Triduum in Honor of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face

My Grandmother's pocket statuette
of the Infant of Prague and the back
of the Society of the Little Flower
membership card with the image
of St. Thérèse of Lisieux

In case you missed the Novena, join us spiritually by privately praying the Triduum (three days of prayer) from Sept. 30th thru Oct. 2nd in preparation for the Feast of St. Thérèse of Lisieux on October 3rd.*

Preparatory Prayer

O Glorious Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, the Little Flower of Jesus, safe refuge of the afflicted and distressed, I, a poor sinner, encouraged by the promises God has made to thee, come to thee today with a firm hope, and I rejoice in the great honor which our Holy Mother the Church, has shown to thee in placing thee amongst the saints of Her altars. I pour forth my prayer to thee; I implore thine aid, thy protection, thy counsel, and thy blessing. Obtain for me, I beseech thee, the intention of this novena (here specify your intention). I ask this favor provided it is not opposed to the Holy Will of God and the welfare of my salvation. Should such, however, be the case, obtain for me such other graces as shall be conducive to the welfare of my soul. Through Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Amen.

Prayer by Pope Benedict XV

O Little Thérèse of the Child Jesus, who during thy short life on earth didst become a mirror of angelic purity, of love strong as death, and of whole-hearted abandonment to God, now that thou rejoicest in the reward of thy virtues, cast a glance of pity on me as I leave all things in thy hands. Make my troubles thy own — speak a word for me to our Lady Immaculate, whose flower of special love thou wert — to that Queen of Heaven "who smiled on thee at the dawn of life." Beg her as Queen of the Heart of Jesus, to obtain for me by her powerful intercession, the grace I yearn for so ardently at this moment, and that she join with it a blessing that may strengthen me during life, defend me at the hour of death, and lead me straight on to a happy Eternity. Amen.

* Prayers courtesy of the Carmelite Nuns of Brooklyn

Ponderable Quote from ‘Action: A Manual for the Reconstruction of Christendom’ by Jean Ousset

What we need to realize now is that it is indispensable to set up a civic élite specializing in the strategy of political and social action. Now, an élite cannot be set up by a stroke of the pen, or by drafting a paper constitution and rule book and opening a membership list. It has to be worked at and painfully evolved in the course of the action itself. What we have to do is to put all our faculties and opportunities to work in a maximal effort to achieve our goal. As to succeeding, only God can guarantee that.

If the only requirement for knighthood in olden days had been a signature on an application form, even the cowards would have signed on! An élite's sole claim to be so-called lies in the service it renders. Its members cannot be arbitrarily chosen or designated in advance. It is by the quality of the work done that a workman's value can be known. 

There has never been any shortage of sage counsellors whose expertise in talking is equalled only by their utter incapacity when it comes to deeds. An élite, by contrast, is recognized not by its words, but by its application, its prudence and its effectiveness in action.

Although theoretical training is necessary, it is just as indispensable to make the best possible utilization of the conditions and types of action that will enable those worthy to belong to such élites to show their mettle.

It would be useless to expect any worthwhile achievement from your brilliant thinkers and talkers who are careful to stay on the plane of theory and not to soil their hands with any of the practical hard work. Such men, forever surprised that any progress could possibly be made without calling on their aid, would only be satisfied if the solid achievements of others were placed under the abstract and dilettante direction of their own experience.

 * Reprinted from Action: A Manual for the Reconstruction of Christendom by Jean Ousset, IHS Press, 2002, pg. 237-238

Photo of the Week: Seven Archangels Vanquishing Demons, Chapel in the House of St. Pius V in the Vatican

Photo by New York Scugnizzo

Appuntamento con la "Nostra Storia": Il "Brigante" Francecesco S. L'Abbate e sua Uccisione a Conversano

In Conversano (BA)

Celebrating a Votive High Mass for Blessed Emperor Karl of Austria in Brooklyn, New York

Blessed Karl of Austria, ora pro nobis

Oremus. Deus, qui nos beáti Caroli, confessóris tui, ánnua solemnitáte lætíficas: concéde propítius; ut, cujus natalíta cólimus, étiam actiónes imitémur. Per Dominum nostrum Iesum Christum filium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti, Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum.*

A few pics from Tuesday's Votive High Mass (Missa Cantata) for the hundredth anniversary of the death of Blessed Emperor Karl of Austria (1887-1922) and lecture by Suzanne Pearson, Delegate of the Emperor Karl League of Prayer in the United States, at Holy Name of Jesus Church in Brooklyn, New York.

* Let us pray. O God, who dost gladden us by the annual solemnity of blessed Karl, thy confessor, mercifully grant that we who celebrate his heavenly birthday, may also imitate his example. Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end.

Suzanne Pearson spoke glowingly about our beloved Emperor

A shrine to the Emperor was erected in the sanctuary

Reliquary with the Emperor's relic

After the Mass and lecture, devotees had the opportunity to
venerate the Emperor's relic and take photos by the painting

Celebrating the 96th Annual Feast of San Gennaro in Little Italy, New York

San Gennaro, ora pro nobis

After Mass at the Shrine Church of the Most Precious Blood Monday evening, devotees processed the statue of San Gennaro, the patron saint of Naples, through the bustling streets of Little Italy, New York. Evviva San Gennaro!

