Honoring San Giuseppe Together

San Giuseppe, ora pro nobis

Although we were not able to gather as a group for our annual Tavola di San Giuseppe this year, the spirit of the feast remained very much alive. Instead, we celebrated with our family, sharing a meal in line with tradition. While the setting was more intimate, the meaning endured—marked by gratitude and continued devotion to our glorious patron. Evviva San Giuseppe!

Caponata

Pasta con sarde with toasted breadcrumbs

Zeppole di San Giuseppe

Sfingi di San Giuseppe

Celebrating the First Sunday of Lent

The Temptation of Christ, Gustave Doré

In illo témpore: Ductus est Jesus in desértum a Spíritu, ut tentarétur a diábolo. Et cum jejunásset quadragínta diébus et quadragínta nóctibus, póstea esúriit. Et accédens tentátor, dixit ei: Si Fílius Dei es, dic ut lápides isti panes fiant. Qui respóndens, dixit: Scriptum est: Non in solo pane vivit homo, sed in omni verbo, quod procédit de ore Dei. Tunc assúmpsit eum diábolus in sanctam civitátem, et státuit eum super pinnáculum templi, et dixit ei: Si Fílius Dei es, mitte te deórsum. Scriptum est enim: Quia Ángelis suis mandávit de te, et in mánibus tollent te, ne forte offéndas ad lápidem pedem tuum. Ait illi Jesus: Rursum scriptum est: Non tentábis Dóminum Deum tuum. Íterum assúmpsit eum diábolus in montem excélsum valde: et osténdit ei ómnia regna mundi, et glóriam eórum, et dixit ei: Hæc ómnia tibi dabo, si cadens adoráveris me. Tunc dicit ei Jesus: Vade, Sátana; scriptum est enim: Dóminum Deum tuum, adorábis, et illi soli sérvies. Tunc relíquit eum diábolus: et ecce Ángeli accessérunt et ministrábant ei. ~ Gospel (Matthew 4: 1-11) *

We observed the First Sunday of Lent at the traditional Latin Mass at Our Lady of Peace Church in Park Slope, Brooklyn. Before Mass, we prayed the Holy Rosary, the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the Stations of the Cross in Latin. As is our custom, we offered our Sunday Rosary for the Beatification of Servant of God King Francesco II of the Two Sicilies and for the Canonization of Beata Queen Maria Cristina di Savoia.

After Mass, we broke our strict Lenten fast (no meat, dairy, or eggs)—first with coffee and cornetti, then later with a modest Sicilian repast.

Regrettably, our engaging discussion on the manufactured decline of Western art was cut short by the approaching winter storm.

~ By Giovanni di Napoli, February 22nd, Feasts of the Chair of San Pietro Apostolo at Antioch and Santa Margherita da Cortona

During Lent, the altar is stripped of flowers in
keeping with the Church's penitential tradition

Stations of the Cross

Some of the statues in the church were recently repositioned

Crocchè di patate e arancini

Anelletti chî vròcculi arriminati e muddìca

Polpette

Parmigiana di melanzane

Notes:
* At that time Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert, to be tempted by the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterwards He was hungry. And the tempter coming said to him: If Thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.' Who answered and said: 'It is written: Not in bread alone doth man live, but in every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God. Then the devil took Him up into the holy city and set Him upon the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him: If Thou be the Son of God, cast Thyself down. For it is written: That He hath given His angels charge over Thee, and in their hands shall they bear Thee up, lest perhaps Thou dash Thy foot against a stone. Jesus said to him: It is written again: Thou shalt not tempt the Lord Thy God. Again the devil took Him up into a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them, and said to Him: All these will I give Thee, if falling down Thou wilt adore me. Then Jesus saith to him: Begone, Satan! For it is written: The Lord thy God shalt thou adore, and Him only shalt thou serve. Then the devil left Him: and behold angels came, and ministered to Him. ~ Gospel (Matthew 4: 1-11)

Celebrating Martedì Grasso

Focaccia Barese

On the eve of Lent, we celebrated the end of our indulgent Carnevale season with a special Martedì Grasso—Fat Tuesday—celebration. The evening was filled with cheerful excess—a luxurious homemade feast followed by lively games and lots of laughter late into the night.

