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.

The Wilderness Within

The Penitent Magdalen, ca. 1640,
by Georges de la Tour (1593-1652)

Beáta Maríæ Magdaléna, quǽsumus, Dómine, suffrágiis adjuvémur: cujus précibus exorátus, quatriduánum fratrem Lázarum vivum ab inferis resuscitásti: Qui vivis et regnas, cum Deo Patre in unitáte Spíritus Sancti, Deus, per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum.*

Since my reversion, few saints have remained as constant a companion as Santa Maria Maddalena. Whenever I think of her, I am reminded that every Christian must one day pass through a wilderness of his own.

It is not only her unwavering love for Christ that draws me to her, but what she has come to symbolize: the quiet work of God’s grace in the soul. In her, we are reminded that true transformation is born not of noise, distraction, or ceaseless activity, but of silence, prayer, and fidelity to God.

Her wilderness was more than a refuge; it was an inner desert. There, stripped of vanity and distraction, we encounter ourselves as we truly are. The interior life is not an escape from the world, but a place where we are quietly prepared to return to it rightly ordered.

Ernst Jünger wrote of the “forest passage” as an inward withdrawal from the pressures to conform in modern society. Christianity has long known a far older passage. There, freedom is found not merely in resisting the spirit of the age, but in surrendering oneself to the transforming power of God’s grace.

In a world that prizes constant motion and endless distraction, the Maddalena remains a quiet rebuke. She reminds us that the deepest battles are fought in the hidden places of the heart, and that the wilderness within is where the soul is gradually conformed to Christ.

~ By Giovanni di Napoli, July 21st, Feast Day of San Lorenzo of Brindisi

* May we be assisted, O Lord, we beseech Thee, by the intercession of blessed Mary Magdalen, for whom, moved by her prayers, Thou didst bring back her brother Lazarus, then dead for four days, alive from the grave. Who livest and reignest with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end. Amen.

Anniversary of the National Uprising in Spain

July 18th marks the anniversary of the National Uprising in Spain, which began the Liberation Crusade 1936-1939. ¡Por Dios y por España!

Señor Dios, Creador y Redentor nuestro, que en los días aciagos de nuestra Patria quisiste levantar a tus hijos en defensa de la fe católica y las tradiciones de nuestra nación. Te pedimos por las almas de aquellos que dieron su vida por Dios y por España. Concede tu paz a los caídos y haz que su sacrificio florezca en la unidad, la justicia y la grandeza de nuestro pueblo. Protege a nuestra Patria de todo mal y guíanos por el camino de la verdad y el amor cristiano. Amén.

Lord God, our Creator and Redeemer, who in the dark days of our homeland chose to raise up Your children in defense of the Catholic faith and the traditions of our nation: we pray for the souls of those who gave their lives for God and for Spain. Grant Your peace to the fallen and let their sacrifice bear fruit in the unity, justice, and greatness of our people. Protect our homeland from all evil and guide us along the path of truth and Christian charity. 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

Simple Pleasures: A Thoughtful Gift from the Byzantine Tradition

My sincere thanks to a friend who recently returned from Our Lady of Wisdom Byzantine Catholic Church in Las Vegas, Nevada, with two beautiful prayer cards: one honoring the Ascension of Our Lord Jesus Christ and the other commemorating the Protection of the Mother of God. The gift was especially thoughtful, coming after he learned of my growing appreciation for the Byzantine Divine Liturgy and my recent discovery of my Arbëreshë ancestry in San Costantino Albanese, Potenza, Lucania. Such small acts of friendship often carry significance far beyond their size, serving as quiet reminders of the spiritual and ancestral ties that continue to enrich one’s journey.

~ By Giovanni di Napoli, July 13th, Feast of Santa Trofimena 

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

Feast of San Panteno di Alessandria

San Panteno di Alessandria, ora pro nobis

July 7th is the Feast of St. Pantaenus of Alexandria, a Sicilian-born second-century philosopher, theologian, and missionary who played an important role in the intellectual life of the early Church. Formerly a Stoic philosopher, he became head of the renowned Catechetical School of Alexandria, where he sought to demonstrate that faith and reason were not enemies, but allies in the pursuit of truth. Among his most distinguished pupils was St. Clement of Alexandria, who would continue his master’s work and help shape Christian thought for generations.

