October 7, 2024

Feast of Our Lady of Victory and the Most Holy Rosary

Our Lady of the Rosary, ora pro nobis
Photos by New York Scugnizzo
October 7th is the Feast of Our Lady of Victory, a celebration of the Holy League's victory over the Ottoman Turks at the Battle of Lepanto on this day in 1571. The Christian victory was attributed to the praying of the Rosary. In celebration, I'm posting "Mother of the Rosary" from Prayers and Devotional Songs of Sicily, edited and translated by Peppino Ruggeri.(*) The photo of La colonna spezzata (the broken column), a monument to lost sailers, was taken at Piazza Vittoria (Victory Square) during my 2010 pilgrimage to Naples. The accompanying photo of Our Lady of the Rosary was taken at the Our Lady of Pompeii Church (25 Carmine Street) in New York's West Village.
La colonna spezzata
Mother of the Rosary
Of Heaven you are our Grand Lady
With Jesus our defender you have been
I saw a precious rose and a white lily
Mother and son for ever blessed be.

Oh dear Mother of the Rosary
Give me council and your favor grant
Oh Mother of the Word who is incarnate

From the pains of hell please liberate.

(*) Prayers and Devotional Songs of Sicily, edited and translated into English by Peppino Ruggeri, Legas 2009, p.127

Remembering the Victors of Lepanto

Don Giovanni d’Austria, Marcantonio Colonna and Sebastiano Venier

In memory of the Victors of Lepanto, Don Giovanni d’Austria, Marcantonio Colonna, Sebastiano Venier and all the heroic men of the Holy League, who defended Christendom and defeated the Ottomans at the Battle of Lepanto in 1571, we pray for the happy repose of their souls.

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

An Evening with Charles A. Coulombe, Master of Wit and Wisdom

Charles A. Coulombe is one of North America’s most respected and sought-after commentators on religion, history, politics, and culture. Join us for a rollicking conversation as he opines on everything from monarchy to the modern age!

The event is open to all, but five lucky members of the Thomas More Society of America in attendance will win a copy of Coulombe’s most recent book, Blessed Charles of Austria: A Holy Emperor and His Legacy.

6:00 PM – Welcome & Drinks
6:30 PM – Conversation
7:30 PM – Reception

Belmont House on Capitol Hill
314 Independence Avenue, SE
Washington, DC

October 6, 2024

Feast of the Madonna del Rosario di Pompei

Madonna del Rosario di Pompei, ora pro nobis
The First Sunday of October is the Feast of the Madonna del Rosario di Pompei (Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompeii). Widely venerated across southern Italy, She is the principal patroness of Pompei (NA), Botricello (CZ), Vignacastrisi (LE), Castromarina (LE) and Ventimiglia di Sicilia (PA), among others. In celebration, I’m posting the traditional Supplica, a powerful petition invoked twice each year, on May 8th and the first Sunday of October, for the intercession of our Blessed Mother.

Supplica (Petition to the Virgin of the Rosary of Pompeii)

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

O August Queen of Victories, O Sovereign of Heaven and Earth, at whose name the heavens rejoice and the abyss trembles. O Glorious Queen of the Rosary, we, your devoted children, assembled (on this solemn day*) in your Temple of Pompeii, pour out the affection of our hearts and with filial confidence express our miseries to You.

From the Throne of clemency on which You are seated as Queen, turn, O Mary, your merciful gaze on us, on our families, on Italy, on Europe and on the whole world. Have compassion on the worries and trials which embitter our lives. See, O Mother, how many physical and spiritual dangers and how many calamities and afflictions press upon us.

O Mother, implore the mercy of your Divine Son for us and conquer the hearts of sinners with your benevolence. They are our brothers and your children who cause the heart of our sweet Jesus to bleed and sadden your sensitive Heart. Show us all what You are, the Queen of Peace and of Pardon.

Hail Mary…

It is true that, although we are your children, with our sins we are the first to crucify Jesus again in our hearts and pierce your heart anew.

