Simple Pleasures: The Flag of Galicia

I always enjoy seeing people take pride in their regional and Catholic heritage. So you can imagine how happy I was to spot the flag of Galicia outside Tomiño Taberna Gallega while walking along Grand Street, between Mulberry and Mott, in Little Italy, New York. (Heaven forbid any of the Italian businesses fly anything other than the geometric eyesore that is the Jacobin tricolore.)

While the current state flag was officially adopted in 1981, its design is based on the historic banner of the former Kingdom of Galicia. It features a white field with a diagonal sky blue band, overlaid with the royal coat of arms: a golden chalice bearing a silver Host on a royal blue shield, surrounded by seven crosses and topped with a crown.

Feast of Beato Gennaro Maria Sarnelli

Beato Gennaro Maria Sarnelli, ora pro nobis

June 30th is the Feast of Beato Gennaro Maria Sarnelli (1702-1744), Redemptorist Priest and lawyer. One of Sant'Alfonso de Liguori’s earliest companions, the Neapolitan nobleman was a prolific writer, publishing over thirty volumes on various subjects. A zealous preacher and missionary, he tirelessly tended the sick and, with the support of King Carlo di Borbone, worked against prostitution and the corruption of young girls in the Kingdom of Naples. Invoked against prostitution, he is also the patron of writers and Italian Missionaries. In celebration, I’m Posting a prayer to Blessed Gennaro Maria Sarnelli. Evviva Beato Gennaro Maria Sarnelli!

Prayer to Blessed Gennaro Maria Sarnelli*

O Blessed Gennaro Maria, faithful disciple of Jesus the Redeemer, you put all your energy into revealing the loving countenance of God to the poor who live in neglect, to the sick who live in loneliness, to young girls who live amid the dangers of society, to those who live without a family’s love. You open the heart of Christ as the road to hope. Listen to my prayer and help all who call on you for care. Break the bread of God’s Word with those who are far from the faith so that the Redeemer’s blood may reach everyone, and bring the Church to true fellowship in God’s love. Amen.

* Prayer reprinted from A Life of Blessed Gennaro Maria Sarnelli: Redemptorist (1702-1744) by Francesco Chiovaro, C.SS.R., Liguori Publications, 2003

Photo of the Week: Teasing a Sleeping Girl by Gaspare Traversi

Teasing a Sleeping Girl, oil on canvas, Gaspare Traversi (c. 1722-c. 1770),
Metropolitan Museum of Art. Photo by New York Scugnizzo

Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Commemoration of Saints Processus and Martinian, Martyrs, at the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption in San Francisco, California

Feast of San Pietro and San Paolo

San Pietro e San Paolo, orate pro nobis

June 29th is the Feast of San Pietro and San Paolo (Saints Peter and Paul), Apostles and Martyrs. Widely venerated across Southern Italy, the saints are the principal patrons of Galatina (LE), Agropoli (SA), Miglionico (MT), Petronà (RC), and Lamezia Terme (CZ), among others. In celebration, I’m posting a prayer to St. Peter and St. Paul. The accompanying photo of Saints Peter and Paul by Jusepe de Ribera (Játiva 1591-1652 Naples) was taken at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Evviva San Pietri e San Paolo!

Prayer to Saint Peter and Saint Paul

O holy Apostles, Peter and Paul, I choose you this day and forever to be my special patrons and advocates; thee, Saint Peter, Prince of the Apostles, because thou art the Rock, upon which Almighty God hath built His Church; thee, Saint Paul, because thou wast fore-chosen by God as the Vessel of election and the Preacher of truth in the whole world. Obtain for me, I pray you, lively faith, firm hope, and burning love; complete detachment from myself, contempt of the world, patience in adversity, humility in prosperity, attention in prayer, purity of heart, a right intention in all my works, diligence in fulfilling the duties of my state of life, constancy in my resolutions, resignation to the will of God and perseverance in the grace of God even unto death; that so, by means of your intercession and your glorious merits, I may be able to overcome the temptations of the world, the flesh and the devil, and may be made worthy to appear before the chief and eternal Shepherd of souls, Jesus Christ, Who with the Father and the Holy Ghost liveth and reigneth for endless ages, to enjoy His presence and love Him forever. Amen.

