The Passion of San Giovanni Battista

San Giovanni Battista, ora pro nobis

Sancti Joánnis Baptístæ Præcursóris, et Mártyris tui quæsumus, Dómine, veneránda festívitas salutáris auxílii nobis præstet efféctum: Qui vivis.*

August 29th is the Feast of the Passion of San Giovanni Battista (St. John the Baptist), Prophet and Martyr. Beheaded circa 28 AD by Herod the Tetrarch, Saint John’s relics were entombed by his disciples in Samaria. [An alternative tradition says his head was buried on Mount Olive near Jerusalem.] 

Desecrated by pagans in 362 AD, the Saint's holy relics were recovered by monks and scattered throughout Christendom. 

Confirmed by a miracle, the venerable head was first found some three hundred years later and brought to the city of Emesa in Syria. 

In time, Arian heretics moved the relic to a monastery in nearby Spelaion. Discovered again in 453 AD, the Saint's head was translated to Constantinople.

Hidden again during the Iconoclast Controversy in the eighth century, the head was discovered for the third time in the city of Comana in Pontus and returned to the Imperial Capital in 857 AD. 

Today several church's claim to possess the skull, including the Amiens Cathedral in France. According to tradition, after the Fourth Crusade (1202-1204) and the sacking of Constantinople, a portion of the Saint’s skull was moved to the Cathedral. Hidden by the Mayor of Amiens during the wanton destruction of the French Revolution (1789-1799), it was eventually returned in 1816. 

In addition to the Passion of St. John the Baptist, the Church commemorates his nativity on June 24th.  

In celebration, I’m posting the Collect of the Day. The accompanying photo was taken in the Madonna Incoronata Chapel inside Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Pontifical Shrine in East Harlem, New York. Evviva San Giovanni!

Collect of the Day 

O God, who willed that Saint John the Baptist should go ahead of your Son both in his birth and in his death, grant that, as he died a Martyr for truth and justice, we, too, may fight hard for the confession of what you teach. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

* May the august festival of St. John the Baptist, Thy precursor and martyr, we beseech Thee, O Lord, effect for us the furtherance of our salvation. Who Livest.

Photo of the Week: A View of Monte Vesuvio from the Certosa di San Martino, Napoli

Photo courtesy of Rosanna Minervini

Feast of the Madonna Addolorata Del Romitello

August 27th is the Feast of the Madonna Addolorata del Romitello (Our Lady of Sorrows of Romitello), patroness of Borgetto, Sicily. The Feast recalls the Papal Coronation of the miraculous image on August 27, 1922. In celebration, I’m posting a prayer to Our Lady of Sorrows by St. Alphonsus de Liguori. The accompanying photo was taken in 2014 at St. Luke’s Church in Whitestone, Queens when the sacred image was visiting New York from the Santuario Santa Maria Addolorata del Romitello, Sicily. Evviva Madonna Addolorata del Romitello!

Prayer to Our Lady of Sorrows

I compassionate thee, O most sorrowful Mother! Thy heart was pierced with a sword of grief when Simeon foretold to thee in the Temple the ignominious death and the desolation of thy Divine and most dear Son, which thou west destined one day to witness. By the great anguish of thy suffering heart, O gracious Queen of the universe, impress upon my mind, in life and in death, the sacred Passion of Jesus and thine own sorrows. Amen.

Pilgrimage to the Chiesa di San Gregorio Armeno in Naples

Much appreciated souvenirs from the Chiesa di San Gregorio Armeno:
Santa Patrizia prayer card and pamphlet describing the life of the saint

My dear consorella Rosanna Minervini recently returned to her ancestral homeland of southern Italy to connect with family and explore her rich culture. While in Naples, she visited the Baroque Chiesa di San Gregorio Armeno (Church of St. Gregory of Armenia), the repository of Santa Patrizia’s relics. Knowing my strong devotion to the Saint, Rosanna was kind enough to bring me back a couple of souvenirs and share a few photos she took inside the beautiful church.

The Santa Patrizia chapel

Ornate organ pipes above the chapels

The nave

Placard with prayer to Santa Patrizia

A Look at the 2018 Feast of Santa Rosalia in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn

Evviva Santa Rosalia!

Photos by New York Scugnizzo

Despite running for eleven days (August 16th thru August 26th), I’ve been so busy with work and family of late I thought I would never get to go to the “18th Avenue Feast” in honor of Santa Rosalia; but thankfully Thursday evening I was able to stop by and venerate our glorious patroness and enjoy some of the festivities with a few close friends.

The procession with float and statue will begin at the outdoor chapel on 18th Avenue and 72nd Street on Sunday, August 26th at 3:00pm. Mass will be celebrated in Italian at St. Dominic's Church (2001 Bay Ridge Parkway) at 4:00pm.