We confess that we deserve the most severe punishments, but remember that on Golgotha You received, with the Divine Blood, the testament of the dying Saviour, who declared You our Mother, the Mother of sinners. You then, as our Mother, are our Advocate, our Hope. And we raise our pleading hands to You with sighs crying, "Mercy!".

O good Mother, have pity on us, on our souls, on our families, on our relatives, on our friends, on our deceased, especially on our enemies, and on so many who call themselves Christian and yet offend the Heart of your loving Son. We implore mercy for today's misguided Nations, for all Europe, for the whole world, so that, repentant, they may return to your Heart.

Have mercy on us all, O Mother of Mercy!

Hail Mary…

Deign kindly to hear us, O Mary! Jesus has placed in your hands all the treasures of His Grace and His Mercy.

You are seated crowned Queen at the right hand of your Son, resplendent with immortal glory above all Choirs of Angels. You extend your dominion throughout heavens, and earth and all creatures are subject to You.

You are omnipotent by grace and therefore You can help us. Were You not willing to help us because we are ungrateful children and undeserving of your protection, we would not know to whom to turn.

Your Mother’s heart would not allow seeing us, your children, lost. The Infant whom You hold on your lap and the mystical Rosary which we gaze at your hand, inspire confidence in us that You shall hear us. We confide totally in You and abandon ourselves to You, like helpless children into the arms of the tenderest of mothers, and on this very day, we expect from You the longed-for graces.

Hail Mary…

Let us ask for Mary's blessing.

One last favour we ask of You, O Queen, which You cannot deny us (on this very solemn day*). Grant us all your steadfast love and in a special way your maternal blessing.

We shall not leave You until You have blessed us.

Bless, O Mary, at this moment, our Holy Father. To the ancient splendours of your Crown, to the triumphs of your Rosary, whence You are called Queen of Victories, add also this, O Mother: grant the victory of the Faith and give Peace to human Society. Bless our Bishops, Priests and particularly those who work zealously to give honour to your Shrine. Finally, bless all those who are associated with your Temple of Pompeii and all those who cultivate and promote the devotion of the Holy Rosary.

O Blessed Rosary of Mary, sweet Chain which binds us to God, Bond of love which unites us to the Angels, Tower of salvation against the assaults of hell, safe Haven in the universal shipwreck, we shall never abandon You.

You will be our comfort in the hour of agony. For You is the last kiss of our dying life. And the last word on our lips will be your sweet name, O Queen of the Rosary of Pompeii, O Dearest Mother, O Refuge of Sinners, O Sovereign Consoler of the Afflicted. May You be blessed everywhere, on Earth and in Heaven, today and forever. Amen.

Hail, Holy Queen…

(*) Only on the 8th of May and the first Sunday of October.

Feast of Santa Maria Francesca delle Cinque Piaghe

Santa Maria Francesca delle
Cinque Piaghe, ora pro nobis

October 6th is the Feast of Santa Maria Francesca delle Cinque Piaghe (St. Mary Frances of the Five Wounds), Mystic and Stigmatic. Patroness of expectant mothers and women having difficulty conceiving, she is the protectress of the Quartieri Spagnoli, or Spanish Quarter of Naples. 
In 1856, King Ferdinand II of the Two Sicilies transformed her house on the Vico Tre Re a Toledo into a small church, which he named after her. To this day, pregnant women and couples trying to conceive make a pilgrimage to the sanctuary and pray for her intercession while sitting on her miraculous chair. 
In celebration, I’m posting a prayer to Santa Maria Francesca delle Cinque Piaghe. The accompanying photo comes courtesy of Father Eugene Carrella. The holy card is part of Father Carrella’s impressive collection of religious artifacts. Evviva Santa Maria Francesca delle Cinque Piaghe!
Prayer to Santa Maria Francesca delle Cinque Piaghe
Santa Maria Francesca, who bearing humiliations and suffering you have shared the pain and anguish borne by Jesus in his Passion, help us to understand that pain, to look at Jesus crucified with the tenderness of a mother that would want to substitute herself with Him so to not make Him suffer anymore. Saint Maria Francesca, you who have made the Eucharist the only great desire of your life, help us welcome in us with faith and  awareness, the consecrated Host. Santa Maria Francesca, you who have exhorted us to have faith in God and in the Virgin Mary, help us to pray to them with the trust and ardor with which you prayed. Santa Maria Francesca, be our guide, teach us to listen to Jesus and to accompany us on the path that He has prepared for each of us. Amen