According to ancient tradition, Pantaenus also undertook missionary journeys to the East, possibly reaching India, where he reportedly found a community of Christians already in possession of the Gospel of St. Matthew in Hebrew. Although many details of his life remain uncertain, his reputation for learning, holiness, and zeal earned him lasting esteem in both the Eastern and Western Christian traditions.

St. Pantaenus stands as one of the earliest models of the Christian scholar: a man who united philosophical learning with fidelity to the Gospel, helping lay the intellectual foundations upon which later Fathers of the Church would build.

Evviva San Panteno di Alessandria!

In celebration of the feast, we offer this prayer:

Lord God, you counted Saint Pantaenus among your holy pastors, renowned for faith and love which conquered evil in this world. With the help of his prayers, keep us strong in faith and love, and let us come to share his glory. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Feast of San Piergiorgio Frassati

San Piergiorgio Frassati, ora pro nobis

July 4 is the feast of Pier Giorgio Frassati, a Dominican tertiary whose brief life of holiness continues to inspire Catholics around the world. Born on April 6, 1901, into a wealthy and influential family in Turin, Pier Giorgio studied mechanical engineering with a specialization in mining. Yet he was far more interested in serving the poor—especially miners and laborers—than in pursuing academic success, much to his father's frustration.

A man of deep prayer and active charity, Pier Giorgio devoted himself to numerous Catholic organizations, including the Conferenza di San Vincenzo and l’Azione Cattolica. As a professed member of the Third Order of St. Dominic, he took the religious name Girolamo in honor of Girolamo Savonarola. In 1924, together with a circle of close friends, he founded the society known as Tipi Loschi (“Shady Characters”), a group dedicated to mountaineering, spiritual growth, friendship, and service to those in need.

Pier Giorgio died unexpectedly on July 4, 1925, after contracting poliomyelitis, at just twenty-four years of age. Thousands of mourners—many of them poor, sick, and otherwise unknown to his family—attended his funeral. The remarkable turnout revealed the extent of his hidden works of mercy. Deeply moved by the testimony of those whose lives his son had touched, his grieving father came to recognize who Pier Giorgio truly was and returned to the practice of the faith.

Long venerated as a model of youthful sanctity, Pier Giorgio was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1990 and is scheduled to be canonized by Pope Leo XIV on September 7, 2025, together with Carlo Acutis. His canonization is a powerful reminder that holiness is attainable in every age and state of life.

In celebration of his feast, we are sharing a prayer to St. Pier Giorgio Frassati written by Cardinal Giovanni Saldarini, Archbishop Emeritus of Turin. The photograph of the relic made from wood taken from Saint Pier Giorgio’s coffin comes courtesy of Father Eugene Carrella and is part of his remarkable collection of religious artifacts.

Evviva San Pier Giorgio Frassati!

Prayer to St. Pier Giorgio Frassati

O Father, you gave to the young Pier Giorgio Frassati the joy of meeting Christ and of living his faith in the service of the poor and the sick; through his intercession, may we, too, walk the path of the Beatitudes and follow the example of his generosity, spreading the spirit of the Gospel in society. Through Christ our Lord. 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

A Pilgrimage to the Tomb of King Francis II

The Fondazione Francesco II delle Due Sicilie invites those devoted to the memory of King Francis II to make a private pilgrimage—individually or in groups—to his tomb in the monumental Basilica of Santa Chiara. There, visitors may pay their respects to the last sovereign of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies and also venerate the urn of his mother, Maria Cristina of Savoy, who has been beatified by the Church. 

Beyond an act of remembrance, such a pilgrimage offers an opportunity for prayer, reflection, and renewed appreciation for a king whose life was marked by faith, sacrifice, and fidelity in both sovereignty and exile.

Novena to Sant’Agrippina di Mineo

Sant'Agrippina, ora pro nobis

Pray the Novena to Sant’Agrippina di Mineo for nine consecutive days, from June 14th to June 22nd, in preparation for the Feast Day on June 23rd. Evviva Sant’Agrippina di Mineo!

