Review — Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

Spoiler Alert!

‘Where must we go…

we who wander this wasteland in search of our better selves?’ ~ The First History Man [1]

After several unavoidable postponements, I finally got to see Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024), starring Anya Taylor-Joy and Alyla Browne as Furiosa. The fifth installment of director George Miller’s Mad Max franchise, the prequel takes place some 20 years before the action-packed events of Mad Max: Fury Road (2015). A spin-off tale set in post-apocalyptic Australia in the not-so-distant future, the film is curiously billed as a Mad Max Saga sans Mad Max (Max Rockatansky), the primary protagonist in all the previous films famously played by Mel Gibson and Tom Hardy. [2] 

A longtime fan of the franchise, I actually saw The Road Warrior in the theatre back in 1981 at the age of twelve and had a copy of Mad Max (1979) on RCA Capacitance Electronic Disc. The stories left such a strong impression on me, that to this day I foresee our dystopian future playing out more like Miller’s nightmarish vision than the more technologically advanced hellscapes predicted by Orwell (1984), Huxley (Brave New World), and others.

The current state of affairs and the frightening levels of corruption and incompetence in our halls of power all but ensure that we will never achieve the quixotic utopian futures envisioned by so many deluded dreamers. Forget about Campanella’s The City of the Sun (1602) or Faye’s A Day in the Life of Dimitri Leonidovich Oblomov (2010). Things are so bad that I think even John Carpenter’s Escape From New York (1981) and Mike Judge’s Idiocracy (2006) are too much to ask for.

Looking forward to seeing Furiosa for a while, I watched several YouTube videos about the movie and noticed that the critics shared a lot of the same criticisms and plaudits for the film. Not surprisingly I share many of them, but not all. Relatively late to the game, I will try not to be overly pedantic in my review.

First, unlike many of the other critics, I generally don’t have a problem with prequels. Just “because we already know what is going to happen,” doesn’t mean we cannot enjoy it. If a story is good and the movie is well-made it shouldn’t matter. For example, even though I know that the shark gets blown up at the end, I still enjoy watching Jaws (1975). Yes, we all knew Furiosa was going to lose her arm at some point, but I never imagined that it was her who tore off her chained mangled appendage like a she-wolf to escape her captors.

Many also complained about the poor computer-generated imagery (CGI). As someone who prefers practical effects and dislikes the overuse of CGI, I honestly did not find them to be all that bad or distracting. Strangely enough, I thought they were more noticeable in the trailers and teasers than in the actual film. [3]

While I would have preferred a new story about Max, Furiosa was very enjoyable. In addition to being visually and aurally stunning, the plot was strong, there was plenty of action, and the acting was all-around superb. As almost everyone pointed out, Anya Taylor-Joy as Furiosa and Chris Hemsworth as Dementus put in great performances and stole the show.

That being said, I still think Charlize Theron as Imperator Furiosa and Tom Hardy as Max in Fury Road were better. While Dementus was a great antagonist—certainly superior to Toecutter (Hugh Keays-Byrne) in Mad Max and Aunty Entity (Tina Turner) in Beyond Thunderdome—I believe Immortan Joe (Hugh Keays-Byrne) in Fury Road and the “Ayatollah of rock ’n’ rolla,” Lord Humungus (Kjell Nilsson) in The Road Warrior, were arguably more iconic villains. Needless to say, Mel Gibson’s Max was a tour de force. 

Another common complaint I did not share is the length of the movie. Running for 2 hours and 29 minutes I was never bored. My only real problems with the film are the unknown fate of Immortan Joe’s son Scrotus (Josh Helman), who is conspicuously absent from Fury Road, and how the verdant Green Place decayed into the crow fens in such a short period of time. We’re told in Fury Road that the earth was poisoned, but what happened to the mountainous terrain, wind turbines, and large buildings? Even more mysterious (and horrifying) was how there was a morbidly obese woman in The Green Place. Though only a few seconds long, I found this seemingly trivial detail to be the most disappointing scene in all five movies.