Simple Pleasures: Fleur-de-lis Finials

If one looks past the filth and squalor of our modern metropolis, one can still glimpse long-forgotten architectural treasures from a bygone civilization. Amid the teeming cobblestones of SoHo, I came upon an old wrought-iron gate on Crosby Street, crowned with fleur-de-lis finials—an ancient symbol of the House of Bourbon.

New Book — Monasticism & Renewal in Southern Italy: The Chronicle of Montecassino by Leo Marsicanus, C. 529-1075

A forthcoming title that may be of interest to our readers. Available at Amazon.com

• Monasticism and Renewal in Southern Italy: The Chronicle of Montecassino by Leo Marsicanus, C. 529-1075 by Graham Loud

Publisher: Manchester University Press
Publication date: February 3, 2026
Hardcover: $140.00
Language: English
Pages: 392

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Simple Pleasures: A Materan Cucù

A friend brought back a traditional cucù from his trip to Matera. A timeless symbol of the Sassi city, this hand-painted terracotta bird whistle blends local folklore with artisanal craftsmanship. Once given as a congratulatory gift, it is an ancient good luck charm and a symbol of prosperity.

Remembering Archduke Franz Ferdinand and Duchess Sophie

Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg and Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria

In memory of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg, who were assassinated in Sarajevo on 28 June 1914, we pray for the happy repose of their souls.

Eternal rest grant unto Their Highnesses, O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon them. May their souls, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen

The Most Precious Blood of Jesus at St. Mary of Mt. Virgin Church in New Brunswick, New Jersey

Feast of the Madonna del Perpetuo Soccorso

Our Lady of the Passion, ora pro nobis

June 27th is the Feast of the Madonna del Perpetuo Soccorso, or Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Originating in the Byzantine East, devotion to Our Lady of Perpetual Help was spread in the West by the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, or Redemptorists. Enshrined over the high altar in the Chiesa di Sant’Alponso di Liguori in Rome, the icon is one of the most recognizable images of Our Lady. Replete with symbolism, many miracles have been attributed to the glorious icon. In celebration, I’m posting a prayer to Our Lady of Perpetual Help. The accompanying photo of the Our Our Lady of Perpetual Help bye-altar was taken at the Shrine Church of the Holy Innocents (128 West 37th St.) in Manhattan. Evviva Madonna del Perpetuo Soccorso!

Prayer to Our Lady of Perpetual Help

O Mother of Perpetual Help, grant that I may ever invoke your powerful name, the protection of the living and the salvation of the dying. Purest Mary, let your name henceforth be ever on my lips. Delay not, Blessed Lady, to rescue me whenever I call on you. In my temptations, in my needs, I will never cease to call on you, ever repeating your sacred name, Mary, Mary. What a consolation, what sweetness, what confidence fills my soul when I utter your sacred name or even only think of you! I thank the Lord for having given you so sweet, so powerful, so lovely a name. But I will not be content with merely uttering your name. Let my love for you prompt me ever to hail you Mother of Perpetual Help. Mother of Perpetual Help, pray for me and grant me the favor I confidently ask of you. Amen.

Feast of San Ladislao I d'Ungheria

San Ladislao I d'Ungheria, ora pro nobis

June 27th is the Feast of St. Ladislaus I of Hungary (1040-1095), the Knight-King. Revered as a model king, St. Ladislaus lived a devout and virtuous life filled with prayer and study. Spreading the Christian faith throughout his realms of Hungary and Croatia, he was a just and wise legal and cultural reformer who supported the Benedictine Order, embellished churches and defended his lands from Cuman invasions. Following the Seljuk incursion into the Holy Land, the warrior saint prepared his forces to take part in the First Crusade, but he fell seriously ill and died in Nitra, Slovakia in 1095.

