Viva 'o Rre! Happy Birthday King Francesco I of the Two Sicilies

b. Napoli, 14 August 1777 – d. Napoli, 8 November 1830

In memory of King Francesco I of the Two Sicilies, 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

Remembering Antonio Molle Lazo, Carlist Martyr

"I will suffer the greatest torments rather than apostatize from my God."

Today we remember the martyrdom of Antonio Molle Lazo (b. 2 April 1915 — d. 10 August 1936), a young Requeté who was captured, tortured, and brutally murdered while trying to protect the nuns at the convent of the Hermanitas de la Cruz (Little Sisters of the Cross) in Peñaflor, Seville, from Republican militiamen during the Spanish Civil War. His dying words were ¡Viva Cristo Rey!

Eternal rest grant unto him, 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

Remembering Maria Teresa of Austria, Queen of the Two Sicilies

31 July, 1816 — 8 August, 1867

In memory of Maria Teresa of Austria, Queen of the Two Sicilies, we pray for the happy repose of her soul. Viva ‘a Reggina!

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

Remembering Her Imperial and Royal Highness Luisa Maria, Grand Duchess of Tuscany and Archduchess of Austria

Photo courtesy of the Grand
Ducal House of Tuscany

Today, we commemorate the birthday of Her Imperial and Royal Highness Luisa Maria, Grand Duchess of Tuscany and Archduchess of Austria. Born a Princess of Naples and Sicily on 27 July 1773, she was the daughter of King Ferdinand IV of Naples and III of Sicily (later Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies) and Queen Maria Carolina of Austria. Through her marriage to Ferdinand III, Grand Duke of Tuscany, she became Grand Duchess of Tuscany and Archduchess of Austria. As consort during the upheavals of the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic era, and as the mother of the future Leopold II, Grand Duke of Tuscany, she holds an enduring place in the history of the Grand Ducal House of Tuscany.

On this anniversary of her birth, let us remember Her Imperial and Royal Highness with gratitude and pray for the repose of her soul.

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

Remembering S.M.C. Don Carlos VII, Rey de las Españas

Carlos VII, Don Carlos María de Borbón y Austria-Este,
Duque de Madrid (b. 30 March 1868 — d. 18 July 1909)

In memory of S.M.C. Don Carlos VII, Duke of Madrid, legitimate King of Spain, who died in exile in Varese, Italy, in 1909, we pray for the happy repose of his soul. ¡Viva el Rey!

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

Remembering Jacques Cathelineau, the “Saint de l’Anjou”

b. 5 January 1759 — d. 14 July 1793

In memory of the “Saint de l’Anjou” Jacques Cathelineau, Vendée royalist and premier généralissime de l'Armée catholique et royale, we pray for the happy repose of his soul.

Eternal rest grant unto him, 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

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

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

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 him, 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

Remembering Louis-Charles, Dauphin of France, Titular King Louis XVII of France

Domine salvum fac Regem et exaudi nos in die qua invocaverimus te.1

In memory of Louis-Charles (27 March 1785 – 8 June 1795), Dauphin of France, Titular King Louis XVII of France, we pray for the happy repose of his soul. Vive le roi!

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

Note:

(1) Lord, save the King, and hear us when we call upon thee.

Remembering King Ferdinando II of the Two Sicilies

January 12, 1810 - May 22, 1859

In memory of King Ferdinando II of the Two Sicilies, 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

Remembering the Bava Beccaris Massacre in Milan

Illustration of the Bava Beccaris Massacre
for Le Petit Journal, 22 May 1898

In remembrance of the Bava Beccaris Massacre—carried out during the so-called “Stomach Protest” in Milan on 7 May 1898—we share the poem Pane! Written by Don Giovanni Gentile, known by the alias Chiacchiara, in memory of the victims, it was later published in a collection in 1904.

Pane!
Don Giovanni Gentile, alias Chiacchiara

Mentre l’uomini povari e dijuni
Vaû ppe’ le vie gridannu: «Pane! Pane!…»
Lu Guvernu ce manna battagliuni
E li tratta cchijù pieju de ‘nu cane.