Even with all the criticisms, the film is still worth seeing. Especially when you consider there are so few decent movies being made these days. The last one I saw in the theatre that I enjoyed was Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023). Sorry Dune fans, but I thought director Denis Villeneuve’s recent adaptations were over-rated and not the cinematic masterpieces touted by many. [4] An unpopular opinion I know, but even though it was also unfaithful to Frank Herbert’s original tale, I’m partial to director David Lynch’s Dune (1984).

Sadly, despite being well-received by critics and the audience, Furiosa bombed at the box office. This and George Miller’s age (79) may prevent him from making his next planned project, Mad Max: The Wasteland. However unlikely, I’m still hoping to see Mel Gibson reprise his role as Max. Perhaps a silly pipe dream of mine, but this is no more ridiculous than me still holding out to see Arnold Schwarzenegger finally star as King Conan or Andrew Stanton making his sequels to John Carter of Mars (2012).

A worthy addition to the Mad Max world, Furiosa is a refreshing break from woke Hollywood’s incessant barrage of worthless trash. Mastermind George Miller gave us another epic high-octane action film without the mind-numbingly stupid storylines, tired old clichés, awful dialogue, and insincere, dogmatic, or sanctimonious progressive propaganda. Instead of another lame feminist girlboss, we got "the darkest of angels; the fifth Rider of the Apocalypse." [5]

By Giovanni di Napoli, July 5th, Feast of Sant'Antonio Maria Zaccaria

Notes
[1] Quote at the end of Fury Road.
[2] Technically Max makes a brief appearance nearly two hours into the film. For a couple of seconds, we see him eating canned food (Dinki-Di?) atop a hill next to his iconic V8 Interceptor (GT Falcon muscle car) while watching a severely mutilated Furiosa shamble across the Wasteland back towards the Citadel while carrion birds circle her.
[3] No pleasing some folk, some of the people who disliked the CGI also didn't like Chris Hemsworth's prosthetic nose.

[4] Dune: Part One (2021) and Dune: Part Two (2024).
[5] History Man describing Furiosa to Scrotus during the Forty-Day Wasteland War.

Feast of Santa Domenica di Tropea

Santa Domenica di Tropea, ora pro nobis

July 6 is the feast of Santa Domenica di Tropea (also called Santa Ciriaca), Virgin and Martyr. Widely venerated throughout Southern Italy, she the patron saint of Tropea (VV), Scorrano (LE), Torre di Ruggiero (CZ), Caraffa di Catanzaro (CZ), Santa Domenica di Ricadi (VV), Tremestieri (ME), and Mandanici (ME), among others.

Born in 287 in a profoundly Christian household in Tropea, Calabria, Santa Domenica and her parents, Doroteo and Arsenia, were tried and sentenced to exile in Western Asia. The young maid was brought to Campania instead and attempts were made to make her renounce her faith. Unwavering, she was condemned to death. First, she was to be burned alive at the stake, but the flames did not harm her. Next, she was to be torn to pieces by wild beasts, but the ferocious animals became docile at her feet. Each attempt to execute her led more and more witnesses to convert to Christianity. Brutally tortured, she was finally beheaded on 6 July 303. 

Her relics were first interred in Vizzini, Catania and later moved to the Cathedral in Tropea in 1893 by the bishop of Nicotera-Tropea Domenico Gallucci, where her cult flourished.

In celebration, we’re posting a prayer in Italian. The accompanying image, commissioned by Duke Carlo Guarini in 1921, was painted by Luigi Scorrano (Lecce 1849-Urbino 1924). Evviva Santa Domenica di Tropea!

Preghiera

O Martire coronata, che davanti ai tribunali testimoniasti con animo invitto Cristo Gesù; o Sposa eletta del Verbo umanato; o Ramo bellissimo di radice gloriosa, carico di frutti di celeste trionfo; o Domenica, noi ti celebriamo venerando l’arca delle tue Reliquie, memori e riconoscenti dei tuoi benefici.

