Feast of San Leonardo di Noblac (Limoges)

San Leonardo di Noblac, ora pro nobis

November 6th is the Feast of St. Leonard of Noblac (or St. Leonard of Limoges), Forest Hermit, Ascetic, Abbot, and Wonderworker. A sixth century Frankish nobleman in the court of King Clovis I, founder of the Merovingian Dynasty, St. Leonard converted to Catholicism with the King on Christmas Day in 496 AD. As a gift, St. Leonard attained from Clovis the right to liberate any prisoners he deemed deserving of freedom. The Queen, St. Clothilde, is credited with their conversion.

Forgoing the comforts of his station, St. Leonard chose the austere life of a hermit in the forest of Limousin. His reputation of sanctity quickly spread and he soon attracted a large following, especially among redeemed captives. 

One day, while the King was away hunting near St. Leonard's remote bosky hermitage, the expectant Clothilde, went into labor. Unable to return to the Queen in time, Clovis and St. Leonard prayed together for mother and child throughout the night. After safely gaving birth to a princess, also Clothilde, St. Leonard was handsomely rewarded with royal lands at Noblac, where he founded an abbey. 

In the eleventh century many miracles were attributed to the great Saint and his cult spread throughout Europe. Famously, when Prince Bohemond of Antioch, son of Robert the Guiscard, was taken prisoner during the First Crusade he attributed his release to St. Leonard and in gratitude offered silver manacles to the sanctuary of Saint-Léonard-de-Noblat. 

Widely venerated throughout Southern Italy, St. Leonard is the principal patron of Ardore (RC), Portigliola (RC), Roccabascerana (AV), Baselice (BN), Borgia (CZ), Cariati (CS), Trebisacce (CS), Longobardi (VV), Castelmauro (CB), Castelsilano (KR), Colli a Volturno (IS), Forio (NA), Faeto (FG), Mongiuffi Melia (ME), Serradifalco (CL), Màscali (CT), Siculiana (AG), Montallegro (AG), and Partinico (PA). He is also patron saint of captives (prisoners of war, political prisoners, the unjustly imprisoned, etc.), women in labor, blacksmiths, farmers, and livestock.

In celebration, I’m posting a prayer to Saint Leonard of Noblac. The accompanying photo, courtesy of Andrew Giordano, was taken at the shrine of San Leonardo di Noblac inside the Chiesa San Pietro Caveoso in Matera. Evviva San Leonardo!

Prayer to Saint Leonard of Noblac

O Almighty God, who hast called us to faith in thee, and bast compassed us about with so great a cloud of witnesses; Grant that we, encouraged by the good examples of thy Saints, and especially of thy servant Leonard, may persevere in running the race that is set before us, until at length, through thy mercy, we with them attain to thine eternal joy; through him who is the author and finisher of our faith, thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Book Twelve of the Heritage of Western Greece Series: Empedocles in Sicily

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Feast of the Holy Relics

All ye holy saints, orate pro nobis

God, in His goodness, has willed that the Saints should be distributed among the nations, so that their aid might never be wanting to us weak mortals. If He has given the principal cities to the greatest Saints for their residence, the grace with which they are endowed for our sake is not confined to the places where their entire bodies rest; where there are but small portions, there is the same power, and God thus gives testimony to their credit in heaven. From the holy deposit the sacred ashes are scattered abroad, and become the seeds of life; let but the least drop be taken from the spring, and it is itself a source producing rivers of grace and of love. ~ St. Paulinus of Nola.1

According to the 1962 Missal of St. John XXIII, November 5th is the Feast of the Holy Relics. Formally celebrated on the fourth Sunday of October and other dates (e.g. October 26th according to a 19th century breviary printed in Naples), it is customary for churches, especially those with large collections of relics, to combine the memorials into one general feast so the earthly remains of the Saints in Heaven can be venerated by the faithful.2 To dishonor or profane them is sacrilege and a sin. In celebration, I'm posting the hymn Sanctorum Meritis. Pictured is a reliquary containing the relics of various Martyrs from the Spanish Civil War on the high altar at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Newark, New Jersey.

