A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.August 15th is The Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, commemorating Our Lady's death and corporeal ascent into Heaven. In celebration of this joyous occasion, I'm posting "Praise to the Queen of Heaven" (Salvi Regina), a prayer from Prayers and Devotional Songs of Sicily, edited and translated by Peppino Ruggeri.(*) The accompanying photo was taken during my 2010 pilgrimage to the Duomo in Ravello. Founded in 1086, the Duomo was originally dedicated to Our Lady of the Assumption. It has since been consecrated to San Pantaleone.
Feast of the Madonna di Pierno
August 15th is the Feast of the Madonna di Pierno, Patroness of San Fele in Provincia di Potenza in Basilicata. In celebration, I'm posting A Prayer to Our Lady of the Assumption of Pierno. The accompanying photo of the Madonna di Pierno was taken at Saint Joachim Roman Catholic Church in Trenton, New Jersey (Photo courtesy of Anthony Scillia).
Feast of the Madonna del Soccorso
August 15th is the Feast of the Madonna del Soccorso (Our Lady of Help), protectress of Sciacca (AG), Castellammare del golfo (TP), Regalbuto (EN) San Potito Ultra (AV) and San Severo (FG), among others. In celebration, I'm posting a prayer to the Madonna del Soccorso in Italian. The accompanying photo of the Madonna del Soccorso was taken at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Williamsburg, Brooklyn in Manhattan.
Feast of the Madonna della Scala
August 15th is the Feast of the Madonna della Scala, patroness of Belvedere di Spinello, a small town in the Province of Crotone in Calabria.
In celebration, I'm posting A Prayer to Our Lady. The accompanying photo of the Madonna della Scala was taken at Saint Rocco’s Church in Glen Cove, New York.
Feast of the Madonna della Stella
August 15th is the Feast of the Madonna della Stella (Our Lady of the Star), patroness of Craco (MT), Adelfia (BA), Pazzano (RC), Pedagaggi (SR), Barrafranca (EN) and Militello in Val di Catania (CT), among others. She is also celebrated on September 8th, the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In celebration, I'm posting "The Patron of Craco," a poem by Vincenzo Montemurro.* The accompanying photo of Maria SS. della Stella was taken at now-closed Saint Joseph's Church (5 Monroe Street) in Manhattan.
Feast of the Madonna del Granato
August 15th is the Feast of the Madonna del Granato (Our Lady of the Pomegranate), patroness of Capaccio-Paestum, a town in the Province of Salerno. The local sanctuary, a Carmelite hermitage, is home to a beautiful wooden statue of the Blessed Mother holding the baby Jesus in her left arm and a pomegranate in her right hand. The sanctuary is an important destination for pilgrims, who make offerings of fruit, flowers and wax candles during the celebration. Interestingly, early Christians adopted the pomegranate as a sacred symbol of virtue and prosperity from the pre-Christian cult of Hera, Queen of Heaven. Several fine examples (see photos below) of the iconography can be seen at the Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Paestum. In celebration, I'm posting a prayer in honor of the Madonna del Granato. The accompanying photos were taken during my 2010 visit to Paestum.
Continue readingFeast of the Madonna del Cardoneto
August 15th is the Feast of the Madonna del Cardoneto, Patroness of Ottati in Cilento, Salerno. In celebration I’m posting a prayer to Our Lady of the Assumption by Pope St. Pius X. The accompanying photo of Our Lady of Cardoneto was taken at the Shrine Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Williamsburg, Brooklyn before the 2017 renovation.
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Feast of Santa Maria Assunta in Cielo
August 15th is the Feast of Santa Maria Assunta, patroness of Monte di Procida, Naples. In celebration, we’re posting a prayer to Our Lady of the Assumption by Pope St. Pius X. The accompanying photo of the replica statue of Santa Maria Assunta in Cielo from Monte di Procida was taken at the National Centre for Padre Pio in Barto, Pennsylvania. Evviva Maria!
August 15th is the Feast of the Madonna della Catena, Our Lady of the Chain. Widely venerated across Sicily, she is the patroness of Aci Catena (CT), Castiglione di Sicilia (CT), Fiumefreddo di Sicilia (CT), Librizzi (ME), Mongiuffi Melia (ME), San Piero Patti (ME), and Scillato (PA), among others.
According to tradition three men wrongly imprisoned in Palermo, Sicily were sentenced to death in 1392. On the day of their execution a violent storm destroyed the gallows and forced everyone to quickly seek shelter.