O Verginità, tempio di Dio! O Verginità, gloria dei Martiri! O Verginità, socia degli Angeli! Domenica gloriosa, al tuo splendore le tenebre del paganesimo sono fugate: i tormenti, il fuoco, la morte sono per te un nulla. Tu pura, tu incorrotta, tu bellissima. Invitta fra tutti i Martiri, giglio nella convalle profumata di Cristo.

Nella effusione del tuo sangue immergesti i nemici infernali; rendesti tempio di Dio l’anima tua candidissima.

Nel tuo agone mortale, o Domenica celeberrima, hai trasceso le forze della natura; tra i leoni rendesti lode al tuo Gesù e superasti la fierezza delle belve. Agnella condotta al macello per amore dell’Agnello divino, al bellissimo tuo sposo conservasti il candore dell’anima tua.

Apristi un mare di grazia a chi t’invocò; ed il glorioso tuo corpo emana torrenti perenni di salute a chi ti supplica.

Deh! Lava le macchie dei vizi e dei peccati. Fa’  che noi superiamo le tentazioni. E la gloriosa tua memoria allontani ogni male e conforti coloro che ti venerano. Amen.

Feast of Sant’Antonio Maria Zaccaria

Sant'Antonio Maria Zaccaria, ora pro nobis

July 5th is the Feast of St. Anthony Mary Zaccaria (1502-1539), ascetic, physician, and priest. Benefactor of the sick and poor, he is the patron saint of physicians and founder of the Barnabites (The Clerics Regular of St. Paul) and Angelic Sisters of St. Paul.

In celebration, we’re posting a prayer to St. Anthony Mary Zaccaria. The accompanying photo comes courtesy of Father Eugene Carrella. The holy card is part of Father Carrella’s impressive collection of religious artifacts. Evviva Sant’Antonio Maria Zaccaria!

Prayer to St. Anthony Mary Zaccaria

Saint Anthony Zaccaria, helper of the poor and the sick, you who devoted your life to our spiritual welfare, listen to my humble and hopeful prayer. Continue your work as doctor and priest by obtaining from God healing from my physical and moral sickness, so that free from all evil and sin, I may love the LORD with joy, fulfill with fidelity my duties, work generously for the good of my brothers and sisters, and for my sanctification. Amen.

Feast of St. Veronica Giuliani at the Shrine Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament in Raritan, New Jersey

Brief Excerpt from “Essays on Catholicism, Liberalism, and Socialism” by Juan Donoso Cortés

Suffering establishes a kind of equality among those who suffer, which makes all men in a manner equal, since all are called upon to suffer. Prosperity separates us; misfortune unites us in a fraternal bond. Suffering rids us of that which we have to excess, and gives us that which we needed, so that it places man in a perfect equilibrium. The haughty do not suffer without a diminution of their pride; nor the ambitious without moderating their ambition; nor the choleric without becoming less inclined to anger; nor the luxurious without being less given to the gratification of their appetites. Pain has a sovereign power to appease the violence of the passions, and, while it takes from us what is debasing, at the same time it imparts to us what is ennobling. The cruel never suffer without being more inclined to compassion; nor the haughty without becoming more humble; nor the voluptuous without growing more chaste. The violent are subdued, the weak are strengthened. It is not in vain that we pass through this great furnace of pain. The greater number come out of this sharp ordeal with exalted virtues, which they never before possessed. The impious are converted to religion, the avaricious to almsgiving, they who had never wept gain the gift of tears, and the hard-hearted become merciful. Pain has an undefined element of power, and of depth, which is the source of all heroism and grandeur. No one has felt this mysterious contact without being thereby animated: the child acquires the manliness of the youth, the youth the maturity and gravity of manhood, men the strength of heroes, and heroes the sanctity of saints.