In celebration, we’re posting a prayer to St. Ladislaus I of Hungary. The accompanying photo comes courtesy of Father Eugene Carrella. The holy card is part of Father Carrella’s impressive collection of religious artifacts. Evviva San Ladislao I d'Ungheria!

Prayer to St. Ladislaus I of Hungary

Grant, we beseech Thee, almighty God, that the examples of St. Ladislaus I of Hungary may effectually move us to reform our lives; that while we celebrate his feast, we may also imitate his actions. Look upon our weakness, almighty God, and since the burden of our own deeds weighs heavily upon us, may the glorious intercession of St. Ladislaus protect us. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Feast of Sant’Andrea Apostolo

Sant'Andrea Apostolo, ora pro nobis

June 27th is the Feast of Sant’Andrea Apostolo, Missionary, Wonderworker and Martyr. He is the patron saint of Amalfi and fishermen. His liturgical Feast is commemorated on November 30th.

The Amalfitans, and greater Christendom, honor the first Apostle on this day for miraculously saving the Southern Italian coastal city from an attack by the infamous Ottoman corsair Barbarossa in June 1544.

According to tradition, as the Saracen marauders approached the city looking for slaves and booty, terrified townspeople crowded into Amalfi’s famed Duomo and appealed to their glorious patron for protection. Answering his people’s prayers, the clear blue sky suddenly grew dark and a violent storm hit the dreaded armada, sinking several ships and driving off the rest.

In celebration, I’m posting a prayer to St. Andrew the Apostle. The accompanying photo of the Fontana di Sant’Andrea was taken in the Piazza del Duomo in Amalfi. Evviva Sant'Andrea Apostolo!

Prayer to St. Andrew the Apostle

O Christ, our Lord, Who didst beautify the most blessed Andrew with the grace of apostleship, and the crown of martyrdom, by granting to him this special gift, that by preaching the mystery of the cross, he should merit death on the cross; grant us to become most true lovers of Thy holy cross, and denying ourselves, to take up our cross and follow Thee; that by sharing Thy sufferings in this life, we may deserve the happiness of obtaining life everlasting. Amen

Remembering Alfonso V of Aragon

Alfonso the Magnanimous, King of Aragon, Naples and Sicily
sculpted by Achille D'Orsi on the western facade of the
Royal Palace in the Largo del Palazzo Reale in Naples

In memory of Alfonso the Magnanimous (1396 — 27 June, 1458), King of Aragon, Naples (as Alfonso I) and Sicily (as Alfonso V), we pray for the happy repose of his soul. Viva ‘o Rre!

Eternal rest grant unto His Majesty, O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen

Gothic Fiction Reawakened: Dracula and Frankenstein Return in 2025

"In seeking life, I created death." ~ Victor Frankenstein

Around this time last year, I shared my excitement for the then-upcoming films Nosferatu (2024) and Hellboy: The Crooked Man (2024). Now, once again, I find myself eagerly anticipating two new releases: Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein and Luc Besson’s Dracula. Both trailers look promising, and hopefully—like last year’s offerings—they’ll live up to expectations. As a longtime fan of horror and gothic fiction, I’m always looking forward to authentic retellings of classic tales.

Having said that, Besson’s Dracula appears to lean more toward a reimagining of Gary Shore’s Dracula Untold (2014) than a faithful adaptation of Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel. Given how nearly impossible it would be to surpass Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu, perhaps that’s for the best.

Watch the Dracula trailer

Del Toro’s Frankenstein, on the other hand, makes me especially hopeful. If he remains faithful to Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus (1818), we may finally get a cinematic version that captures the novel’s philosophical depth and romantic soul—qualities so often lost in film adaptations.

Watch the Frankenstein trailer

Luc Besson’s Dracula is scheduled for release on July 30, 2025, while Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein is set to premiere on Netflix in November.

