There Sicily is the region chosen in 2024 for offer the oil that fuels the votive lamp that burns day and night in Assision the tomb of Saint Francis, patron saint of Italy. L’eventwhich is repeated every year with the participation of a different region on the occasion of the celebration of October 4thinvolves the entire Sicilian population, with its civil and religious institutions.
The details of the initiative were presented this morning at the Palais d’Orléansto Palermofrom the president of the Sicilian Region Renato Schifanifrom the president of the Sicilian Episcopal Conference Monsignor Antonino Raspanti, from custodian of the Sacred Convent of San Francesco in Assisi, fra Marco Moroni OfmConvfrom the custodian of the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli in Porziuncola fra Massimo Travascio Ofmfrom the mayor of Assisi Stefania Proiettifrom the mayor of Palermo Roberto Lagalla. Also present were the representatives of theand eighteen dioceses of Sicily.
During the meeting, the logo that it will mark all events capable of attracting thousands of pilgrims, created by the Sicilian Region. The Churches of the Island will donate a thousand liters of oil (60 for each diocese) to power the Assisi lamp, the excess quantity will remain available to the diocesan Caritas. The gift that the Presidency of the Sicilian Region has decided to offer for the occasion is the protection of two important works of art from Assisi, 20 thousand euros are allocated to the restoration of the oil painting on canvaswith a polychrome wooden frame, depicting “The apparition of Saint Joseph to Saint Bonaventure“, of the 18th centuryin the Basilica of San Francesco, and another oil on canvas depicting “The Madonna on the places of the Passion“, of the 17th centuryattributed to Piergirolamo Crispolti. The Presidency of the Region is also financing the 25 ceramic lamps that are passing through the parishes and communities of the island’s dioceses, the printing of 300 thousand little images with the effigy of Saint Francis and 4 thousand booklets of the celebrations of 3 and 4 October , approximately 3 thousand pilgrim kits for all those who will reach Assisi from Sicily in those days.
The demonstration “Guardians of beauty, let’s light up hope” will involve the entire island in Assisi, twenty-one years after the last participation, in 2003. A program full of events. On the afternoon of October 3, however, the mayor of Assisi and the president of the Umbria Region will greet the delegation of the Sicilian Region at 4.30 pm and the celebration of first vespers in the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli will be held at 6 pm.
“The offering of oil is a symbolic gesture that goes beyond the material gift – states the President of the Region, Renato Schifani – representing devotion, commitment and the will to keep alive the values of peace, brotherhood and solidarity. Sicily has a deep historical and spiritual connection with Saint Francis, whose life dedicated to the weakest reminds us of the importance of living in harmony with others and nature. The Franciscan essence is rooted in our traditions, known for hospitality and generosity. The oil, a product of the Sicilian land, symbolizes peace and prosperity, the fruit of the passionate work of its people”.
“It will be a strong emotion for me to be able to light the votive lamp on the tomb of Saint Francis in Assisi next October 4th. – says the mayor of Palermo, Roberto Lagalla – On that occasion I will have the honor and responsibility of representing all my fellow mayors of Italy in a solemn and intense moment. I am also pleased that this event also falls in the year of the four hundredth anniversary of the celebrations of Saint Rosalia, Patron Saint of Palermo, who ideally shares a very similar life and spiritual path with Saint Francis”.
“With great emotion the City of Assisi welcomes the Sicilian Region this year to the celebrations in honor of Saint Francis, patron saint of Italy, and to the gift of the oil that will fuel the lamp in front of the saint’s tomb – declares the mayor of Assisi, Stefania Proietti – and today more than ever we need to cultivate the feeling of non-violence, to commit ourselves so that the wars, the too many wars that bloodied the world, stop. The bond that unites the Seraphic City to the Sicilian land is strong, Sicily will bring the pride of its history and its roots, its culture and its traditions and in Assisi it will find an open “home” to strengthen the unparalleled heritage of values that it brings us together“.
“The celebrations that have taken place in Assisi for many years are of exquisitely religious and spiritual value – he claims Monsignor Antonino Raspanti, president of Cesi – being Saint Francis, as stated by numerous pontiffs and by Pope Francis in particular, a figure of extraordinary greatness and holiness, a person who, perhaps more than many others, sends us the full and all-round image of Jesus Christ crucified and risen. Francis of Assisi also sends us the image of the merciful love of God, who embraces the entire creation, loving it to the full, offering himself for this great love. These extraordinary values have been recognized for centuries and still today even in the civil sphere. It is for this reason that we go on a pilgrimage every year, and we do it again this year with great joy and a pinch of pride together with the government of the Sicilian Region, the mayors, as an act of the entire nation that offers the oil for the votive lamp of Francis, patron saint of Italy”.