Feast of San Bruno di Colonia

San Bruno di Colonia, ora pro nobis
October 6th is the Feast of San Bruno di Colonia (St. Bruno of Cologne), eleventh century Hermit and Founder of the Carthusian Order (1084). Invoked against demonic possession, he is the Patron Saint of Serra San Bruno in the Calabrian Province of Vibo Valentia. Serving as a close advisor to Pope Urban II, San Bruno was offered the archbishopric of Reggio Calabria, which he refused. Seeking seclusion, he obtained Papal permission to return to monastic life and withdrew to the remote wilderness of Calabria. Granted land from Count Roger of Sicily, the Holy Hermit founded the Charterhouse of Saint Stephen and monastery at La Torre. Widely venerated in Calabria, during Pentecost devotees carry the saint’s relics in procession from the Certosa dei Santi Stefano e Bruno to the Eremo di Santa Maria. 
In celebration, I’m posting a Prayer to Saint Bruno. The accompanying photo, courtesy of Anthony Scillia, was taken at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark, New Jersey. Evviva San Bruno di Colonia!
Prayer to Saint Bruno
O glorious patriarch, holy Father Bruno, look down upon us with those eyes of kindness that so often won men's hearts. Day and night as of old, thou dost hear in heaven's court the voices of thy sons upon earth joined in God's praises, linked with the angel choirs. Sweet Father, if our voices may reach that Throne of Majesty, we ourselves are not yet come there. Guard and guide us on that heavenward road thou hast trod before us. Thou knowest its dangers; thou knowest our weakness. Be our helper that we may keep unquenched that fire of fervor which thou didst light up so long ago. Then shall we be thy crown of glory both here and hereafter. O glorious St. Bruno, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death! Amen

October 5, 2024

Feast of Santa Flavia

Santa Flavia, ora pro nobis
October 5th is the feast of Santa Flavia, Virgin and Martyr. Captured by Moslem corsairs with her brothers Placido, Eutichio and Vittorino while visiting the Benedictine abbey of Messina, she was tortured and put to death, along with her siblings and the monks, for refusing to renounce their faith. 

In celebration, we’re posting a prayer to Santa Flavia. The accompanying photo, courtesy of Anthony Scillia, was taken in the Chiesa Madre dedicated to the Madonna delle Grazie in Castel di Lucio, Messina. Evviva Santa Flavia!


Prayer to Santa Flavia 


God our Father, you give us joy each year in honoring the memory of Santa Flavia, Virgin and Martyr. May her prayers be a source of help for us, and may her example of courage and chastity be our inspiration. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.


May the Lord bless us, protect us from all evil and bring us to everlasting life. Amen.

Feast of San Placido and Companions

San Placido, ora pro nobis
October 5th is the Feast of St. Placido (St. Placidus) and Companions, Martyrs. Arriving in Messina, Sicily from Monte Cassino in 534, the young Benedictine monk founded a monastery, drawing some thirty men to monastic life through his wondrous work and holy reputation. In 539 a band of pirates from North Africa raided the abbey in the dark of night, capturing the unsuspecting inhabitants, including Placido’s brothers, Eutychius and Victorinus, and their virgin sister Flavia, who was visiting from Rome. Bound and cruelly tortured, the captives were all eventually put to the sword when they refused to renounce their faith. Setting off with their ill-gotten-gains, the African marauders were soon swallowed up in divine retribution by Scylla and Charybdis, the mythical names of the infamous whirlpool in the strait of Messina.

