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Ave Maria!
Photos by New York Scugnizzo |
Friday evening, the Knights of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George joined some 40 pilgrims at Most Precious Blood Church (113 Baxter St.) in Little Italy, New York to celebrate the Friday of Sorrows in honor of Maria Santissima Addolorata (Our Lady of Sorrows). The Mass was offered for Palma Tropiano-Gangone, the Order’s late Grand Master HRH Prince don Ferdinando Maria di Borbone of the Two Sicilies, and persecuted Christians around the world.
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| HRH Prince don Ferdinando Maria di Borbone and Palma Tropiano-Gangone |
Confessions were heard prior to Mass by homilist Fr. Christopher Salvatori SAC, Parochial Vicar at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in East Harlem, New York.
Solemn High Mass in the Extraordinary Form was celebrated by the Very Rev. Msgr. Cav. Joseph Ambrosio, Chaplain of the Order and Pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Newark, New Jersey. Fr. Stephen Saffron, Parochial Vicar at St. Anselm Church in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn was the deacon, and Fr. Edmund Luciano, Parochial Vicar at St. Bernard of Clairvaux Church in Bridgewater, New Jersey was the subdeacon. The sacred ministers were dutifully assisted by MC Lorenzo Tinio, thurifer Teddy Thongratnachat, crucifer Tom Gilmore, acolytes Brian McGuire and Joseph Lucia, and members of the Church of the Holy Innocents Schola Cantorum.
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| (L) Most Precious Blood's Pietà. (R) Once again, our friend Michael kindly lent us his beautiful statue of Our Lady of Sorrows for the Mass |
A firebrand in the pulpit, Fr. Salvatori spoke at length about the Most Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary's grief and desolation. Striking a chord with many in attendance, I don’t recall the last time I heard so many people discussing a sermon after Mass.
HE Delegate Cav. John M. Viola, Vice-Chancellor Cav. Patrick O’Boyle, Dame Luisa Maria Cristfano and Rosanna Minervini, and Cavalieri Thomas Barra, Rocco Berardi, Thomas Crane, Nicholas Fedeli, Vincent Gangone, John Napoli, Anthony O’Boyle, Joseph Panepinto Jr., and Charles Sant’Elia were in attendance.
Mass concluded with the solemn veneration of the Relic of True Cross.
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| Christ the Redeemer |
Many thanks to Msgr. Donald Sakano, Pastor of Most Precious Blood Church and the Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral, Bill Russo, Eddie, Emily and the rest of the Parish family for your continued warmth and hospitality. Thank you to the members of the Congregazione Maria Ss. del Sacro Monte di Novi Velia Salerno di Jersey City, New Jersey, USA and the St. Rocco Society of Potenza in New York for your much appreciated help and support. Special thanks to Michael Verra for sharing your beautiful statue of the Madonna Addolorata with us. It was an honor and a privilege to celebrate our faith and culture with you at Most Precious Blood. Ave Maria!
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| (L) The Society of Our Lady of Sacro Monte color guard. (R) Cav. Charles Sant'Elia with the flag of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies |
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| (L) Cav. Sant'Elia. (R) Cav. Nicholas Fedele with the Order's Labarum |
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| Knights and dames process down the aisle |
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| Dame Luisa Maria Cristfano and Rosanna Minervini |
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| Cavalieri Thomas Barra, Vincent Gangone and Rocco Berardi |
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| Cavalieri Joseph Panepinto Jr., Anthony O’Boyle and Thomas Crane |
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| Knights and parishioners fill the pews |
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| (Above and below) Celebrating Solemn High Mass |
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| Glorious San Gennaro |
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| Deacon Fr. Saffron sings the Gospel |
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| Fr. Salvatori gave an inspiring sermon |
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(L) The Crucifix and Relic of the True Cross were veiled for Lent.
(R) Monsignor incensing the altar during the offertory |
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| Receiving Holy Communion |
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| Meditating after Holy Communion |
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| Worshipers venerate the Relic of the True Cross |
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| After Mass, Monsignor was given a beautiful antique print of HM Blessed Maria Cristina, Queen of the Two Sicilies, for his 70th Birthday |
