On Saturday, 21 March 2026, the Lombardy Delegation of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George held a Spiritual Retreat in preparation for Holy Easter at the Abbey of Mirasole, located at Strada Consortile Mirasole 7 in the Municipality of Opera, in the Province of Milan. The meeting began at 11:00 a.m. with a Lenten meditation led by the First Delegation Chaplain, Prof. Father Maurizio Ormas, Chaplain of Merit with Silver Star, in the presence of the Delegate, Dr. Eng. Gilberto Spinardi, Knight Grand Cross of Merit. Lunch in the refectory was followed by a guided tour of the abbey. The gathering concluded with the evening Holy Mass of the Fifth Sunday of Lent, the Sunday of Lazarus, celebrated in the Ambrosian Rite at 4:00 p.m.
The resurrection of Lazarus, recounted in the Gospel (Jn 11:1–53), is one of the “sign narratives.” It presents Jesus as the conqueror of death: “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, even if he dies, will live; and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die” (cf. Jn 11:25–26). This reflects the conviction found in later Old Testament texts that God has the power to overcome death. The vision Ezekiel has of the resurrection of the bones—an image of the restoration of Israel after the catastrophe of the Babylonian exile—presupposes this faith (Ez 37:1–14). Isaiah expects that God will destroy death forever and wipe away tears from every face (Is 25:8). The Book of Daniel foresees that the dead will awaken—some to eternal life, others to everlasting shame (Dn 12:2). The Gospel goes beyond this future hope because it already sees in Jesus “the resurrection and the life,” which are thus present realities. In Jesus, the revelation of God, salvation is present, and whoever is united with Him can no longer be delivered to the powers of death.
The Gift to the Delegation
At the beginning of the meeting, after the initial greetings, Dr. Maurizio Macchetta, Knight of Office, presented the Delegation with a painted wooden work representing the Constantinian Cross. On the back, an auspicious phrase was engraved:
“The honour of the Knights of the Constantinian Order of Saint George does not lie in appearing, but in remaining firm in values, discreet in charity, constant in service.”
The Meditation
The Chief Chaplain of the Lombardy Delegation, Prof. Father Maurizio Ormas, Chaplain of Merit with Silver Star, then delivered the meditation, composed of two parts—Augustine and the Theft of the Pears and The Conversion of the Unnamed—followed by concluding remarks.
