Well Done, Thou Good and Faithful Servant

Andrew, I believe your headline here should properly read, “Well Done Thou Good and Faithful Servant,” subsituting Thou for Thy as you have it.

Assuming the headline is an intentional paraphrase of Holy Scripture, you will find it in Matthrew 25 in two similar wordings, at verses 21 & 23, as part of the Parable of the Five Talents. Verse 23 however is, Perhaps what you were aiming for.

His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. (KJV)

The words are important in two ways. First, they they are “dominical” – words of Jesus himself which Matthew records as coming from a scene where Jesus speaks in parables to his disciples outside Jerusalem on the Mount of Olives. Second, the words “thou faithful servant …” are addressed not to God but directly to the servant in the parable who was faithful in his duty to his master. One would assume that would neatly describe the life of Fra Andrew.

The guard of honor (proper term, I hope) are exceptionally well turned out. Any idea from what unit they were drawn? Also, any idea what the blue sash represents?

Mr. Zacher: Thank you for pointing that out; my mind must have been elsewhere!

ODT: The guard of honor were drawn from the Military Corps of the Order of Malta, which is a medical unit of the Italian Army. Officers of the Italian Army wear blue sashes with their uniforms on ceremonial occasions.