The Association “Cavalieri Bolla Pontificia” was born on 4 September 2017, with the aim of keeping alive the faith and the historical traditions of Cava de’ Tirreni, in southern Italy’s Campania region, just a few kilometers inland from the Amalfi Coast. The name was inspired by an historical event of the territory: the Bull’s emission by the Pope Bonifacio IX on 7 August 1394, that raised it to the rank of city. In addition, the partnership is deeply rooted in the cult of the Blessed Sacrament and in the Eucharistic miracle occurred in 1656, an episode that marked the local community during the plague epidemic. In fact, Fr. Paolo Franco was one of the few priests who had been spared and, despite the danger of contagion, he was divinely inspired to lead the people in a procession of reparation, from the Castle of the Annunciation up to the higher terrace of Monte Castello. When they arrived, Fr. Franco blessed Cava dei Tirreni with the Blessed Sacrament and the epidemic miraculously stopped; from that day, the townspeople commemorate the miracle with a solemn annual procession during the month of June.
The association is a reference point for who shares a feeling of Christian brotherhood and the desire to pass on the values of faith and solidarity from generation to generation. In fact, it also stands out for its social commitment: it organizes charitable activities for families in difficulty, children’s hospitals such as the ‘Bambin Gesù’ in Rome, and rehabilitation centres; it promotes social inclusion with drums and clarions schools for young people and educational workshops, aimed to hand down the values of respect, education and humility.
Another important and interesting fact is that the association is also inspired by the figure of ‘Mamma Lucia’, a symbol of mercy and humility, who, during the Second World War, devoted herself to the collection and recomposition of the bodies of the fallen soldiers, to return them to their families of origin. The arquebusiers, called “Trombonieri di Mamma Lucia”, represent the folkloristic soul of the association, that keeps alive the memory of the historical and cultural traditions, through performances and re-enactments.
The Association presents a project particularly focused on the awareness, firstly of the young people who join it, towards the knowledge of its town’s history, traditions and culture and the inclusion expressed through a great spirit of aggregation and acts of solidarity. In fact, the association promotes breaking down social barriers, implementing charity works for families in financial and psychological difficulties and in hospitals, with the collection and subscription of bone marrow, organs and blood donors.
The Association was created in honour of the Eucharistic Miracle of the Blessed Sacrament in 1656; it adopts the Vatican, Aragoneses and Cava’s colours, and the denomination and the emblem of an historical event occurred on 7 August 1394, that is the Papal Bull of the Pope Boniface IX.
It’s made up of over 150 participants, subdivided in: harquebusiers, crossbowmen, clarions, drums, Pontifical flags, cuirassiers, bannermen and pikemen, which give life to square shows, historical parades, assaults on castles, historical re-enactments, etc. The Vatican granted us the privilege of adopting its emblem as a sign of gratitude for the activities carried out.
The project is also designed to establish rapport between the Association, the city of Cava de’ Tirreni and others, both in national and international territory; so we propose to cities, associations, Proloco and private organizers to consider a possible folkloristic event on our part, in order to become a vital part of solidarity.
