Feast of San Leone Luca di Corleone

San Leone Luca di Corleone, ora pro nobis

March 1st is the feast of St. Leolucas of Corleone (Leoluca), a Sicilian monk and abbot venerated in both the Greek and Latin traditions. Born c. 815 in Corleone during the period of Muslim rule in Sicily, he fled persecution as a young man and embraced the monastic life in Calabria, then part of the Byzantine world.

Formed in the Basilian tradition, he lived as a hermit at the monastery of Mount Mula, nestled high in the Orsomarso Mountains. Known for ascetic rigor, charity, and reputed miracles, he became abbot and spiritual father to many disciples. His life reflected the fusion of Eastern monastic spirituality with the enduring Christian culture of Southern Italy.

St. Leolucas died around 915 at an advanced age. He remains especially honored in Corleone, Sicily, and Vibo Valentia, Calabria, where he is revered as patron and protector. Evviva San Leone Luca di Corleone!

In celebration of his feast, we offer this prayer:

Prayer to St. Leolucas of Corleone

Grant, we beseech Thee, almighty God, that the examples of St. Leolucas of Corleone may effectually move us to reform our lives; that while we celebrate his feast, we may also imitate his actions. Look upon our weakness, almighty God, and since the burden of our own deeds weighs heavily upon us, may the glorious intercession of St. Leolucas protect us. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Grave Reckonings and Quiet Renewal of March

San Giuseppe, ora pro nobis

March is the time of year when winter loosens and spring presses forward. The year pivots here, carrying the weight of what has been endured into what may yet be renewed. From the Kalends, Nones, and Ides—the old Roman markers by which the month was reckoned—the days are measured with sobriety and order.

March remembers sacrifice before rebirth. On March 10th, the Martyrs of Tradition are recalled—nine seminarians from Oviedo, killed in odium fidei during the Spanish Civil War.

The Ides of March remind us that order can fall in an instant. History marks the day as a warning; the Church marks it as the feast of St. Longinus, the soldier whose act of violence became his conversion.

The vernal equinox restores balance; night and day stand equal within the order of creation.

March 19th, the Church honors St. Joseph, guardian of the Holy Family and protector of the Universal Church. March 21st recalls St. Benedict of Nursia, whose rule of prayer and labor helped rebuild a shattered civilization.

March remembers what has been lost, measures what remains, and prepares the ground for what must come next.

~ By Giovanni di Napoli, February 28th, Feast of Saints Romano di Condat and Lupicino Abate

March — A Poem by Salvatore Di Giacomo

The month of March is named after
Mars, the god of war. Relief from
Villa San Michele, Capri

Photo by New York Scugnizzo

Reprinted from The Bread and the Rose: A trilingual Anthology of Neapolitan Poetry from the 16th Century to the Present, edited by Achille Serrao and Luigi Bonaffini, Legas, 2005 p. 136.

Marzo

Marzo: nu poco chiove

e n' ato ppoco stracqua:

torna a chiovere, schiove,

ride 'o sole cu ll'acqua.

Mo nu cielo celeste,

mo n'aria cupa e nera:

mo d' 'o vierno 'e tempeste,

mo n'aria e primmavera.

N' auciello freddigliuso

aspetta ch' esce 'o sole:

ncopp' 'o tturreno nfuso

suspireno 'e vviole...

Catarì!... Che buo' cchiù?

Ntiénneme, core mio!

Marzo, tu 'o ssaie, si' tu,

e st'auciello songo io.

March

March: there's a bit of rain,

just a bit later it stops:

it starts, then it stops again,

the sun laughs with the drops.

A moment of clear azure,

a moment of clouds threatening:

a moment of winter's fury,

a moment of glorious spring.

A shivering bird nearby

waits for the sun to return,

while all of the violets sigh

over the sodden terrain.

Caterina!... Isn't it clear

from what you've already heard?

You know, you are March, my dear, 

and I am that little bird. 

* English translation by Michael Palma

Saints of the Day for March

(L—R) San Giuseppe, the Annunciation, and San Longino Martire

March is traditionally the month the Church dedicates to St. Joseph, whose feast is observed on March 19th.