On the contrary, he who turns aside from pain to court pleasure, commences to descend; and the career of his degradation is rapid and continuous. From the height of sanctity he falls into the abyss of sin; from glory he sinks to infamy; his heroism is changed into weakness, and through the habit of yielding, he loses even the remembrance of firmness, and by falling so often he loses the faculty of rising again. Indulgence in pleasure deprives him of all vitality, paralyses the elasticity and vigor of all the muscles of his body, and all the energies of his soul. In sensual gratification there is a corrupting and enervating power, which slowly and silently kills its victim. Woe to those who respond to this syren but perfidious voice! Woe to those who, when pleasure allures with her perfumes and flowers, remain without fear, for they shall soon cease to be masters of themselves, and shall helplessly fall into that swoon of seeming death, in which she wraps the senses of those who are intoxicated with the aroma of her flowers and the vapors of her perfumes! Then, the unhappy victim either miserably succumbs to this infatuation or he is altogether transformed by it. The child never attains adolescence, the adult withers into seeming old age, and the aged perish. Man is despoiled by pleasure of the strength of his will, of the vigor of his understanding, and loses the instinct of great things. He becomes cynically selfish, excessively cruel, and nameless passions violently agitate him. If he is of mean condition, he will fall from the hands of justice into the hands of the executioner. If he is of exalted rank, he will excite terror and indignation by the unrestrained indulgence of his rapacious and ferocious instincts. When God wishes to chastise a nation for its sins, He enslaves it under the dominion of voluptuous men, who, stupefied with the opium of sensual gratification, can only be aroused from their brutal insensibility by the fumes of blood. All those horrid monsters, whom the pretorians in the days of imperial Rome saluted as emperors, were voluptuous and effeminate men. Revolutionary France worshiped at the same time prostitution and death; while prostitution triumphed in her temples and at her altars, death was worshiped in her public places and on her scaffolds.

* Reprinted from Essays on Catholicism, Liberalism, and Socialism: Considered in Their Fundamental Principles by Juan Donoso Cortés, Marquis of Valdegamas, Preserving Christian Publications, 2014, pp.154-156

Feast of Sant’Ulrico di Augusta

Sant'Ulrico di Augusta, ora pro nobis

July 4th is the feast of St. Ulrich, Bishop of Augsburg. Born in Augsburg, Bavaria, in 890, he was educated at the abbey of St. Gall in Switzerland. After completing his studies, he returned to Augsburg, where he was ordained a priest. With the support of his kinsmen, Ulrich was made bishop of the city in 923.

As bishop, he restored buildings, built churches in honor of St. John and St. Afra, and founded the monastery of St. Stephan. A strong supporter and trusted advisor of Emperor Otto I the Great, he built Augsburg's stone wall fortifications and served as general against the invading Magyars. In 955 he successfully defended the city against the invaders until the arrival of the Emperor’s army and the siege was broken.

Often depicted with a fish, St. Ulrich famously rewarded a diligent messenger with a goose leg that miraculously turned into a fish on Friday morning.

St. Ulrich died in 973, and a local cult soon arose. Many miracles took place at his tomb and he was canonized by Pope John XV in 993, the first known canonization by a pope. He is invoked against anger, fever, mice, moles and complications with pregnancy and childbirth.

In celebration, we’re posting a prayer to St. Ulrich of Augsburg. The accompanying photo comes courtesy of Father Eugene Carrella. The holy card is part of Father Carrella’s impressive collection of religious artifacts. Evviva Sant’Ulrico di Augusta!

Prayer to St. Ulrich of Augsburg

O God our Father, you give us the lives of the saints as witnesses of Truth and examples of virtue. We thank you for the gift of St. Ulrich, who faithfully served your Church as a kindly Bishop that cared deeply for the poor and the sick. By his example of charity, perseverance and courage, may we too attain the holiness which he lived. We ask all things in the name of your Divine Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ, through the power of your Holy Spirit. Amen.