(Above & below) The procession slowly makes its way up Mulberry Street

The rain stopped as the procession began

Some vendors jumped at the opportunity to carry the statue

Danny Vecchiano and the Giglio Band

The long weekend leading up to the September 19th feast day was festive and teeming with revelers.

Mike and Achille at the outdoor shrine on Mulberry Street

Partygoers enjoyed the musical stylings of Jimmy Bono-Geany

Throngs of jovial tourists packed the streets of Little Italy for the celebration

Fun-loving ladies dancing the tarantella

John celebrating Napoli's win over Milan on Sunday

Our pals Tony at Umberto's Clam House and Ernest at Ferrara Bakery & Cafe

Just some of the delicious pastries available at Ferrara's

Revelers can beat the heat with some delicious gelato

(L) Window display at E. Rossi & Co. gift shop at 193 Grand Street.
(R) Naturally, I had some zeppole every night 

Chocolate covered cornetto for breakfast

The obligatory sausage and peppers sandwich for lunch

Pizza on no-meat Fridays!!!

Torrone at Vinny's Nut House

Photo of the Week: Detail of the Seven Archangels Vanquishing Demons, Chapel in the House of St. Pius V in the Vatican

Photo by New York Scugnizzo

Around the Web — Italian American Podcast Episode 247: Southern Italians in the American Civil War with Special Guest Peter Belmonte

For many Italian Americans, the American Civil War, a seminal chapter in the history of the United States, can often feel like a chapter detached from their own American experience. Since the massive wave of Italian Immigration to the United States between 1870 and 1920, the brilliant thread of the Italian American experience has been indelibly woven into the tapestry of American history, but even the most passionate student of Italian American history might be unaware of the Italian presence in the war that redefined the United States.

While many pages have been dedicated to the “Garibaldi Guard” and the contingent of Northern Italian soldiers who came to defend the Union, the legacy of Southern Italians on both sides of the conflict between the states has, until now, been almost completely forgotten by time.

In a return visit to our show, historian Peter L. Belmonte shares his continuing research on these Southern Italian soldiers and sailors who served in Army, Navy, and Marine Corps -- in both the Union and the Confederacy -- from front-line soldiers to musicians, cooks, and even a barber or two who were said to have given President Abraham Lincoln a shave.

Peter describes how he painstakingly researched military records, having compiled a listing of hundreds of Southern Italians who served during the Civil War, examining the occupations followed by these men and their roles in the conflict. He’ll share incredible stories of individual men that he has discovered, and how his efforts have helped him to reunite these stories with many of the soldiers' modern-day descendants.

Join us for a fascinating look at a truly undiscovered chapter of Italian American, and American, history in this week’s episode!

Listen to IAP Episode 247: Southern Italians in the American Civil War with Special Guest Peter Belmonte

A Picture-Perfect Opening Night for the 96th Annual Feast of San Gennaro in Little Italy, New York

Outdoor shrine to San Gennaro, patron saint of Naples, on Mulberry Street

Tourist from all over the world started visiting Little Italy for the celebration

(Above & below) We stopped by Vinny's Nut House for some
biscotti and torrone to have with our morning espresso

I chose the pistachio biscotti

Aleva started grilling up their delicious braciole

The obligatory sausage and peppers sandwich

I was considering having a deep fried Oreo for dessert, but...

...I decided to go with the classic zeppole instead

(Above & below) New T-shirt designs are available at
world famous E. Rossi & Co souvenir shop at 193 Grand Street

New Book: Uomini del Sud, visti da vicino

New title that may be of interest to our readers. Available at www.ibs.it

• Uomini del Sud, visti da vicino by Fiore Marro

Publisher: Tramontano

Publication Date: August 31, 2022

Paperback: 11,40 €

Language: Italian

Pages: n/a

Read description

Click here to see more books

Listing does not imply endorsement

Photo of the Week: San Michele Arcangelo in the Chiesa Madre di San Michele Arcangelo in Pomarico

Photo by Andrew Giordano

Celebrating the Feast of the Madonna Dei Martiri in Hoboken, New Jersey

Thousands of revelers attended the Feast of the Madonna Dei Martiri 

(Above & below) Watching the ferry with the Madonna Dei Martiri return to the fairgrounds from Pier A Park and the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway

Following the blessing of the fleet, the boats sailed across the Hudson River
to the New York City shoreline (to remember 9/11) and Ellis Island 

The ferry ride is a reenactment of the traditional annual celebration in Molfetta, Puglia, where the fishermen take the image of Our Lady out to sea

According to tradition, Crusaders returning from the Holy Land in 1188 discovered a Byzantine icon of the Blessed Mother floating in the Adriatic Sea. Fishing it out of the water, the knights enshrined the image in the hospice at Molfetta, where many of their wounded brethren died as Martyrs of the Faith.

The ferry is festively decorated for the Feast

Passengers disembarked outside the Hoboken Transit Terminal

(Above & below) Molfettesi carry San Corrado di Baviera,
Molfetta's beloved co-patron, at the head of the procession

Members of the Società Madonna Dei Martiri with their society standard

(Above & below) Returning to land, the statue of Our Lady of the Martyrs
is carried along Sinatra Drive and through the Streets of Hoboken back to
Saint Francis of Assisi Church for the Benediction

Marching band accompanied the procession

An outdoor chapel was erected at the fairgrounds

Sausage and peppers were among the many
delicious Italian street foods on hand