On Sunday, January 29, a Solemn Pontifical Mass took place at the Mother Church of Cinisi on the occasion of the centenary of the death of Saint Mary of Jesus, born Carolina Concetta Angela Santocanale of the Barons of Celsa Reale, who was born in Palermo in 1852 and passed away in Cinisi in 1923.
From an early age, she felt the desire to consecrate her life to God. Having permanently moved to Cinisi, she took her vows, becoming a regular tertiary and changing her name to Mary of Jesus. Between the late 1800s and early 1900s, she founded an Institute of Capuchin Sisters of the Immaculate of Lourdes and made her profession of religious vows on February 11, 1911.
In her earthly life, Sister Mary of Jesus devoted herself with untiring zeal to alleviating the suffering of the poor through relentless works of charity. On June 12, 2016, Pope Francis proclaimed her Blessed, and on May 15, 2022, he elevated her to the honors of the Altar, proclaiming her a Saint of God and establishing her liturgical feast day on January 27.
The Solemn Pontifical Mass was presided over by His Eminence Most Reverend Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, and Knight Grand Cross of Justice of our Order. During his homily, the Cardinal recalled the virtues of the Saint and how she became a witness to the Gospel and the face of Christ through the Beatitudes. At the end of the religious service, he then blessed the statue of the Saint, created by sculptor Rosario Vullo, located in the square in front of the Mother Church.
Among the concelebrants were H.E.R. Mons. Gualtiero Isacchi, Archbishop of Monreale; the Most Reverend Father Abbot of San Martino delle Scale, Dom Vittorio Rizzone, Knight Grand Officer of Ecclesiastical Grace; as well as the Reverend Father Antonio Ortoleva, Archpriest of Cinisi and Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Monreale, Ecclesiastical Knight of Grace.


Before the start of the service, His Eminence thanked the Mayor of Cinisi, Lawyer Giovanni Palazzolo, and the other civil and military authorities present, and wished to address a special greeting to our Order, present with a group of knights and dames, and to the Grand Master H.R.H. Prince Carlo of Bourbon Two Sicilies.

The delegation was led by the Vice Delegate for Sicily, Noble Doctor Antonio di Janni, Knight Grand Cross of Grace, and by the Chancellor of the Delegation, Lawyer Claudio Ragusa, Knight Officer of Merit.
Once the Assembly was dismissed, Doctor di Janni congratulated Cardinal Semeraro on his appointment to the Order and presented, on behalf of the Duke of Castro, a medal bearing, on one side, the face of the current Grand Master and Head of the Royal House, Carlo of Bourbon, and on the other, the effigy of H.M. King Charles of Bourbon of Two Sicilies.
His Most Reverend Eminence thanked H.R.H. Prince Carlo, through the Vice Delegate, for the very welcome gift.