Feast of Beato Piergiorgio Frassati

Beato Piergiorgio Frassati, ora pro nobis

July 4th is the feast of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, Dominican Tertiary. Born on April 6, 1901, to a wealthy family in Torino, Pier studied mechanical engineering with a specialization in mining. More interested in helping the poor minors than his studies, he was often reproached by his father. Preferring prayers and charitable works to his schooling, Pier joined every Catholic association he could, including the Conferenza di San Vincenzo and l’Azione Cattolica. A professed member of the Third Order of St. Dominic, he assumed the religious name of Girolamo after Girolamo Savonarola. In 1924 he even founded the society of Tipi Loschi (“swindlers and swindlerettes” or “shady characters”) with his close friends to organize hikes and mounting climbing, as well as to assist one another with their interior lives and to help the less fortunate.

Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati unexpectedly died of Polio on July 4, 1925, at the age of 24. Thousands, mostly the sick and poor, turned up for his funeral. Impressed by the turnout, his broken-hearted father finally realizes who his son was and returns to the faith.

In celebration, we’re posting a prayer to Beato Piergiorgio Frassati written by Cardinal Giovanni Saldarni, Archbishop of Turin. The photo of the relic from the wood of the coffin of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati comes courtesy of Father Eugene Carrella. The relic is part of Father Carrella’s impressive collection of religious artifacts. Evviva Beato Piergiorgio Frassati!

Prayer to Beato Piergiorgio Frassati

O Father, you gave to the young Pier Giorgio Frassati the joy of meeting Christ and of living his faith in the service of the poor and the sick; through his intercession may we, too, walk the path of the beatitudes and follow the example of his generosity, spreading the spirit of the Gospel in society. Through Christ our Lord, Amen.

* Learn more about Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati

Meridiunalata: “E I’ Te Vulette Bene Assaje” by Cav. Charles Sant’Elia

Reprinted from Cav. Charles Sant'Elia's Meridiunalata / Southernade, an evocative bilingual collection of poetry written in Neapolitan and translated to English between 1989 and 2010.*

E I’ Te Vulette Bene Assaje

Quann’i’ partette ‘a Gaeta,
Nun guardavo manco ‘o cielo,
Tenevo l’uocchie nterra
E po me ne jevo usemanno l’addore ‘e mare,
Ciento suonne cupe
Passanno pe copp’’a pella
Cu ‘e carezze d’’o viento.
A Lisbona t’aggio veduta p’’a primma vota,
Nnanz’a na funtana,
E te secutavo, ncopp’’a na via,
E sentevo n’acqua nova
Ca schezzecchejava.
Tu me tenive mente
E me dunave nu surriso,
Dentezzulle mmiez’’e labbra curalline,
E me chiammaste zíngaro
E i’ te vulette bene assaje.

And I Loved You So

When I departed Gaeta,
I didn’t even look at the sky,
I had my eyes downward
And then I went away sniffing the odour of the sea,
A hundred dark dreams
Passing over my skin
With the caresses of the wind.
In Lisbon I saw you for the first time,
Before a fountain,
And I followed you, up a lane,
And I felt a new water
For it was drizzling.
And you were watching me
And you gave me a smile,
Little teeth between coral-like lips,
And you called me a gypsy
And I loved you so.

* Self-published in 2010, Meridiunalata / Southernade is a treasury of poems gleaned from Cav. Sant'Elia's previous collections (Nchiuso dint''o presente, 'A cuntrora, and 'O pino e l'éllera), which were circulated among friends in New York City and Naples. Special thanks to Cav. Sant'Elia for allowing us to reprint his poetry and translations.

Photo of the Week: The Venus Callipyge

The Venus Callipyge, Roman, 1st or 2nd century BC. Museo
Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli. Photo by New York Scugnizzo

Feast of the Madonna della Visitazione

Madonna della Visitazione, ora pro nobis

July 2nd is the Feast of the Madonna della Visitazione, or the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, patroness of Enna, Sicily. Commemorating the pregnancies of the Blessed Mother and Saint Elizabeth, the feast also celebrates the cleansing of the unborn Saint John the Baptist from original sin.