• March 1 — Feast of San Leone Luca di Corleone
• March 2 — Feast of San Luca Casale da Nicosia
• March 4 — Miraculous Novena of Grace in Honor of St. Francis Xavier
• March 3 — Feast of Beato Pietro Geremia
• March 4 — Feast of San Casimiro

• March 5 — Feast of San Giovan Giuseppe della Croce
• March 6 — Feast of Santa Rosa da Viterbo
• March 6 — Feast of Sante Perpetua and Felicita
• March 6 — Novena to St. Longinus
• March 7 — Feast of San Tommaso D'Aquino
• March 8 — Feast of San Cataldo
• March 9 — Feast of Santa Francesca Romana
• March 10 — Novena to San Giuseppe
• March 11 — Feast of Santa Teresa Margherita del Cuore di Gesù
• March 12 — Feast of San Gregorio Magno
• March 13 — Feast of Beato Pietro II, Abate di Cava
• March 14 — Feast of Beato Giacomo Cusmano
• March 14 — Feast of Santa Matilde di Ringelheim
• March 15 — Feast of San Longino Martire
• March 15 — Feast of Santa Luisa de Marillac
• March 16 — Feast of Sant'Eriberto di Colonia
• March 17 — Feast of Beata Bárbara Maix
• March 17 — Feast of Santa Gertrude di Nivelles
• March 17 — Feast of San Corrado di Baviera
• March 18 — Feast of San Salvatore da Horta
• March 19 — Feast of San Giuseppe
• March 21 — Feast of San Benedetto da Nursia
• March 21 — Feast of Bl. Maria Candida of the Eucharist
• March 22 — Feast of Sant'Isidoro l'Agricoltore
• March 23 — Feast of San Giuseppe Oriol
• March 24 — Feast of San Gabriele Arcangelo
• March 24 — Feast of Sant’Aldemaro da Capua
• March 25 — Novena to Santa Fara (Burgundofara)
• March 25 — Feast of the Madonna di Picciano
• March 25 — Feast of the Annunciation (It is transferred to the first available day after the Easter Octave if it coincides with Holy Week. If it falls on a Sunday of Lent, it moves to the following Monday.)
• March 26 — Feast of Beata Maddalena Caterina Morano
• March 28 — Feast of San Giovanni da Capestrano
• March 29 — Feast of San Bertoldo di Calabria
• March 30 — Feast of Beato Gioacchino da Fiore
• March 30 — Feast of San Giovanni Climaco
• March 31 — Feast of Beata Giovanna di Tolosa

XXXIX Incontro della “Fedelissima” Civitella del Tronto alla presenza di Leo von Hohenberg

Public Petition for the Restoration of the Holy Mass according to the Usus Antiquior of the Roman Rite in the Basilica of San Paolo Maggiore

For years, the faithful of Naples have gathered at the Basilica of San Paolo Maggiore to worship according to the Usus antiquior of the Roman Rite. In April 2024, that Mass was suppressed based on claims that attendance was minimal—claims we now know to be unfounded and based on inaccurate information. Despite repeated, respectful appeals to Cardinal Domenico Battaglia and the Diocesan Curia, and even after notifying the Dicastery for Divine Worship in Rome, no meaningful response has been given. Meanwhile, Mass has been restored elsewhere under different circumstances. We believe the time has come to seek equal consideration and the rightful restoration of Sunday and holy day Mass at San Paolo Maggiore.

We invite you to stand with us. Visit messatridentinanapoli.com, download the petition form, and add your signature in support of restoring the Traditional Latin Mass at San Paolo Maggiore. Whether you reside in Naples or wish to express solidarity from afar, your voice matters. Please return the signed form within seven days as indicated on the website. United in prayer and charity, let us work together for the long-awaited restoration of our Mass.

