Feast of San Gianuario Martire

Viva San Gianuario!
Photo courtesy of Stephen La Rocca

August 26th is the Feast Day of San Gianuario (St. Januarius), Bishop of Carthage and Martyr. He is the principal patron of Marsico Nuovo, a town in the province of Potenza in the Basilicata region of southern Italy. To commemorate the occasion, I’m posting a prayer to San Gianuario Martire. The accompanying photo was taken at St. Mary Magdalene dei Pazzi Church (712 Montrose St.) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

A Prayer to San Gianuario Martire

O Glorious San Gianuario, protector of Marsico Nuovo, you served God in humility and confidence on earth, now you enjoy His beatific vision in Heaven. Help me to strengthen my faith and protect me in conflict. Obtain for me the grace to live a holy life, so that one day I may join you in the Kingdom of Heaven. Amen

Feast of Sant'Oronzo

Evviva Sant'Oronzo! 

Photo courtesy of Lucrezia Nardulli

August 26th is the Feast Day of Sant'Oronzo di Lecce (St. Orontius of Lecce), Bishop and Martyr. Widely venerated in the Salento region of Apulia, Sant'Oronzo is the principal patron of Lecce (LE), Turi (BA) and Ostuni (BR). In commemoration I'm posting a prayer in Italian to Sant'Oronzo. The accompanying photo of sidewalk chalk drawing of the saint was taken during the 2015 Feast in Lecce.

Preghiera a Sant'Oronzo

Gloriosissimo e potentissimo Protettore di questa città, e di chiunque ricorre a Voi Sant’Oronzo, che tanto aveste a cuore la gloria del grande Iddio, e la salute del vostro popolo, sicchè per vedere quella aggrandita, e questa posta in sicuro, non curaste le persecuzioni, né le battiture, neppure l’istessa morte, io benedicendo l’altissimo Iddio, per avervi costituito per Apostolo di queste regioni, per primo cristiano, primo pastore e primo martire, per avervi data tanta possanza di tener lontano dai vostri devoti la peste, i tremuoti, la fame, i morbi e la morte, vi prego prostrato ginocchioni al vostro cospetto, di preservarci da tutti i divini flagelli, e d’impetrarci tutte quelle grazie che bisognano a render tranquilla la nostra vita. Ed in particolare vi prego io umilissimo vostro servo, e divoto del vostro nome che vi degnate, con quella di tanti popoli, di prendere ancora la protezione dell’anima mia, della mia roba, dei parenti, della famiglia ed amici, e specialmente concedetemi la grazia che vi chieggo, di cui vedete la necessità, il desiderio che ne tengo, e il fervore con cui ve ne prego.

(Qui si cerchi la grazia che si desidera) 

Ricordatevi, o grande Oronzo, che io son membro della vostra Chiesa, che amaste da sposa in terra, ed oggi proteggete da sopra i cieli, qual amatissimo sposo. Guardatemi qual pecorella di quella greggia, di cui ancora avete la cura, qual gloriosissimo pastore, ed infine come uno di quei figli che voi rigeneraste nella fede e che ancora amate da affettuosissimo pastore. Concedetemi quel tanto di cui vi prego, e fate vedere nella mia persona, e nelle mie cose, che ancora proteggete, e difendete dal cielo, come ci accertaste, tutti coloro che ricorrono alla vostra potentissima intercessione. Così sia.

Feast of Santa Patrizia, Patroness of Naples

Santa Patrizia (1625) by Leonardo Carpentiero

Photo courtesy of Electra Napoli*

By Giovanni di Napoli

August 25th is the feast day of Santa Patrizia (Saint Patricia), patroness of Naples. Each year the faithful gather at the Chiesa di San Gregorio Armeno (Church of St. Gregory of Armenia) to venerate the saint and view the miraculous liquefaction of her coagulated blood. The church, believed to have been built by Saint Helena (c. 246-330 AD) on the site of the Roman Temple of Ceres, underwent several significant renovations and is the latest resting place of Santa Patrizia and her relics. Continue reading

* Photo reprinted from The Treasure of San Gennaro: Baroque Silver from Naples, Electra Napoli, 1987, catalogue for the exhibit at The Brooklyn Museum of Art (Oct. 28, 1987 - Jan. 18, 1988).