Following the Annunciation, Mary went to Judea to visit her elderly cousin Elizabeth and her husband Zachariah. Childless and too old to conceive, Elizabeth was miraculously pregnant with John, the holy prophet and herald of our Lord Jesus Christ. When Elizabeth greeted Mary, the unborn John leaped for joy in his mother’s womb.

In celebration, I’m posting a prayer for the Feast of Our Lady of the Visitation. The accompanying photo of The Visitation by Belisario Corenzio, courtesy of Andrew Giordano, was taken in the Duomo di Salerno. Evviva Madonna della Visitazione!

Prayer for the Feast of Our Lady of the Visitation

Bestow upon Thy servants, we beseech Thee, O Lord, the gift of Thy heavenly grace: that as the childbearing of the Blessed Virgin was the beginning of our salvation, so the solemn feast of her Visitation may bring us an increase of peace. Through our Lord.

Feast of the Madonna delle Grazie

Madonna delle Grazie, ora pro nobis

July 2nd is the Feast of the Madonna delle Grazie (Our Lady of Grace), patroness of Santa Caterina Villarmosa (CL), Verbicaro (CS), Toritto (BA) and Cautano (BN), among others. In celebration, I'm posting a Prayer to Our Lady of Grace. The accompanying photo of the statue of the Madonna delle Grazie, patrona di Santa Caterina Villarmosa, was taken at Most Precious Blood Church (113 Baxter Street) in New York City's historic Little Italy. Evviva Madonna delle Grazie!

Prayer to Our Lady of Grace

O heavenly treasurer of all graces, Mother of God and my mother Mary, since you are the first-born daughter of the Eternal Father and hold in your hands his omnipotence, be moved to pity my soul and grant me the graces which I fervently ask of you.

O merciful dispenser of divine graces, Mary most holy, mother of the Eternal incarnate Word who has crowned you with his immense wisdom, look upon the greatness of my sorrow and grant me the graces I need so much.

O most loving dispenser of divine graces, immaculate Spouse of the Eternal Holy Spirit, most holy Mary, who have received from him a heart which is moved to pity by human misfortunes and which is constrained to offer consolation to those who suffer, be moved to pity my soul and grant me whose graces which I await from you with full confidence in your immense goodness.

O my mother, treasurer of all graces, refuge of poor sinners, consolation of the afflicted, hope of those who despair and most powerful help of Christians, I places all my confidence in you, being sure that you will obtain for me from Jesus the graces which I so much desire, if they are good for my soul.

First Fridays at Our Lady Queen of Peace Church in Staten Island, New York

Feast of the Most Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ

Blood of Christ, save us

July 1st is the Feast of the Most Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ. The Feast was extended to the whole church in 1849 by Blessed Pope Pius IX who, in the wake of the 1848 Revolution, was living in exile at Gaeta in the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. After the French Army toppled the vile Roman Republic and restored the Holy See’s temporal power, His Holiness assigned the Feast to the first Sunday of June. This was later changed to June 1st by Pope Pius X in order to reduce the number of feast days allocated to a Sunday. Sadly, the feast was removed from the new Church calendar in 1969, but it is still in the traditional Roman calendar of 1962 usage. The month of July is dedicated to the Most Precious Blood. In celebration I’m posting the Litany of the Most Precious Blood. The accompanying photo of the tympanum with genuflecting Angels and the Most Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ was taken at the Shrine Church of the Most Precious Blood in Little Italy, New York. 