Feast of San Pelagio di Cordova

San Pelagio di Cordova, ora pro nobis

June 26 is the Feast of San Pelagio di Cordova (San Pelayo Mártir, St. Pelagius of Córdoba), Martyr. Held hostage by the caliph of Andalusia, Spain circa 926 AD, the young Christian boy was brutally tortured and beheaded for spurning the Moors lascivious advances and for refusing to renounce the Faith. He is the patron saint of chastity, abandoned people, torture victims and Carlist youth. In celebration, we’re posting a prayer to San Pelayo. Pictured is the martyrdom of San Pelayo. Evviva San Pelagio di Cordova!

Prayer to San Pelayo

Lord, our Father, who promised the pure of heart the reward of seeing your face, grant us your grace and your strength, so that, following the example of Saint Pelayo, martyr, we put your love before the seductions of the world and keep the heart clean from all sin. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit and is God for ever and ever. Amen 

Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus at St. Margaret of Cortona Church in the Bronx, New York

Simple Pleasures: A Thoughtful Gift for My Name Day

For my name day (the Feast of San Giovanni Battista), a friend gave me a new flag commemorating Napoli’s fourth Scudetto. Perhaps blurring the line between the sacred and the profane, the flag depicts San Gennaro—the patron saint of our glorious capital—arrayed in Napoli’s colors and triumphantly brandishing the fourth Scudetto. Forza Napoli Sempre!

Feast of San Guglielmo di Montevergine

The Vision of St. William by Domenico Antonio Vaccaro

June 25th is the Feast of San Guglielmo di Montevergine (St. William of Montevergine), hermit and abbot. Patron saint of Irpinia in Avellino, St. William was the founder of the Benedictine Williamites, the now defunct monastic Order of Mount Virgin. He built several monasteries in Southern Italy, including that of Montevergine in 1119, and served as a trusted advisor to HRH King Ruggero II of Sicily. 

According to tradition, while living as a hermit on a mountain near Atella in Potenza, St. William restored site to a blind man. News of the miracle brought unwanted attention and compelled him to leave and find a new place of solitude. Moving to Monte Virgiliano (named after the Roman Poet Virgil) he had a vision of the Blessed Mother holding the Divine Infant. With only his donkey, he started building a shrine in her honor on the site of an earlier temple to Cybele. One day while working, a wolf killed his donkey. St. William scolded the beast and commanded it to take the donkey’s place. The wolf obeyed the saint and started hauling timber and stone.

In celebration, I'm posting a Prayer to St. William. The accompanying photo of The Vision of St. William (Visione di San Guglielmo) by the great Neapolitan artist Domenico Antonio Vaccaro (1678-1745) comes courtesy of Museo Abbaziale di Montevergine. San Guglielmo, ora pro nobis.

Prayer to St. William

O God, Who hast set for us in Thy saints an example and a help to our weakness, to assist us to tread the path of salvation, grant us so to venerate the virtues of the blessed abbot William, that we may share in his prayers and follow in his footsteps. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God forever and ever. Amen.

Feast of Santa Febronia

Santa Febronia, ora pro nobis

June 25th is the Feast day of Santa Febronia, Virgin and Martyr. Invoked against plagues, earthquakes and other natural disasters, she is the principal patroness of Palagonia (CT), Patti (ME) and Minori (SA). Her feast is also celebrated on the last Sunday of July in Patti and July 13th in Minori.

According to tradition, Febronia was born in Patti to a wealthy pagan family. Secretly converting to Christianity, she was baptized, took a vow of virginity and consecrated herself to Jesus Christ.

Learning of his daughter's conversion, Febronia's father viciously beat and harassed the young maid. Seeking to escape her father's wrath, she fled to the caves of Mons Iovis, near Mongiove.

Discovering her hiding place, the angry patriarch had Febronia bound and cast into the sea. Miraculously, her body traversed the Mediterranean and was discovered on the beach of Minori, along the Amalfi Coast, where she is venerated as Santa Trofimena.

In celebration, I'm posting a Prayer to Santa Febronia. The accompanying photo was taken at the Santa Febronia Chapel in Hoboken, New Jersey. Evviva Santa Febronia!

