On October 4th, Sicily will offer the oil to fuel the votive lamp of the municipalities of Italy that burns on the tomb of Saint Francis, Patron Saint of the nation. Sicily which will also work for the protection of two works of art. Yesterday morning, in the Alessi Hall of Palazzo d’Orléans, in Palermo, the presentation of the program of celebrations. Speakers included the president of the Sicilian Region Renato Schifani, the president of the Sicilian Episcopal Conference Monsignor Antonino Raspanti, the custodian of the Sacred Convent, Friar Marco Moroni, the custodian of the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angel Friar Massimo Travascio, the mayors of Assisi and Palermo Stefania Proietti and Roberto Lagalla. “The offering of oil is a symbolic gesture that goes beyond the material gift – states President Schifani – representing devotion, commitment and the will to keep the values of peace, brotherhood and solidarity alive”.
The churches of the island will donate one thousand liters of oil (60 for each diocese) to power the Assisi lamp; the excess quantity will remain available to the diocesan Caritas. Furthermore, the Presidency of the Sicilian Region has decided to offer the restoration of two important works of art from Assisi: “The apparition of San Giuseppe to San Bonaventura”, from the 18th century, in the Basilica of San Francesco, and “The Madonna sui places of the Passion”, from the 16th century. “I hope that this pilgrimage – said the Custodian Moroni – is truly a mutual gift in which those who arrive and those who welcome know how to learn from the gifts of others, so that we become and are increasingly communities”. In the year in which we celebrate 800 years of the impression of the Stigmata of Saint Francis – the words of Father Travascio – it is even more significant to become pilgrims to Assisi to ask that from our wounds and that of all humanity comes a new life of reconciliation and peace. house’ open to strengthen the unparalleled heritage of values that unites us”.
Maurizio Baglioni
