January 30, 2023

Photo of the Week: The Little King (Il Reuccio)

Statue of Charles II, King of Spain, in Naples, by Francesco D'Angelo
Photo by Andrew Giordano

Get Your Letters from Saint Valentine of Terni

WE NEED YOUR HELP!


Please consider buying a St. Valentine's Day fundraiser package for a special someone to help support our upcoming July Mass and Procession for the Feast of San Leucio.

Mailed Nationwide and delivered in time for the Feast of St. Valentine of Terni on February 14, 2023.

Link to buy is HERE.

Deadline to order is February 7, 2023

San Leucio, prega per noi. Saint Leucius, pray for us.

Thank you,
The San Leucio Society of Paterson, New Jersey

January 29, 2023

A Portrait of Papal Zouave Ferdinand de Charette

Portrait of Ferdinand de Charette
de la Contrie (1837-1917)
Ferdinand de Charette was born on July 11, 1837. He served in the army of the Kingdom of Two Sicilies between 1860-1861, where he fought in the battles of Volturno, Garigliano, and Gaeta. 

Great-nephew of the Vendéen General François de Charette, he was one of the four Charette brothers to serve in the Papal Army during the campaigns to defend the Papal States from 1860-1870. 


Enlisting as a Papal Zouave in August 1861, he fought in the battles of Ceprano and Mentana.


When Rome fell to the Italians on September 20, 1870, de Charette went with a contingent of French Papal Zouaves (Volunteers of the West) to defend France during the Franco-Prussian War.


Ferdinand de Charette was wounded during the Battle of Loigny on December 2, 1870. He was promoted to Lieutenant in January 1871. 


The portrait depicts him when he was still an enlisted soldier in the Papal Army between 1868-1870. He is wearing the Mentana Cross medal, the Order of Saint Gregory the Great medal, and a gold lapel pin with the pontifical arms.


For his services to the Kingdom of Two Sicilies, the Papal States, and France he was decorated with the following awards:


Knight of the Legion of Honour

Knight of the Order of Saint George of Naples

Knight of the Royal Order of Francis I of Naples

Knight of the Order of Pius IX

Knight of the Order of Saint Gregory the Great

Knight of the Order of the Eagle of Este

Papal Roman Count

Fidei et Virtuti Medal


By Brendan Cassell (Papal Zouave History @PapalZouaveUS)

January 26, 2023

Ponderable Quote from ‘Chivalry’ by Maurice Keen

The medieval view of lineage and nobility is thus one which focuses not simply on birth as the determinant of caste so much as on family traditions of honour and privileged position founded in past achievement, and offering an example to future generations. Get heirs, says Philip of Novara, ‘for by means of heirs who bear their father’s surname, his memory and that of his ancestors shall live longer in this world.’ That so much attention should focus on the family — the lineage — is perfectly natural. ‘The family was the most basic social unit that the age knew; its customary law was permeated with the idea of lineal inheritance; and the Bible with its long genealogies bore witness to the significance of lineage in the history of religion. To have sought to set the individual and his stock entirely apart would have seemed quite unnatural. Even Dante, that ardent champion of individual virtue, saw that the acts of the individual reflected upon the family: ‘the individual ennobles the stock’, he declares. The acts and habits of the individual members of a lineage were seen as forming those of the stock: ‘you come of a noble line, therefore you should seek the harder to grow in virtue,’ says Louis de Gavre’s mother in the romance of the Seigneurs de Gavre. Indeed this is the point of the distinction which the purists drew between nobility and gentility. For his own particular achievement a man might be ennobled, but gentility implied something more, the forming of a tradition and manner of life and conduct which had stood the test of time into a second generation.

Reprinted from Chivalry by Maurice Keen, Yale University Press, 2005, pp. 160-161

January 25, 2023

Novena to San Biagio Martire

San Biagio Martire, ora pro nobis
Prayers compiled by Rev. Bonaventure, O.F.M. to be recited for nine consecutive days, January 25th — February 2nd, in preparation of the Feast on February 3rd.

