In the context of the upcoming celebration of Easter, the solemn Historical-Liturgical Procession dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows took place on Sunday 17 March 2024 in Frignano, promoted by the Feast Committee of the Parish-Mother Church of Saints Nazario and Celso. This event is traditionally undertaken in the streets of the town of Caserta on the Sunday before Palm Sunday, with the participation of the various associations, congregations and organizations.
This year, the event acquired an even deeper meaning with the participation of a representation of the Delegation of Naples and Campania of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George, at the invitation of the Parish Priest, Father Luigi Cacciapuoti, addressed to the Delegate, the Nob. Manuel de Goyzueta di Toverena, of the Marquises di Toverena and Trentinara, Constantinian Knight of Justice.
The Historical-Liturgical Procession of Our Lady of Sorrows is one of the most awaited and attended annual events of the Frignano population. This intense and emotional moment of faith strengthens the community’s bond with its roots, traditions and culture, as well as with the profound and millenary devotion towards Our Lady of Sorrows.
The following were part of the representation of the Constantinian Knights, led by the Arch. Carlo Iavazzo, Knight of Merit, who oversaw relations with the Parish Priest and the Organizing Committee; the Communications Director of the Delegation, Prof. Antonio De Stefano, Knight of Merit with Silver Star; Colonel Nicola Amodeo, Knight of Merit; and Maj. Bruno Di Palma, Mar. Roberto Russo and C. Maj. Andrea Albertini, Knights of Office.
After the theatrical part, held in the churchyard of the Parish and representing the Trial of Jesus taken from the Gospel according to John, the Historical-Liturgical Procession, led by the Mayor of Frignano, Dr. Lucio Santarpia, and by some members of the municipal administration, started from Piazzetta Mazzini, walked along Corso Europa and Piazza della Repubblica (from where the liturgical part started and returned). It then continued on a long journey of about six kilometers along the streets of the town, also reaching the neighboring towns, with their decorated balconies decorated with red drapes, lights and flowers.
The historical aspect of the procession was accompanied by the liturgical part, with the solemn presence of the bare wooden cross carried by four men in dark suits, followed by the choir made up of around a hundred children, women and men from the Frignano community, all in black dress and veil, directed by Maestro Antonio Gentile. Accompanied by a musical band made up of around forty instrumentalists, directed by Maestro Pasquale Izzo, the choir performed various liturgical songs.
The choir and the musical band were followed by the “Martyrs”, a group of children from the catechism who brought the symbols of the Passion and the Holy Shroud. Then the Constantinian Knights; the Parish Priest of Saints Nazario and Celso of Frignano, Father Luigi Cacciapuoti; the Parish Liaison of Santa Maria La Nova in Aversa, Father Rodolfo Paldetti; the Passionist Father Pasqualino da Teramo from the convent of Naples; the Deacon, Prof. Antonio Vitale; and some altar servers.
Then followed the ancient statues of the Dead Christ and the Sorrowful Mother, carried by the Bearers of Our Lady of Sorrows, in long black attire with their faces covered by a black veil, and by the Bearers of the Dead Jesus, also in long black attire.
Returning to the church of Saints Nazario and Celso in Piazza della Repubblica, the liturgical service stopped in the churchyard, where at the conclusion of the prayers, the Parish Priest and the Passionist Father expressed words of thanks to the officials present, the organizing committee and the citizens who participated, emphasizing in particular appreciation for the participation of the Constantinian Knights. Then, the statues were returned to the church, accompanied by hymns dedicated to the Madonna, sung by the choir accompanied by music by the band.
Words of appreciation and thanks also came from the Mayor: “A heartfelt and cordial thanks from the Municipal Administration to all those who contributed to the brilliant performance of this sacred rite which can now be considered an intangible heritage of our country. To the parish priests Father Luigi Cacciapuoti and Father Roberto Caterino, to the representatives of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George, to the Committee of Our Lady of Sorrows, to the participants in the procession, to the representatives of the Sri Lankan community, to the Frignano a Cavallo Association, to the police of Frignano, of Villa di Briano, of San Marcellino and of Casaluce, to the local municipal police, to the local Carabinieri station, to the Red Cross of Caserta, to the commendable Luca Marino, go all our gratitude and appreciation.”