Feast of the Madonna Della Luce

Evviva Maria!

Photo by New York Scugnizzo

The last Sunday in August is the Feast Day of Maria Santissima Della Luce (Our Lady of Light), Patroness of Palermiti, Calabria. To commemorate the occasion I'm posting a Prayer to the Madonna della Luce.* The accompanying photo was taken at Sacred Heart Italian Church in Boston, MA. In nearby Hingham, where large numbers of immigrants from Palermiti settled, the Feast is celebrated each Sunday before Labor Day. 

Preghiera

O Regina dei Martiri, Addolorata Maria, eccomi ai vostri piedi a supplicarvi del vostro patrocinio. O Madre pietosissima, non respingete la mia preghiera, non guardate i miei peccati che piango ai vostri piedi. Io sono indegno dei vostri benefici, ma la bontà vostra, che non ha limiti, mi dà speranza e, Madre vi chiamo, Madre tenerissima e potentissima Regina. Molte lacrime avete asciugate, molti dolori addolciti in virtù dei crudelissimi dolori vostri, in essi dunque ripongo la mia fiducia. Per questi dolori, lenite le mie pene ed impetratemi dal vostro divin Figliuolo Gesù la grazia particolare che qui prostrato vi domando... e di poter meritare una corona di gloria immortale nel S. Paradiso. Amen.

* Thank you Madonna Della Luce Society of Hingham, Massachusetts for providing us with the prayer

Feast of San Bartolomeo

Viva San Bartolomeo!

August 24th is the Feast Day of San Bartolomeo (Saint Bartholomew), Apostle and martyr. He is the patron saint of tanners, plasterers, cheese merchants, and those who suffer from nervous tics and neurological diseases. Widely venerated across southern Italy he is the principal patron of Lampedusa (AG), Lipari (ME), Giarratana (RG), and San Bartolomeo in Galdo (BN), among others. To commemorate the occasion I'm posting a Prayer to St. Bartholomew. The accompanying photo was taken at Sacred Hearts of Jesus & Mary and Saint Stephen's Church in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn.

Prayer to St. Bartholomew

Almighty and everlasting God, who gave to your apostle Bartholomew grace truly to believe and to preach your Word: Grant that your Church may love what he believed and preach what he taught; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen.

Feast of Sant'Audeno Vescovo di Rouen

Evivva Sant'Audeno! 
Photo by New York Scugnizzo

August 24th is the Feast Day of Sant'Audeno (St. Ouen, Archbishop of Rouen), patron saint of Serra di Pratola, Avellino. The cult of Sant'Audeno was introduced to southern Italy by the Normans, who founded several churches in his honor, including the small sanctuary in Montaperto, Avellino; the Chiesa di Sant’Audeno in Aversa, Caserta; and the Apulian-Romanesque Church of Sant’Audeno in Bisceglie, Puglia. Built in 1074, the Church in Bisceglie is one of the oldest consecrated to the French Bishop in southern Italy. An architectural treasure, the church houses a small relic translated from Normandy.

Southern Italian devotion to Sant'Audeno was immortalized in the Miracula Sancti Audoeni, a collection of Saint Ouen’s miracles written after 1047 in Normandy. Included are stories of pilgrims from Andria and Monte Gargano in Apulia who visited the saint’s shrine in Rouen and were miraculously cured of their ailments.

To commemorate the occasion I'm posting a Prayer to Sant'Audeno. The accompanying photo was taken at Our Lady of Good Council Church in Inwood, Long Island.

Prayer to Sant'Audeno

God our Father, enable us who honor the memory of Sant'Audeno, archbishop and confessor, to share with him in the joy of eternal life, through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen

Viva San Rocco! A Look at the 130th Annual Feast of St. Rocco in Little Italy, New York (Part 3)

The Procession Through Little Italy

Viva San Rocco!