Preparatory Prayer


Almighty and eternal God! With lively faith and reverently worshiping Thy divine Majesty, I prostrate myself before Thee and invoke with filial trust Thy supreme bounty and mercy. Illumine the darkness of my intellect with a ray of Thy heavenly light and inflame my heart with the fire of Thy divine love, that I may contemplate the great virtues and merits of the saint in whose honor I make this novena, and following his example imitate, like him, the life of Thy divine Son.

Moreover, I beseech Thee to grant graciously, through the merits and intercession of this powerful Helper, the petition which through him I humbly place before Thee, devoutly saying, "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." Vouchsafe graciously to hear it, if it redounds to Thy greater glory and to the salvation of my soul. Amen.

Prayer in Honor of St. Blase

O God, deliver us through the intercession of Thy holy bishop and martyr Blase, from all evil of soul and body, especially from all ills of the throat; and grant us the grace to make a good confession in the confident hope of obtaining Thy pardon, and ever to praise with worthy lips Thy most holy name. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.


Invocation of St. Blase

St. Blase, gracious benefactor of mankind and faithful servant of God, who for the love of our Saviour didst suffer so many tortures with patience and resignation; I invoke thy powerful intercession. Preserve me from all evils of soul and body. Because of thy great merits God endowed thee with the special grace to help those that suffer from ills of the throat; relieve and preserve me from them, so that I may always be able to fulfil my duties, and with the aid of God's grace perform good works. I invoke thy help as special physician of souls, that I may confess my sins sincerely in the holy sacrament of Penance and obtain their forgiveness. I recommend to thy merciful intercession also those who unfortunately concealed a sin in confession. Obtain for them the grace to accuse themselves sincerely and contritely of the sin they concealed, of the sacrilegious confessions and communions they made, and of all the sins they committed since then, so that they may receive pardon, the grace of God, and the remission of the eternal punishment. Amen.


Prayer


My Lord and my God! I offer up to Thee my petition in union with the bitter passion and death of Jesus Christ, Thy Son, together with the merits of His immaculate and blessed Mother, Mary ever virgin, and of all the saints, particularly with those of the holy Helper in whose honor I make this novena.

Look down upon me, merciful Lord! Grant me Thy grace and Thy love, and graciously hear my prayer. Amen.

* For more on St. Blase and the Fourteen Holy Helpers, I highly recommend Project Gutenberg's free ebook, Mary, Help of Christians and the Fourteen Saints Invoked as Holy Helpers, compiled by Rev. Bonaventure, O.F.M. It has instructions, legends, novenas and prayers, with thoughts of the saints for every day of the year. Photo of San Biagio at the Chiesa dei Santi Filippo e Giacomo in Napoli courtesy of Andrew Giordano.

January 24, 2023

Commemorating the 230th Anniversary of the Murder of King Louis XVI of France in Brooklyn, New York

After dinner, participants took a commemorative photo
with the flag of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies

Domine salvum fac Regem et exaudi nos in die qua invocaverimus te. Gloria Patri et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto. Sicut erat in principio et nunc et in saecula saeculorum. Amen. 
Lord, save the King, and hear us when we call upon thee. Glory to the Father and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning and is now, and it shall be, for ever without end. Amen.

Heartfelt thanks to all who joined us Saturday evening in commemorating the 230th Anniversary of the Murder of King Louis XVI of France. For the fourth year in a row, various traditional Catholic and monarchist circles came together to pray, break bread, and remember the martyred King. We are, of course, ever grateful to Fr. Stephen Saffron for leading us in prayer and for his spiritual guidance. 


Special thanks to Professor John C. Rao for delivering another stirring and thought-provoking talk about the tragic events of the French Revolution and its catastrophic repercussions today. Chairman of the Roman Forum, you can read Dr. Rao's extensive catalog at For the Whole of Christ or stream and listen to his Church History lecture series via SoundCloudVive le Roi!