Sanctorum Meritis

Let us together celebrate the glorious delights merited by the Saints, and their heroic deeds: for the mind exults to proclaim in song these the noblest of conquerors. These are they whom the world in its folly abhorred; while they, the faithful followers of Thy name, O Jesus merciful King of the heavenly citizens, despised the world as barren and devoid of fruits and flowers. For Thy sake they scorned the range of men, their savage threats and cruel stripes: the fiercely rending hook, vanquished by their courage, left the brave heart untouched. Like sheep, they are slaughtered by the sword: not a murmur, not a complaint escapes them; but with unqualing heart, the soul, conscious of right, preserves its patience. What voice, what tongue could relate the rewards Thou preparest for the Martyrs? For, adorned with the purple of their own blood, they bind their brows with victory's glittering laurels. We beseech thee, O supreme and only God, that Thou wouldst cleanse away our sins, remove all evils, and grant peace to Thy servants, that they may sing glory to Thee for all ages to come. Amen.

V. The Saints shall rejoice in glory;
R. They shall be joyful in their beds.

Sources: 

1) Feast of the Holy Relics from saintscatholic.blogspot.com

2) Feast of the Holy Relics from newliturgicalmovement.org

Download the Latest Edition of 'Il Portastendardo di Civitella del Tronto'

Click here to download the current issue (N. 41 Novembre 2024)

A Prayer for Valencia, Spain

San Vincenzo di Saragozza, ora pro nobis

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims of the deadly floods that devastated eastern Spain. The loss of life, the suffering, and the destruction deeply saddens us. May Santiago Apóstol, San Vicente Mártir, San Gregorio Taumaturgo, and Our Lady of Montserrat watch over you.

Prayer to St. Vincent of Zaragoza

Almighty God, whose deacon Vincent, upheld by thee, was not Terrified by threats nor overcome by torments: Strengthen us, we beseech thee, to endure all adversity with invincible and steadfast faith; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Feast of San Carlo Borromeo

San Carlo Borromeo, ora pro nobis

November 4th is the Feast of San Carlo Borromeo (1538-1584), Bishop and Confessor. Patron saint of seminarians, catechists, bishops and cardinals, he was a central figure in the Council of Trent and many of the reforms of the Catholic Church during the Counter-Reformation.

In celebration, I’m posting a Prayer for Priests by Saint Charles Borromeo. The accompanying photo of the right altar panel depicting the great saint was taken at the Cappella delle Anime al Purgatorio (Chapel of the Souls of Purgatory) during my 2010 pilgrimage to the Palatine Chapel inside the Castel Nuovo (Maschio Angioino) in Napoli. Evviva San Carlo Borromeo! 

Prayer for Priests by Saint Charles Borromeo 

O Holy Mother of God, pray for the priests your Son has chosen to serve the Church. Help them, by your intercession, to be holy, zealous, and chaste. Make them models of virtue in the service of God's people. Help them be pious in meditation, efficacious in preaching, and zealous in the daily offering of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Help them administer the Sacraments with love and joy. Amen.

Name Day of the Grand Master

HRH, Prince Charles of Bourbon-Two Sicilies

We wish our Grand Master, His Royal Highness Prince Charles of Bourbon-Two Sicilies a blessed and happy Name Day. Buon onomastico, Altezza Reale!

Ant. Domine, salvum fac principem nostrum Carolum: et exaudi nos in die, qua invocaverimus te.

Oremus

Protende Domine famulo tuo Carolo supremo ordinis nostri magistro dexteram caelestis auxilii, ut tua protectione munitus, perpetuo sit justus, fortis, pius, providus ac indefessus hujus sacri ordinis rector, infidelium expugnator, justitiae cultor, meritorum, et demeritorum remunerator: Ecclesiae tuae sanctae et catholicae fidei defensor ad decus, et laudem tui nominis gloriosi, et post diuturnam felicitatem in terris, aeterna beatitudine, te largiente perfruatur in caelis. Per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum Filium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti, Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.

