MADONNA DI LORETO, PATRON SAINT OF AVIATION FOR 90 YEARS

On Sunday 12 September in Loreto, remember the first aeronautical displays in honour of the Virgo Lauretana. The solemn concelebration by the Military Ordinary Archbishop, Monsignor Vincenzo Pelvi, and the Archbishop of Loreto and Pontifical Delegate, Monsignor Giovanni Tonucci, was attended by Air Force General Pasquale Preziosa, Commander of the Air Force Schools/3rd Air Region of Bari, representing the Chief of Staff. On the occasion, General Preziosa presented Monsignor Tonucci with a chalice in memory of the event.
A strong representation from the Armed Forces was also present, comprising students from the Air Force Academy in Pozzuoli (Naples) and the ‘Giulio Douhet’ Military Aviation School in Florence, as well as personnel in service and attending courses at the Air Force School of Foreign Languages in Loreto.
The event followed that of 25 March when, again in Loreto, on the solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord and with the Homily delivered in the Eucharistic celebration by Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the period of official celebrations for the 90th anniversary began, which will officially conclude on Friday 10 December, the anniversary of the Translation of the Holy House to Loreto, also known as the feast of the ‘Arrival’. Ninety years after the first aeronautical demonstrations on 12 September 1920, in the presence of religious, civil, and military authorities, honour, therefore, to the “Principal and Universal Patroness of all aviators and people of the air, of every place and latitude”. Multimedia contributions Video: RaiUno 12/09/2010 – Full Live Broadcast of the Holy Mass at Loreto.