On May 15, 2026, Friday of the Sixth Week of Easter, the solemn celebrations in honor of Saint Salvador of Horta took place in the evocative setting of the diocesan Shrine of Saint Salvador of Horta in Orta di Atella, in the Province of Caserta. A humble man of profound prayer, from his youth he sought God in Faith, eventually becoming a professed lay brother of the Order of Friars Minor Observant. Recognized as a thaumaturge, Saint Salvador of Horta continues to stand as an authentic witness of Faith and love in the Lord.
Together with the faithful of Orta di Atella and neighboring towns, and upon the invitation of the Rector of the Shrine, Fra’ Olivier Machosi Mbusa, OFM, a representation of the Delegation of Naples and Campania of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George participated in the festivities in honor of Saint Salvador of Horta, welcoming the simulacrum containing his body — ordinarily kept at the conventual Church of Saint Rosalia in Cagliari, Shrine of the Friars Minor of the Seraphic Province of Umbria-Sardinia — which, on an exceptional basis, will remain exposed until June 15 in the shrine dedicated to him in Orta di Atella, as part of an intense month of celebrations involving bishops, priests, religious, and faithful from throughout Campania.
The Minister of the Franciscan Secular Order of Orta di Atella, Prof. Angelo Cervone, OFS, President of the Festival Committee, described the arrival of the Sacred Relics of the saint as a moment of grace for Orta di Atella, recalling that the event is taking place again after twenty-three years. He also emphasized the profound spiritual significance of the celebrations in honor of Saint Salvador of Horta, linking them to the Eighth Centenary of the Passing of Saint Francis of Assisi: “We shall live this moment in the presence of the body of Saint Salvador, and what we shall experience will truly be a beautiful moment of unity and grace.”
The venerable body of Saint Salvador of Horta, upon arriving in Naples, was first brought to the Royal Basilica of Santa Chiara in Naples for a moment of prayer and veneration by the Friars Minor and the Poor Clares.
This was followed by its transfer to Orta di Atella, accompanied by the Rector of the Shrine in Cagliari, Fra’ Simone Farci, OFM, Custodian of the Body of Saint Salvador of Horta.
Arriving in Orta di Atella at 2:30 p.m., the urn containing the Sacred Relics was welcomed by the faithful in prayer, together with greetings from the Mayor, Dr. Antonino Santillo; the Provincial Vicar of the Order of Friars Minor, Fra’ Giuseppe Sorrentino, OFM; and the Pastor of Saint Maximus Bishop and Forane Vicar, Don Paolo Gaudino. At 3:00 p.m. the Procession began, and at each stop in the various neighborhoods of the town, the sacred relics were welcomed with showers of flowers and demonstrations of jubilation and Faith.
The urn containing the body of Saint Salvador of Horta was received in the shrine, filled with faithful, by the Rector Fra’ Olivier Machosi Mbusa, OFM; the Mayor Dr. Antonino Santillo; the Minister of the Franciscan Secular Order of Orta di Atella, Prof. Angelo Cervone, President of the Festival Committee; civic authorities, including municipal officials; military authorities, including representatives of the Guardia di Finanza Company and Operational Unit of Aversa led by their respective commanders, Captain Antonio Costanzo and Lieutenant Giorgia Varesano; and the representation of the Delegation of Naples and Campania, present to honor Saint Salvador of Horta as it had done the previous year, led by the Delegate, Count Don Gianluigi Gaetani dell’Aquila d’Aragona dei Duchi di Laurenzana (of the Dukes of Laurenzana), Neapolitan Patrician, Knight of Justice, accompanied by the Acting Secretary General, Nob. Antonio Masselli, Knight of Jure Sanguinis; and the Acting Communications Director, Prof. Antonio De Stefano, Knight of Jure Sanguinis.
The solemn Eucharistic Celebration was presided over by the Bishop of Aversa, the Most Reverend Angelo Spinillo, President of the Episcopal Commission for the Laity of the Italian Episcopal Conference, concelebrated by the Provincial Minister of the Friars Minor of the Neapolitan Province of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Fra’ Carlo Maria D’Amodio, OFM; the Rector of the Shrine, Fra’ Olivier Machosi Mbusa, OFM; the Provincial Vicar of the Order of Friars Minor of the Neapolitan Province, Fra’ Giuseppe Sorrentino, OFM; the Chancellor of the Archiepiscopal Curia of Naples, Fra’ Luigi Ortaglio, OFM, Chaplain of Jure Sanguinis with Gold Star of the Constantinian Order; together with numerous Franciscan friars and Father Roberto Comune, Pastor of Saint Michael the Archangel, assisted by permanent deacon Carmine Ziello and the parish altar servers. The liturgical music was provided by the “Franciscus” Choir of the Shrine, directed by Elvira Di Giorgio, accompanied by organist Maestro Nico Tranchino.
Two members of the Guardia di Finanza rendered an honor guard at the altar.
At the beginning of the Mass, the Rector of the Shrine, Fra’ Olivier Machosi Mbusa, OFM, described the occasion as a moment of great grace and communion for the community, thanking those present, especially the Bishop of Aversa for accepting the invitation to preside. He also expressed gratitude to the volunteers and to the people of Orta di Atella for the simple and sincere Faith they continue to witness, as well as to the Franciscan friars, priests, religious men and women. Finally, he offered special thanks to the civil and military authorities present, to the 2026 Festival Committee chaired by Prof. Angelo Cervone, OFS, to the Franciscan Secular Order, and to the Constantinian delegation. He concluded by expressing the hope that Saint Salvador would continue to intercede for the community, guiding it along the path of Faith, peace, and fraternity.At the conclusion of the Eucharistic Celebration, the Minister of the Franciscan Secular Order of Orta di Atella, Prof. Angelo Cervone, expressed thanks on behalf of the organizers and the entire community to the Bishop of Aversa, the Most Reverend Angelo Spinillo; to the Provincial Minister of the Friars Minor of the Neapolitan Province of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Fra’ Carlo Maria D’Amodio, OFM; to the Rector of the Shrine, Fra’ Olivier Machosi Mbusa, OFM; to the concelebrants; to the Mayor Dr. Antonino Santillo; to the civil and military authorities present; to the Guardia di Finanza; to the Constantinian delegation; as well as to the organizers, collaborators, members of the fraternity, altar servers, the Shrine Choir and its Director, and to the faithful people who participated with devotion in the feast of the saint.
After the Mass, in the sacristy, the Delegate for Naples and Campania and the Constantinian Knights greeted the Bishop of Aversa and illustrated the activities carried out by the Delegation. Bishop Spinillo congratulated the Delegate, Count Don Gianluigi Gaetani dell’Aquila d’Aragona, encouraging him to continue the activities planned by the Delegation of Naples and Campania in the spirit of the Constantinian charism and of the humanitarian and spiritual mission carried forward by the Order — the defense of the Faith and service and assistance to the poor and less fortunate.