Novena Prayer

Glorious Sant’Agrippina di Mineo, beloved Patroness, you served God in humility and confidence on earth. Now you enjoy His Beatific Vision in heaven. You persevered unto death and gained the crown of eternal life. Remember now the dangers, confusion, and anguish that surround me, and intercede for me in my needs and troubles, especially...

[Mention your intention(s) here...]

Amen.

Sant’Agrippina di Mineo, pray for us.

Say 1 Our Father...
Say 1 Hail Mary...
Say 1 Glory Be...

Sant’Agrippina, pray for us. (3x)

Novena to San Paolino di Nola

San Paolino di Nola, ora pro nobis

Pray the Novena to San Paolino di Nola for nine consecutive days, from June 13th to June 21st, in preparation for the Feast Day on June 22nd. Evviva San Paolino di Nola!

Novena Prayer

O God, who made the Bishop Saint Paulinus of Nola outstanding in love of poverty and pastoral care, graciously grant that, as we celebrate his merits, we may imitate the example of his charity. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever. Amen.

Almighty ever-living God, who chose blessed Paulinus to preside as Bishop over your holy people, we pray that, through his merits, you may bestow upon us the grace of your loving kindness. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever. Amen.

[Mention your intention(s) here...]

Say 1 Our Father...
Say 1 Hail Mary...
Say 1 Glory Be...

Saint Paulinus of Nola, pray for us. (3x)

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.

The Feast of St. Peter of Córdoba and Companions

Silver ark housing the relics of the Holy Martyrs of Córdoba in the Church of San Pedro de Córdoba. Photo by Lancastermerrin88 via Wikimedia Commons

June 7th is the Feast of St. Peter of Córdoba (San Pedro de Écija) and Companions (Valabonso, Sabiniano, Vistremondo, Abenzio, and Jeremiah), a group of Christian martyrs who died under Muslim rule in Al-Andalus during the ninth century. St. Peter, a priest known for his steadfast faith and learning, was arrested during the persecutions of Emir Abderrahman II that afflicted the Mozarabic Christians of Islamic Spain. Refusing to renounce Christ or remain silent in the face of persecution, he was condemned to death alongside several companions, including monks, priests, and laymen who likewise chose fidelity over safety.

Their martyrdom formed part of the broader persecution remembered as the Martyrs of Córdoba, whose sacrifices revealed the endurance of Christianity in a land undergoing profound religious and civilizational transformation. Remembered for their courage, constancy, and refusal to abandon the Faith of their fathers, St. Peter of Córdoba and his companions remain enduring symbols of perseverance amid persecution and cultural upheaval.

Evviva Santi Pietro, Valabonso, Sabiniano, Vistremondo, Abenzio e Geremia, Martiri di Córdoba.

In celebration of the feast, we offer this prayer:

Prayer to St. Peter of Córdoba and Companions

Lord, hear the prayers of the martyrs Pietro, Valabonso, Sabiniano, Vistremondo, Abenzio, and Geremia, and grant us the courage to bear witness to the Faith.

Grant this through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever. Amen.

Memorial Day: Honoring the Fallen

Photo by New York Scugnizzo

The last Monday in May is Memorial Day, a solemn day set aside to mourn and remember American service members who died in the line of duty.

Pictured is Dawn of Glory, a striking monument by the Sicilian American sculptor Pietro Montana (1892–1978), located on the Brooklyn side of Highland Park along the Queens border. Unveiled on July 13, 1924, the memorial honors members of the local community who served during World War I; an estimated 10,000 people attended its dedication.

The larger-than-life figure depicts a fallen soldier rising from the battlefield. Nude and powerfully built, he casts off his shroud—a stark image of sacrifice transformed into triumph over death. The model for the figure was the Calabrian-born bodybuilder Angelo Siciliano (1894–1972), better known as Charles Atlas.

Prayer for Memorial Day

May God, the Lord of nations and the Prince of Peace, bless our country, bring comfort to those who mourn, and grant eternal rest to the fallen. Amen.