Festive street lights line the avenue

John and Rosanna celebrate their faith and culture

Feast organizers acquired a beautiful statue of the saint
from the closed St. Rosalia Church (6301 14th Avenue)

(L) The new statue was placed in the outdoor chapel on 72nd St.
(R) The longtime processional statue stood beside the chapel

Our pal Angelo Timoneri with Gino, Charlie and Anthony 

After saying our prayers, we explored the festive fairgrounds

 I never miss an opportunity for Lucy's hot peppers and stigghiola

We stopped by Staten Island's very own Montalbano's of Rosebank
sausage stand for a few sandwiches

Delicious hot sausage smothered in sweet onions and peppers

A view of the fairgrounds from atop the ferris wheel 

After some fun rides and games we indulged our sweet tooth with some zeppoli

Naturally we made our obligatory stop at Villabate Alba Pasticceria
(7001 18th Ave.) for some espresso and baked iris

And finally, we cooled off with a little gelato from L'Artigiano

A Look at the 129th Annual Feast of Saint Rocco in Little Italy, New York (Part 3)

The Procession Continued and Dinner Party

Viva San Rocco!

Photos by New York Scugnizzo

Scenes from Sunday’s 129th Annual Feast of St. Rocco at the Shrine Church of the Most Precious Blood in Manhattan’s historic Little Italy. (See Part 1, Mass and Opening Ceremony and Part 2, The Procession)

The procession makes its way through China Town and Little Italy

The color guard lead the way up Mulberry Street

(Above & below) Members and friends of the St. Rocco Society
of Potenza take turns carrying our beloved patron

Devotees Michael and Freddy show their support

Little Italy was hopping with enthusiasm for San Rocco

Stephen, Concetta, Bruno and Italo enjoying the festivities

After the procession, members of the St. Rocco Society
of Potenza pose for a commemorative photo

Peppino's from Bay Ridge generously donated
trays of delicious southern Italian fare 

Revelers danced the night away

(Above & below) Partygoers enjoyed a very competitive game of “pass the provolone,” a humorous take on “hot potato,” where the winner gets the cheese

(Above & below) A good time was had by all

Salvatore LaRocca was the big winner

Children help draw the raffle tickets

Feast of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Immaculate Heart of Mary, ora pro nobis

Omnípotens sempiterne Deus, qui in Corde beátæ Maríæ Virginis dignum Spíritus Sancti Habitáculum præparásti: concéde propítius ut ejúsdem immaculáti Cordis festivitátem devóta mente recoléntes, secúndum cortuum vívere valéamus. Per Dóminum ...in unitáte ejúsdem.*

August 22nd is the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary, our refuge and pathway to God. In celebration, I’m posting the Solemn Act of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary by Venerable Pope Pius XII. The accompanying photo was taken at Saint Francis of Paola Church (219 Conselyea Street) in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Ave Maria!

Solemn Act of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Most Holy Virgin Mary, tender Mother of men, to fulfill the desires of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the request of the Vicar of Your Son on earth, we consecrate ourselves and our families to your Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart, O Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, and we recommend to You, all the people of our country and all the world. Please accept our consecration, dearest Mother, and use us as You wish to accomplish Your designs in the world. O Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, and Queen of the World, rule over us, together with the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ, Our King. Save us from the spreading flood of modern paganism; kindle in our hearts and homes the love of purity, the practice of a virtuous life, an ardent zeal for souls, and a desire to pray the Rosary more faithfully. We come with confidence to You, O Throne of Grace and Mother of Fair Love. Inflame us with the same Divine Fire which has inflamed Your own Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart. Make our hearts and homes Your shrine, and through us, make the Heart of Jesus, together with your rule, triumph in every heart and home. Amen.

* Almighty, everlasting God, who didst prepare in the Heart of the Virgin Mary a worthy dwelling-place for the Holy Ghost: mercifully grant that we, devoutly contemplating the festivity of the same immaculate Heart, may be enabled to live according to Thy heart. Through our Lord...in union with the same.

A Look at the 129th Annual Feast of Saint Rocco in Little Italy, New York (Part 2)

The Procession

Viva San Rocco!

Photos by New York Scugnizzo

Scenes from Sunday’s 129th Annual Feast of St. Rocco at the Shrine Church of the Most Precious Blood in Manhattan’s historic Little Italy. (See Part 1, Mass and Opening Ceremony and Part 3, The Procession Continued and Dinner Party)

The expectant crowd erupts in elation as the saint descends the stairs

Laden with gold, money and ex-voto,
the procession departs Little Italy

Salvatore and Constantino did a terrific job
conveying the cinte, or candle house

Society standards add to the pageantry

Paul Tocci and family generously provided
beverages to thirsty participants 

(Above & below) Revelers dance the tarantella in the
rain outside the old Vanella Funeral Chapel 

Passing on the traditions to the next generation 

(Above & below) Members and friends of the St. Rocco Society
of Potenza take turns carrying our beloved patron

Locals and tourist enjoy the festivities 

Donations are pinned to the statue all along Mulberry Street

(Above & below) Family and friends celebrating their faith and culture 

(Above & below) A good time was had by all

Our friends from the St. Joseph Society of Lodi, New Jersey show their support

Our friends from the Associazione Culturale Pugliese Figli Maria SS. Addolorata