KOFC Second Friday Event Night with Special Guest Speaker Father Fidelis Moscinski at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Pontifical Shrine in East Harlem, New York

Feast of Sant’Uberto di Liegi

Sant'Uberto di Liegi, ora pro nobis

November 3rd is the Feast of Sant’Uberto di Liegi (St. Hubert of Liège), Bishop and Confessor. Known as the "Apostle of the Ardennes," he is the patron saint of hunters. According to tradition, Sant’Uberto (circa 656-727) turned from God after the untimely death of his wife. Withdrawing from society and abandoning his faith, the distraught Frankish nobleman lost himself in the hunt. One Good Friday, he came upon a magnificent white stag with a radiant cross shining between its antlers. Mesmerized by the great beast, he heard a voice say, “Hubert, unless thou turns to the Lord, and leads a holy life, thou shalt quickly go down into hell.” Renouncing his wealth and titles, he straightened out his life and joined the priesthood, eventually becoming the first Bishop of Leodicum (now Liège) in the eastern Frankish Kingdom of Austrasia.

In celebration, I’m posting a prayer to St. Hubert of Liège. Pictured is my makeshift shrine with a photo of my father (checkered shirt) and friends on a successful boar hunt, and a framed postcard depicting The Conversion of St. Hubert (The Hours of Catherine of Cleves, M. 917, p. 256, Utrecht, Netherlands, about 1440) I purchased at the Pierpont Morgan Library & Museum. Evviva Sant’Uberto!

Prayer to St. Hubert of Liège

Great St. Hubert, you were passionate about hunting, but when touched by Divine Grace, you put down your bow and took up the collar of Priesthood. Known for your miracles and the conversion of hundreds, you convinced others to worship and glorify Our Lord. Moved by your example, I implore your help. I ask for the Grace to follow in your footsteps and become a passionate disciple of Christ. Amen.

Indulgenced Prayers for Every Day in the Week for the Souls in Purgatory

The Holy Souls in Purgatory, Our Lady of Peace Church, Gowanus, Brooklyn

For Sunday

O Lord God Almighty, I pray Thee, by the Precious Blood which Thy Divine Son Jesus shed in the garden, deliver the souls in Purgatory - and especially that soul amongst them all who is most destitute of spiritual aid - and vouchsafe to bring it to Thy glory, there to praise and bless Thee for ever. Amen. Our Father, Hail Mary,

Prayer for the Dead (De Profundis, Psalm 130)

Out of the depths I have cried to Thee, O Lord! Lord, hear my voice. 

Let Thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.

If Thou, O Lord, shalt mark iniquities, Lord, who shall stand? 

For with Thee there is merciful forgiveness; and by reason of Thy law I have waited for Thee, O Lord. 

My soul hath relied on His word;  my soul hath hoped for the Lord. 

From the morning watch even unto night, let Israel hope in the Lord.

Because with the Lord there is mercy; and with Him plentiful redemption.

And He shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.

Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon them, may they rest in peace. Amen.

For Monday

O Lord God Almighty, I pray Thee, by the Precious Blood which Thy Divine Son Jesus shed in His cruel scourging, deliver the souls in Purgatory - and that soul especially amongst them all which is nearest to its entrance into Thy glory; that so it may forthwith begin to praise and bless Thee for ever. Amen. Our Father, Hail Mary, De Profundis, etc.

 

For Tuesday

O Lord God Almighty, I pray Thee, by the Precious Blood which Thy Divine Son Jesus shed in His bitter crowning with thorns, deliver the Souls in Purgatory, and in particular that one amongst them all which would be the last to depart out of these pains, that it may not tarry so long a time before it comes to praise Thee in Thy glory and bless Thee for ever. Amen. Our Father, Hail Mary, De Profundis, etc.

 

For Wednesday

O Lord God Almighty, I pray Thee, by the Precious Blood which Thy Divine Son Jesus shed in the streets of Jerusalem when He carried the cross upon His sacred shoulders, deliver the souls in Purgatory and especially that soul which is richest in merits before Thee; that so, in that throne of glory which awaits it, it may magnify Thee and bless Thee for ever. Amen. Our Father, Hail Mary, De Profundis, etc.

 

For Thursday

O Lord God Almighty, I pray Thee by the Precious Body and Blood of Thy Divine Son Jesus, which He gave with His own hands upon the eve of His Passion to His beloved apostles to be their meat and drink, and which He left to His whole Church to be a perpetual sacrifice and the life-giving food of His own faithful people, deliver the souls in Purgatory and especially that one which was most devoted to this Mystery of infinite love, that it may with the same Thy Divine Son, and with The Holy Spirit, ever praise Thee for Thy love therein in eternal glory. Amen. Our Father, Hail Mary, De Profundis, etc.