Invoked against drowning because he was miraculously saved by San Mauro as a young child, San Placido is also the patron saint of religious novices, since he was an obedient disciple of San Benedetto Abate. Venerated across Southern Italy, San Placido is the principal protector of Castel di Lucio (ME), Biancavilla (CT), Poggio Imperiale (FG), and, along with the Madonna della Lettera, he is the co-patron of Messina, Sicily. In celebration, we're posting a prayer to St. Placidus. The accompanying photo of the statue with relic was taken at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Easton, Pennsylvania by Anthony Scillia. Evviva San Placido!

Prayer to St. Placidus

O God, who by means of martyrdom made blessed Placidus and his companions pass from exile to eternal glory, keep us for their prayers from all adversities and grant us to be able to participate in their glorious company in heaven. Amen

The Feast of Blessed Bartolo Longo

Blessed Bartolo Longo, ora pro nobis
October 5th is the Feast of Blessed Bartolo Longo, Man of Mary and Herald of the Rosary. In celebration, I’m posting a Prayer to Blessed Longo. Pictured above is my collection of prayer cards. The antique cards were a gift from a close friend who understands and appreciates my special devotion to Blessed Longo. Evviva Beato Bartolo Longo!
A Prayer to Blessed Bartolo Longo
All-powerful and merciful God, in Blessed Bartolo, a promoter of the Rosary of the Blessed Virgin, you showed a wonderful example of holiness and of charity for needy children and orphans. Through his prayers may we learn to see Christ your Son in our neighbors and to love him through them. 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

October 4, 2024

Feast of San Francesco D’Assisi

San Francesco d'Assisi, ora pro nobis
Nor did demons crucify Him; it is you who have crucified Him and crucify Him still, when you delight in your vices and sins. ~ St. Francis of Assisi
October 4th is the Feast of San Francesco d’Assisi (Saint Francis of Assisi), patron saint of animals and ecology. Beloved patron of Cava de’ Tirreni in Salerno, the town’s processional statue is adorned with the Collar of the Golden Fleece and Constantinian Cross. The honor was bestowed upon the citizens of Cava by HM King Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies for their loyalty to the throne during Napoleon’s invasion and occupation of the Regno
In celebration, we're posting a Prayer to St. Francis. The accompanying photo of Saint Francis on horseback renouncing his wordly goods was taken in 2007 at the Basilica di San Francesco d’Assisi in Perugia, Umbria. Evviva San Francesco!

Prayer to St. Francis of Assisi 


O beloved Saint Francis, gentle and poor, your obedience to God and your simple, deep love for all God's creatures led you to the heights of heavenly perfection and turned many hearts to follow God's will. Now, in our day, pray also for us, in our ministry to the many who come here searching for peace and intercede for us as we come before the Lord with our special requests. [Mention your special intention.] O blessed Saint of God, from your throne among the hosts of heaven present our petitions before our faithful Lord. May your prayers on our behalf be heard and may God grant us the grace to lead good and faithful lives. Amen.Saint Francis of Assisi, Pray for us. Amen.

Download the Latest Edition of 'Il Portastendardo di Civitella del Tronto' at Ernesto il Disingannato

Click here to download the current issue (N. 39 Settembre 2024)

Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary at the Shrine Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament in Raritan, NJ

October 3, 2024

Helping Preserve Another Great Collection (Part 5)