Photos by New York Scugnizzo

See Part 1, Mass and Opening Ceremony, Part 2, The Procession through Chinatown, and The 2019 San Rocco Triduum

Our friends from Aliquippa, PA joined in the festivities 

(Above & below) Still going strong,
the procession makes its way up Mulberry Street

(L) The Color Guard. (R) Along the route people make donations

Danny Vecchiano and the Giglio Band

(Above & below) We made many stops along the way 

As always, our friends from E. Rossi & Company,
De Palo's, and Alleva made generous offerings 

Some watched the procession pass from the comfort of their homes,
while others carried traditional wax ex-voto

(Above & below) Nearing the end of the long procession,
we made one final stop at Da Nico's for some pizza and refreshments 

Andrew, Carmine and Bruno 

Rosanna and John 

John and Rocco

(Above & below) We return to Most Precious Blood with much fanfare

The statue is returned to Most Precious Blood Church

Peppino's from Bay Ridge generously donated
trays of delicious southern Italian fare

(Above & below) After dinner and a brief rain shower, partygoers enjoyed a very competitive game of “pass the provolone,” a humorous take on “hot potato,” where the winner gets to keep the cheese  

Salvatore LaRocca was this year's big winner

Missa Cantata for the Feast of St. Pius X in Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn

Viva San Rocco! A Look at the 130th Annual Feast of St. Rocco in Little Italy, New York (Part 2)

The Procession Through Chinatown

Viva San Rocco!

Photos by New York Scugnizzo

See Part 1, Mass and Opening Ceremony, Part 3, The Procession Through Little Italy, and The 2019 San Rocco Triduum

(L) After Mass, donations are pinned on to the statue. (R) Stephen and Lucia pose with our dear friends from the St. Joseph Society of Lodi, New Jersey

The color guard are raring to go

These little rascals are all set to pull the cinte, or candle house

(Above & below) The procession departs Most Precious Blood Church and Little Italy

(Above & below) Making our way through Chinatown

A good time was had by all

The Cordi family are all smiles

We briefly stopped by the Church of the Transfiguration for blessings by Fr. Lo

Inside, we visit the statues of San Rocco and the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Giorgio and John

Vinny and Rocco

Matt and Peter

(L) The kids did a terrific job conveying the cinte, or candle house. 
(R) Our friends from the Figli Maria SS. Addolorata show their support

(Above & below) Members of the St. Joseph Society of Lodi, New Jersey
carried the statue from St. James Church to St. Joseph's Church

Andrew enjoys some homemade zeppoli

Mrs. Mavrianos showers San Rocco with rose petals outside St. Joseph's Church

Paul Tocci and family generously provided beverages for thirsty participants 

Revelers dance the tarantella outside the old Vanella Funeral Chapel 

(Above & below) The procession heads back to Little Italy

Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Ave Maria!

August 22nd is the traditional Feast day of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, our refuge and pathway to God. In commemoration I’m posting the Solemn Act of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary by Venerable Pope Pius XII. The accompanying photo was taken at Saint Francis of Paola Church (219 Conselyea Street) in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

Solemn Act of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Most Holy Virgin Mary, tender Mother of men, to fulfill the desires of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the request of the Vicar of Your Son on earth, we consecrate ourselves and our families to your Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart, O Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, and we recommend to You, all the people of our country and all the world. Please accept our consecration, dearest Mother, and use us as You wish to accomplish Your designs in the world. O Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, and Queen of the World, rule over us, together with the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ, Our King. Save us from the spreading flood of modern paganism; kindle in our hearts and homes the love of purity, the practice of a virtuous life, an ardent zeal for souls, and a desire to pray the Rosary more faithfully. We come with confidence to You, O Throne of Grace and Mother of Fair Love. Inflame us with the same Divine Fire which has inflamed Your own Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart. Make our hearts and homes Your shrine, and through us, make the Heart of Jesus, together with your rule, triumph in every heart and home. Amen.