Prayer to Santa Febronia

Thank you Lord for giving us the virgin martyr Santa Febronia, our fellow citizen, as a model of virtue and protector. Through her intercession bless our Patti and the Church to which we are proud to belong. For us and for our families we ask the gifts of compassion and fortitude. Amen

Feast of Beato Guido Maramaldi

Beato Guido Maramaldi, ora pro nobis

June 25 is the feast of Beato Guido Maramaldi (b. Naples, mid 14th century — d. Naples, c. 1391), Dominican Priest, Inquisitor-General, and Missionary. He founded a Dominican friary in Ragusa, Sicily. 

In celebration, we’re posting a prayer to Blessed Guido Maramaldi. Evviva Beato Guido Maramaldi!

Prayer to Blessed Guido Maramaldi

Grant, we beseech Thee, almighty God, that the examples of Blessed Guido Maramaldi may effectually move us to reform our lives; that while we celebrate his feast, we may also imitate his actions. Look upon our weakness, almighty God, and since the burden of our own deeds weighs heavily upon us, may the glorious intercession of Blessed Guido Maramaldi protect us. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Father Vincent R. Capodanno and the Cause for Canonization with Vice Admiral P. Stephen Stanley

Praying for Peace

Our Lady of Fatima, ora pro nobis

"I shall come to ask for the Consecration of Russia to My Immaculate Heart…If people attend to My requests, Russia will be converted and the world will have peace.” ~ The Virgin Mary at Fatima (July 13, 1917)

In this dark hour, as the fires of conflict rage across the Middle East, consume Ukraine, and now threaten to engulf Iran, we raise our voices—not in hatred, but in warning, and in hope.

The world stands perilously close to the brink of a war that could devastate not only nations but also the very future of mankind. The specter of World War III is no longer a distant nightmare; it looms near, born of reckless pride and the ideological delusions of power-hungry madmen.

We condemn the warmongers on all sides—especially those among our own leaders—driven by power and profit, hell-bent on dragging these United States into yet another foreign conflagration.

And so, as children of a sorrowful age, we turn not to politicians or parties, but to Heaven. We humbly implore the intercession of Our Lady. In union with the faithful across the world, we renew the Consecration of Russia to your Immaculate Heart, as requested at Fatima. Though long delayed and imperfectly fulfilled, we pray that this act be accepted—in spirit and in truth.

A 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.

Feast of San Giovanni Battista

San Giovanni Battista, ora pro nobis

June 24th is the Feast of San Giovanni Battista, the herald of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Sometimes called "Summer Christmas," St. John's Day is a celebration of the Birth of St. John the Baptist. The Church solemnly commemorates his Passion on August 29th. In celebration, I'm posting a Prayer to Saint John the Baptist. The accompanying photo was taken at St. Francis of Paola Church in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Evviva San Giovanni Battista!

Prayer to Saint John the Baptist

O God, You raised up Saint John the Baptist to prepare a perfect person for Christ. We call upon Saint John's intercession to properly prepare us with a true sense of repentance to receive Your grace and salvation. Make us faithful to truth and justice, as You did Your servant, John the Baptist, herald of Your Son's birth and death. Lord, may You increase Your life within us. Amen.

Photo of the Week: Pulcinella Figurine

Pulcinella, Neapolitan (Capodimonte) or Spanish (Real Fabrica de Buen Retiro), soft-paste porcelain, 1759-80, Giuseppe Gricci (ca. 1700-1770). Metropolitan Museum of Art. It is unclear whether this figure of Pulcinella was produced at Capodimonte in Italy or its successor factory at Buen Retiro in Spain. When Charles VII of Naples became Charles III of Spain in 1759, he moved the entire operation, including forty workers and five tons of raw material, from Capodimonte to the palace of Buen Retiro, outside of Madrid. The factory mark of a fleur-de-lis remained in use in the new location, and thus it is often difficult to distinguish wares and figures made in the last years at Capodimonte from the early products of Buen Retiro. Photo by New York Scugnizzo

Il Primo Reggimento Re Sara Presente al Corteo Storico della Real Colonia di San Leucio

Mourning Under the Watchful Gaze of Santa Rosalia

Santa Rosalia, ora pro nobis

Seated beneath the polychrome statue of Santa Rosalia—Palermo’s 12th-century noblewoman who renounced marriage and courtly privilege to live as a hermit on Mount Pellegrino—I prayed and reflected on the recent deaths of loved ones.

