On Sunday, September 14, 2024, the Naples and Campania Delegation of the Sacred Military Order of Saint George celebrated, as it does every year, the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross at the Magistral Church of San Giuseppe dei Nudi, in the monumental complex of the same name, the Real Monte and Archconfraternity of San Giuseppe dell’Opera di Vestire i Nudi, at Via San Giuseppe dei Nudi 72 in Naples. The Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross—which, together with the Feast of Saint George the Martyr, is the most important religious event of the Sacred Constantinian Order—is not an exaltation of the cruelty of the Cross, but of the Love that God showed to humanity by accepting death on the Cross. Although he was God, Christ humbled Himself by becoming a servant. This is the glory of the Cross of Jesus. For this reason, in modern times, the celebration takes on a much higher meaning than the simple, albeit fabulous, discovery of the True Cross by Emperor Constantine’s pious mother, Saint Helena. “Let us never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is our salvation, and our life, and our resurrection; through Him we have been saved and set free” (cf. Gal 6:14).
The solemn Eucharistic Celebration for the Exaltation of the Holy Cross was presided over by the Principal Chaplain of the Delegation of Naples and Campania, Fra Sergio Galdi d’Aragona, O.F.M., Chaplain of Justice, General Commissioner of the Holy Land in Naples (Campania, Abruzzo, Basilicata, Calabria and Puglia), assisted by an altar server and the interim Master of Ceremonies, Dr. Domenico Giuseppe Costabile, Knight of Merit.
The solemn Eucharistic Celebration was attended – led on behalf of the Delegate, Count Gianluigi Gaetani dell’Aquila d’Aragona dei Duchi di Laurenzana (of the Dukes of Laurenzana), Knight of Justice, by the interim Secretary General, Nob. Antonio Masselli, Knight of Jure Sanguinis, and by the interim Director of Communications, Prof. Antonio De Stefano, Knight of Merit with Silver Star – by a representation of the Delegation of Naples and Campania, including: the Knight of Justice, Nob. Dr. Alfredo Buoninconti, Baron of Santa Maria Jacobi; the Knight of Jure Sanguinis, Dr. Giovanni Samo; the Knights of Merit, Dr. Maurizio Bava, Dr. Domenico Giuseppe Costabile, Architect Carlo Iavazzo, and Dr. Adriano Zeni; the Knights of Office, Attorney Paolo Carbone, Dr. Lt. A.M. Angelo De Luca, Dr. Luigi Antonio Galasso, Dr. Gennaro Napoletano, P.I. Luigi Scarano, Dr. Ciro Sommella, Dr. Dario Taranto, and Dr. Giovanni Tartaglione; the Postulants, Dr. Antonio d’Ambrosio, Attorney Carlo Maria Faiello, and App. Raffaele Napolitano; and friends of the Order, Noble Dr. Francesco Pessetti Buoninconti of the Barons of Santa Maria Jacobi, Engineer Michelangelo Ambrunzo, Andrea D’Aloia, Dr. Francesco Gaudiosi, Professor Pierluigi Scarpa, and Roberta Di Biase.
The Superintendent of the Royal Mount Foundation and the Archconfraternity of San Giuseppe dell’Opera di Vestire i Nudi, Attorney Ugo de Flaviis, Knight of Merit, welcomed the participants, along with other members of the Foundation and Archconfraternity.