 

For Friday

O Lord God Almighty, I pray Thee, by the Precious Blood which Thy Divine Son Jesus shed upon the wood of the cross, especially from His most sacred Hands and Feet, deliver the souls in Purgatory, and particular that soul for which I am most bound to pray; that no neglect of mine may hinder it from praising Thee in Thy glory and blessing Thee for ever. Amen. Our Father, Hail Mary, De Profundis, etc.

 

For Saturday

O Lord God Almighty, I beseech Thee, by the Precious Blood which gushed forth from the Side of Thy Divine Son Jesus, in the sight of, and to the extreme pain of His most holy Mother, Mary, deliver the souls in Purgatory, and especially that one amongst them all which was the most devote to her; that it may soon attain unto Thy glory, there to praise Thee in her and her in Thee world without end. Amen. Our Father, Hail Mary, De Profundis, etc.

Photo of the Week: Leaning Afrodite, Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli

Photo by New York Scugnizzo

Requiem Mass at the Carmelite Monastery in Morristown, New Jersey

Feast of All Souls, Il Giorno dei Morti

Our Lady of Purgatory, ora pro nobis

Requiem ætérnam dona eis, Dómine; et lux perpétua lúceat eis Ps. 64, 2, 3. Te decet hymnus Deus in Sion; et tibi reddétur votum in Jerúsalem: exáudi oratiónem meam; ad te omnis caro véniet. Réquiem.

Eternal rest give to them O Lord; and let perpetual light shine upon them. Ps. 64, 2, 3. A hymn, O God, becometh Thee in Sion; and a vow shall be paid to Thee in Jerusalem: O Lord, hear my prayer; all flesh shall come to Thee. Eternal rest.

November 2nd is the Feast of All Souls, or Il Giorno dei Morti, the Day of the Dead. In Southern Italy, it is typically celebrated by attending Mass and visiting the cemetery with flowers and candles to honor their ancestors. Young children who pray are rewarded by their grateful forebears with candy and other small gifts. The presents are usually left in their shoes while the children sleep. In celebration, I’m posting the Introit and Prayer in Latin and English for the Third Mass for All Souls Day. The accompanying photo was taken at, now closed, Saint Joseph's Church in Manhattan.

Prayer

Deus, véniæ largitor et humánæ salútis amator; quæsumus cleméntiam tuam; ut ánimas famulórum famularúmque tuárum, quæ ex hoc sæculo transiérunt, beáta María semper Virgine intercedénte cum ómnibus Sanctis tuis, ad perpetuæ beattúdinis consórtium pervenire concédas. Per Dóminum.

O God, the bestower of pardon and lover of man’s salvation, we beseech Thy clemency, through the intercession of blessed Mary ever a virgin, and all Thy saints, that the brethren, who have passed out of this world may together enjoy everlasting happiness. Through our Lord.

* Photo of Our Lady of Purgatory at now-closed St. Joseph's Church in Chinatown, New York. The statue is now at St' Rita's Church in Staten Island, New York.

All Souls' Day

Our Lady and the Souls in Purgatory with
San Sebastiano and San Gregorio Magno

November 2nd is All Souls' Day, or il Giorno dei Morti, the Day of the Dead. In memory of my ancestors I'm posting "All Soul's Day," a poem by Giuseppe Altobello.* The accompanying photo of Our Lady and the Souls of Purgatory with San Sebastiano and San Gregorio Magno was taken at the Cappella delle Anime al Purgatorio (Chapel of the Souls of Purgatory) during my 2010 pilgrimage to the Palatine Chapel inside the Castel Nuovo (Maschio Angioino) in Napoli.

All Souls' Day

On every branch of every yellow tree

the fog has left a single tear behind

the sky's so dark today it's hard to see,

it wants to weep for all those in the ground.

A band of melancholy little sparrows

flew inside a heavy thicket all together

and brought their singing hour to a close

as soon as they observed the morning weather.

Without being even jiggled by the wind

every thick cypress tree that felt the rain

trickles its bitter tears down in the ground

and the thick cypress tree, made of a sudden

a giant aspergillum for this land,

blesses it without needing to be shaken.

