Photo of the Week: Madonna col Bambino (Ca. 1480) by Domenico Gagini, Museo di Castelnuovo, Napoli

Photo by New York Scugnizzo

Francesco V D'Austria-Este, a 150 Anni dalla Sua Morte

A Prayer for the Earthquake Victims in Southeast Asia

Sant'Emidio, prega per noi

We offer prayers for the victims of the catastrophic earthquake that hit Southeast Asia Friday afternoon. The loss of life, the suffering, and the destruction deeply sadden us. May Sant'Emidio, Blessed Isidore Ngei Ko Lat, and Blessed Nicholas Bunkerd Kitbamrung protect and watch over you.

Prayer to Saint Emygdius in Times of Earthquake and Calamities

Saint Emygdius, Bishop and Martyr of the faith, accept kindly the prayer that we confidently address to you. Intercede for us before the Lord so that, by imitating you, our faith, vivified by works, be a testimony of filial love for God and fraternal love for one’s neighbor. Encouraged by your example we promise to live with a heart detached from earthly goods and the willingness to sacrifice everything in order to remain faithful to God and the Church. Extend upon us, on our families and on our cities your protection, from the earthquake and from every other calamities or pestilence, so that preserved from them, we may lead a quiet and peaceful life dedicated at giving glory to God hoping to secure the salvation of our souls. Amen.

Incontro Annuale dei Comitati delle Due Sicilie

A Look at the Miniature Siege of Gaeta Diorama I'm Made for a Friend

I just about finished the small diorama of the Siege of Gaeta, featuring a metal miniature of Servant of God King Francesco II of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, which I made for a friend. All that remains is to make and attach His Majesty's sword and scabbard, which were missing from the box. Unfortunately, I accidentally deleted the photos I took to document the creative process (building, priming, painting, etc.), so all I can show you is the nearly finished product.

New Book: Inside Sicily

A forthcoming title that may be of interest to our readers. Available at Amazon.com

• Inside Sicily by Christopher Garis and Guido Taroni

Publisher: Vendome Press
Publication Date: Sept. 16, 2025
Hardcover: $75.00
Language: English
Pages: 366

Read description

Click here to see more books

Listing does not imply any endorsement

Satisfying My Book Itch

“To be oblivious of the past, to turn our backs on it, has the effect we are witnessing today, namely, that human beings are becoming barbarians again.” ~ What is Knowledge? by José Ortega y Gasset, p.193 [*]

On one of our editorial team’s semi-regular conference calls to discuss upcoming projects, we got sidetracked (as we are wont to do) and talked about a wide range of topics, including (but not limited to) ancient Rome, modern politics, and the German Conservative Revolution, which took up most of our time. Far from being exclusively German, thinkers aligned with the political-philosophical movement could be found in other parts of Europe as well. Some of the names bandied about were Vilfredo Pareto (1848-1923), Giovanni Gentile (1875-1944), and José Ortega y Gasset (1883-1955). Debating their relevance to the movement (if relevant at all—I wouldn’t include Gentile), we naturally got little in the way of work accomplished, though we had a good time.

José Ortega y Gasset

Reflecting on our conversation the next morning, I decided to go to my favorite used book store to see what I could find by José Ortega y Gasset. As a teen, I was influenced by his The Revolt of the Masses (1929) and sometime later, What is Knowledge? (1934). I haven't read much more since and wanted to change that. Occasionally, I go through these obsessive phases where I take a deep dive into certain authors and read as much as I can by them. I’ve done this in the past with E.M. Cioran (1911-1995), Ernst Jünger (1895-1998), and most recently with the Portuguese poet Fernando Pessoa (1888-1935). I feel that compulsive urge brewing again, this time for Ortega.

Hitting the jackpot, I walked away from the bookshop with inexpensive beat-up copies of The Dehumanization of Art and Other Essays on Art, Culture, and Literature (1972), Velazquez, Goya, and The Dehumanization of Art (1972), and Meditations on Hunting (1942). Considering how prolific the great Spanish philosopher and essayist was, this small sampling will have to keep me content for the time being.

I know I once wrote that “I’m not a bibliomaniac” and that I don’t “suffer from some obsessive-compulsive disorder,” [See My Book Dilemma and Other First World Problems] but seeing how intent I was in getting a new book (even though I have so many I haven’t gotten to yet) I’m beginning to think that I may have a problem.

~ Giovanni di Napoli, March 25th, Feast of the Annunciation

Notes:
[*] Little to do with this anecdote, the epigraph is just a ponderable quote I found highlighted in my copy of What is Knowledge? and I thought it worth posting.