(L) Madonna del Castello di Castrovillari, Cosenza.
(R) Madonna della Stella, Militello in Val, Catania
Friends with an avid collector of Italian American and Two Sicilies ephemera (among other things), I’ve been given an extraordinary opportunity to examine and handle a unique array of artifacts I would not normally have access to other than in books and online resources. Some of the more interesting items I’ve been documenting and working on preserving are his recently acquired collection of vintage prayer cards. Pictured is a small sample from the collection.
(L) Madonna di Montevergine. (R) Madonna della Consolazione, Bedonia, Parma
Madonna di Tindari
(L) Madonna di Corsignano, Giovinazzo, Bari.
(R) Maria SS. Assunta in Cielo di Casandrino, Napoli
Madonna Addolorata, Cefalà Diana, Palermo
Madre di Dio Incoronata, Foggia
(L) Madonna delle Grazie di San Sossio Baronia, Avellino.
(R) Madonna Incoronata del Pettorutto, San Sosti, Cosenza
(L) Madonna del Balzo di Bisaquino, Palermo.
(R) Madonna di Mellitto di Grumo Appula
(L) Madonna dei Martiri di Molfetta. (R) Madonna della Croce di Triggiano;
Madonna di Libera; and Madonna del Pozzo di Capurso, Bari 
S.S. Crocifisso di Ciminna, Chicago
(L) Santa Fara di Cinisi, Palermo. (R) San Leucio di S. Salvatore Telesino
Venerabile Lucia Mangano, Catania; Santa Margherita
di Licodia Eubea; and Sant'Angela Merici
(L) Santa Rosalia. (R) Santa Maria Greca, Corato; Madonna
Dell'Arco, Napoli; and Santa Lucia, Omaha, Nebraska
(L) San Cesario di Cesa, Caserta; Sant'Andrea di Amalfi; St. Adalbert; and San Felice in Princis di Cimitile, Napoli. (R) Madonna delle Grazie di Minturno; Madonna Addolorata di S. Elia, Palermo; and the Madonna del Carmine
(L) St. Simeone, patron saint of Camigliano, Caserta.
(R) Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati
(L) San Vito Martire. (R) San Vincenzo Maria Strambi
(L) San Francesco di Paola, Fossato Serralta, Catanzaro. (R) Beato
Giovanni Liccio, Caccamo, Palermo; and Santa Fortunata di Boucina
 
SS. Salvatore di Montella, Avellino
(L) San Ciro, Napoli. (R) Santi Cosma e Damiano, Riace
(L) San Marzial Martire. (R) Beato Giovanni Liccio, Caccamo, Palermo
(L) San Laverio, Martire Teggianese. (R) San Giovan Giuseppe della Croce
San Calogero, Agrigento
Also see:
Helping Preserve Another Great Collection (Part 1)
Helping Preserve Another Great Collection (Part 2)
Helping Preserve Another Great Collection (Part 3)

Feast of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, the Little Flower of Jesus

St. Thérèse of Lisieux, ora pro nobis
October 3rd is the Feast of St. Thérèse of Lisieux (1873-1897), Virgin, Mystic, Ecstatic, and Doctor of the Church. Also known as St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face, she is the patroness of florists, gardeners, missionaries and the victims of tuberculosis. On a personal note, the Little Flower is our familial patroness. I'll never forget when my maternal great-grandparents gave my paternal grandparents a statue for their front yard. Family and friends gathered to watch as my father installed it. Boy, have times changed. In celebration, I’m posting the Miraculous Invocation to St. Thérèse. Pictured are a few devotional objects passed down to me from my parents. Evviva St. Thérèse!
Miraculous Invocation to St. Thérèse
O Glorious St. Thérèse, whom Almighty God has raised up to aid and inspire the human family, I implore your Miraculous Intercession. You are so powerful in obtaining every need of body and spirit from the Heart of God. Holy Mother Church proclaims you "Prodigy of Miracles... the greatest saint of Modern Times." Now I fervently beseech you to answer my petition (mention in silence here) and to carry out your promises of spending heaven doing good on earth... of letting fall from Heaven a Shower of Roses. Little Flower, give me your childlike faith, to see the Face of God in the people and experiences of my life, and to love God with full confidence. St. Thérèse, my Carmelite Sister, I will fulfill your plea "to be made known everywhere" and I will continue to lead others to Jesus through you. Amen.

Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary at St. Mary's Church in Norwalk, Connecticut

October 2, 2024

Feast of the Guardian Angels

Guardian Angels, orate pro nobis
October 2nd is the Feast of the Guardian Angels, heavenly spirits assigned to watch over us throughout our lives. In celebration, we're posting a Prayer to Our Guardian Angel. The accompanying photo was taken at the Saint Athanasius School gymnasium in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn.

Prayer to Our Guardian Angel

O Holy Guardian Angel, my dear friend and solicitous guide on the dangerous way of life, to thee be heartfelt thanks for the numberless benefits which have been granted me through thy love and goodness and for the powerful help by which thou hast preserved me from so many dangers and temptations. I beg of thee, let me further experience thy love and thy care. Avert from me all danger, increase in me horror for sin and love for all that is good. Be a counselor and consoler to me in all the affairs of my life, and when my life draws to a close, conduct my soul through the valley of death into the kingdom of eternal peace, so that in eternity we may together praise God and rejoice in His glory. Through Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.

Announcing CROSS & CROWN: The New Gebetsliga Newsletter

Dear Friends of Blessed Karl,

October 3 marks the 20th Anniversary of the Beatification of Emperor Karl. To celebrate we’re announcing CROSS & CROWN — the new monthly newsletter from the Emperor Karl League of Prayer USA / Canada. Each month, we’ll bring you inspiring news, events, and reflections that celebrate Blessed Karl. Whether you’re new to his story or a long-time devotee, this newsletter is your place to grow in knowledge and devotion.

From all of us at the League, welcome and happy anniversary!

The Gebetsliga USA / Canada

Upcoming Events

A Light for Our Times: Blessed Karl Conference Washington, D.C.

October 18-20, 2024

Join us this October for an unforgettable Conference. Various events will explore Karl’s life and legacy with prominent scholars, clergy, and cultural figures showcasing Karl’s witness and enduring legacy for leaders and faithful today.

Register Today

Sung Mass for Blessed Karl in Washington, DC

Saturday, October 19, 2024

10:30 AM 12:30 PM


Saint Mary Mother of God Church
727 5th Street Northwest Washington, DC, 20001 United States


Join faithful from around the country on Saturday, October 19, 2024 at 10:30am for a Solemn sung Mass (Novus Ordo) at St. Mary Mother of God Parish in Washington, DC, in honor of Blessed Karl of Austria. The Mass will feature the world premiere of the Mass in Honor of Blessed Karl of Austria by Paul Jernberg. Jernberg composed the work and will serve as conductor at the premiere.

Mass for Blessed Karl in Chièvres, Belgium

Sunday, October 20, 2024
4:30 PM 6:00 PM

Our Lady Tongre Basilica
1, parvis Notre Dame de Tongre 7951 Tongre Notre Dame

The Basilica of Our Lady of Tongre invites you to Mass in honor of Blessed Karl of Austria. Home to a Shrine of Blessed Karl, the Basilica received a relic of Blessed Karl in October 2015 in the presence of over 400 people. To visit there website, click here.

Following the Mass will be veneration of a 1st Class relic of Blessed Karl with prayers and litanies.

Celebrant Rev. Marc Lamotte, Vicar, Basilica of Tongre

Mass and Reception of Relic for Shrine in Cincinnati, OH

Monday, October 21, 2024
6:30 PM 8:00 PM

Old St. Mary's Church
123 East 13th Street Cincinnati, OH, 45202 United States

Join Old St. Mary’s Parish and the Oratorians of Cincinnati for Mass and the reception of Blessed Karl’s relic in preparation for the newest Shrine to Blessed Karl in North America.

Old St. Mary's is the oldest church in Cincinnati and, since 2017, home to The Cincinnati Oratory, a society of the Congregation of the Oratory of St. Philip Neri. The church was organized in 1840 by German immigrants, at a time of dramatic growth in the city's population. True to it’s roots, Old St. Mary’s continues to promote holiness, sanctity, and Catholic Culture in the Over-the-Rhine area and greater Cincinnati and continues to host a German Mass each Sunday.