Framed portraits of Queen Marie Antoinette and King Louis XVI of France
with assorted royalist flags, blessed candles, and prayer sheets
Dr. John C. Rao
A short break between courses
"Salute"
(L) After dinner we enjoyed a little Chartreuse. (R) John and Andrew
A few lucky guests received a Kingdom of the Two Sicilies
coat of arms lapel pin courtesy of the Sanfedisti
(L) Several attendees wore Bourbon cockades. (R) I got a nice hardback
copy of the Planet of the Apes by Pierre Boulle for my birthday
Guests were treated to a sumptuous repast at Joe's of Avenue U, one of Brooklyn's favorite old-school Sicilian restaurants. As always, Paolo, Caterina and the rest of the crack waitstaff went above and beyond to make us feel welcome.
Vongole al forno
Calamari fritti
Panelle
Caponata
Mista polpo e calamari
Insalata
Cavolfiore alla palermitana
Spaghetti al nero di seppia
Linguine marinara
Stuffed meat roll with mushroom gravy and potatoes
Pollo alla Milanese crocchè di patate
Merluzzo
Once again, due to my youthful good looks and boyish charm,
the numbers on our dessert were transposed
Tartufo
Profiterole
The restaurant is decorated with traditional Sicilian marionettes
depicting the heroic Paladins and Saracens from the Song of Roland

Photo of the Week: Bejeweled Gilded Bust of San Gennaro in Storefront Window in Napoli

Photo by Andrew Giordano

January 23, 2023

Bust of Francis II of Bourbon Donated to the Church of Santa Caterina a Formiello in Napoli

Servant of God Francesco II, ora pro nobis
A new bust of Servant of God King Francesco II of the Two Sicilies was donated to the Chiesa di Santa Caterina a Formiello near Porta Capuana in Naples. Among those who donated the bust with the Associazione Maria Carolina we find Dr. Luigi Andreozzi, Dr. Giovanni Samo and Dr. Giuseppe Giunto. The sculpture was made by papier-mâché master Leopoldo Santaniello in collaboration with the Bottega delle Due Sicilie.

Many supporters of the Bourbons and devotees of SG Francesco II were in attendance, including the association's President Luigiantonio Galasso.

After Holy Mass in suffrage of His Majesty, the bust was blessed by Don Carmine Amore. Evviva 'o Rre!
Photos courtesy of the Associazione Maria Carolina
For more information and to watch a video of the blessing ceremony visit Napoli, busto di Francesco II di Borbone donato alla chiesa di Santa Caaterina a Formiello – Video (www.brevenews.com)

January 20, 2023

A Prayer for Don Sixto Enrique de Borbón

Dear friends, we urge you to please keep Don Sixto Enrique de Borbón, the Standard Bearer of Tradition, in your thoughts and prayers. He is currently receiving treatment at a specialized clinic for an injury he suffered in La Pampa in 2001.

We hope and pray for His speedy recovery. May the Apóstol Santiago, San Millán de la Cogolla, San Rafael Arcángel, Santa Teresa de Jesús, and Nuestra Señora del Pilar watch over you.


A Prayer for Don Sixto Enrique de Borbón


Almighty and Eternal God, You are the everlasting health of those who believe in You. Hear us for Your sick servant Don Sixto Enrique de Borbón for whom we implore the aid of Your tender mercy, that being restored to bodily health, he may give thanks to You in Your Church. Through Christ our Lord. Amen

Viva ‘a Reggina! Remembering HM Maria Sofia di Baviera, Queen of the Two Sicilies

My private makeshift shrine dedicated to HM
Maria Sofia di Baviera, Regina delle Due Sicilie

Eternal rest grant unto Her Majesty, O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon her. May her soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Thursday evening, a handful of us commemorated the anniversary of the death of HM Maria Sofia di Baviera (b. October 4, 1841—d. January 19, 1925), the last Queen of the Two Sicilies and Heroine of Gaeta, at a local Bavarian watering hole. Seeing as it was only two days before our 4th Annual King Louis XVI of France Memorial Dinner, we decided not to put people out with too many engagements. However, we were reluctant to skip the remembrance altogether, so we kept it intimate and light-spirited. Viva ‘a Reggina!