* Reprinted from Dialect Poetry of Southern Italy, edited by Luigi Bonaffini, Legas, 1997

Novena to San Martino di Tours

San Martino di Tours, ora pro nobis

Pray novena for nine consecutive days, November 2nd to November 10th, in preparation for the Feast of San Martino di Tours on November 11th.

Blessed Saint Martín of Tours, full of the Spirit of the Lord always having inexhaustible charity for the needy.

You, who full of love and generosity when you saw the beggar that was freezing from cold, without knowing that in truth he was Christ, did not doubt to give him half of your cape, and did not give it completely to him since the other half belonged to the Roman army; you, who did not seek recognition but only to favor your neighbor, found glory before the Lord. And when the Savior appeared to you dressed with the half-cape so as to express appreciation for your gesture and He told you “today you covered me with your mantle”, you decided to no longer serve the army and to dedicate your life to God and to the salvation of souls, being from then on a propagator of the faith and a holy man totally dedicated to whomever was in need.

Glorious Saint Martin, you who worked miracles and prodigies, who with joy, amiability and the most exquisite goodness won over the hearts of all and did not cease to ever work for their wellbeing: give me your hand and help me to come out of all lack and scarcity which today afflicts me and weighs me down.

Glorious Saint Martin, my blessed patron, I humbly ask you with great faith that you attain from God, the fount of all Mercies that my ways on this earth, my work and my toils be cleansed and opened with clarity. In the name of Omnipotent God, Saint Martin of Tours, remove all that harms me and give me work and prosperity. O blessed relief, give me your saintly protection, assist me, I beg you, in these difficult times:

[Mention your requests here...]

You, noble Saint Martin, who have miraculous power take my supplications with haste to the Heavens, ask for my home all that is good; may sorrows, ruins and miseries leave, and may the Lord deign I merit blessed fortune in my work, and with it, abundance and prosperity, so I may give freely to all in need.

Saint Martin, blessed Bishop of Tours, may your virtues and charity accompany me always. I will not cease to pray to you and to thank Almighty God for all the favors granted; and I promise to be charitable and giving with all my brothers and sisters in need.

Saint Martin please intercede for me; free and protect all my loved ones and I from all that is evil. Amen.

Solemn Requiem Mass at St. Mary's Church in Norwalk, Connecticut

Feast of San Cesareo di Terracina

San Cesareo di Terracina, ora pro nobis

November 1st is the Feast of San Cesareo di Terracina, Deacon and Martyr. Patron saint of the Imperial family, San Cesareo is invoked against lightning, drowning, flooding, and for successful Caesarean sections. Chosen for his name (which means “devoted to Caesar”) and patrician lineage, veneration of San Cesareo replaced the Imperial cult of Ancient Rome (Divi Cesari). Sacred places once dedicated to the pagan Emperors were renamed in his honor and consecrated to the faith of Christ.

Widely venerated in Southern Italy, he is the patron saint of Cesa (CE), Marcianise (CE), San Cesareo (RI), San Cesareo (FR), and San Cesario di Lecce (LE), as well as numerous districts and localities. His cult is especially old in Naples and his relics can be found in a gilded wooden reliquary bust in the Church of Santa Brigida and the Chapel of the Relics inside the Metropolitan Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta.

According to tradition, San Cesareo was born circa 85 AD in Roman Carthage. His father was a soldier of fortune and his mother was a noblewoman. Both descended from the ancient and illustrious Gens Julia family that settled in Africa following Rome's conquest. Named in honor of Gaius Julius Caesar (100BC-44BC), the household converted to Christianity and young Cesareo would became a deacon. 

Traveling to Rome by sea, a terrible storm shipwrecked Cesareo off the coast of Terracina. Settling there to preach the Gospel, he was shocked and appalled by the ritual human sacrifice still taking place during the celebration for the god Apollo, even though the custom fell out of favor in the Empire by this time. Sternly condemning the barbaric practice, he was denounced as a Christian by the high priest Firmino and imprisoned. 

Driven before the proconsul Leonzio, Cesareo refused to make a sacrifice to the Roman gods. Instead, he began to pray to the one true God, which caused the temple of Apollo to quake and collapse, killing the high priest. Wonderstruck, Leonzio converted on the spot and was baptized by Cesareo, before suddenly dying.

