On Friday, September 8, 2023, during the evening Mass, the Procurator General, Friar Maurizio DI PAOLO, began a novena, preaching to the faithful of Osimo, Italy, for the next nine days, guiding and preparing them to celebrate the Solemnity of St. Joseph of Cupertino.
St. Joseph of Cupertino is the patron saint of students struggling with exams. The story of his life inspires us to be holy and to have faith in the Lord, even in situations where we lack understanding. Thus, we can look up to St. Joseph as an older brother to whom we can turn in prayer, so that he might help us recognize the Gospel choices that God calls us to make in everyday life.
During the novena period, two important anniversaries were celebrated. One was 800th anniversary of the Later Rule of St. Francis of Assisi. On September 10, Friar Giancarlo CORSINI, Rector of the Basilica of Santa Croce in Florence, Italy, lectured on the historical steps that led to the drafting and approval of the Rule. The other was the 800th anniversary of the creation of the nativity scene at Greccio. On September 14, Mrs. Dominique GUILLERMANT, a Secular Franciscan, lectured on that topic.
In addition to the novena and the 800th anniversaries, the local church community celebrated some other festive events. On Friday, September 15, during the evening Mass, Friars Anselmo BONFIGLI, Quarto PALADINI, Nazzareno RAPETTA and Enrico BONFIGLI, of the Italian Province of St. Francis of Assisi (Central Italy), gave thanks to the Lord, along with the whole Church, for their fiftieth year of priestly ordination. The Mass was presided over by the Minister Provincial of Central Italy, Friar Francesco LENTI.
On September 16, Friar Ettore FILIPPUCCI was ordained to the diaconate through the imposition of the hands of the Most Reverend Riccardo FONTANA, Bishop Emeritus of Arezzo-Cortona-Sansepolcro, Italy.
On September 17, Bishop FONTANA presided over the 11:30 Sunday Mass. After the evening Mass was celebrated that Sunday, a traditional procession took place, with music provided by the City of Osimo Band. Those taking part in the procession included various confraternities, as well as civil and military authorities. The procession concluded with a blessing from Friar Maurizio DI PAOLO.
On Monday, September 18, the Solemnity of St. Joseph of Cupertino, there was a large turnout of faithful at all eight Masses scheduled in the basilica. The first Mass began at 6:15 a.m. The solemn Mass at 11:30 was presided over by the Most Reverend Angelo SPINA, Archbishop of Ancona-Osimo, Italy. Pastors from the Osimo area concelebrated and the Father Alessandro BORRONI Choir provided music.
Pilgrims flocked in such large numbers to the basilica to honor the “Flying Saint” that as the solemnity approached, it became necessary to extend the basilica’s opening hours and even postpone its closing time until midnight on September 18.
Friar Ettore FILIPPUCCI
