Feast of Beato Gennaro Maria Sarnelli

Beato Gennaro Maria Sarnelli, ora pro nobis

June 30th is the Feast of Beato Gennaro Maria Sarnelli (1702-1744), Redemptorist Priest and lawyer. One of Sant'Alfonso de Liguori’s earliest companions, the Neapolitan nobleman was a prolific writer, publishing over thirty volumes on various subjects. A zealous preacher and missionary, he tirelessly tended the sick and, with the support of King Carlo di Borbone, worked against prostitution and the corruption of young girls in the Kingdom of Naples. Invoked against prostitution, he is also the patron of writers and Italian Missionaries. In celebration, I’m Posting a prayer to Blessed Gennaro Maria Sarnelli. Evviva Beato Gennaro Maria Sarnelli!

Prayer to Blessed Gennaro Maria Sarnelli*

O Blessed Gennaro Maria, faithful disciple of Jesus the Redeemer, you put all your energy into revealing the loving countenance of God to the poor who live in neglect, to the sick who live in loneliness, to young girls who live amid the dangers of society, to those who live without a family’s love. You open the heart of Christ as the road to hope. Listen to my prayer and help all who call on you for care. Break the bread of God’s Word with those who are far from the faith so that the Redeemer’s blood may reach everyone, and bring the Church to true fellowship in God’s love. Amen.

* Prayer reprinted from A Life of Blessed Gennaro Maria Sarnelli: Redemptorist (1702-1744) by Francesco Chiovaro, C.SS.R., Liguori Publications, 2003

New Kindle Edition — Music in Seventeenth-Century Naples: Francesco Provenzale (1624–1704)

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

• Music in Seventeenth-Century Naples: Francesco Provenzale (1624–1704) by Dinko Fabris

Publisher: Routledge

Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC

Publication Date: June 28, 2021

Kindle: $9.99

Language: English

File size: 5251 KB

Read description

Click here to see more books

Listing does not imply any endorsement

Photo of the Week: Duomo di Amalfi's Tympanum with Mosaic of Sant'Andrea Apostolo

Photo by Andrew Giordano

Feast of Sant’Andrea Apostolo

Sant'Andrea Apostolo, ora pro nobis

June 27th is the Feast of Sant’Andrea Apostolo, Missionary, Wonderworker and Martyr. He is the patron saint of Amalfi and fishermen. His liturgical Feast is commemorated on November 30th.

The Amalfitans, and greater Christendom, honor the first Apostle on this day for miraculously saving the Southern Italian coastal city from an attack by the infamous Ottoman corsair Barbarossa in June 1544.

According to tradition, as the Saracen marauders approached the city looking for slaves and booty, terrified townspeople crowded into Amalfi’s famed Duomo and appealed to their glorious patron for protection. Answering his people’s prayers, the clear blue sky suddenly grew dark and a violent storm hit the dreaded armada, sinking several ships and driving off the rest.

In celebration, I’m posting a prayer to St. Andrew the Apostle. The accompanying photo of the Fontana di Sant’Andrea was taken in the Piazza del Duomo in Amalfi. Evviva Sant'Andrea Apostolo!

Prayer to St. Andrew the Apostle

O Christ, our Lord, Who didst beautify the most blessed Andrew with the grace of apostleship, and the crown of martyrdom, by granting to him this special gift, that by preaching the mystery of the cross, he should merit death on the cross; grant us to become most true lovers of Thy holy cross, and denying ourselves, to take up our cross and follow Thee; that by sharing Thy sufferings in this life, we may deserve the happiness of obtaining life everlasting. Amen

The Vigil of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist

San Giovanni Battista, ora pro nobis

Præsta, quæsumus, omnípotens Deus, ut família tua per viam salútis incédat; et beáti Joánnis Præcursóris hortaménta sectándo, ad num quem prædixit, secúra pervéniat, Dóminum nostrum Jesum Christum Filium Turm. Qui tecum.

June 23rd is the Vigil of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist. Customarily a day of fasting, it is popularly celebrated with large bonfires and dancing (Ballo di San Giovanni) to ward off evil spirits. In some parts of Southern Italy the Vigil is also a night of betrothal (St. John is invoked for good marriages) and moonlight bathing to help cure spiritual and physical ailments. In celebration of my beloved namesake, I’m posting a prayer to the glorious light-bearer before Christ in Latin and English. The accompanying photo was from our 2020 falo di San Giovanni, or St. John's bonfire. Evviva San Giovanni Battista!

Prayer

Grant we beseech Thee, O almighty God, that Thy household may walk in the way of salvation, and by following the extortions of blessed John the Precursor, may safely come unto Him Whom he foretold, even Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who with Thee.