Feast of St. Bridget of Sweden at the Shrine Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament in Raritan, New Jersey

October 1, 2024

Hidden Homes of Southern Italy and Sicily: Inspirational Homes Under the Mediterranean Sun

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

Hidden Homes of Southern Italy and Sicily: Inspirational homes under the Mediterranean sun by Marta Galli

Publisher: Ryland Peters & Small
Publication Date: June 10, 2025
Hardcover: $39.95
Language: English
Pages: 208

Read description

Click here to see more books

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A Prayer to St. Agatha of Sicily for Breast Cancer Awareness Month

September 30, 2024

Congratulations to the New Knights and Dames of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George

Photo courtesy of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George
Congratulations to the new Cavalieri and Dame of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George, invested on Sunday at St. Mary Church in Nutley, New Jersey. IHSV

Feast of San Girolamo

St. Jerome in his study removing a thorn from the lion’s paw
September 30th is the Feast of San Girolamo (Saint Jerome), Doctor of the Church. A fourth century scholar and historian from the Roman province of Dalmatia, he is best known for his translation of the Holy Bible into Latin (the Vulgate) from the original Hebrew and Greek Septuagint. Protector of Cittanova in Reggio Calabria, San Girolamo is also the patron saint of archeologists, translators, scholars, librarians and students. In celebration, we're posting a Prayer to St. Jerome. The accompanying photo of St. Jerome removing a thorn from the lion’s paw (c. 1440-70) by Early Neapolitan Renaissance painter Niccolò Antonio Colantonio is on view at the Museo Nazionale di Capodimonte in Naples.
Prayer to St. Jerome
Master of unworldliness and founder of monasteries, you had a deep love for God's inspired Word and were a most careful translator of the Sacred Scriptures. Your single-mindedness in seeking God's glory is a perfect model for all exegetes. Inspire them with respect for the sacred text as well as for Tradition and the Church's Magisterium. Help them to impart to all the true meaning of the Word of God. Amen.

Feast of Sant’Amato di Nusco

Sant'Amato Vescovo, ora pro nobis
September 30th is the Feast of Sant’Amato, first Bishop of Nusco, Avellino. Invoked against earthquakes and other natural disasters, many healing miracles have been attributed to the great saint. 
In celebration, we're posting a prayer in Italian to Sant’Amato, courtesy of the Società Sant’Amato di Nusco of Long Island City, New York. The accompanying photo was taken at the society clubhouse in 2014. Evviva Sant'Amato Vescovo!
Orazione a Santo Amato
O glorioso Santo Amato, che in tempi di tenebre splendesti di sanità nella tua patria e la sollevasti a nuovi costumi e nuova vita civile, deh! stendi su tutti i tuoi devoti l'opera tua benefica.
Tu avvisasti nel tuo popolo il fervore della fede e della pietà cristiana, Tu fosti sollievo negli affanni, scampo nei pericoli, e Tu conserva ognora all'ombra tua il popolo del tuo acquisto e quanti invocano il tuo nome benedetto.
O padre e Pastore della tua Nusco spira nei cuori la carità, che ti accese verso il tuo gregge, sicché, amandoci in terra, possiamo esser insieme con Te cittadini in cielo.

Prayer for the Glorification of Father Alfred Pampalon, Patron of Alcoholics and Drug Addicts

Venerable Alfred Pampalon, ora pro nobis
(For Private Use)

O Jesus, in Your power and goodness, You have raised Father Alfred Pampalon to such admirable virtue, grant that, through his intercession, we may imitate him in his love for You and for Your Immaculate Mother, Mary.


Bestow upon us, O Jesus, the favors we seek through his intervention, so that You may be glorified in Your servant and that Your Church may soon raise him to the ranks of Her Blessed and of Her Saints. Amen.


Please report obtained favors to:

Cause of Father Alfred Pampalon

Secretariat of the Shrine

Saint Anne de Beaupre (Quebec)

Canada GOA 3CO