Easter in San Cataldo
On the occasion of the Holy Week in San Cataldo various traditional rites take place preceded by a long period of preparation, during Lent, known as the Sabatini.
The Sabatini in honor of the Madonna, originally organized by the various social classes, is a rite which provides for, every Friday of Lent, the transfer of the simulacrum of the Immaculate Madonna from the house of the family that guards it for an entire year until the Mother church. The simulacrum remains on display in the Mother Church until Saturday afternoon, when it is taken to the home of the new family who will have the task of guarding the simulacrum for the following year.
The rites of Holy Week begin on Sunday at Palme, the day on which the re-enactment of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem takes place, a representation in which figures and groups of statues take part.
On Holy Wednesday, in the afternoon, a historical procession winds its way through the streets of the historical center in period costumes with legionaries, priests, princes and the Jewish people. This is followed by the dramatization of the Process of Jesus, a representation of the Via Crucis and the arrival at Calvary.
On Holy Thursday, in the evening, the procession of the simulacrums of Our Lady of Sorrows and of San Giovanni. The procession, which wants to represent the search for Jesus, ends in the small church of the oratory of the SS. Sacramento, located next to the Mother Church, where the dead Christ is placed on the cataletto. The culminating moment of this representation is when the statues of the Madonna and San Giovanni try to enter the Mother Church, and the door is closed to them. Thus begins a suggestive funeral march to the sound of u chiantu di Maria, or rather Mary's tears.
On Good Friday the meeting of Our Lady of Sorrows and St. John with the dead Christ followed by the procession of statue groups of the Via Crucis. The day ends with the sacred representation, the visit to Calvary and the scinnenza, that is, the descent of Jesus from the cross, followed by a long and well-attended procession.
On Easter Sunday the procession of the Sampauluna takes place, i.e. large nineteenth-century papier-mâché statues representing the Apostles. The procession ends with the meeting of the Risen Christ with the Apostles.
Dates and Scheduling
From 6th to 15th April
EXHIBITION OF THE SMALL MYSTERIES
in the Mother Church of San Cataldo.
Chiesa Madre
Dal 12 al 20 Aprile
SANPAOLONI EXHIBITION
of the Madonna and the Magdalene of Easter Sunday.
Sala Conferenze BCC – Piazza F. Crispi
From 16th to 20th April
EXHIBITION OF THE SMALL MYSTERIES
Nuovi locali di Via Scalinata.
12 Apr 2025
20:30 TRENTATRìANNI
The Passion of Christ in the "Pietade" Sancataledese.
Sagrato della Chiesa Madre
13 Apr 2025
Palm Sunday
20:00 ALONE
Musical show, in honor of the Little Mysteries.
Chiesa Madre
14 Apr 2025
20:00 L’ULTIMA CENA
Piazza degli Eroi
15 Apr 2025
Procession of the Little Mysteries
19:00 ‘A NISCIUTA of the Little Mysteries from the Mother Church.
20:00 Start of the Procession.
20:30 ‘U CRISTU ‘NNI L’URNA (Jesus Christ in the urn).
Chiesa Santa Maria della Catena
22:00 L'URTIMU SALUTU – Mary's crying at the Sanctuary of Santa Maria delle Grazie.
Santuario S. Maria delle Grazie
16 Apr 2025
18:30 HISTORICAL PROCESSION with: chariot, Roman legionaries, priests, princes and Jewish people.
Via Don Bosco, piazza San Francesco, corso V. Emanuele, corso Sicilia, piazza degli Eroi.
20:00 Trial of Jesus
Piazza degli Eroi
21:00 ON THE WAY TO CALVARY; the first fall; the second fall.
21:30 AFFACCIA AFFACCIA
Sagrato Chiesa San Giuseppe
17 Apr 2025
21:00 PROCESSION OF THE ADDOLORATA AND SAN GIOVANNI through the traditional streets of the Historic Center.
23:45 TRADITIONAL CLOSING OF THE DOOR OF “U Ratò” AND CRYING OF MARY.
Followed by the return of the Addolorata and San Giovanni to the Church of San Giuseppe.
24:00 NIGHT VIGIL OF CHRIST ON THE CATHOLIC BOW.
18 Apr 2025
06:30 Morning.
07:00 PROCESSION OF THE DEAD CHRIST ON THE CATHOLIC BOW.
TRADITIONAL MEETING WITH OUR LADY OF SORROWS AND ST. JOHN.
Piazza San Giuseppe
followed by a VISIT TO THE ALTARS OF REPOSITION (the Sepulchres) in the Churches of the city
11:00 Gathering of the Mysteries and arrival of the hooded ones accompanied by the musical band.
piazza Papa Giovanni XXIII
11:30 PROCESSION OF THE MYSTERIES.
12:00 TRADITIONAL 'NCUNTRU DI MAZZIURNU (midday meeting) of Jesus of Nazareth with Our Lady of Sorrows and Saint John. Mary's crying.
Corso Vittorio Emanuele
13:00 ENTHRONMENT OF CHRIST ON THE CROSS.
Piazza Calvario
19:30 PROCESSION OF THE SACRED URN from the Mother Church to Piazza Calvario.
20:00 ‘A SCINNENZA Sacred representation in the tradition of the people.
Piazza Calvario
21:00 SOLEMN PROCESSION OF THE DEAD CHRIST IN THE HOLY URN with Our Lady of Sorrows and Saint John, the participation of the Clergy, the Confraternities, the civil and military authorities.
da piazza Calvario alla Chiesa Madre
Following the return of the Addolorata and of San Giovanni to the Church of San Giuseppe.
20 Apr 2025
Easter Sunday
18:00 U 'NCUNTRU DI LI SAMPAULUNA with the Risen Jesus, the Madonna and the Magdalene.
Following floral tribute from the Municipal Administration at the Chapel of “Lu Signuri Scitatu”.
18:30 SOLEMN PROCESSION OF THE RISEN JESUS with the Madonna, the Magdalene, and the Sanpaoloni up to the Sanctuary of Santa Maria delle Grazie.
19:15 The Sanpaoloni returns in Via Amico.
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References
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