Feast of Saints Romano di Condat and Lupicino Abate

San Romano di Condat and San Lupicino Abate, orate pro nobis

February 28th is the Feast of St. Romanus and his brother St. Lupicinus, fifth-century monks and founders of monastic life in the Jura Mountains, along the borderlands of present-day France and Switzerland. Born into a Gallo-Roman Christian family, Romanus withdrew at a young age into the wilderness to pursue an ascetic life of prayer, fasting, and solitude. His reputation for holiness soon attracted disciples, and a small hermitage grew into an organized monastic community.

Lupicinus later joined his brother and proved to be the sterner and more austere of the two. Where Romanus embodied gentleness and pastoral care, Lupicinus enforced strict discipline and obedience, shaping the communities with a rigorous rule of life. Together, they founded several monasteries, most notably Condat, later known as Saint-Claude, which became spiritual centers of the region and models of Western monasticism before the widespread adoption of the Rule of St. Benedict.

Together, the brother abbots’ differing temperaments forged a durable monastic tradition whose influence endured long after their deaths.

Evviva i Santi fratelli Romano e Lupicino!

On the occasion of their feast, we offer this prayer:

Prayer to Saints Romanus and Lupicinus

Grant, we beseech Thee, almighty God, that the examples of Saint Romanus and Saint Lupicinus may effectually move us to reform our lives; that while we celebrate their feast, we may also imitate their actions. Look upon our weakness, almighty God, and since the burden of our own deeds weighs heavily upon us, may the glorious intercession of Saint Romanus and Saint Lupicinus protect us. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

In Loving Memory of Achille “Artie” Pirro

It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Achille “Artie” Pirro, who passed away on February 24 after a courageous battle with stage 4 small-cell lung cancer.

Artie was a devoted member of the Third Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel and proudly served as District Warden of the Knights of Columbus. He was also a dedicated member of the San Rocco Society. Deeply rooted in his faith and heritage, Artie faithfully participated each year in the Feast of San Gennaro in Little Italy, New York, as well as the Feasts of San Paolino and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

He will be remembered for his unwavering devotion to his church, his community, and the traditions he cherished.

Artie is survived by his beloved wife, Alana Clark Pirro.

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

Birth of the Tercio de Nápoles

“The ink that dyes my pen is not soaked in the blue of literary chimeras, but is red like the blood of the soldiers of the ‘tercios’ of the kings of Naples, in which my Neapolitan ancestors, sons of Italian land, established the truth absorbing us with the perfect grace of the whirling flash of their imperial swords.” ~ Francisco de Tejada [1]

Today, we commemorate the formation of the Tercio de Nápoles, the Old Third of Naples. February 27, 1537, marks the traditional birth date of this elite fighting force. Dios, Patria, Fueros y Rey. [2]

Notes

[1] Translated from La monarchia tradizionale, Francisco Elías de Tejada, Controcorrente Edizioni, 2001, p. 16. The original reads: “L’inchiostro che tinge la mia penna non è intriso nell’azzurro delle chimere letterarie, ma è rosso come il sangue dei soldati dei 'tercios' dei re di Napoli, in cui i miei antenati napoletani, figli di terra italiana, stabilirono la verità che ci assorbe colla grazia perfetta del roteante balenio delle loro spade imperiali.”

[2] Carlist motto, which means "God, Country, Privileges and King"

Holy Week in Beautiful Sicily Webinar with Daniela Privitera

Giambattista Basile, the Neapolitan Father of Fairy Tales

Giambattista Basile

February 26th, National Tell a Fairy Tale Day, is a fitting hour to invoke the shade of Giambattista Basile (c. 1566–1632), a native son of Naples and the first great chronicler of fairy tales as they were truly told: cruel, comic, enchanted, and steeped in blood and fate.

Born in the Kingdom of Naples, Basile lived amid courts where splendor and learning walked hand in hand. He served as a soldier, courtier, and administrator under various noble patrons in Southern Italy, navigating through a world of intrigue, vanity, and sudden reversals of fortune—conditions echoed throughout his stories. Naples itself, a jewel of the Spanish Empire, lent its language and temperament to his writing. He used the earthy, musical Neapolitan language, capturing the voice of the streets, kitchens, and countryside.

