In accordance with a centuries-old tradition, the rites of the Solemn Investitures of the Order of the Guelph Party were celebrated in Florence on 11th and 12th November of the year of the Lord 2022. Following the benevolent and attentive guidance of Consul Luciano Artusi, the Council of Credenza, Governor Franco Lucchesi and the Chaplain Major, Msgr. Vasco Giuliani, at dusk on Friday 11th November, the Knights and Dames of the Parte Guelfa escorted the new Aspirants in a procession opened by a parade of horses, the Insignia and Symbols of the Parte Guelfa and of the ancient Florentine Quarters, through the streets of Florence’s historical center, paying homage to the Archiepiscopal Seat in piazza San Giovanni and the Seat of the Municipality, the Palazzo Vecchio in Piazza della Signoria, the passing through the middle of the majestic Piazza Santa Croce to finally enter the Basilica of Santa Croce, Franciscan temple and Florentine pantheon sung by the poet Ugo Foscolo.

The Family of Parte Guelfa, made of men and women of every nationality, language and religion, was welcomed by the Rector of the Basilica, Father Giancarlo Corsini ofmc, who addressed a warm and fraternal welcome to the participants, reciting from memory the Canticle of the Creatures, the praise and thanksgiving that St. Francis of Assisi addressed to the Creator for the beauty and goodness of the wonders of the Creation, for the immense riches that He has gifted and for the preciousness of their friuts: He alone deserves the credit for having created them; it is our duty to respect them and preserve them in eternal gratitude.

Father Corsini’s invitation addressed through the words of the Saint of Assisi was accepted and ampplified by the interventions of reflection and sharing pronounced during the Vigil of Arms by the representatives of all nationalities present, inside the Refectory of Santa Croce, under the auspices of the Saint Patron of the Parte Guelfa, St. Louis of Toulouse, portrayed in the bronze statue by Donatello kept over there.

Starting from the morning of Saturday 12th November, the ancient rites of the Solemn Investitures of the Order of Parte Guelfa were celebrated: the aspiring Knights and Dames gathered in the Sala del Camino of the Palagio dei Capitani di Parte Guelfa and the crossed the Sala dei Drappeggi following the Brothers lined up on either side of the corridor to arrive in the historic Sala d’Udienza dei Capitani where, accompanied by their Godfather, they signed the oath of membership and loyalty to the Order and its values.

The family members and companions of the new Knights and Dames of Parte Guelfa, already waiting in the magnificent Salone Brunelleschi, finally witnessed their Investiture by the hand and declaration of the Consul, the Addobbo with the Decoration and the Cloak, and the delivery of the Parchment, certifying membership of the Archconfraternity of Parte Guelfa, bearing the appointment of Knight or Dame with the following formula:

ORDO PARTIS GUELFAE
PRECIBUS NOSTRIS ADHIBITIS LIBENTI ANIMO CONCEDETES, ET QUIBUS TE ACCIPIMUS DE CONFRATERNITAE REIQUE GUELFAE BONO ATQUE INCREMENTO BENE MERITUM ESSE, UT PATENS GRATAE VOLUNTATIS TESTIMONIUM PROMAMUS, TE
(NOMEN COGNOMEN)
E NATIONE …

EQUITEM ORDINIS PARTIS GUELFAE E CLASSE CIVILI ELIGIMUS, FACIMUS AC RENUNTIAMUS, TIBIQUE FACULTATEM TRIBUIMUS PRIVILEGIIS OMNIBUS UTENDI, QUAE CUM HAC DIGNITATE SUNT CONIVNCTA.
DATUM FLORENTIAE, APUD PALATIUM PARTIS GUELFAE, HORA …, DIES …, ANNO…

 

Autori

Marco Crisci e Gabriele Vaccaro