Litany of the Most Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ:
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God, the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.
Blood of Christ, only-begotten Son of the eternal Father, save us.
Blood of Christ, Incarnate Word or God, save us.
Blood of Christ, of the New and Eternal Testament, save us.
Blood of Christ, falling upon the earth in Agony, save us.
Blood of Christ, shed profusely in the Scourging, save us.
Blood of Christ, flowing forth in the Crowning with Thorns, save us.
Blood of Christ, poured out on the Cross, save us.
Blood of Christ, price of our salvation, save us.
Blood of Christ, without which there is no forgiveness, save us.
Blood of Christ, Eucharistic drink and refreshment of souls, save us.
Blood of Christ, stream of mercy, save us.
Blood of Christ, victor over demons, save us.
Blood of Christ, courage of Martyrs, save us.
Blood of Christ, strength of Confessors, save us.
Blood of Christ, bringing forth Virgins, save us.
Blood of Christ, help of those in peril, save us.
Blood of Christ, relief of the burdened, save us.
Blood of Christ, solace in sorrow, save us.
Blood of Christ, hope of the penitent, save us.
Blood of Christ, consolation of the dying, save us.
Blood of Christ, peace and tenderness of hearts, save us.
Blood of Christ, pledge of eternal life, save us.
Blood of Christ, freeing souls from purgatory, save us.
Blood of Christ, most worthy of all glory and honor, save us.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us, O Lord.
V. You have redeemed us, O Lord, in Your Blood.
R. And made us a kingdom for our God.
Let us Pray:
V. Almighty and eternal God, You have appointed Your only-begotten Son the Redeemer of the world and willed to be appeased by his blood. Grant, we beg, that we may worthily adore this price of our salvation and through its power be safeguarded from the evils of the present life so that we may rejoice in its fruits forever in heaven. Through the same Christ our Lord.
R. Amen.

Feast of San Nicasio Camuto de Burgio

San Nicasio Camuto de Burgio, ora pro nobis

July 1st is the Feast of San Nicasio Camuto de Burgio, Knight of Malta and Martyr. Born in Sicily circa 1135, San Nicasio is descended from a Saracen Emir who converted to Christianity following the Norman reconquest of the isle. Joining the Knights Hospitaller, he fought to defend Christendom at Acre and was captured at the Battle of Hattin in 1187. Refusing to renounce his faith, the devout Crusader, along with his brother Ferrandino and other prisoners, were beheaded in the presence of the Sultan Saladin. San Nicasio is the patron saint of Caccamo (PA), Sicily. In celebration, I’m posting a Prayer to St. Nicaise.(1) Pictured are a pair of Sovereign Order of Malta postage stamps depicting the glorious martyr.(2) Evviva San Nicasio!

Prayer to St. Nicaise

O God, every year you give us joy in the commemoration of your martyr, blessed Nicasius: grant that through his prayers and example the companions of our Order may grow in faith and always follow you with all their hearts. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

(1) Prayer courtesy of the Sovrano Military Ordine di Malta

(2) The stamps show the painting of the Madonna di Constantinople and detail of San Nicasio by the great Cavaliere Calabrese, Mattia Preti (1613-1699). An ex-voto for freeing Naples from the plague of 1656, the painting portrays the Blessed Mother crowning Santa Rosalia with San Giuseppe, San Gennaro, San Rocco and San Nicasio in attendance. The painting is held at the National Museum of Capodimonte in Naples.

Feast of St. Junipero Serra

St. Junipero Serra, ora pro nobis

“Siempre adelante, nunca atrás” ~ St. Junipero Serra*

July 1st is the Feast of St. Junipero Serra, Spanish Franciscan friar and Missionary. Known as the Apostle of California for his evangelization of the Indian tribes of North America, he is also the patron saint of vocations. In 2015 he became the first saint to be canonized in the United States. In celebration, I’m posting a prayer to St. Junipero Serra. The accompanying photo is a screen capture of the statue of St. Junipero Serra in San Francisco, California being toppled by a violent mob of Marxist vandals during the iconoclastic tantrums allowed to take place by cowardly and ineffectual leaders across these United States in 2020.

Prayer to St. Junipero Serra

O God, who by your ineffable mercy have been pleased through the labors of your priest Saint Junipero Serra to count many American peoples within your Church, grant by his intercession that we may so join our hearts to you in love, as to carry always and everywhere before all people the image of your Only Begotten Son. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

* “Always forward, never backward”

Happy National U.S. Postage Stamp Day!

In celebration of National U.S. Postage Stamp Day, I thought it would be fun, since I don't have many stamps from these United States, to share a Spanish stamp from my private collection honoring El Gran Capitán Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba (1453-1515) from 1958.