Clutching a cross in her hand, with a skull resting at her discalced feet, the statue embodies the medieval Christian motif of memento mori. More than a grim reminder of death, the image is a visual summons to contemplation, penitence, and sacred understanding.

In the stillness of Our Lady of Grace Church in Brooklyn, Rosalia’s figure stood as both warning and comfort—a testament to the inevitability of death, and an intercessor at the liminal threshold between life and the hereafter, offering prayers, guidance, and solace to souls crossing over.

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May their souls, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

The Vigil of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist

San Giovanni Battista, ora pro nobis

Præsta, quæsumus, omnípotens Deus, ut família tua per viam salútis incédat; et beáti Joánnis Præcursóris hortaménta sectándo, ad num quem prædixit, secúra pervéniat, Dóminum nostrum Jesum Christum Filium Turm. Qui tecum.

June 23rd is the Vigil of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist. Customarily a day of fasting, it is popularly celebrated with large bonfires and dancing (Ballo di San Giovanni) to ward off evil spirits. In some parts of Southern Italy the Vigil is also a night of betrothal (St. John is invoked for good marriages) and moonlight bathing to help cure spiritual and physical ailments. In celebration of my beloved namesake, I’m posting a prayer to the glorious light-bearer before Christ in Latin and English. The accompanying photo was from our 2020 falo di San Giovanni, or St. John's bonfire. Evviva San Giovanni Battista!

Prayer

Grant we beseech Thee, O almighty God, that Thy household may walk in the way of salvation, and by following the extortions of blessed John the Precursor, may safely come unto Him Whom he foretold, even Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who with Thee.

Feast of Sant'Agrippina di Mineo

Sant'Agrippina, ora pro nobis

June 23rd is the Feast of Sant'Agrippina di Mineo, Virgin and Martyr. In celebration, I'm posting a Prayer to Saint Agrippina.* The accompanying photo was taken at St. Leonard's Church during the 2014 Feast of Santa Agrippina in Boston's North End. Evviva Sant'Agrippina!

Prayer to St. Agrippina

O glorious virgin and Martyr Agrippina your cruel executioner bound you to prepare you for martyrdom. Pray for us that our hearts will also be bound always to God's holy love, Let us pray fervently. May devotion to Saint Agrippina Endure for ever. Amen.

* Prayer courtesy of the Saint Agrippina Di Mineo Benefit Society of Boston

Happy Birthday Princess Maria Carolina!

HRH was born in Rome, Italy on June 23, 2003

Photo courtesy of Real Casa di Borbone

Happy Birthday, Princess Maria Carolina of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, Duchess of Palermo and Calabria!

On this special day, may Heaven bless you with grace, joy, and unwavering peace. May the noble legacy you bear continue to shine through your life with beauty and dignity.

Auguri di cuore, Altezza!

Solemn Corpus Christi Procession Following the Traditional Latin Mass in Brooklyn

Venite adoremus Dominum

Following Sunday’s Traditional Latin Mass at Our Lady of Peace Church in Gowanus, Brooklyn, around a hundred faithful took part in the annual solemn Corpus Christi procession. Winding its way around the church and pausing at the station altars, the faithful knelt in adoration as the priest, bearing the Eucharist in the monstrance, offered benediction. Flower girls scattered rose petals along the path, preparing the way for the procession. Acolytes carried the Crucifix and candles, swinging censers of incense, while the ombrellino shaded the Sacred Host. Throughout, the choir chanted hymns, lifting hearts to Heaven during this radiant Catholic tradition.