Feast of Sant'Agrippina di Mineo

Sant'Agrippina, ora pro nobis

June 23rd is the Feast of Sant'Agrippina di Mineo, Virgin and Martyr. In celebration, I'm posting a Prayer to Saint Agrippina.* The accompanying photo was taken at St. Leonard's Church during the 2014 Feast of Santa Agrippina in Boston's North End. Evviva Sant'Agrippina!

Prayer to St. Agrippina

O glorious virgin and Martyr Agrippina your cruel executioner bound you to prepare you for martyrdom. Pray for us that our hearts will also be bound always to God's holy love, Let us pray fervently. May devotion to Saint Agrippina Endure for ever. Amen.

* Prayer courtesy of the Saint Agrippina Di Mineo Benefit Society of Boston

Happy Birthday Princess Maria Carolina!

HRH was born in Rome, Italy on June 23, 2003

Photo courtesy of Real Casa di Borbone

Happy Birthday Princess Maria Carolina of Bourbon Two Sicilies, Duchess of Calabria and Palermo! May God's love and affection be with you always! Auguri Altezza Reale!

Photo of the Week: Battesimo di Cristo by Francesco Curia in the Cappella Brancaccio, Duomo di Napoli

Photo by Andrew Giordano

Feast of San Luigi Gonzaga

San Luigi Gonzaga, ora pro nobis

O celéstium donórum distribútor, Deus, qui in angélico júvene Aloísio miram vitæ innocéntiam pari cum pœniténtia sociásti: ejus méritis et précibus concéde; ut, innocéntem non secúti, pœniténtem imitémur. Per Dóminum.

June 21st is the Feast of San Luigi Gonzaga (1568-1591), Jesuit Ascetic and Mystic. San Luigi died in Rome caring for plague victims. Patron saint of Catholic youth and students, he is also invoked against contagious diseases. In celebration, I’m posting a prayer to St. Aloysius Gonzaga in Latin and English. The accompanying photo, courtesy of Andrew Giordano, was taken at the Chiesa di San Giovanni Battista in Matera. Evviva San Luigi Gonzaga!

Prayer

O God, the dispenser of heavenly gifts, Who in the angelic youth Aloysius didst combine wonderful innocence of life with penance, grant to his merits and prayers that we, who have not followed him in his innocence, may imitate his penance. Through our Lord.

Novena to Blessed Gennaro Maria Sarnelli

Pray novena for nine consecutive days, June 21st — June 29th, in preparation of the Feast of Blessed Gennaro Maria Sarnelli on June 30th.*

O God, in Blessed Gennaro you gave us an outstanding example of compassion and service to the poor. We humbly ask you that, by imitating him and by the help of his prayers, we may believe more fully in your healing presence, bear the suffering of sickness in this life without wavering, and come with joy to the peace of heaven. We ask this through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

* Prayer reprinted from A Life of Blessed Gennaro Maria Sarnelli: Redemptorist (1702-1744) by Francesco Chiovaro, C.SS.R., Liguori Publications, 2003

Happy Father's Day!

Requiescat in pace

In celebration of Father's Day I'm sharing a poem by Achille Serrao from Cantallèsia: Poems in the Neapolitan Dialect (1990-1997), edited and translated by Luigi Bonaffini, Legas 1999, p. 68-69.

My Father Never Left...

My father never left

the last mouthful in the plate
and didn’t throw away half a cigarette, ever.

I do, times have changed
and so have sayings…
as for instance:
tell me who your father is
I’ll tell you who you are.

Pàtemo nun lassava...

Pàtemo nun lassava
'o muorzo d''a crianza dint' ô piatto
e nun jettava 'a meza sigaretta, mai.

I' si, 'e tiempe só ccagnate
e 'nzieme 'e ditte càgneno...
tanto pe' mme n'ascì:
'e chi sì ffiglio, dimme
e te dico chi sì.

New Music — Alessandro Scarlatti: Opera Omnia Per Tastiera vol. VII

New music that may be of interest to our readers.

• Alessandro Scarlatti: Opera Omnia Per Tastiera vol. VII performed by Francesco Tasini

Label: Tactus Records

Release Date: May 18, 2021

Audio CD: $24.99

Number of Discs: 2

Available at Amazon.com

Read description

Feast of Beata Elena Aiello

Beata Elena Aiello, ora pro nobis

June 19th is the Feast of Beata Elena Aiello, Virgin, Foundress, Mystic and Stigmatic. Born into a pious family on April 10, 1895 in Montalto Uffugo, Cosenza (Calabria), she joined the Sisters of the Most Precious Blood, but was forced to leave before taking her final vows due to her poor health. 

Diagnosed with stomach cancer, she was miraculously cured after receiving visions of St. Rita and Our Lord Jesus Christ. On Friday, March 2, 1923, while meditating on the Passion, she received the stigmata, Crown of Thorns, and the bloody sweat of Gethsemane for the first time. She would bear these mystical gifts each Friday of Lent for the rest of her life. 