Witnessing the destruction of the temple, Lussurio, the mayor of the city, had Cesareo arrested and condemned to death. On the first of November, Cesareo and fellow Christian Giuliano the Presbyter [Giuliano, coincidentally, means “belonging to Gens Julia.”] were to be bound in sacks and tossed into the sea from the promontory of Pisco Montano. However, before being cast into the waters below, Cesareo prophesied that Lussurio would die ignobly by a serpent.

As was told, a few days after the drowning, Lussurio was bitten by a poisonous sea snake while taking a stroll along the coast. Writhing in agony, he lamented his decision and slowly died.

Meantime, the remains of the Martyrs washed up on shore and were recovered by Felice and Eusebio. The location of the martyr’s bodies was revealed to them by a vision in the night. After burying the relics outside the city, the Christians were captured by Leonzio’s son and beheaded. Tossed into the sea, their corpses were recovered and buried by the presbyter Quarto from Capua, who was led to them by an angel.

In celebration, I’m posting a prayer to San Cesareo in Italian, courtesy of the Concattedrale di San Cesareo in Terracina. Pictured is my makeshift shrine with candle, incense, and image of the saint from the vault of the Duomo di Terracina. Evviva San Cesareo!

Prayer to San Cesareo di Terracina

Figli della terra che hai fecondato col tuo sangue, ci rivolgiamo a te, Cesareo santo. E mentre siamo ammirati dalla forza della tua fede, desideriamo specchiarci nel tuo esempio, imparare da te il coraggio di seguire Cristo, per essere oggi, nell'amata Terracina, messaggeri di una vita nuova.

Tu hai amato fino in fondo Cristo, che morendo ha vinto la morte, e lo hai servito nei fratelli poveri e sofferenti. Hai annunciato il suo Vangelo, generando, col tuo sangue, la nostra fede.

Aiutaci a dominare le nostre debolezze, a non cedere alla tentazione dell'ipocrisia. Stacci vicino quando il male ci attrae e rischiamo di voltare le spalle a Cristo.mPrendici per mano quando ci prende la paura del sacrificio e tendiamo a rifugiarci nella mediocrità.

Con la tua intercessione guidaci a vincere il male con il bene, ad essere sempre strumenti di pace, seminatori di unità, testimoni autentici di Cristo, unico Salvatore dell'uomo.

Che la memoria del tuo martirio ci spinga ad essere disponibili alla chiamata del Signore, che ancora oggi dice ad ogni uomo: "Vieni e seguimi." Amen!

The Feast of All Saints, la festa di Ognissanti

All ye holy saints, orate pro nobis

Guadeámus omnes in Dómino, diem festum celbrántes sub honóre Sanctórum ómnium: de quorum solemnitáte gaudent Angeli, et colláudant Filium Dei. ps. 32, 1. Exsultáte, justi, in Dómino: rectos decet collaudátio. V Glória Patri. 

Let us all rejoice in the Lord, celebrating a feast in honor of all the saints, in whose solemnity the angels rejoice and join in praising the Son of God. Ps. 32, 1. Rejoice in the Lord, ye just: praise becometh the upright. V. Glory

November 1st is All Saints' Day, la festa di Ognissanti, a holy day of obligation in honor of all the saints, known and unknown. In celebration, I'm posting the Introit and Prayer for the Feast of All Saints Day in Latin and English. The accompanying photo was taken in the old Hall of Saints at the Shrine Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel (275 N 8th Street) in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

Prayer

Omnípotens sempitérne Deus, qui nos ómnium Sanctórum tuóram mérita sub una tribuísti celebritáte venerári: quæsumas: ut desiderátam nobis tuæ propitiatiónis abundántiam multiplicátis intercessóribus, largiáris. Per Dóminum.

O Almighty, eternal God, Who hast granted us to venerate the merits of all Thy saints in one solemnity, vouchsafe to us, we beseech Thee, through the multitude of our intercessors, that abundance of Thy mercy for which we ever have hoped. Through our Lord.

