by Salvatore Alletto
A patronal celebration in the midst of a pandemic in compliance with all anti-Covid rules and restrictions? Yes you can!
Even more so if we talk about the feast of San Giuseppe al Trionfale in the special year dedicated to the foster father of Jesus, wanted by Pope Francis. It is true! There were many opportunities to rediscover one's devotion to the Patron Saint of the Universal Church, even if that more "external" part of the celebration with the classic pancakes, games for children and many recreational moments was missing.
In the days preceding the solemnity, the Basilica became a destination for many faithful, eager to entrust their dreams, projects, efforts and difficulties to Saint Joseph. The prayer of the Sacred Mantle, led by the director of the Pious Union Don Bruno Capparoni, marked the pace of the approach to the party with the 7 Wednesdays; the novena animated by Don Gabriele Cantaluppi prepared the hearts of the faithful for the long-awaited day. The common thread of the various moments of prayer and reflection was the Apostolic Letter Patris Corde by Pope Francis on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the declaration of Saint Joseph as patron of the universal Church. The paternity of Saint Joseph was explored in its most beautiful aspects thanks to a profound meditation by Don Fabio Rosini, a Roman priest followed by young people and creator of the path to rediscovering the Ten Commandments. During the days of the triduum, Don Nico Rutigliano then helped the faithful to rediscover in their lives the closeness to Saint Joseph who, certainly together with Mary, can still say something to our families today.
To embellish the celebration, in this particular year, the presence of the relics of the mantle of Saint Joseph and the veil of the Virgin Mary. The relics, according to tradition, were brought to Rome by Saint Jerome as early as the 4th century and kept in the Basilica of Saint Anastasia. The moved eyes of the faithful were able to admire what remains of the veil of the Madonna and the mantle of Saint Joseph, on one of the few occasions of public veneration. The bright colors of Mary's veil, the accuracy with which Joseph's mantle was preserved will long remain engraved in the minds and hearts of the many who have had the opportunity to pray in front of these unique relics.
To crown the celebrations of this year, which also coincided with the 50th anniversary of the elevation of the church to a minor basilica commissioned by Don Guanella more than a hundred years ago, there was also a very special procession. No following of faithful, no musical band. Only the simulacrum of Saint Joseph on a truck, accompanied by the new parish priest of the Basilica, Don Tommaso Gigliola, to travel the streets of the Prati-Triumfale district. The parish priest's voice has resonated in the uncrowded streets of the neighborhood for a few days in the red zone. «Saint Joseph crosses the streets of our neighborhood, make your paternal presence felt among us! He dries the tears of those who suffer, be a companion to those who feel alone. Put the disheartened back on their feet, give hope to those who have lost their jobs, protect those who strive every day to take care of others! Help us to raise our gaze and never lose faith in God. He gives our children and young people the ability to continue dreaming. We entrust ourselves to you, O Blessed Joseph, to you we entrust our Parish, our neighborhood, our families! He walks with us!
Many people looked out from palaces and houses to greet their patron saint. Many bright eyes and many heartened hearts for having seen Saint Joseph pass through the streets of the neighborhood, waiting to soon be able to accompany him on the classic route of the historic procession.
With the solemn Holy Mass presided over by the auxiliary bishop of Rome, His Excellency Msgr. Paolo Selvadagi, the celebration has ended in this second year marked by the pandemic. A common request arose from everyone's hearts: to overcome this difficult moment and find the strength to continue walking full of hope, certain that Saint Joseph will come to the aid of all those who ask for it.