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Madonna di Lourdes, ora pro nobis
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Ember Wednesday members of the Fratelli della Santa Fede, or Sanfedisti for short, visited the outdoor Madonna di Lourdes shrine at St. Catherine of Alexandria Church (1119 42nd St.) in Borough Park, Brooklyn. One of the few accessible open air sacred spaces left in our part of town, we thanked the Lord for our many gifts, entreated Him to sanctify the season of Autumn, prayed to San Pio da Pietrelcina, and recited the Holy Rosary for the Poor and Forgotten Souls in Purgatory.
We also prayed for the faithful in Caltanissetta, Sicily, whose Chiesa San Agata al Collegio was vandalized and looted late Monday night by several disturbed young men. In addition to desecrating priceless sacred objects, these demons broke into the tabernacle and scattered the Host across the sanctuary floor. Lord have mercy on us.
Jumping the gun a week earlier, due to some confusion with the September dates, we learned that the Fall Ember Days, under the 1960 Code of Rubrics promulgated by Pope John XXIII, actually follow the third Sunday within the month, not the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (September 14th), which was how they were calculated in the pre-1955 rubrics. For more about the Michaelmas Ember Days visit Fr. Z’s Blog and Fish Eaters.
Although a little embarrassed by the mixup, we were none the worse for wear. At the very least, in our exuberance we got to visit this beautiful grotto, say a few additional prayers and fasted an extra day this month. Surely, that could never be a bad thing. Evviva San Pio!
~ Giovanni di Napoli, September 23rd, Feast of San Pio da Pietrelcina
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(L) The church is currently under renovation. (R) Parish war memorial
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View of the churchyard from the corner entrance
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The grotto
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(L) St. Bernadette Soubirous. (R) Our Lady of Lourdes
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The grotto from the right
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The grotto from the left
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(L) Outdoor altar against the grotto's Eastern wall. (R) Another look at Our Lady
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Some of the cards and relics we used for our prayer service
Photos from both visits by New York Scugnizzo |