His great work, Lo cunto de li cunti (1634–1636), later known as the Pentamerone, was published posthumously, thanks to his sister Adriana. Structured as a frame tale told over five days, it contains fifty stories drawn from ancient oral tradition, many appearing here for the first time in written form. Within its pages lie the earliest known versions of tales later softened into nursery stories, such as Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Rapunzel, and Snow White. However, in Basile’s telling, these are no gentle amusements. Forests are thick with sorcery, princes are ensnared by spells, queens scheme and seethe with envy, and justice arrives late, if at all.

These tales were composed for adult audiences, for courtiers who understood that marvel and monstrosity are closely linked. Basile’s world is governed by Fortune, not sentiment. Wit is a weapon, beauty a peril, and survival a cunning art. The supernatural is ever-present, but never reassuring. Ogres, fairies, and witches obey older, eldritch laws.

To read Basile is to glimpse the fairy tale before it was sanitized for children, a world of candlelit halls, whispered curses, and moonlit paths through perilous woods. On this day dedicated to telling fairy tales, we remember him not just as a storyteller but as a Neapolitan conjurer who recorded ancient spells in black ink, ensuring their darkness, laughter, and dread would never completely fade.

~ By Giovanni di Napoli, February 25th, Feast of Santa Valburga

Remembering Juan Vásquez de Mella y Fanjul

Cangas de Onís, Spain, 8 June 1861—Madrid, Spain, 26 February 1928

In memory of Juan Vásquez de Mella y Fanjul—El Verbo de la Tradición (“The Word of Tradition”), Carlist politician and political theorist—we pray for the happy repose of his soul.

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

Remembering Joseph de Maistre

b. 1 April 1753 — d. 26 February 1821

In memory of Joseph Marie, Comte de Maistre, diplomat, philosopher, and counter-revolutionary writer, we pray for the happy repose of his soul.

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

Remembering King Roger II of Sicily

Statue of Ruggero II di Sicilia sculpted by Emilio Franceschi on the western facade of the Royal Palace in the Largo del Palazzo Reale in Naples

In memory of Roger the Norman (22 December, 1095 — 26 February, 1154), King of Sicily, 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

My Thoughts on A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms

Spoiler Alert

I just finished watching A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (2026) on HBO Max, and I’m happy to say I absolutely loved it. After waiting what felt like ages for a new fantasy series free of contrived modern messaging, I was not disappointed. With episodes averaging about thirty-six minutes, each installment left me wanting more and eagerly anticipating the next. Now that the six-episode run has concluded, it plays beautifully as a single, sweeping three-hour-plus cinematic experience.

As someone who hasn’t read George R.R. Martin’s books, I can’t comment on its faithfulness to the lore. But as a longtime fan of sword-and-sorcery tales and the chivalric and martial traditions of Europe, I can confidently say this is one of the best entries in the genre in recent years.

Set in the fictional land of Westeros—specifically around the tourney at Ashford Meadow—the series is both visually and audibly arresting. The performances and dialogue are consistently strong, but the chemistry between Dunk—Ser Duncan the Tall (played by Peter Claffey)—and young “Egg,” Prince Aegon Targaryen (played by Dextor Sol Ansell), is the heart of the show. Their dynamic is warm, often humorous, and at times moving.

The costumes, cinematography, and musical score are all first-rate. I especially appreciated the realistic brutality of the battle scenes, the quiet heroism of the protagonist, the layered courtly intrigue, the betrayals, the sacrifices, the pageantry, and the genuine narrative twists. More than once, I found myself honestly surprised.

The show is not without its flaws. Even though it's brief, each episode has at least one scene involving excrement, vomit, or urine. While perhaps meant to underscore realism, these moments felt unnecessary and gratuitous. They detract from an otherwise elevated tone.

Other than that, the only continuity error I noticed was a brief scene where Dunk appears with his shield after he's already parted with it.

Reports indicate that showrunner Ira Parker has expressed interest in extending the series to twelve or fifteen seasons over several decades—a goal that may prove unrealistic given the limited source material at hand.

