Members of the Tuscia and Sabina Delegation of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George, led by the Delegate, Nob. Avv. Roberto Saccarello, Knight Grand Cross de Jure Sanguinis with Gold Star, took part on Monday, May 4, 2026, at 9:00 p.m., in the first catechetical meeting of the Marian month at the Church of the Most Holy Trinity – Shrine of Mary Most Holy Liberatrix.
The meeting, organized in collaboration with the parish priest and the Constantinian chaplains, was led by Prof. Rosanna Virgili, a noted biblical scholar, theologian, and writer, widely recognized as one of the most authoritative voices in biblical studies in Italy. The catechesis was centered on the theme: “A woman clothed with the sun”: Mary and the Church.
The gathering represented a significant moment of spiritual and cultural formation for the members of the Delegation, offering an in-depth reflection on one of the most evocative images of the Book of Revelation. The biblical passage, which describes a woman clothed in light, with the moon beneath her feet and a crown of twelve stars upon her head, invites a dual interpretation: on the one hand, Mary, Mother of God, full of grace and a sign of victory over death; on the other, the Church, the community of believers called to bring forth Christ into the world amid trials and hope.
In this context, Prof. Virgili’s catechesis fits into the journey of the Marian month as a privileged opportunity to renew devotion to the Virgin and to deepen awareness of the Church’s role in the history of salvation, particularly in a time marked by challenges and uncertainties at both national and international levels.
The Virgin Mary and the Dragon
The theme of the meeting recalls the well-known passage from the Book of Revelation: “A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars” (Rev 12:1). This richly symbolic image represents both the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Church.
First of all, the “woman” is Mary herself, “clothed with the sun,” that is, enveloped in the light of God. The Virgin is the “full of grace,” completely filled with divine love, reflecting the light of the “sun,” which is God. The moon beneath her feet symbolizes death, now overcome: Mary, associated with Christ’s victory over sin and death, fully participates in divine life. This is manifested in the mysteries of the Immaculate Conception and the Assumption, as well as in her entire earthly life, lived as a total gift to God and to neighbour.
The crown of twelve stars, on the other hand, signifies the People of God: Mary stands at the heart of the communion of saints. Yet the “woman clothed with the sun” is also the Church, called to bring forth Christ into the world. She experiences the labour of her mission amid consolations and persecutions, confronting the opposition of evil, symbolized by the “great red dragon.”
Despite trials, the Church is sustained by the light and strength of God, nourished by the Word and the Eucharist, and remains a living sign of divine love against every form of hatred and selfishness. At the same time, she must remain vigilant against the sin of her members, which is her only true danger.
Along this path, the People of God entrust themselves to Mary, asking her help to persevere in faith and hope, especially in a complex time for Italy, Europe, and the entire world. Prayer to the Virgin thus becomes a confident invocation: “O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.”