November - Month of the Holy Souls: Chaplet of the Holy Souls

Madonna and Child with the Souls 
in Purgatory by Luca Giordano

Chaplet of the Holy Souls (Prayed on a set of Rosary Beads)

Begin with: The Creed, followed by 1 Our Father, 3 Hail Marys, and 1 Glory Be for the Pope’s intentions.

 

On Large Beads Pray: “O holy souls draw the fire of God’s Love into my soul to reveal Jesus crucified in me, here on earth, rather than hereafter in Purgatory.” 

On Small Beads Pray: “Crucified Lord Jesus have mercy on the souls in Purgatory”

End with: Recite the Glory Be three times. 

Prayer of St. Gertrude the Great 

Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the Masses said throughout the world today, for all the Holy Souls in Purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the Universal Church, those in my home and within my family. Amen. 

November — Month of the Poor Souls

Our Lady of Purgatory, ora pro nobis

"It is a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they might be loosed from their sins." 2 Mac 12:46

Ways to Assist the Souls in Purgatory 

MASSES OFFERED FOR THEM 

"From the beginning, the Church has honored the memory of the dead and offered prayers in suffrage for them, above all the Eucharistic sacrifice, so that, thus purified, they may attain the beatific vi- sion of God." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1032)

 

VISIT TO A CEMETERY 

An indulgence, applicable only to the Souls in Purgatory, is granted to the faithful, who devoutly visit a cemetery and pray, even if only mentally, for the departed. The indulgence is plenary each day from the 1st to the 8th of November; on other days of the year it is partial. (Enchiridion of Indulgences, 1968, No. 13) 

PRAYER & SACRIFICE FOR THEIR RELIEF 

Eternal rest grant to them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. (Partial indulgence, applicable only to souls in purgatory. Enchiridion of Indulgences, 1968, No. 13) 

PRAYER FOR THE SOULS IN PURGATORY

O Most Gentle Heart of Jesus, ever present in the Blessed Sacrament, ever consumed with burning love for the poor captive souls in Purgatory, have mercy on the souls of Your departed servants. Be not severe in Your judgements but let some drops of Your Precious Blood fall upon the devouring flames. And do Thou, O Merciful Savior, send Your holy angels to conduct them to a place of refreshment, light and peace. Amen.

 

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

* Photo of Our Lady of Purgatory at now-closed St. Joseph's Church in Chinatown, New York. The statue is now at St' Rita's Church in Staten Island, New York.

Requiem Mass at St. Mary of Mt. Virgin Church in New Brunswick, New Jersey

Feast of St. Wolfgang of Regensburg

San Volfango di Ratisbona, ora pro nobis

October 31st is the Feast of St. Wolfgang of Regensburg (San Volfango di Ratisbona), Benedictine monk, missionary, hermit, and reforming Bishop. He is the patron saint of paralyzed people, stroke victims, people with stomach ailments, and carpenters.

Born circa 924 in the Duchy of Swabia in southwestern Germany, he was educated at the abbey of Reichenau. Moving to the abbey of Einsiedeln in Schwyz (in present-day Switzerland), he was ordained a priest in 968 by St. Ulrich and became the director of the monastery school.

Traveling to Hungary with a group of monks he helped evangelize the Magyars, converting many to the faith. In 972 Emperor Otto II appointed him Bishop of Regensburg in Bavaria, where he initiated reforms, built churches, and tutored the future Emperor St. Henry II. Despite his prestigious station, he continued to wear a simple monastic habit.

A piece of the tree where
St. Wolfgang preached and
baptized in Thalmässing, Bavaria

Towards the end of his life St. Wolfgang briefly withdrew to a secluded cell in the Salzkammergut region of Austria to live the ascetic life of a hermit. However, deeply loved by his flock, the recluse was reluctantly called back to his episcopate. In 994 the holy man fell ill and died in the Chapel of St. Othmar in Pupping, Austria. He was canonized in 1052 by Pope Leo IX.

Though many healing miracles have been attributed to him, he is perhaps best remembered as the Saint who tricked the Devil into building a church.

According to legend, a ferocious wolf fleeing from a hunter refused to help the Bishop build a church. In pursuit of the beast, the huntsman also refused to help. The Devil then appeared and agreed to build it in exchange for the first soul that entered the church. Upon its completion, the wolf still looking for a place to hide from the persistent hunter rushed inside the new church, thus foiling the evil one’s plan to snare a human soul.