That said, even two or three additional seasons of comparable quality would be a rare achievement in today’s entertainment landscape. With season two reportedly already in production, we may not have to wait long. Hopefully, it will avoid the sharp decline in quality that often afflicts sophomore efforts.

If this first season is any indication, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms stands as a refreshing return to character-driven fantasy rooted in honor, loyalty, masculinity, and the enduring allure of knighthood.

~ By Giovanni di Napoli, February 24th, Feast of Beato Tommaso Maria Fusco

Feria of Lent at St. Mary of Mt. Virgin Church in New Brunswick, New Jersey

Happy Birthday Prince Carlo di Borbone!

HRH was born in Saint Raphaël,
France on February 24, 1963 

Happy Birthday, Prince Carlo di Borbone – Two Sicilies, Duke of Castro and Grand Master of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George! We pray that your special day be filled with the glory and wonder of God’s abiding love, and may you feel His presence throughout the coming year. Peace be upon you. Tantissimi auguri, Altezza Reale!

In celebration, we’re posting the traditional prayer for the Prince.*

Ant. O Lord, save our Prince, Charles, and hear us on the day we call upon Thee.

Let us pray:

Extend, O Lord, the right hand of Thy heavenly aid to Thy servant Charles, Master of our Order, so that strengthened by Thy protection, he may ever be the just, brave, pious, prudent and untiring ruler of this Sacred Order, drive out the unfaithful, and honor justice, reward merit and punish fault: may he be the defender of the Faith of Thy holy and Catholic Church, to the honor and praise of Thy glorious Name, and after a long and happy life on earth, may, by Thy Will, enjoy eternal beatitude in Heaven. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who with Thee, lives and reigns in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end. Amen.

* Source: The American Delegation of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George

Holy Hour for Peace at St. John Vianney Church in Colonia, New Jersey

Naples Mourns the Great Angela Luce

Famed Neapolitan singer and actress Angela Luce died of heart failure in Naples on February 20, 2026. She was 87. Born Angela Savino on December 3, 1938, to a family of artisans who crafted shoes, silk flowers, and fashion accessories, she remained a daughter of Naples in spirit and in art throughout her life.

A luminous presence in Neapolitan-language theatre, Luce appeared in more than 80 films following her 1956 debut in Ricordati di Napoli. Over the course of her career, she recorded 18 albums between 1972 and 2009. Her musical journey began at just 14, when she performed the iconic Zì Carmilì at the Piedigrotta Bideri festival, marking the start of a career that would span seven decades.

Her accolades were numerous. She won the David di Donatello for her performance in L’amore molesto, directed by Mario Martone, a film that earned international recognition at Cannes. On screen, she shared roles with some of Italy’s greatest actors, including Marcello Mastroianni, Vittorio Gassman, Nino Manfredi, Alberto Sordi, Ugo Tognazzi, Vittorio De Sica, and Totò, among others.

Luce became a living bridge between the classic Neapolitan musical tradition—rooted in café-chantant—and the evolving cultural landscape of the 20th century. For younger generations, she was the voice that reintroduced them to two centuries of Neapolitan repertoire. Her signature interpretations included Raffaele Viviani’s So’ Bammenella ’e copp’ ’e Quartiere, featured in Napoli Notte e Giorno directed by Giuseppe Patroni Griffi and presented at the Spoleto Festival; Ipocrisia by Pino Giordano and Eduardo Alfieri, which placed second at the Sanremo Music Festival in 1975; and Voglia, her own composition with Angelo Fiore, which won the 1984 UNICEF Award.

On stage, Luce performed in the works of Eduardo Scarpetta and frequently collaborated with Eduardo De Filippo, appearing with him in theatre and on television. Her performances carried Neapolitan drama far beyond Italy—to the Wiesbaden Festival in Germany, the Théâtre Sarah Bernhardt in Paris, The Old Vic in London, the Mark Hellinger Theatre in New York, and the Teatro Coliseo in Buenos Aires.

