As every year, Lucca celebrates its patron saint, San Paolino, with the program of appointments that are now part of the tradition, organized by the Municipality with the collaboration of the Compagnia Balestrieri di Lucca, the flag-wavers and musicians association “City of Lucca”, the Contrade di San Paolino association, Historica Lucense, the San Paolino committee and the Archdiocese of Lucca.
“The celebrations of San Paolino – declares the mayor Mario Pardini – evoke spirituality and tradition, values that today find breath and life through the many associations of the territory, which contribute to the realization of both religious ceremonies and the various events reminiscent of the past of Lucca. To all those who participate in this organization I would like to make a big thank you on behalf of all the municipal administration for the work they spend every year in making our city that atmosphere full of history and spirituality that defines more than anything else the true identity “.
“Paolino and his Companions – adds Don Lucio Malanca, parish priest of the parish in the historic center – tells us the tradition and the feast we celebrate every year underlines this, they brought the proclamation of the Gospel to our land,” really good “news and which reaches us too, at the beginning of this third millennium where we are experiencing, with surprise and concern, events that we thought were distant in time and space ”.
The celebrations. It will begin on Sunday 10 July, at 12.00, with the first riot of the artillery of San Paolino: the lower artillery square of the San Donato bulwark will be armed with three cannons which are full-size replicas of Renaissance mascolo cannons, a edited by Historica Lucense, and with blanks the midday hour will be beaten. In the evening, starting at 20.30, the parade of flags will take place in honor of the patron saint. After the meeting of the city groups in Piazzale Verdi, the historical procession will start which will arrive at 9.30 pm in Piazzale Arrigoni, where there will be first the exhibition and then the carousel.
The next day, Monday 11 July, from 8.15 pm the Luminara di San Paolino will take place, starting from the historic cortege from Piazzale Verdi and arriving in Piazzale Arrigoni. At 9.00 pm the announcement will be read and Monsignor Paolo Giulietti, in the presence of the city authorities, will bless the historical groups and those of the Palio. This will be followed by an exhibition by the Contrade San Paolino, Flag-wavers and Musicians “City of Lucca” and Compagnia Balestrieri Lucca. At 10.15 pm there will be the drawing of the shooting order of the Palio di San Paolino, which will take place the following day.
On Tuesday 12 July, at 10.30 there will be the solemn pontifical in the Basilica of San Paolino, presided over by Monsignor Paolo Giulietti and in the presence of the authorities, the standards and the mayors of the municipalities of the archdiocese. The mayor of Lucca Mario Pardini will offer the votive candle, while the oil for the lamp that will burn throughout the year in honor of the saint will be donated this year by the Municipality of Porcari. At 12.00 there will be the second riot of the artillery of San Paolino, again by the Historica Lucense association and from 15.00 to 18.00 picket of honor in the Basilica of San Paolino, by the Contrade San Paolino. In the evening, starting at 9.00 pm from piazzale Verdi, historical courting of the Lucca historical re-enactment associations: the Contrade San Paolino Association and Flag-wavers and Musicians “City of Lucca” will meet the Compagnia Balestrieri Lucca in Piazza San Michele, where they will form a cortege only towards piazzale Arrigoni for the “Palio di San Paolino”. At 9.30 pm the entrance of the historical re-enactment associations in the square and their exhibition is expected. At 22.00, after reading the tender notice, the shooting with the bench crossbow of the three districts of the city will begin. At the end of the match the best shooters will be awarded.
Source: Press Office
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