Sparanu sti surdati a li truppuni
E faû ‘na chianca de le carne umane,
Ammazzanu le mamme e li guagliuni:
Ma “Pane!” torna si grida dumane.

Cari Ministri latri e sprigugnati,
Dintra la crozza cchi cosa ci aviti?
Ccu paddre nun si saziû l’affamati…

Vui stati franchi, mangiati e viviti?
Ma si pue ni vidimu disperati,
Vi facimu la peddra a quantu siti.

Bread!
Translated by Cav. Charles Sant’Elia

While poor and starving men
Go through the streets shouting: «Bread! Bread!…»
The Government sends them battalions
And treats them worse than dogs.

These soldiers shoot at the crowds
And make a butchery of human flesh,
They kill mothers and children:
But “Bread!” they continue to shout tomorrow.

Dear shameless thieving Ministers,
What have you got in your noggins?
You don’t satisfy the hungry with bullets…

You’re all set, you eat and drink?
But if then we find ourselves desperate,
We’ll get you all as many as you are.

Remembering El Tres de Mayo

The Third of May, 1808 in Madrid (1814) by Francisco José de Goya

Following the Spanish uprising in Madrid against Napoleon on 2 May 1808 (Dos de Mayo), the brave and loyal sons and daughters of Spain were rounded up on 3 May (Tres de Mayo) and massacred en masse. We pray for the happy repose of their souls. ¡Viva la Contrarrevolución!

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

Remembering the Dos de Mayo Uprising in Madrid

The Charge of the Mamelukes or The Second of May 1808 by Francisco de Goya

In remembrance of the May 2nd Uprising of Madrid against Napoleon in 1808, we offer a prayer to the brave and loyal people of Spain who fought and died for Dios, Patria, Fueros y Rey. ¡Viva la Contrarrevolución!

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

Remembering Maria Theresa of Naples and Sicily

6 June, 1772 — 13 April, 1807

In memory of Maria Theresa of Naples and Sicily, Last Holy Roman Empress and first Empress of Austria, we pray for the happy repose of her soul.

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

Remembering Blessed Emperor Karl I of Austria

Blessed Karl I of Austria, ora pro nobis

On April 1, 1922, Blessed Karl I of Austria, By the Grace of God Emperor of Austria, King of Hungary, and the rest, died in exile on the Isle of Madeira at the age of 34.

O God, through the adversities of this world You led Blessed Karl from this earthly realm to the crown reserved for him in Heaven. Grant through his intercession that we may so serve Your Son and our brothers and sisters, that we may become worthy of eternal life. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, Who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen

Remembering Princess Cristina Pia of the Two Sicilies

24 December 1869 – 28 March 1870

In memory of Princess Maria Cristina Pia Anna Isabella Natalia Elisa di Borbone delle Due Sicilie, daughter of SG King Francesco II and Queen Maria Sophia of the Two Sicilies, we pray for the happy repose of her soul.

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

Remembering Charles III, Duke of Parma

14 January 1823 – 27 March 1854

In memory of Carlo III di Borbone, Duke of Parma and Piacenza, we pray for the happy repose of his soul. While out for a stroll on Sunday 26 March 1854, the Duke was mortally wounded by an assassin’s blade and died at 5:30 PM the following evening on 27 March.

Eternal rest grant unto him, 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.

Remembering HRH Prince Don Ferdinando Maria Andrea Alfonso Marco of Bourbon-Two Sicilies

28 May 1926 - 20 March 2008

In memory of His Royal Highness Prince Ferdinand of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, late Grand Master of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George, we pray for the happy repose of his soul.

Let us pray:

O God, the Creator and Redeemer of all the faithful, grant to the souls of the brethren, relations, and benefactors of our Order, and especially the late Grand Master, Ferdinand, the remission of all their sins, that they may obtain the clemency which they have always desired by pious supplications, and rejoice in the heavenly homeland with the Saints and Thy elect. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

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.

Remembering Servant of God Empress Zita of Austria-Hungary

9 May 1892 – 14 March 1989

In memory of Servant of God Empress Zita of Austria-Hungary, Princess of Bourbon-Parma, we pray for the happy repose of her soul.

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