As is our tradition, since we forgo meat, dairy, and eggs during the Great Fast, our final meal was a conscious feast of all three: rich dishes, generous servings, and no holding back.

Now, feeling satisfied and thankful, we turn our thoughts toward the desert. Through fasting, abstinence, and penitence, we begin the long journey toward the glory of Christ’s Resurrection at Easter. We wish you a blessed and meaningful Lent. ~ Giovanni di Napoli

Pomodori secchi e nodini

Affettati e formaggio

Crocchè di patate, polpette di ricotta, and arancini

Melanzane grigliate sott'olio

Peperoni arrostiti sott'olio

Manicotti

Polpette

Cotoletta alla Milanese

Cupcakes

Simple Pleasures — Celebrating the Feast of Sant'Agata with Delicious Cream-Filled Pastries

What better way to celebrate the Feast of Sant’Agata than with traditional cream-filled pastries in her honor? Yes, your eyes do not deceive you—they are shaped like breasts. Patron saint of women with breast cancer, rape victims, and wet nurses, Saint Agatha was brutally tortured and had her breasts cut off for taking a vow of chastity and rejecting the advances of a powerful Roman patrician. Sant’Agata, ora pro nobis.

A Quiet Toast to Faith, Empire, and Tradition: Celebrating the Feast of Beato Carlo Magno in NYC

A vintage Pernod absinthe poster presiding over the meal

After the traditional Latin Mass, we met a friend at a cozy Parisian-style bistro in Manhattan for a celebratory dinner in honor of the Feast of Beato Carlo Magno—Imperator Romanorum. Any excuse to celebrate our faith and culture—especially when it carries a monarchial lineage and includes la fée verte—is reason enough. Devoted to the Emperor, we settled into a table of excellent Gallic fare: pâté de campagne, confit de canard, steak au poivre, and boeuf bourguignon. A fitting feast for the great Pater Europae. Evviva Beato Carlo Magno!

Art Deco absinthe fountain and Pontarlier glass with absinthe spoon

Pâté de campagne

Confit de canard

Boeuf bourguignon

Steak au poivre

Basque cheesecake

Mousse au chocolat

Viva 'o Rre! Remembering Servant of God Francesco II, King of the Two Sicilies in New York City

This year's shrine to Servant of God
King Francesco II of the Two Sicilies

At this year’s annual remembrance of Servant of God King Francesco II of the Two Sicilies, we braved the snow to attend the Latin Tridentine Mass for the Feast of San Giovanni Evangelista, offering prayers for His Majesty’s beatification and for the canonization of his mother, Queen Blessed Maria Cristina di Savoia. The evening concluded with a generous home-cooked meal and several bottles of Duosiciliano wine, blessed at Mass and shared in good company. SG Francesco II and Blessed Maria Cristina, orate pro nobis.

For more information about the Beatification and Canonization process for Francesco II, visit the Fondazione Francesco II delle Due Sicilie

Prayer for the Glorification of King Francis II of the Two Sicilies
[For private use only]

Absolve, we beseech Thee, O Lord, the soul of Thy servant HM Francis II, King of the Two Sicilies, from every bond of sin, that being raised in the glory of the resurrection, he may be refreshed among the Saints and Elect. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayer for Blessed Maria Cristina, Queen of the Two Sicilies
[For private use only]

O God, who has placed a great light in Your saints and a provident support for Your people along the path, listen with goodness to our prayer, and glorify Your servant Maria Cristina di Savoia, in whose life as a wife and queen You have offered us a shining model of wise and courageous charity, and grant us, through her intercession, the grace [mention here the graces you are asking for] which from You, with trust, we invoke. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prosciutto e melone

