Around the Web: The Neapolitan Poetry of Angelo Manna Translated into English and Italian

Angelo Manna (1935-2001)

Thirty poems have been translated and published on Lyrics Translate

Mille e mill'anne

Mille e mmill’anne… E che vvo’ dì so’ muórte?

So’ vvive! E sta fetumma ‘e sta accedenno!

Pòvere ‘e vave nuóste; e vvuje stu tuórto

‘nziém’a fetumma v’o state spartenno…

 

‘A cemmenera!... E a cche ve serve? A nniénte!

Romma nce pasce ‘e vvacche furastere!

Romma nce tene a ttruógolo ‘e pariénte!

Vuje nun ce appartenite: e ssite zzero!

 

Partiéttemo pe mare… Eramo sciumme…

E mmo simmo turnate; e stammo ccà.

Ma po fuimmo. Nuje cu sta fetumma

 

Nun ce vulimmo avé maje cchiù a cche ffà!

E vvuje nun ‘e pperdite maje sti lumme!

E ccuntinuate a vve fà scarpesà!

1980 copy of Care paisane

A thousand years and a thousand more

A thousand years and a thousand more… What does it mean, “they are dead”?

They’re alive! And this scum is killing them!

Poor ancestors of ours; and you are sharing this offense

With that filth.

 

The chimney! What is it for? Nothing!

Rome thrives on foreign wealth!

Rome treats us like pigs!

You do not belong to us: you are nought!

 

We left for the sea… We were foam…

And now we are back; and we are here.

But then we fled… We do not want

 

To have anything to do with this filth!

And you never wake up…

And keep letting yourselves be humiliated…

Mille e mill'anne reprinted from Lyrics Translate

Solemn Mass for the Feast of Blessed Karl of Austria at St. Mary Mother of God Parish in Washington DC

Photo of the Week: San Biagio at the Chiesa dei Santi Filippo e Giacomo in Naples

Photo by Andrew Giordano

Feast of San Carlo Acutis

San Carlo Acutis, ora pro nobis

When we face the sun, we get a tan...but when we stand before Jesus in the Eucharist, we become saints. ~ San Carlo Acutis

October 12 is the Feast of San Carlo Acutis (May 3, 1991 – October 12, 2006), the “Cyberapostle of the Eucharist.” A computer enthusiast, young Carlo created Miracles List: The Eucharistic Miracles of the World, a website dedicated to cataloging Eucharistic miracles worldwide. After his death from leukemia in 2006, his cause for sainthood advanced when Pope Francis approved a miracle attributed to him. Carlo was beatified in Assisi, Italy, on Saturday, October 10, 2020.

In celebration, I am sharing a Prayer to San Carlo Acutis. Pictured here is my little makeshift shrine. Evviva San Carlo Acutis!

Prayer to San Carlo Acutis

Oh God, Our Father, thank you for giving us Carlo, a life example for the young and a message of love for everyone. You made him become enamoured with Your Son Jesus, Making of the Eucharist  his “Highway to Heaven”. You gave him Mary, as a most loving Mother, and, with the Rosary, you made him a poet of her tenderness. Receive his prayer for us. Above all, gaze upon the poor, whom he loved and helped. Grant for me too, by his intercession, the grace that I need ... And make our joy fulfilled, placing Carlo among the Saints of your Church, so that his smile may shine again for us in the glory of your name. Amen

* Edited following his canonization on September 7, 2025.

Photo of the Week: Statue of the Blessed Mother in the Basilica Cattedrale SS. Matteo e Gregorio in Salerno

Photo by Andrew Giordano

Feast of the Blessed Martyrs of Turón

Blessed Martyrs of Turón, orate pro nobis

October 9th is the Feast of the Blessed Martyrs of Turón, eight De La Salle Brothers and a Passionist Priest summarily executed in 1934 by a radical Left-wing death squad prior to the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939). The Martyrs were St. Inocencio de la Immaculada (pictured), St. Cirilo Bertrán, St. Marciano José, St. Julián Alfredo, St. Victoriano Pío, St. Benjamín Julián, St. Augusto Andrés, St. Benito de Jesús, and St. Anicet Adolfo. Beatified on April 29, 1990, they were Canonized by St. Pope John Paul II on November 21, 1999. In celebration, I’m posting a prayer to the Blessed Martyrs of Turón.

Prayer to the Martyrs of Turón

God our Father, in the Martyrs of Turón we see the transforming power of the Gospel. Empower us with your Spirit and inspire us to take the Gospel seriously that we, too, may embrace the cross with courage and be credible witnesses of your love. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Photo of the Week: The Madonna del Rosario Inside the Chiesa Santa Maria degli Angeli in Pietrelcina

Photo by Andrew Giordano