Honoring the Fallen of Civitella del Tronto, the Last Bastion of Bourbon Resistance, with Members of the 1° Reggimento Re

Photos courtesy of Angela Cuccillato

Eternal Majesty: A Musical Tribute to an Empress

For more information, visit musicatransalpina.org

Seminario di Formazione: La Crisi del Cosiddetto Welfare State

A Look at the Tavola di San Giuseppe in Lodi, New Jersey

Photo courtesy of John Cordi

Photo of the Week: Great Hall of the Sundial in the Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli

Photo by New York Scugnizzo

Sweet Sixteen

Today, our little blog turns sixteen, and like all things of beauty (cars, ships, etc.), we think of her as our baby. Unlike the lavish coming-of-age parties typically thrown for a girl's sixteenth birthday, we contributors are keeping our celebration modest and even-keeled. Later tonight, at our small celebratory gathering, we will raise a glass of champagne (as alcohol is not part of our Lenten fast) and make the traditional cent’anni toast for “a hundred years” before getting back to work. As the saying goes, there is no rest for the weary.

Considering that the average lifespan of a blog is only two to three years, we are pleased with what we have achieved thus far, but not content. We know a century is unrealistic, but when the time finally comes to put the old girl out to pasture, we hope to have left our mark on our community and be fondly remembered for years to come. As for now, there is still important work to be done, and I’m convinced we can do better. Wishing you a blessed Lent, please keep us in your prayers. Viva Cristo Re!

Celebrating World Poetry Day

“I continued, as was my wont, to smile in his face, and he did not perceive that my smile now was at the thought of his immolation.” ~ The Cask Of Amontillado, Edgar Allan Poe (1846)

Notorious for my insensitivity and putting my foot in my mouth, I once told my hard-of-hearing friend that he was lucky he couldn’t hear the idiotic conversation at the table next to us. A good sport with a great sense of humor, he loves reminding me of my verbal gaffes.

Joining him for a caffè yesterday, I overheard four women at a nearby table mention Edgar Allan Poe. Striking up a conversation, I optimistically (foolishly?) asked if they were celebrating World Poetry Day and pulled out my copy of The Complete Poetry of Edgar Allan Poe (Signet Classics), which I happened to be carrying (among others) for the poetry reading party I was attending later that night with friends.

Laughing, the ladies told me they were unfamiliar with his poetry and that they were just discussing what to wear this weekend at the Edgar Allan Poe Speakeasy, a “chilling cocktail experience” dedicated to the stories of the 19th-century American literary giant. Apologizing for disturbing them, I politely smiled and sheepishly returned to our table.

Watching the train wreck and seeing the disappointment in my eyes, my friend said “I bet you wish you were deaf.”

The Heroic and Noble Virtues of Blessed Karl, Emperor and King, at the University Club of Washington, DC

Discovering Some Old Poster Stamps

While cataloging an old collection of Italian American sheet music dating from the early 20th century, I stumbled upon a few poster stamps from Neapolitan publishing houses that should be of interest to musicologists and philatelists alike.

Celebrating the Fifth Annual Sanfedisti Tavola di San Giuseppe in Brooklyn, New York

San Giuseppe, ora pro nobis

After Mass, members and friends of the Fratelli della Santa Fede gathered at Amunì Ristorante (7217 3rd Avenue) in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, on Sunday afternoon to celebrate our Fifth Annual Sanfedisti Tavola di San Giuseppe.

Heartfelt thanks to our dear friends from the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George, the Roman Forum, the Gebetsliga USA/Canada, the San Rocco Society of Potenza in NYC, and the Brooklyn Latin Mass Society for joining us in the festivities.

Special thanks to Chef Vincent Dardanello for treating us to another delicious Sicilian repast. His warmth and hospitality are second to none.

As always, celebrating our faith and culture together was a great honor and pleasure. We are looking forward to doing it again next year. Evviva San Giuseppe!

We erected a modest St. Joseph's Table by the front window

Andrew, John, and John

After dinner, a few partygoers took a commemorative photo with the
flags of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies and Cross of Burgundy

Jim and John

Enza and Andrew

Isaac and Emily

Antonio and Peter

Chef Dardanello

Caponata

Carciofi fritti

Arancini

Pasta alla Norma

Pasta con sarde with toasted breadcrumbs

Shrimp oreganata

Eggplant parmigiana

Milanesa de Pollo with Insalata di finocchio

Fruit and nuts

Sfingi di San Giuseppe

Zeppole di San Giuseppe

Raffle prizes included books by John Rao and Eduard Habsburg

This year's grand prize was a framed charcoal drawing
generously donated by local artist David DiPasquale