The Heroine of Gaeta on the ramparts accompanied by
General Felix von Schumacher (1863) by Ferdinand von Piloty
We set up the Queen's portrait at our table
and discussed the life and times of Her Majesty

January 19, 2023

Celebrating the Feast of Sant'Antuono Abate at Saint Josaphat’s Church in Bayside, Queens

Father Saffron offers a benediction by the fire
A time is coming when men will go mad, and when they see someone who is not mad, they will attack him, saying, “You are mad, you are not like us.” ~ St. Anthony the Great
A good time was had by all
Tuesday evening, following the weekly Rite of Eucharistic Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and monthly Catechism Lecture by Father John Perricone at St. Josaphat’s Church in Bayside, Queens, Pastor Stephen Saffron celebrated the Feast of St. Anthony the Abbot with a traditional Fucarazzo di Sant'Antuono (St. Anthony bonfire) in the church courtyard.

Blessing the fire and the 50-some-odd attendees, Father Saffron spoke at length with the guests about the ascetic life of the great Saint and the many miracles attributed to him. 


After the benediction, parishioners adjourned to the parish hall for coffee hour. In addition to the usual fare, attendees brought customary pork dishes in honor of St. Anthony the Abbot, including a variety of dried sausages and pulled pork.


Many, who were unfamiliar with the tradition, voiced their approval and spoke of making the celebration bigger and better next year. We're already looking forward to it. Evviva Sant'Antouno Abate!

Father Perricone gave another inspirational talk
After Adoration, attendees fill the parish hall for the lecture
Andrew and Bill prepare the kindling
(Above & below) Parishioners gather around the fire
Affettati e formaggi donated by the Sanfedisti

Celebrating the Feast of Sant'Antuono Abate in Brooklyn, New York

Fucarazzo di Sant'Antuono

Tuesday evening, members and friends of the San Rocco Society gathered in Dyker Heights, Brooklyn for our Annual Fucarazzo di Sant'Antuono, or St. Anthony bonfire. Honoring the father of Western monasticism, the purifying conflagration is an ancient tradition meant to ward off evil spirits, protect animals and livestock, and secure a bountiful harvest. 


Representing the Saint's triumph over Satan and temptation, the fire ritual also signifies a time of renewal, or regeneration, as spring draws near and winter comes to an end. 


A magical night, old tales tell that animals regain the ability to speak and misfortune befalls those who overhear them.


Patron saint of animals, livestock, farmers, anchorites, hospitallers, basket makers, bell ringers, gravediggers, amputees, pizza makers, and the glowing embers of hearths; Sant'Antuono is also invoked against pestilence, skin maladies, ergotism, contagious diseases and demonic possession, among other things.


Taking comfort around the protecting flames, revelers ate, drank and prayed to our beloved patron. Continuing into the night, the fire was steadily fed old Christmas trees, dried palm fronds from Palm Sunday, and other kindling from the garden.


Heartfelt thanks to the La Rocca family for their seemingly endless warmth and hospitality. As always, it was a great joy to celebrate our faith and culture together. Evviva Sant'Antuono!

(L) Our gracious host Stephen with a framed image
of Sant'Antuono Abate. (R) Votive candles
The image of Sant'Antuono Abate is from the Sant'Antonio
Abate Fraternal Society of Castrofilippo in Astoria, Queens
Revelers gather around the fire
After the bonfire was lit, only the good spirits remained
Father Juan Luxamma blesses the fire and the participants
Old Christmas trees were used as kindling
(Above & below) The fire quickly turned into a towering inferno
In addition to Christmas trees, devotees took the opportunity
to burn old scapulars, palm fronds and other religious items
Father Luxamma with the Guarini men 
Ray, Steve and John
Gerardina served up some hot pizza
As always, our gracious hosts had a delicious spread
Seeing as it is customary to eat pork on the feast,
I enjoyed a sausage and pepper sandwich
For dessert there was a mouth-watering array of pastries and café
I couldn't resist the Sicilian cartocci