September 30, 2018

Celebrating the Third Annual Feast of the Archangel Michael at Most Precious Blood Church in NYC

Evviva San Michele!
Photos by New York Scugnizzo and Andrew Giordano
A look at Saturday's 3rd Annual Solemn High Traditional Latin Mass for the Feast of St. Michael the Archangel at the Shrine Church of the Most Precious Blood in Little Italy, New York.
Fr. Christopher Salvatori, Fr. Robert Rodriguez
and Cav. Msgr. Joseph Ambrosio
(Above & below) The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass
Fr. Robert sings the Gospel
During his sermon, Cav. Msgr. Ambrosio led us in
reciting the Original Prayer to St. Michael
 
(Above & below) The sacred ministers celebrating Mass
(R.) Thurifer incensing the congregation
Ecce Angus Dei 
The recessional 
As always, music director Art Manabat and choir were phenomenal  
Missalettes and an old votive candle jar used as a makeshift vase 
After Mass, servers (Michael, Matthew, Joe and Lorenzo) and
the sacred ministers take a commemorative photo by the High Alter 

September 29, 2018

Announcing the Inaugural Constantinian Auxiliary Corps Food Walk in New York City

This Thursday, October 4th at 7:00PM join the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George Auxiliary Corps for their first monthly food walk. Volunteers will meet at the Church of the Transfiguration (29 Mott Street) in Chinatown, New York to prepare and distribute food to the homeless.
Anyone interested in supporting this charitable endeavor can contact Cav. John Napoli at jnapoli@smocsg.com

September 27, 2018

Five Days of Faith, Friendship, Food and Fashion

Enjoying the festivities at the San
Gennaro Feast with Fr. Salvatori
Busy with work and other responsibilities, over the past few months I’ve been unable to write as often (or as in depth) as I would like for the blog. However, in order to keep things current and up-to-date, when I’m short on time I will combine a few recent anecdotes into one post. Unfortunately, there is no foreseeable letup in my busy schedule so I may have to continue posting this way for a while. 
Wednesday, September 19th — The Feast of San Gennaro
For the fourth year in a row, I had the great privilege of carrying the statue of San Gennaro in the procession during the feast in Little Italy, New York. While I welcome the renewed interest in carrying the statue shown by many young people this year, I know this eventually means a more limited role for me, so I cherish every opportunity I get to lift our glorious patron. Viva San Gennaro!
For our coverage of this year’s Feast see:
Celebrating the 92nd Annual Feast of San Gennaro (Part 1)
Celebrating the 92nd Annual Feast of San Gennaro (Part 2)


Thursday, September 20th — The Feasts of Santa Cándida and Sant’Eustachio
After work Thursday, a few of us stopped by the AKA Times Square Hotel in Manhattan to see our dear friends Salvatore and Annamaria Argenio. In town from Naples for the Feast of San Gennaro, they are also promoting their new line of clothing.  
Catching up and perusing their wares, our gracious and generous hosts treated us to few cold pints of Stella Artois and phenomenal Neapolitan taralli
Naturally, I couldn’t leave without picking up one of their new polo shirts sporting the coat-of-arms of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies on the left breast. Available in an array of colors and styles, I chose the pine green with navy accents and Argenio signature stitched on the right sleeve.
Argenio polo shirt with coat-of-arms of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies
To my great joy, Annamaria and Salvatore remembered my devotion to Santa Patrizia and gave me a couple of prayer cards and a packet of dried flowers from the Chiesa di San Gregorio Armeno in Naples. Selflessly, they stopped by the sanctuary to pick up the religious articles before coming to the U.S. Amazingly, this was the third time in a month I received her prayer cards as a gift; it must be a sign of some sort.
My growing Santa Patrizia collection
Friday, September 21st — The Feast of San Matteo
My friend John is a huge collector of Duosiciliano and Neapolitan Bourbon memorabilia and has kindly granted me permission to share a few photos of his magnificent collection with our readers. Spacing them out in multiple posts, I thought it apropos to begin with couple of items related to San Gennaro. 
San Gennaro wall plaques
Knowing my affinity to Most Precious Blood Church in Little Italy, New York, he first showed me a few vintage San Gennaro wall plaques from the shrine. Sadly, these days there are few high quality religious articles available at the feast, so to devotees these plaques are highly sought-after collectors items.
Gilded leather case with medals
Even more rare and immensely more valuable was his breast star and collar of the illustrious Royal Order of St. Januarius (Insigne Reale Ordine di San Gennaro) with gilded leather case. A premier Order of Knighthood, it was founded on July 3rd, 1738 by HRH Charles of Bourbon, King of Naples and Sicily, to honor the Patron Saint of Naples and to celebrate his marriage to Princess Maria Amalia Walburga of Poland and Saxony. I’ve only seen these exquisite items once before.
The Royal Order of St. Januarius collar and breast star
* * *
Later that night, I joined my St. Rocco Society brethren at Peppino’s Restaurant in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn for our monthly “Boys Night Out.” Dinner was all the more special because it was the Feast of San Matteo and the name day of our confratello Matthew. It was also the patronal feast of our brother Andrew, who has familial roots in Salerno. Viva San Matteo! 
Andrew, Paul, Matt, Peter, Vinny, Stephen, Giorgio and John
Saturday, September 22nd — Feast of the Blessed Martyrs of the Spanish Civil War
My stretch of good fortune continued on Saturday when a friend unexpectedly gave me several thoughtful gifts, including a hardcover copy of the Ettore Gallo's Il Gran Magistero del Sacro Militare Ordine Costantiniano di San Giorgio, a few extra Due Sicilie patches, and a (long sought after) replica Royal Cockade with fleur-de-lis.
Some thoughtful and much appreciated gifts
Sunday, September 23rd — The Feast of San Padre Pio
I witnessed history Sunday, as HRH Prince Carlo di Borbone Due Sicilie, Duke of Castro, and his eldest daughter, HRH Princess Maria Carolina, Duchess of Calabria and Palermo, decorated the statue of San Gennaro with the Cross of Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George. As far as I’m aware, this was the first time this ceremony was ever performed in North America. Viva 'o Rre!
The Royal Family with the decorated statue of San Gennaro
For our coverage of the Royal Visit see:
A Royal Visit to Little Italy (Part 1)
A Royal Visit to Little Italy (Part 2)

