On the occasion of the 8th centenary of the martyrdom of St. Angelus from Jerusalem, the Apostolic Penitentiary granted to the Shrine of Sant’Angelo da Gerusalemme, and to the Mother Church of Sant’Angelo Muxaro, in the archdiocesis of Agrigento, and to all the churches of the Carmelite Order, that they would be places where people may gain a plenary indulgence throughout the Jubilee Year, that begins on the 5th of May 2020 and ends on the same date in 2021. The same is to be applied to all other churches and chapels dedicated to Saint Angelus. (See). The celebrations for the beginning of the Jubilee, organised by the Shrine in Licata along with the Carmelite Order, took place in Licata and in various parts of Italy and the rest of the world between the 26th of April and the 6th of May, 2020.
From the 26th of April to the 4th of May (see the programme) a number of reflections were offered, on a series of topics around the theme of, “Saint Angelus, witness to the Charism in life, Holiness and Mission in the original inspiration of the Carmelite Order”. Then, up to the 6th of May, a series of celebrations were held that were dedicated to the saint, in various parts of the world. The celebrations, on account of the health crisis, were all held behind closed doors, and streamed live via facebook: “Ottavo Centenario Sant’Angelo” and “Santuario Sant’Angelo Licata” and subsequently uploaded onto Youtube: “Santuario Sant’Angelo”. This opening of the Jubilee consisted of the following: 30 programmes of more than 30 hours in live streaming (see), with 8 of these hours from the Shrine of Licata, 8 more from countries outside Italy, involving 22 different places on three continents and in 8 countries around the world, with 18 communities involved (9 in Italy and 9 outside) in seven different languages. In addition to the General Curia, 10 provinces of the Order were involved. The celebrations saw the participation of 3 bishops (Montenegro, Damiano e Melis), 2 priors general, 5 priors provincial, a commissary general, all Carmelites, as well as four civil leaders representing four Italian municipalities (Licata, Sant’Angelo Muxaro, Osidda e Airola). Every day for nine days, from a Carmelite church in Italy or Malta, the Eucharist was celebrated, with a short reflection on the Angelo, the Carmelite saint and martyr. Events were organised in the various places associated with Saint Angelus and the Carmelite origins, places that are significant in terms both of iconography and devotion. It was a very good occasion for being able to take inspiration from those origins that have marked eight hundred hears of the history of a religious family in the Church. The novena was proposed as a journey towards the spring of Saint Angelus, that is located within the Shrine in Licata, a reminder of the witness that he gave to the living water that is the grace of Christ the Lord. All of us would have liked to celebrate the festive days with joyful solemnity. Yet, this is how the Jubilee began, in these circumstances. It meant that the celebrations were an invitation to us to immerse ourselves in the grace of the eight hundred years of the Angelo’s martyrdom, uniting ourselves in spiritual union with the celebrations from the Shrine of Saint Angelus in Licata and in the many different places spread throughout the world where there is devotion to this young Carmelite friar, itinerant preacher of the Word of God and faithful servant of the Lord right to the very end of his life. Our “presence” was achieved through prayer and our saintly brother Angelo will always be there to offer us his humble example and loving intercession as we journey on our way, witnessing to the risen Christ.
Here are the details of the programme that unfolded:
Sunday, the 26th of April. The first event of the novena came from the Shrine of Sant’Angelo di Licata (AG) where Fr. Roberto Toni O.Carm., Prior Provincial of the Italian Province of Carmelites celebrated and reflected on the “Returning to the roots of an experience”, reflections at the place of martyrdom.
Monday, the 27th of April, from the Carmelite Shrine of San Felice del Benaco (BS), Fr. Simone Gamberoni O.Carm., Rector of the Shrine and Prior of the Carmelite community, reflected on “Holiness: an experience of encounter”, thoughts about the fresco of the meeting of Saint Angelo, Saint Francis and Saint Dominic.
Tuesday, the 28th of April,Fr. Carlo Cicconetti, former Vice Prior General of the Carmelite Order, in the house chapel of the Provincial curia of the Italian province of Carmelites in Roma, offered his thoughts on Aprile il M.R.P. Carlo Cicconetti, già Vice Priore Generale dei Carmelitani, presso la Cappella della Curia Provincializia dei Carmelitani d’Italia a Roma “The desert: listening and contemplating”, thoughts from the painting by Pietro Testa, Jesus appearing to Sant’Angelo in the desert, a paint that is kept in the Basilica of San Martino ai Monti.
Wednesday, the 29th of April, from the Basilica of Santa Maria Annunziata di Trapani; and the Eucharist led by Fr. Giuseppe Basile O.Carm., Prior of the Carmelite community, who reflected on the theme, “Sent forth to proclaim the Word”, looking at Albert of Trapani and Angelo of Licata together.
Thursday, the 30th of April, the saint was honoured on the island of Malta, in the Church of the Forte Sant’Angelo di Birgu, where Fr. Charlò Camilleri O.Carm., Prior of the Carmelite community of Mdina, the first Carmelite community to be founded on the island, the work of Carmelites for the Sicilian province of Sant’Angelo della Comunità Carmelitana di Mdina prima comunità fondata sull’isola dai Carmelitani della Provincia Siciliana di Sant’Angelo. Fr. Camilleri is a Councilor of the Maltese province of Carmelites and a lecturer in Spirituality. His theme was the “Apostle of New Evangelisation”, a reflection coming from the first place of devotion towards Sant’Angelo on the island of Malta.