In celebration, I’m posting a prayer to St. Wolfgang of Regensburg. The accompanying photo up top is my makeshift shrine devoted to the saint. The picture of the tree relic was taken at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church rectory in Newark, New Jersey. Evviva San Volfango di Ratisbona!

Prayer to St. Wolfgang of Regensburg

Grant, we beseech Thee, almighty God, that the examples of St. Wolfgang, Bishop of Regensburg, may effectually move us to reform our lives; that while we celebrate his festival, we may also imitate his actions. Through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Look upon our Weakness, almighty God, and since the burden of our own deeds weighs heavily upon us, may the glorious intercession of St. Wolfgang of Regensburg protect us. Through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

The Vigil of All Saints

Private shrine to my ancestors and the Holy Souls in Purgatory

Júdicant sancti gentes, et dominántur pópulis: et regnábit Dóminus Deus illórum in perpétuum. Ps. 32, 1 Exsultáte, justi, in Dómino: rectos decet collaudátio. V. Glória Patri.

The saints judge nations, and rule over people: and the Lord their God shall reign forever. Ps. 32, 1. Rejoice in the Lord, ye just: praise becometh the upright. V Glory. ~ Introit. Wis 3, 8

October 31st is the Vigil of All Saints Day. Popularly known as Halloween, or All Hallows' Eve, the celebration is the beginning of Hallowtide, a three day observance (Triduum) that includes the Feasts of All Saints Day on Nov. 1st and All Souls Day on Nov. 2nd. Traditionally a day of prayer, fasting, and abstinence, the faithful prepare themselves for the month of November, which is dedicated to the souls of the dead, and contemplate the reality of Hell and how to avoid eternal damnation.

In celebration, I’m posting the introit and the collect of All Hallows' Eve in Latin and English. The accompanying photo is my perpetual shrine devoted to my ancestors and the poor and forgotten Souls in Purgatory. The cast-iron skull serves as a memento mori, or a reminder of death, and rests on a miniature oriental rug that once decorated my mother's doll house; the Crucifixion nails are a reminder of Our Lord's sacrifice and were given to me by my father; the Rosary belonged to my paternal grandmother; the rose pin is a symbol of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, the Little Flower and our familial patroness; and the prayer card is for St. Gertrude the Great, patroness of Naples and devotee to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Holy Souls in Purgatory.

The Collect of All Hallows' Eve

Dómine Deus noter, multíplica super nos grátiam tuam: et, quorum prævenímus gloriósa solémnia, tribue súbsequi in dsancta professióne lætitiam. Per Dominum.

O Lord, our God, multiply Thy graces upon us, and grant that joy may follow in the holy praise of those whose glorious festival we anticipate. Through our Lord.

Feast of Sant'Angelo d'Acri

Sant'Angelo d'Acri, ora pro nobis

October 30th is the Feast of Sant'Angelo d'Acri (1669-1739), Capuchin priest, itinerant preacher and Wonderworker. Patron saint of missionaries and his native town of Acri in Calabria, he is sometimes called the "Great Apostle of Southern Italy" for his powerful sermons and the many conversions he worked throughout Calabria and Sicily. In celebration, I'm posting a prayer to Sant'Angelo d'Acri. The accompanying photo was taken during the 2015 Feast at Most Precious Blood Church (113 Baxter Street), in Little Italy, New York. Evviva Sant'Angelo!

Prayer to Sant'Angelo d'Acri

O God, you gave to your priest Sant'Angelo the grace to call sinners to penance through his words and miracles, grant through his intercession, that we may be sorry for our sins, and gain eternal life. 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

Also see: Around the Web: Blessed Angelo of Acri from Tradition in Action

Remembering Joseph-Louis Guérin

Portrait of the "little Zouave," Joseph-Louis Guérin, circa 1860

“Blood is necessary to appease the anger of God; I will give mine” *

In memory of Joseph-Louis Guérin (b. 5 April, 1838 — d. 30 October 1860), Papal Zouave who died defending the Papacy from the Piedmontese at the Battle of Castelfidardo in le Marche, 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.

* Quoted from Papal Zouave History

Also see:

• The Papal Zouave Saint? The Story of Joseph-Louis Guérin