Support the Constantinian Order's Italian Hospital Relief Fund

Dear Confratelli and Consorelle, Friends and Supporters,

First and foremost, I pray that all of you, and your loved ones, are safe and well.

During these difficult times for the United States, Italy and the world, it is important that we remember our calling as Knights and Dames of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George is to serve those in need to the best of our abilities. Every nation, and surely every family, is dealing with this crisis every day, and Italy, the home of our Most Sacred Order for centuries, has suffered immensely.

To that end, our Grand Master, HRH Prince Carlo of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, has called on the Knights and Dames of the Constantinian Order around the world, and our friends and families, to help gather support for Italy’s hospitals and those working on the front lines in this global health emergency.

Many great efforts, and worthy fundraisers, have already been launched to support Italy’s most affected hospitals, but we are concerned about institutions and areas where the spread of this epidemic and a lack of intensive care equipment might have even more dramatic consequences, particularly in the South of Italy and Sicily, the spiritual homeland of our Constantinian Order.

Therefore, the Constantinian Order Charity Onlus, our Italian charitable arm, has launched fundraising initiative in which donations will be distributed equally among those under-supported hospitals so in need of additional equipment and intensive care capacity.

The Order's Headquarters in Rome, Italy has contributed a “Leadership Gift” of 50.000 euros to launch this initiative, and has called on Delegations like ours, around the world, to initiate their own efforts to help grow this important source of critical aid.

I am personally asking that those of you who can consider making a donation of ANY amount to this cause, and of equal importance, help us to spread the word through emails, social media postings, and any means by which you might engage a wider circle in our work.

Please consider making even a donation of even a few dollars, not only to help us raise as much as possible, but to send a message of solidarity from our American Delegation to our Confratelli and Consorelle leading this valuable initiative in Italy. As much as we seek to raise the greatest amount possible, is as much as we would love to see all off the Knights and Dames of the US Delegation participating with us.

The US Delegation has created the GoFundMe Charitable Campaign below. All gifts to the United States Delegation are fully tax-deductible, and every donation represents a significant contribution to our global effort to create hope in a time of hopelessness.

I sincerely thank you all for taking the time to read this, for helping our cause, for spreading this message, and for your continued support and confraternity.

I look forward to seeing you at the lighter end of this dark tunnel.

In This Sign, surely, We Will Conquer!

IHSV,

John M. Viola,

United States Delegate

https://charity.gofundme.com/o/en/campaign/constantinian-order-us-delegation-italian-hospital-relief-fund

The American Delegation Of The Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization located in New York, New York.

Fundraiser COVID-19 Emergency

Dear Knights and Dames,

we have to personally commit to support Italy during this hard moment for all of us and to especially help hospitals and those working on the front lines in the daily fight against this health emergency.

Several fundraisers have already been launched to support Italy’s most affected hospitals, but I am concerned about establishments where the spread of this epidemic and a lack of intensive care equipment might have even more dramatic consequences.          

Our Order, which has always been engaged to help hospitals, through the Constantinian Order Charity Onlus has launched a fundraising initiative whose donations will be distributed equally among those healthcare structures with fewer resources which need to increase their equipment and intensive care capacity.

Each euro that you will donate will represent a glimmer of hope and a small drop of life that will help us overcome this adversity!

We do not want to set goals, let’s try to raise as much as we can. The first 50.000 euros have already been allocated.

Solidarity is an immense force. Let's join all together to help and support each other!

I sincerely thank you for your generosity and for the dissemination and sharing of this collection.

Charles of Bourbon Two Sicilies

Donate Now

March 11, 2020 Day of Prayer and Fasting, Message from the Vatican

Ora pro nobis, San Rocco
The San Rocco Society of Potenza statue at Most Precious Blood Church in Little Italy, New York

Dear Confratelli and Consorelle,

The following is an invitation from the Vatican:

The Vatican is calling for a day of prayer and fasting on Wednesday, March 11, in order to invoke divine help and intervention against the coronavirus in Rome, Italy, and the world, announced Cardinal De Donatis on March 6, 2020.

