Despite health restrictions, the Swiss delegation of the Dynastic Orders of the Royal House of Savoy maintained its traditional pilgrimage to Orbe to pay homage to the relics of the Blessed Louise of Savoy. The relics were donated to the parish of Notre Dame de Grâce d’Orbe by King Umberto II in 1964. Four knights gathered for a mass celebrated by Abbot Jean-Luc Martin, parish priest of Orbe, on 21 November. The ceremony was also broadcast live on the parish Facebook page, thus allowing knights, dames, parishioners and friends to participate remotely. The Blessed Louise of Savoy illuminated the ceremony, and the joy of gathering together in this difficult period was tangible. (www.facebook.com/cathorbe)
After the mass, those who were not present in Orbe were able to share a few words with the knights in Orbe via an “aperitif-zoom”. On that occasion, the knights tasted a special vintage of Chasselas de Lavaux called “Baron de Vaud” in honor of one of the titles of the head of the Royal House of Savoy. The next event is scheduled for 2021.