September 26, 2018

A Royal Visit to Little Italy (Part 2)

The statue of San Gennaro with the Cross of the
Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George
HRH Prince Charles of Bourbon Two Sicilies, Duke of Castro, and the Royal Family visit the 92nd Annual Feast of San Gennaro in Little Italy, New York and decorate the statue with the Cross of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George. (See part 1)
HRH Princess Maria Carolina, Duchess of Calabria and Palermo, and HRH Prince Charles of Bourbon Two Sicilies bestow the Cross of the Order upon the statue
After the solemn ceremony, the Royal Family were given an extensive tour of Most Precious Blood Church (113 Baxter St.), the National Shrine of San Gennaro
(Above & below) A French television film crew were documenting
the Royal Family's visit to New York City
 
In addition to the incredible collection of southern Italian religious artifacts, they were shown the major renovations taking place in the church basement
Photo courtesy of Andrew Giordano
Afterward, we stopped by Song' e Napule for some authentic
Neapolitan Pizza and to say hi to our pal Ciro Iovine
Ciro personally serves the Duke one of his delicious masterpieces
The Prince approves
Ciro shares his joy and excitement with French Television
After lunch, the Prince discovers his family's coat-of-arms
emblazoned on t-shirts at E. Rossi & Co. (193 Grand St.)
A surprised and delighted Ernie Rossi greets the Duke
Prince Charles happily autographs a couple of shirts for Ernie
The Duke jokingly inquired about the royalties 
The Duke's autograph

September 25, 2018

A Royal Visit to Little Italy (Part 1)

John Fratta of the Figli di San Gennaro Society escorts the Royal Family
and their retinue through the streets of Little Italy
HRH Prince Charles of Bourbon Two Sicilies, Duke of Castro, and the Royal Family visit the 92nd Annual Feast of San Gennaro in Little Italy, New York and decorate the statue with the Cross of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George. (See part 2)
TRH Princess Camilla and Prince Charles of Bourbon
Two Sicilies, Duchess and Duke of Castro
 
San Gennaro is carried into Most Precious Blood's courtyard 
(Above & below) The Duke is greeted by church and society dignitaries
Warmly welcomed, the Royal Family visit the outdoor chapel on Mulberry St.
HE Cav. John M. Viola, US Delegate of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George, served as Master of Ceremonies
Pastor Msgr. Donald Sakano leads us in prayer
Monsignor blesses the medal 
HRH Prince Charles of Bourbon Two Sicilies, Duke of Castro and 59th Grand Master of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George
A peek at the program
The medal used in the ceremony 
(Above & below) HRH Princess Maria Carolina, Duchess of Calabria & Palermo,
and the Duke bestow the Cross of the Order upon the statue
 
HRH Princess Maria Chiara, Duchess of Noto and Capri; Princess Camilla;
Prince Charles; Princess Maria Carolina; and HE John Viola take a commemorative photo with the decorated statue of San Gennaro
Our glorious patron with his new medal
A close up of the Constantinian Cross on the statue
After the ceremony, Prince Charles offers a medallion with the coat-of-arms of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies to Msgr. Sakano
Members of the Red Mike Festival Band and the
Figli di San Gennaro join the Royals for a photo