Celebrating the Feast of San Francesco di Paola and Blessed Emperor Karl I of Austria

Originally brewed in Bavaria in 1634 to help support the charitable works of the Minims, a mendicant order of monks founded by San Francesco in the fifteenth century, the name Paulaner is derived from Paola, the town in Provincia di Cosenza, Calabria, where the great Saint was born

This year, out of convenience, we combined our annual commemorations of San Francesco di Paola and Bl. Emperor Karl I of Austria into one modest celebration. Usually, we would have a bier and pretzel for the Peace Emperor (April 1) and a pizza and Paulaner bier for our beloved co-patron of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies (April 2). However, thanks to the glorious revolution's Build Back Better ruination of our once prosperous and functional country, we have not been able to find Paulaner, like so many other items, on our store shelves anymore. Add to this our Lenten dietary restrictions [*] and that our religious images are veiled for Passiontide (see photos below), it was a more austere and simple affair than those of years past. 

Shaped in the form of crossed arms in prayer, the pretzel is a
traditional Lenten bread made only with water, flower and salt

Forgoing the pizza, we went to our local Bavarian biergarten, which (for now) has Paulaner on tap. As one would expect, it was an enjoyable evening out with dear friends and a much-welcome break from the stupidity and ugliness of the world at large. Evviva Blessed Karl I of Austria and San Francesco di Paola!

(Above & below) On Passion Sunday (Fifth Sunday of Lent) all sacred images, except for the Stations of the Cross, are veiled with violet cloth, signifying Christ's hiding from the Jews until he entered Jerusalem (commemorated of Palm Sunday). They will remain covered until the Glória is sung on Holy Saturday, which signals the end of Lent and the beginning of Eastertide.

[*] For the past few years, our Sanfedisti Catholic men’s society (società di uomini) has kept the traditional Catholic fasting and abstinence rules for Lent. Instead of giving up meat and maybe an additional item like pasta or sweets, we now only eat one meal a day (except Sunday's) sans meat, eggs and dairy.