Feast of San Paolino di Nola

San Paolino di Nola, ora pro nobis

June 22nd is the Feast of San Paolino (354 AD – 431 AD), Bishop and Poet. Patron saint of gardeners and bell-ringers, he is also the principal patron of Nola (NA), Villamaina (AV), Sutera (CL) and Torregrotta (ME). In celebration, I'm posting a Prayer to San Paolino. The accompanying photo was taken at the Shrine Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Evviva San Paolino di Nola!

Prayer to San Paolino

O Lord, You made Saint Paulinus renowned for his love of poverty and concern for his people. May we who celebrate his witness to the Gospel imitate his example of love for others. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Remembering "il Bosso," Ruggero I d’Altavilla, Gran Conte di Sicilia

Roger I of Sicily at the Battle of Cerami in 1063 by Prosper Lafaye

In memory of Roger I of Altavilla (1031 — 22 June 1101), Grand Count of Sicily, we pray for the happy repose of his soul. 

Eternal rest grant unto His Excellency, O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus at St. John Vianney Church in Colonia, New Jersey

Feast of San Luigi Gonzaga

San Luigi Gonzaga, ora pro nobis

O celéstium donórum distribútor, Deus, qui in angélico júvene Aloísio miram vitæ innocéntiam pari cum pœniténtia sociásti: ejus méritis et précibus concéde; ut, innocéntem non secúti, pœniténtem imitémur. Per Dóminum.

June 21st is the Feast of San Luigi Gonzaga (1568-1591), Jesuit Ascetic and Mystic. San Luigi died in Rome caring for plague victims. Patron saint of Catholic youth and students, he is also invoked against contagious diseases. In celebration, I’m posting a prayer to St. Aloysius Gonzaga in Latin and English. The accompanying photo, courtesy of Andrew Giordano, was taken at the Chiesa di San Giovanni Battista in Matera. Evviva San Luigi Gonzaga!

Prayer

O God, the dispenser of heavenly gifts, Who in the angelic youth Aloysius didst combine wonderful innocence of life with penance, grant to his merits and prayers that we, who have not followed him in his innocence, may imitate his penance. Through our Lord.

Novena to Blessed Gennaro Maria Sarnelli

Pray novena for nine consecutive days, June 21st — June 29th, in preparation of the Feast of Blessed Gennaro Maria Sarnelli on June 30th.*

O God, in Blessed Gennaro you gave us an outstanding example of compassion and service to the poor. We humbly ask you that, by imitating him and by the help of his prayers, we may believe more fully in your healing presence, bear the suffering of sickness in this life without wavering, and come with joy to the peace of heaven. We ask this through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

* Prayer reprinted from A Life of Blessed Gennaro Maria Sarnelli: Redemptorist (1702-1744) by Francesco Chiovaro, C.SS.R., Liguori Publications, 2003

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus at Corpus Christi Church in South River, New Jersey

Feast of San Giovanni da Matera

San Giovanni da Matera, ora pro nobis

June 20th is the Feast of San Giovanni da Matera (St. John of Matera), Benedictine Monk, Mystic, Hermit, Abbot and Wonderworker. Born circa 1070 in Matera, San Giovanni spent much of his life traveling around the Duchy of Apulia and Calabria (mainland Southern Italy), Sicily and the Holy Land in search of a religious house that best suited his strict and austere asceticism.

Subject to numerous celestial and infernal visions, he eventually settled at Pulsano after an apparition of the Blessed Mother inside the Cave of San Michele on Monte Gargano in Apulia instructed him to build an abbey there. His reputation for holiness attracted many followers and obeying her wishes the Basilian monks established the Abbazia di Santa Maria di Pulsano on the ruins of an old pagan temple.

