previous celebrations, to live the Sunday fully, because Sunday is the day of encounter with the Lord: the day in which we are formed as a community and in which He teaches us to be His children—children who each day strive to do His will, to become what He desires for us, while remaining ourselves, because the Lord loves us as we are. For this reason we welcome you and hope that the word you will share with us will help us grow in faith and increasingly recognize ourselves as children of that Father who has never ceased to love us.”

Readings

The First Reading (Isaiah 35:1–6a, 8a, 10 – Here is your God, He comes to save you) was proclaimed by Antonietta Miele.
The Responsorial Psalm (Psalm 145 [146] – Come, Lord, to save us) was proclaimed by Elvira De Lucia.
The Second Reading (James 5:7–10 – Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near) was proclaimed by Aniello Miele.
The Gospel (Matthew 11:2–11 – Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?) was proclaimed by the deacon Lt. (GF) Dr. Giovanni Prevete, Knight of Office, who also read the Prayer of the Faithful.

Homily

Beginning his homily, Bishop Francesco Marino offered a brief panegyric of the Neapolitan Saint, recalling the miracles that occurred through his intercession and the works he accomplished.

He then commented on the Readings, observing that the Word of God is a source of hope and joy. In Advent—particularly on the Third Sunday—the Word of God invites us to a deep and trusting joy, rooted in hope in God. Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of God’s promises; in Him the prophecies are realized. God’s hope enters history and continues to illuminate our present. Peace is a gift from God, not a utopia. Faced with fear and the threat of war, the Christian faith affirms that peace is possible because it is born from God’s action. The signs of the Kingdom call us to responsibility: the healings and signs worked by Jesus point to a new reality, entrusted also to the concrete commitment of believers. Every believer is called to be a sign and a prophecy. Nourished by the sacraments, we are called to bear witness to God’s presence and to build peace through daily charity.

To better understand the Word of God we have heard, it can be helpful to begin also from the significant events of our spiritual life. Indeed, the Word of God is always a source of life, trust, and hope for our journey.

The Word that the liturgy offers us on this Third Sunday of Advent is an invitation to joy: a sober and profound joy, founded on hope in God. This hope is born of the promises the Lord addressed to His people throughout the history of salvation—promises announced in the Old Testament and fully realized in Jesus Christ, in whom God’s hope became concrete in human reality. Yet these promises continue today, in the time we live, a time particularly in need of God’s light and of authentic hope.

We live in an age marked by fear and increasingly serious threats. There is constant talk of war, even of the total destruction of humanity. We cannot resign ourselves to this perspective: war is not an inevitable destiny of human history.

The promise of God, which we celebrate in a special way in the approaching Christmas, is a promise of peace—universal peace, peace for all peoples, unity in faith in Jesus Christ and in fraternal love. It is not a peace founded solely on human capacities, but a gift born from God’s action in history.

The Lord is near. He does not abandon us. He continues to build peace, and He does so also through our hearts.

So be it. Amen.

The Constantinian representation from Naples and Campania was led by the Acting Director of Communications of the Delegation, Prof. Antonio De Stefano, Knight of Merit with Silver Star, accompanied by Attorney Gesualdo Marotta, Knight of Merit with Silver Star; Chief Master Sgt. Andrea Albertini, Marshal Nicola Carifi, Engineer Antonio Iannucci, Prof. Valerio Stefano Sacco, Sgt. Maj. Antonio Sommese, and Major CC Eng. Luigi Tullio, Knights of Office; and by App. CC Raffaele Napolitano, Postulant, who assisted the Parish Priest in organizing the Pontifical Mass.

At the conclusion of the Mass, the Constantinian Knights conveyed their greetings to the Bishop of Nola, also on behalf of the Delegate for Naples and Campania, Count Don Gianluigi dell’Aquila d’Aragona of the Dukes of Laurenzana (dei Duchi di Laurenzana), Knight of Justice, who was unable to attend due to other commitments.

Msgr. Francesco Marino praised the commendable projects undertaken by the Delegation of Naples and Campania in favour of the less fortunate, encouraging the Constantinian Knights to continue in their charisms and in their religious and socio-charitable works.

The photographs were provided by Major CC Eng. Luigi Tullio, Knight of Office, and App. CC Raffaele Napolitano, Postulant.