The 370th edition of Solemn Celebrations in honor of the Most Holy Sacrament

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For the 370th consecutive year, the act of faith from 1656 is renewed, along with the Eucharistic procession and the blessing of the city from the castle walls, to ask for the intercession of the Blessed Sacrament so that the bubonic plague, which halved the population of Cava with over 6,000 deaths, would cease. That day, with the sudden cessation of the spread of the plague, is remembered among the Eucharistic miracles of Italy.

Presented in the Representation Hall of the City Palace, the 370th edition of the Celebrations in Honor of the Blessed Sacrament, the “Montecastello Festival,” one of the longest-standing historical events in Italy. Present were Mayor Vincenzo Servalli, the Vicar of the Archdiocesan Curia, Don Beniamino D’Arco, representing Archbishop Mons. Soricelli, and the President of the Montecastello Foundation, Mario Sparano. 

“It's the most important festival of the City,” recalled Mayor Servalli, “rooted in the soul of every citizen of Cava and in the very identity of the City. A moment of collective celebration among the most important in Italy, for the perpetuation over 370 years of an act of faith, for the history and tradition it represents. The Administration, as always, has done its part and even more for this occasion. Thanks to all the organizers, happy festivities to all the people of Cava and to all those who wish to participate and enjoy these days full of history, faith, and folklore.” 

An edition, this year, with many novelties, starting with the drone show that replaces the fireworks and the story through images, in video mapping, on the façade of the cathedral, of the history and the characters that have animated the Organization and the Montecastello festival. 

“It is not just a festival,” states Vicar Don Beniamino D’Arco, quoting Archbishop Soricelli, “it is the living memory of a people who, in days of fear, learned to lift their eyes to God instead of giving in to despair. For this reason, the ascent to the Castle is not a tradition to preserve but a call to rediscover the soul of Cava de’ Tirreni, its faith, its ability to remain a people, a family, a community.” 

This year there will be the presence of several television crews and a large group of international journalists, announced Emilia Di Mauro of Archeoclub La Cava, who will follow the festival events and then spread them in their countries. 

“A rich edition full of important events – says President Sparano – with several elements of novelty, such as drones and video mapping, but always faithful to the spirit of the celebrations that we have the duty to preserve and pass on, otherwise there will be no more faith, solidarity, communion among us from Cava, and thus the reasons for the celebrations that have animated our people for 370 years will no longer exist.”

The festivities begin on Saturday, June 6, at 9:00 PM, with the lighting of the large Monstrance at Monte Castello.

On Sunday, June 7, at 7:00 PM, the celebration of Corpus Christi, with the solemn pontifical at the Church of San Vito Martire, presided over by H.E. Archbishop Orazio Soricelli; at the end, at 8:00 PM, the Eucharistic Procession to the Cathedral.

On Wednesday, June 10, at 8:00 PM, the Torch of Faith, in collaboration with the CSI, which will start from Monte Castello and arrive at the Cathedral Square.

Thursday, June 11, the most important day for history, tradition, and faith; at 8:00 AM and 11:00 AM, the Holy Masses on the Castle terrace celebrated by His Excellency Mons. Soricelli and by Don Rosario Sessa; at 7:30 PM, Eucharistic animation at the Church of the Most Holy Annunciation, in preparation for the Historic Eucharistic Procession which will begin at 8:30 PM up to the top of the Castle where H.E. Soricelli will give the Blessing to the City for the 370th time. Throughout the day, while waiting for the blessing, all the hamlets of the Trombonieri, the Associations, and the faithful will spend the day in the castle park, participating in the religious rites, among pistol shots and the typical festival meals, the indispensable spleen, salami and macaroni pies.

Venerdì 12 giugno, alle ore 21, la Processione penitenziale per le vie del Borgo Grande con partenza dal Convento di S. Francesco, per ricordare la pestilenza, animata dalla recita del S. Rosario. Alle ore 22.00 le scene della pestilenza con lo spettacolo delle immagini proiettate sulla facciata del duomo in video mapping.

Sabato 13 giugno la Benedizione dei Trombonieri e dei gruppi folkloristici, in piazza Duomo, impartita da S.E. Mons. Soricelli, a seguire i tradizionali spari dei pistonieri in villa comunale; alle ore 20.30, Corteo storico dei figuranti del 1600 per il Centro Storico, e alle ore 23.30 la novità dello spettacolo dei droni luminosi da Monte Castello.

Friday, June 12, at 9:00 PM, the penitential procession through the streets of Borgo Grande, starting from the Convent of St. Francis, to commemorate the plague, accompanied by the recitation of the Holy Rosary. At 10:00 PM, scenes of the plague with a show of images projected onto the façade of the cathedral in video mapping.  

Saturday, June 13, the Blessing of the Trombonieri and folkloric groups, in Piazza Duomo, given by His Excellency Mons. Soricelli, followed by the traditional firings of the pistonieri in the town park; at 8:30 PM, the Historical Parade of 17th-century performers through the Historic Center, and at 11:30 PM the novelty of the luminous drone show from Monte Castello.  

Sunday, June 14, at 6:30 PM, Historical Parade “The Corporations of the 1600s”, from the municipal stadium, along Borgo Grande, to the Convent of San Francesco, where at 8:00 PM the “Te Deum” will be sung in a sign of thanks, marking the end of the festivities and giving the citizens an appointment for the next year for the 371st edition of the festival.

04-06-26 Antonio Di Martino