With renewed vigor Blessed Elena returned to the congregation (the date is uncertain) and began her apostolate, offering religious instruction to the local children. Founding a new congregation, the Minim Sisters of the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ, she also established several institutes for orphans, including a high school for young girls who left the orphanage. 

Blessed Elena died on June 19, 1961 in Rome where she had gone to open a new house. Beatified in Cosenza on September 14, 2011, she is invoked against stomach cancer. In celebration, I’m posting a prayer to Beata Elena Aiello in Italian. Evviva Beata Elena Aiello!

Preghiera

Trinità Santa, ti ringraziamo per aver donato alla Chiesa la Beata Elena Aiello, tua serva fedele, segnata nel corpo e nello spirito dalla Passione di Cristo tuo Figlio. Seguendo la via minima del Vangelo ha fatto risplendere il mistero del tuo amore per gli ultimi ed i poveri. Consacrandosi a Te ha confidato unicamente nella tua Provvidenza. Concedici, per sua intercessione, la grazia che imploriamo … e di vederla presto annoverata nel numero dei tuoi Santi. Amen

Feast of Sant’Efrem di Nisibi

Sant'Efrem di Nisibi, ora pro nobis

June 18th is the Feast of Sant’Efrem di Nisibi (St. Ephrem of Nisibis), fourth century Deacon, Mystic and Doctor of the Church. He is the patron saint of spiritual directors. In celebration, I’m posting a prayer to St. Ephrem. The accompanying photo was taken at St. Ephrem Church (929 Bay Ridge Pkwy.) in Brooklyn, New York. Evviva Sant’Efrem di Nisibi!

Prayer

O glorious Saint Ephrem, harp of the Spirit, filled with compassion for those who invoke you, I kneel at your feet and humbly beg you to take my present need under your special protection and to make your prayer mine:

O Lord, Master of my life, grant that I may not be infected with the spirit of slothfulness and inquisitiveness, with the spirit of ambition and vain talking.

Grant instead to me, your servant, the spirit of purity and of humility, the spirit of patience and neighborly love.

O Lord and King, grant me the grace of being aware of my sins and of not thinking evil of those of my brethren. For you are blessed, now and ever, and forever.

V Most holy Saint Ephrem, pray for us

R That we may be worthy of the promises of Christ.

Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory be.

New Book — In the Shadow of the Empress: The Defiant Lives of Maria Theresa, Mother of Marie Antoinette, and Her Daughters

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

• In the Shadow of the Empress: The Defiant Lives of Maria Theresa, Mother of Marie Antoinette, and Her Daughters by Nancy Goldstone

Publisher: Little Brown and Company
Publication Date: September 21, 2021
Hardcover: $26.99
Language: English
Pages: 640

Read description

Click here to see more books

Listing does not imply endorsement

Happy Birthday Princess Beatrice di Borbone!

HRH was born in Saint-Raphaël, France on June 16, 1950
Photo by New York Scugnizzo

Il Regno would like to extend our warmest birthday wishes to Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrice di Borbone delle Due Sicilie, Dame Grand Cross of Justice and Grand Prefect of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George. May God continue to shower you with all the blessings you truly deserve. Auguri Altezza Reale!

Feast of San Marciano di Siracusa, Vescovo e Martire

San Marciano di Siracusa, ora pro nobis

June 14th is the Feast of San Marciano di Siracusa, Missionary, Bishop and Martyr. Co-patron of Syracuse and Gaeta, he is invoked against terrible storms. Known as the “First Bishop of the West,” tradition says he was a disciple of San Pietro Apostolo and sent to Sicily from Antioch to preach the Gospel. Settling in Syracuse, the wonderworker converted a great many to the Faith before being martyred by the Jews. Some sources say he was bound to a column and stoned to death, while others claim he was tossed off a high tower. In celebration, I’m posting a prayer to San Marciano. The accompanying photo was taken outside the Duomo di Siracusa in Sicily. Evviva San Marciano di Siracusa!

Prayer to San Marciano

O glorious San Marciano, our special patron, turn your gaze as father and guide of the people who invoke and venerate you. Accept our plea and, with your powerful intercession, obtain the long-awaited graces for us [mention your intensions here] Remove the danger of storms and devastating hail from our countryside. Amen.

O Lord, hear our prayers through the intercession of San Marciano and grant the desires of our heart. San Marciano, pray for us!

Photo of the Week: The Fontana della Sellaria

The Sellaria Fountain in Piazzetta Grande Archivio in Napoli commemorates the suppression of the Neapolitan revolution (1647-48) by Viceroy Iñigo Velez de Guevara. Originally located in Piazza della Sellaria, from which it takes its name, the fountain was moved in 1906 following the renovation works at the no longer exstant square. The fountain was designed and built by Onofrio Antonio Gisolfo (active 1637 – d. 1656), the chief royal engineer of the Kingdom of Naples. 
Photo by Andrew Giordano

Around the Web — June, 2021

Some items of interest from around the web.