Friday, the 1st of May, the celebration came from the Church of Santa Maria in Traspontina in Rome. Fr.Gerardo Bonsignore O.Carm., a native of Licata and Extraordinary Confessor in the Basilica of St. Peter in the Vatican, led the celebration and reflected on the theme, “Being like Mary, being Church”, a meditation inspired by the frescoes in the chapel of Sant’Angelo in the Traspontina church.
Saturday the 2nd of May, from the church of Santa Lucia alla Castellina di Sesto Fiorentino (FI),; Fr. Luca Sciarelli O.Carm., Prior of the Carmelite community and leader of the youth and vocation apostolate, reflected on the theme, “The fruitfulness of a life that is given for others”, a meditation inspired by the local iconography and the commitment to open up the life of vocation to young people. Meanwhile in the Shrine of Sant’Angelo in Licata, a lectio divina was being conducted.
Sunday, the 3rd of April, from the Church of the Carmine Maggiore in Palermo,;Fr. Pietro Leta O.Carm., Rector of the church, reflected on the theme, “Allegiance to Christ”, a meditation inspired by the relic of Christ’s passion. As that Eucharist ended, Eucharistic adoration began in the Shrine of Sant’Angelo in Licata.
Monday the 4th of May, from the Shrine of Sant’Angelo in Licata, Fr. Antonino Mascali O.Carm., Rector of the Shrine and Prior of the international Carmelite community of Sant’Angelo, reflected on the theme, “Pilgrims at the Spring of Living Water”, a meditation inspired by the spring of Sant’Angelo: Immediately afterwards from the chapel of Sant’Angelo, Fr. Antonino led the celebration of Solemn Vespers in honour of the Saint; On that same day, the eve of the feast was concluded with two celebrations, both from abroad, Latin America, to be precise, from the Basilica del Carmine in Recife (Brazil) the Eucharist in Portuguese was led by Fr. Sormani José Barbosa Lima O.Carm., Prior Provincial of the Carmelite province of Pernambuco; and from the chapel of the “Casa San Elias” in Miraflores, Lima, (Perù) the Eucharist was celebrated in Spanish by Fr. Raùl Maravì O.Carm., former Councillor General for the Americas of the Carmelite Order.
Tuesday, the 5th of March, the Solemnity of Sant’Angelo, on the 8th centenary of his glorious Martyrdom, a number of celebrations took place, one after the other: from the church of the Annunciation in Mdina, (Malta), the Mass of the Dawn was celebrated in Latin and led by Fr. Charlò Camilleri O.Carm.,Prior of the Carmelite community; from the parish of the “Santísimo Cristo de la Esperanza” in Madrid (Spain) the Mass was celebrated in Spanish and led by Fr. Fernando Millán Romeral O.Carm., former Prior General of the Carmelite Order; from the Basilica of Santa Maria Annunziata di Trapani, the celebration of the Mass was led by Archbishop Alessandro Damiano, Coadjutor Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Agrigento (see); from the Shrine of Sant’Angelo di Licata, the Solemn Pontifical Celebratioin of the Eucharist, in the presence of the civil and military and led by the Cardinal Archbishop of Agrigento, Francesco Montenegro (see); from the chaptel of the General Curia of the Carmelites in Rome, Mass was celebrated by Fr. Míċeál O’Neill O.Carm., Prior General of the Carmelite Order and concelebrated by members of the General Council. During the Mass, the Prior General announced the extension of the Jubilee Year, up to the end of 2021; from the Shrine of the Madonna del Carmine in Valletta (Malta) Mass was celebrated in Maltese, and led by Fr. Joseph Saliba O.Carm., Prior Provincial of the Maltese Province of Carmelites; from the parish of Sant’Angelo di Osidda (NU) Mass was celebrated in the presence of the civil and military authorities, and led by Bishop Corrado Melis, Bishop of Ozieri; from the Shrine of Sant Angelo di Licata, Mass was celebrated and the city was consercated in a ceremony led by Fr. Roberto Toni O.Carm., Prior Provincial of the Italian Province of Carmelites; from the parish of Sant’Angelo Muxaro, the celebration of the Eucharist, in the presence of the civil and military authorities was led by Don Giovanni Mangiapane, Parish priest; finally, at the end of the day, a celebration of the Eucharist in English, from the National Shrine of St. Therese of the Child Jesus, in Darian, Ill. (U.S.A.) led by Fr. William J. Harry O.Carm., Prior Provincial of the American province of the Most Pure Heart of Mary.
Wednesday, the 6th of May, was a day of thanksgiving. A number of Masses were celebrated beginning with Mass from the community chapel in “Middle Park”, Melbourne (Australia), celebrated in English and led by Fr.Davide Hofman O.Carm., Prior of the Carmelite community; from the Church of the Annunciation, in Airola (BN) Mass in Italian, in the presence of the local authorities, led by Don Liberato Maglione, Parish priest; from the Shrine of Maria SS. del Carmelo di Palmi (RC) Mass, in Italian was led by Fr. Francesco Ciaccia O.Carm., Prior of the Carmelite community; from the Basilica of the Visitazione della B. V. Maria in Krakow (Poland) Mass was celebrated in Polish and led by Fr. Bogdan Meger O.Carm., Prior Provincial of the Polish province of Carmelites; from the Basilica Shrine of Carmine Maggiore in Naples Mass was celebrated in Italian and led by Fr. Luciano Di Cerbo O.Carm., General Commissary of the “La Bruna” commissariat in Naples; and finally from the Shrine of Sant’Angelo di Licata, Mass and Te Deum led by Fr. Antonino Mascali O.Carm., Rector of the Shrine and Prior of the Carmelite community.
Giacomo Vedda
