Recent Two Sicilies Events

Cardinal Fabrizio Ruffo's tomb and family chapel
Photos courtesy of Mirko Speranza

Mass Celebrated in Remembrance of Cardinal Fabrizio Ruffo

On 12 December a mass in remembrance of Cardinal Ruffo was held in the gothic Basilica of San Domenico Maggiore in the historic center of Naples, where the famous Two Sicilies Cardinal from Calabria is interred in his family chapel. The event was organized and curated by president Giuseppe Serroni of the Sedili di Napoli association and Claudio Saltarelli of the Alta Terra di Lavoro association. Wreaths were placed by the faithful on the noble Calabrese Cardinal's tomb and a procession of the devout with traditional zampognari processed through Spaccanapoli to the Stella Maris church to accompany the celebrations for Santa Lucia during the night. Remembered with respect by many Neapolitans and Calabrese for his efforts in raising and heading a volunteer army to liberate the South of Italy from invading French revolutionary forces in 1799, Cardinal Ruffo died in Naples on 13 December 1827.

Memorial flowers were placed on the Cardinal's tomb
Photo courtesy of Mirko Speranza 

The Holy Mass of the Flags Celebrated in Bitonto

December is a month marking many holidays and commemorations for the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies and its peoples. As reported by Comitati delle Due Sicilie Bari representative Cosimo de Gioia, in honor of the National Feast Day of the Two Sicilies, celebrated on the Feast of the Immacolata (or Immaculate Conception), the historic tradition of the Benediction of the Flags was held in Bitonto. A Delegation of the Comitati delle Due Sicilie Puglia, represented by regional representative Nestore Sapdone and by provincial representative Cosimo de Gioia, was joined by members and supporters of the associations which organized the event, the Fondazione Francesco II delle Due Sicilie, Onda del Sud, and the Associazione Stella del Monte.

Members of the 1° Reggimento Re with the 'Great Flag'
Photo courtesy of the Fondazione Francesco II delle Due Sicilie

After Mass, participants processed to the Obelisco Carolino and Porta Baresana
Photos courtesy of the Fondazione Francesco II delle Due Sicilie

The ceremony also paid homage to the late compatriot Don Massimo Cuofano, a well loved priest and founding member of the Comitati delle Due Sicilie and of the Fondazione Francesco II, who worked actively to restore this meaningful historic and religious tradition. The Santa Messa delle Bandiere was celebrated by Don Luciano Rotolo in the parish church of San Leone. During the blessing of the national flags, the Great Flag, which will be raised in Gaeta in 2022 during the events to honor the fallen dead of the Kingdom, was also blessed.

(Above & below) Firemen placed a floral wreath with the coat of arms
of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies at the foot of the statue of Our
Lady of the Immaculate Conception on top of the Porta Baresana
Photos courtesy of the Fondazione Francesco II delle Due Sicilie

Photos courtesy of the Fondazione Francesco II delle Due Sicilie

Escorted by the Drappello Militare Borbonico of the Associazione Stella del Monte, the Great Flag was carried from the church of San Leone to the Obelisco Carolino, the monument erected to commemorate the victorious Battle of Bitonto in 1734 whereby Carlo di Borbone established the independent Kingdom of Naples and Sicily, which later became known officially as the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. The procession proceeded to Porta Baresana, with many Bitonto residents joining in, with Bitonto Mayor Michele Abaticchio and the civil authorities, as well as the Molfetta Eredi della Storia association. The united groups then offered the traditional floral wreath to Our Lady for the feast of the Immaculate Conception.

~ Cav. Charles Sant’Elia, December 14th, Feast of Sant’Agnello di Napoli