Soccavo, Ritrovato un Dipinto “Perduto” di Massimo Stanzione

Madonna di Costantinopoli

Reprinted from Il Crivello.it

Secondo lo storico dell'arte Giuseppe Porzio la pala d'altare raffigurante la "Madonna di Costantinopoli", di grande valore artistico, sarebbe stata realizzata in piena epoca barocca. Dopo il restauro sarà esposta nelle sale del Museo diocesano di Pozzuoli. 

La notizia è sicuramente una di quelle che farebbero emozionare qualsiasi amante dell’arte e della cultura: all’interno della parrocchia di Santa Maria delle Grazie a Soccavo, popoloso quartiere della periferia occidentale di Napoli, più precisamente nella cappella dedicata a San Donato, è stato ritrovato un antichissimo dipinto realizzato dal pittore Massimo Stazione, tra i massimi esponenti del Barocco napoletano. La pala d’altare, finora rimasta ignota e custodita nella cappella partenopea nel più totale anonimato, è stata scoperta da Giuseppe Porzio, docente di Storia dell’arte presso l’Università “L’Orientale” di Napoli, il quale ha riconosciuto l’opera dopo un lungo e attento studio commissionato dall’ufficio diocesano per i beni culturali ecclesiastici. Continue reading

+ + +

La Tradizione Napoletana nel Regno di Napoli

Carlisti

Reprinted from IMG Press

Avevo promesso in conclusione del suggestivo studio di Francisco Elias de Tejada, “La Monarchia tradizionale” di sviluppare il tema dell’ultimo capitolo in riguardo al Regno di Napoli. De Tejada, studioso e filosofo spagnolo, nonché esponente del carlismo politico spagnolo, è vissuto a Napoli per sette anni, peraltro sposando una donna napoletana.

Nella parte conclusiva del testo, pubblicato in Italia per la prima volta, dalle Edizioni dell’Albero nel 1966, affronta il tema della tradizione di Napoli, per certi versi si tratta di un inno alla napoletanità. È uno studio che Tejada aveva accarezzato già dagli anni dell’infanzia. E’ un richiamo del sangue che lo ha spinto “a cercare notizie su quel paese azzurro e oro in cui le memorie dei miei antenati e la curiosità dell’incantesimo tessevano leggende”, nonostante tutto senza mettere piede in via Toledo. Già si sentiva Napoletano di cuore. I suoi antenati erano partiti da Napoli tre secoli fa ai tempi del re Filippo IV, per stabilirsi in Estremadura. Continue reading

New Book: The Politics of Identity in Greek Sicily and Southern Italy

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

• The Politics of Identity in Greek Sicily and Southern Italy (Greeks Overseas) by Mark Thatcher

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Publication Date: September 15, 2021

Hardcover: $99.00

Language: English

Pages: 344

Read description

Click here to see more books

Listing does not imply endorsement

Photo of the Week: San Benedetto da Nursia at the Monastery of Santa Maria di Picciano in Matera

Photo by Andrew Giordano

Feast of Santa Clotilde

Santa Clotilde, ora pro nobis

June 3 is the Feast of St. Clotilde (Lyon, c.475 – Tours, 545), Queen of the Franks. She is the patron saint of brides, widows, exiles, parents and adopted children. Convincing her husband King Clovis I to renounce his pagan idols, he converted to the Catholic Faith after a vow he made during the Battle of Tolbiac against the Alamanni. Many of his subjects imitated their victorious King and converted to Christianity. 

In celebration, we’re posting a prayer to St. Clotilde. The accompanying image of St. Clotilde is by French lithographer Achille Devéria. Evviva Santa Clotilde!

Prayer to St. Clotilde

Hail, gentle and loving St. Clotilde, sweet illustrious Queen of the Franks, who by thy faith and perseverance in the Lord didst convert thy husband and made France for many centuries a venerable stalwart of the Catholic faith, I implore thy powerful intercession in this my great need. Assist me, holy St. Clotilde, from thy height of glory in heaven. Thou, who during thy earthly sojourn, didst drink deeply from the Saviour's chalice of sorrows, have pity on my dire distress, especially . . . (Here make your intention). Grant also that through my sorrows I may, like thee, purify my faith and never lose hope in the mercy of God. Amen.

Photo of the Week: Alexander Farnese, Duke of Parma, Crowned by Victory, Reggia di Caserta

Alexander Farnese Crowned by Victory by Simone Moschino,
Hall of the Bodyguards, Reggia di Caserta
Photo by Andrew Giordano