Deeply devoted to her faith and her city, Luce volunteered from 2011 onward at the annual September 10 Serenata alla Madonna, honoring Our Lady of Piedigrotta. Private by nature, she chose never to marry, dedicating her life entirely to her art. She spoke candidly, however, of a tormented relationship with singer Peppino Gagliardi and of a profound love for a man outside the entertainment world, Amedeo, who died tragically in 1974.

Just days before her passing, Luce recorded a message of encouragement to the owners and staff of Naples’ historic Teatro Sannazzaro, which suffered severe damage in a February 2026 fire—a final gesture of solidarity with the theatrical community she cherished.

Angela Luce’s beauty, generosity of spirit, and intimate rapport with her audiences were legendary. With her passing, Naples loses not only a star, but a guardian of its voice.

~ By Antonio Isernia

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)

Photo of the Week: The Fontana della Pigna in the Cortile della Pigna, Vatican

Photo by New York Scugnizzo

Two Upcoming Catholic Women's Retreats

Why I Write After Sixteen Years and Eleven Months

On this, our sixteenth-year and eleven-month anniversary,* I want to clarify something about the words I share here. My posts are not meant as virtue signaling, nor are they intended to showcase any supposed holiness on my part. They are, first and foremost, a way for me to work through my thoughts and struggles. If others find value in them, that is a gift. I write just as much for myself as for anyone else.

The truth is that I am deeply uncomfortable when people compliment me on being “holy” or “virtuous”—if they only knew how far that is from the truth. I am the first to admit that I am a sinner in desperate need of God’s mercy and forgiveness. I do not stand above anyone. If I appear “very religious,” it is only because so many around me are terribly irreligious. It is like being the tallest dwarf in the room—hardly a testament to stature.

I do not write for accolades. Proof of this is simple: I write under a pseudonym. If I craved praise, I would attach these words to my real name and seek recognition. Yes, it is nice to be appreciated, but praise never sits comfortably with me. If affirmation—or worse, popularity—were the goal, I would not be doing this, but something more fashionable instead.

I also do not write for money. I haven’t made a penny from any of this. It is a labor of love, freely chosen. In a world obsessed with monetization and branding, I am content to remain nameless, faceless, and unpaid. The poverty I embrace is by choice, for the sake of something higher.

This work is not about virtue, vanity, or profit. It is about honesty, struggle, and a desire to cling to truth, even when I fall short. Any benefit to others is something for which I am grateful. But understand this about me: I am not a saint, a sage, or a prophet. I am simply someone stumbling forward, trying to give form to what I believe and seek to live out.

Sixteen years and eleven months of writing, reflection, and labor. No fortune, no name—only continuity. Imperfect yet persistent. That is enough.

~ By Giovanni di Napoli, February 21st, Feast of St. Peter Mavimenus

*As seventeen is considered unlucky in Duosiciliano culture, it seems fitting to pause here just short of it for a small celebration. The superstition goes back to the Roman numeral XVII, which can be rearranged to spell VIXI—“I have lived”—a phrase tied to death. For this reason, rather than tempt fate, we’ve decided to mark our sixteenth year and eleventh month of writing with joy and gratitude, leaving the ominous 17th for others to brave.

Il Portastendardo di Civitella del Tronto (n. 56 - Febbraio 2026)

Lent with the Emperor

The Blessed Karl von Habsburg Symposium V

Saturday, March 7, 2026 (8:00AM–5:00PM)

Renaissance Dallas North Hotel
1590 Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
Dallas, TX, 75234

Fifth Gathering:
• Conference
• “Dinner with the Speakers”
• Singles Social Event

It could be said that the last few years of Bl. Karl’s life was one long ‘Lent’.

Ten speakers from several US states and foreign countries will look deep, each in a different way, into how an emperor and a Catholic navigate through personal difficulties, societal disorder, and into personal, interior triumph.

MAKE A PILGRIMAGE TO THE EMPEROR’S LENT—2026

Discover the richness and benefit of a Good Lent– strength and perseverance in troubling times–Kaiser Karl’s way.

JOIN THE HUNDREDS FROM DOZENS OF STATES & EVEN FOREIGN COUNTRIES WHO WILL ATTEND

Click here to Attend