A great wonderworker, many miracles have been attributed to the holy man, including bilocation. According to tradition, a group of friars working in the forest a day's walk from the abbey were set upon by a pack of baying demons. Out of nowhere their white-clad abbot appeared and rained terrible blows down on the foul fiends, forcing them to flee. Once the threat was over San Giovanni was gone. The next day, when the friars returned to the abby, they found their master busy with his tasks. When they recounted what had happened and thanked him, the Saint took no credit and attributed the miracle to the will of God.

Another story tells of the expulsion of evil spirits terrorizing a group of nuns at a nearby monastery. It would seem San Giovanni's saintly reputation proceeded him because his presence alone was enough to drive the spooks from the convent and send them scurrying back to the infernal pits whence they came, never to return.

San Giovanni died of fever at the Monastero di San Giacomo in Foggia, Apulia on June 20, 1139. Originally interred at the abby, in 1177 Pope Alexander III had the Saint's sacred remains moved to the Abbazia di Santa Maria di Pulsano. His relics were translated again in 1830 to the Cattedrale di Santa Maria della Bruna e di Sant'Eustachio in Matera.

In celebration, I’m posting a prayer to St. John of Matera. The Accompanying photo, courtesy of Andrew Giordano, was taken at the Chiesa San Pietro Caveoso in Matera. Evviva San Giovanni da Matera!

Prayer to St. John of Matera

Lord, amid the things of this world, let us be wholeheartedly committed to heavenly things in imitation of the example of evangelical perfection You have given us in St. John. Amen.

Feast of San Silverio

San Silverio, ora pro nobis

O Regem tuum, Pastor ætérne, placátus inténde: et per beátum Sylvérium Mártyrem tuum atque Summum Pontíficem, perpétua protectióne custódi: quem totíus Ecclésiæ præstitísti esse pastórum. Per Dóminum.(1)

June 20th is the Feast of San Silverio, Pope, Martyr and protector of the island of Ponza. San Silverio is also the co-patron of Frosinone (FR) and Scerni (CH), where he shares his patronage with Sant’Ormisda and San Panfilo di Sulmona, respectively. In celebration, I'm posting a Prayer to San Silverio. The accompanying photo was taken during the 2014 Columbus Day Parade on Fifth Avenue in New York City. Evviva San Silverio!

Prayer to San Silverio

O Glorious San Silverio, pastor of the Universal Church and hero of the Faith, you were blessed with the courage to die in witness to Christ and the Gospel. Through your example, may we be filled with the courage to profess our faith in Jesus Christ, and to serve Him with generosity in our neighbor. Amen.(2)

(1) O Eternal Shepherd, do Thou look favorably upon Thy flock, which we beseech Thee to guard and keep for evermore through the blessed Silverius Thy Martyr and Supreme Pontiff, whom Thou didst choose to be the chief shepherd of the whole Church.

(2) Prayer courtesy of the San Silverio Society of Dover Plains, New York. For more about the society visit http://sansilverioshrine.org

Happy Summer!

The summer solstice, or midsummer, is the longest day of the year and marks the beginning of summer in the northern hemisphere. In celebration of this wondrous cycle, we’re sharing a poem by Vittorio Clemente from Dialect Poetry of Southern Italy: Texts and Criticism (A Trilingual Anthology) edited by Luigi Bonaffini, Legas, 1997, p.38. The accompanying photo of The Royal Palace of Apollo by Girolamo Starace Franchis (Napoli c.1730-Napoli 1794) comes courtesy of Andrew Giordano. It's from the elliptical double vault overhanging the Grand Staircase at the Royal Palace of Caserta, Campania.

Bliss

Golden days of summer, facing the sun,

facing the sea, delighted, and content.

Days spent eavesdropping on the wind,

mindful of words whispered in secret.

Words I'd unravel; listening, alone,

for the voice of the world, the nothing beyond,

alone, while my nimble heart took flight

for untold trysts and destinations.

Perhaps for the very edge of the world,

where Our Lady of the Mariners

trims white roses in the morning.

And to find myself here, again, eyes

like a boy's, quick and bright, seeing, upon

the lace of waves, roses ride to shore...

(Translated by Anthony Molino)