Focaccia Pugliese

Sun-dried tomatoes in oil

Antipasto platter

Polpette di ricotta

Melanzane grigliate sott'olio

Ravioli

Hot and sweet sausages

Mostaccioli

La Vigilia and Other Christmas Traditions

Midnight Mass at the Shrine Church
of the Holy Innocents in New York City

Glória in excélsis Deo et in terra pax homínibus bonæ voluntátis

Like many Duosiciliano Americans, my family still keeps the tradition of La Vigilia di Natale, the Southern Italian ritual of eating seafood and eschewing meat on Christmas Eve. We don’t do the so-called Festa dei sette pesci (Feast of the Seven Fishes); there is no sacred arithmetic at our table, but we do eat a variety of aquatic delicacies.

Despite modern claims to authenticity, I believe the “Seven Fish” custom is a relatively recent fabrication. According to my family’s matriarchs, there was never a set number of fish dishes served; we simply ate what we could afford and what was fresh and available.

In recent years, our table has featured shrimp, calamari, clams, mussels, and scungilli (whelk), which all can be prepared in a variety of ways. Once the unquestioned centerpiece, Capitone fritto alla napoletana (fried eel) has gradually given way, after the passing of my grandparents, to sea urchin, lobster, cuttlefish, or baccalà. Lately, we’ve been enjoying baccalà in umido (stewed codfish), and mini lobster tails have become staples.

Insalata di mare

Fritto misto di mare

Gamberi fritti

Spaghetti alle vongole

Baccalà in umido with tomato, onion and olives

Mini lobster tails

After the procession of fish came meatless panzerotti: crisp, crescent-shaped pockets filled with onions and capers; sweetened ricotta; and the familiar pairing of mozzarella and tomato. Then fruit, roasted chestnuts, cafè, and sweets—assorted pastries and cartellate—closed the meal.

Panzerotti

Assorted pastries

Homemade cream puffs

The evening continued with tombola for the children, followed by Solemn High Midnight Latin Mass at the Shrine and Parish Church of the Holy Innocents in New York City. Some of us remained through the Low Mass at dawn, in honor of Saint Anastasia di Sirmio.

Christmas morning began with the Traditional Latin Mass at Our Lady of Peace Church in Brooklyn, New York, after which the faithful venerated the Christ Child. 

Traditional Latin Christmas Mass at Our Lady of Peace Church

The Nativity at Our Lady of Peace Church

At home, gifts were exchanged, breakfast kept modest, and—braving the cold—the day was spent visiting family and neighbors until dinnertime.

Family and friends gifted me assorted wines from Southern Italy

Santa gave me an eclectic array of books (and mosstaccioli) this year: (L-R) The Letters of Salvator Rosa, Volumes I & II by Alexandra Hoare; For the Whole of Christ: The Collected Works of Dr. John Rao, Volume 3; Intellectual Life at the Court of Frederick II Hohenstaufen; and The Broken Ring: A History and Theory of the Symbol by Jean Borella.

My philately buddy surprised me with stamps
honoring Juan Vásquez de Mella from Spain

No less extravagant than the Eve, Christmas dinner was a culinary tour de force with plenty of hot and cold antipasti, insalata, stuffed shells, and steak. Fruit, dessert, and cafè completed the meal.

Christmas dinner is served

Prosciutto e melone

Burrate

Homemade Melanzane grigliate sott'olio

Crocchè di patate, polpette di ricotta, and arancini

Homemade roasted peppers

Lard bread and homemade focaccia Pugliese

Charcuterie board

Stuffed shells

Steak with sweet potato and pomegranate salad with goat cheese

Not quite finished yet, on December 26th, the second day of Christmas, we celebrate St. Stephen's Day—my saintly Confirmation namesake—with leftovers and homemade torrone, a sticky candy made from honey and nuts that dates back to Roman times. I like mine with a glass of Strega or Amaro.

Homemade Cartellate with fig syrup

Homemade torrone

As always, the ladies outdid themselves. Another Christmas, richly given and gratefully received. Buon Natale a tutti.

~ Giovanni di Napoli, December 26th, Feast of Santo Stefano primo Martire (Amended for 2025)