Response from the United States Delegation of the Order:

In this spirit, the Leadership of the United States Delegation is inviting members of the Order to participate in a Novena of prayer to St. Rocco, who has been venerated for centuries by the faithful as the holy protector against the plague and all contagious diseases. The Novena to St. Rocco is to begin Wednesday, March 11, and continue through Thursday, March 19, the feast of St. Joseph. Each member is asked to make the commitment of reciting devoutly the Novena Prayer below. Along with this prayer, one might also freely choose to offer up additionally a small sacrifice, an act of charity, or a good deed for this urgent intention.

Who is St. Rocco?

After distributing all of his nobleman goods to the poor, St. Rocco traveled humbly throughout 14th century Italy as a pilgrim. From Aquapendente to Censena, from Modena to Parma, and finally in Rome itself, St. Rocco devoted himself with heroic charity to victims of the plague, curing them with prayer and the sign of the cross. During his travels, he too contracted the plague which was evident by an open sore on his leg. After many sufferings and much patience, St. Rocco was eventually cured, only then to be falsely accused as a spy. After several years of imprisonment, he died a holy death which edified many.

An Italian Tradition for the Good of Body and Soul:

From shortly after his death in the mid-14th century until the present day, the Southern Italian people have time and time again offered prayers and processions with the relics of St. Rocco, invoking his powerful intercession for good health and protection against cholera epidemics and all types of contagious diseases. Born of a true spirit of Faith and Charity, this pious practice of our Italian ancestors which has been proven to be so effective for the good of society and for the edification of souls should be promoted and spread. May this devout custom of invoking St. Rocco preserve us all from the coronavirus contagion while obtaining for us the grace we need to this Lent to grow in virtue and holiness in our homes and families, in our workplaces, and in our world.

Novena Prayer to Saint Rocco to be recited by Members of the Order from March 11-19, 2020:

O Great St. Rocco, deliver us, we beseech thee, from the scourges of God; through thy intercession, preserve our bodies from contagious diseases, and our souls from the contagion of sin. Obtain for us salubrious air; but, above all, purity of heart. Assist us to make good use of health, to bear suffering with patience; and, after thy example, to live in the practice of penance and charity, that we may one day enjoy the happiness which thou has merited by thy virtues. St. Rocco, pray for us (say three times)

Optional Latin version:

RESPONSORIO A SAN ROCCO

Ave, Roche Santissime

Qui nobili natus sanguine

Crucis signaris schemate

Sinistro tuo latere.

Numinis in praesentia

Nostra nunc serva corpora

Et crucis per praesidia

A peste oppidum libera.

Roche, peregre profectus

Pestifere mortis ictus

Curavisti mirifice

Tangendo salutifere.

Vale, Roche qui angelice

Vocis citatus flamine

Obtinuiste deifice

A cunctis pestem pellere.

Sit Christe Rex piissime

Tibi Patrique gloria

Cum Spiritu Paraclito

Et nunc et in perpetuum.

V.  Ora pro nobis, beate Roche.  R.  Ut digni efficiamur promissionibus Christi.

OREMUS

Populum tuum, quaesumus Domine, continua pietate custodi, et beati Rochi suffragantibus meritis, ab omni fac animae et corporis contagione securum. Per Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.



IHSV

Solemn High Mass for the Feast of St. Joseph in Newark, New Jersey

Dear Confratelli and Consorelle,

The American Delegation of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George has been invited to assist at a Solemn Mass that will be sung on Thursday, March 19th, 2020 at 7:00pm for the Feast of St. Joseph at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, 259 Oliver Street, Newark, New Jersey.

The Mass will be celebrated by the Very Rev. Msgr. Joseph F. Ambrosio, Pastor and Rev. Michael Barone will preach, both of whom are Chaplains of the Order.

In celebration of Msgr. Ambrosio's name day, after Mass, all are invited to a Traditional Italian Saint Joseph's Table in the parish center with music provided by the Bloomfield Mandolin Orchestra. RSVP to Cav. Prof. Eric Lavin by phone at (201) 566-8862 or via e-mail at ericlavin18@gmail.com by March 15th, 2020.

Knights and Dames may attend in church robes.

We hope that you all can attend this most beautiful occasion.

IHSV