November 1, 2025

Back from Rome, Still Under Its Spell

Approaching Rome from above
It’s been nearly a week since I returned from Rome, and I’m still riding high from the experience. There’s something intoxicating about being surrounded by civilization in its truest sense—polite, courteous people; beauty in every direction; and the ever-present aura of classical grandeur and ancient Catholic devotion. Everything since has felt a little dimmer by comparison. I’ll always have a soft spot in my heart for Rome—it is, and will remain, second only to Napoli.

I’m going to share more photos from the trip over the next few days, hoping they convey even a shadow of what it felt like to be there.

~ By Giovanni di Napoli, October 31st, Vigil of All Saints

View of St. Peter's Basilica from Via della Conciliazione
(L) Copy of icon attributed to St. Luke. (R) Papal coat-of-arms

The heads of Christ and Mary in the Papal Apartments

Clock in the Papal Apartments
Inside the Papal Apartments 
(L) Equestrian statue of Emperor Charlemagne. (R) Statue of Lady Justice
Ricotta and pistachio gelato outside the Papal walls
A typical Roman breakfast to start the day
(Above & below) Architectural wonders around the city 
(L) Giordano Bruno monument at Campo de' Fiori.
(R) Detail of a light-post on the Ponte Sisto
(Above & below) La Madonnelle di Roma
Roma at night: The Lateran Obelisk and Column of the Immaculate Conception
Statue of St. Padre Pio helping Jesus carry the
Cross in the Chiesa di San Salvatore in Lauro
San Giuda Taddeo chapel in the Chiesa di San Salvatore in Lauro
Parrocchia S. Maria del Rosario
A mosaic depicting Pope Pius XII inside Parrocchia S. Maria del Rosario
(Above & below) Examples of street art in Rome

Saints of the Day for November

(L-R) Our Lady of Purgatory, Sant'Andrea Avellino,
and Santa Caterina d’Alessandria 
November is the month the church dedicates to the Poor and Forgotten Souls in Purgatory, whose commemoration is observed on November 2nd.

• The first Sunday of November — Indulgenced Prayers for Every Day in the Week for the Souls in Purgatory
• November 1 — Feast of San Cesareo di Terracina
• November 1 — Ways to Assist the Souls in Purgatory
• November 1 — Chaplet of the Holy Souls
• November 1 — Feast of All Saints' Day (Ognissanti)
• November 2 — Novena to San Martino di Tours
• November 2 — All Souls' Day Poem
• November 2 — Feast of All Souls' Day (Il Giorno dei Morti)
• November 3 — Feast of Sant’Uberto di Liegi
• November 3 — Feast of St. Winfred
• November 4 — Feast of San Carlo Borromeo
• November 5 — Feast of the Holy Relics
• November 6 — Feast of San Leonardo di Noblac
• November 8 — Feast of the Four Holy Crowned Martyrs
• November 9 — Feast of Sant’Agrippino di Napoli
• November 10 — Feast of Sant’Andrea Avellino
• November 10 — Feast of San Trifone, San Respicio, and Santa Ninfa
• November 11 — Feast of San Martino di Tours
• November 13 — Feast of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini
• November 16 — Feast of San Giuseppe Moscati
• November 16 — Feast of Santa Geltrude la Grande
• November 16 — Novena to Santa Caterina d’Alessandria
• November 17 — Feast of San Gregorio Taumaturgo
• November 18 — Feast of the Seven Visitation Martyrs of Madrid
• November 18 — Feast of the Dedication of the Basilicas of the Apostles Peter and Paul
• November 19 — Feast of St. Elizabeth of Hungary
• November 20 — Feast of San Felice di Valois
• November 21 — Novena to Sant’Andrea Apostolo
• November 21 — Feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
• November 22 — Feast of Blessed Salvatore Lilli
• November 22 — Feast of Santa Cecilia
• November 23 — Feast of Santa Felicita
• November 24 — Feast of San Giovanni della Croce
• November 25 — Novena to Santa Barbara
• November 25 — Feast of Santa Caterina d’Alessandria
• November 25 — Feast of San Mercurio di Ceasarea di Cappadocia
• November 27 — Novena to San Nicola di Bari
• November 27 — Feast of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal
• November 28 — Novena to Santa Fara (Burgundofara)
• November 28 — Feast of San Giacomo della Marca
• November 28 — Feast of Santa Caterina LabourĂ©
• November 29 — Novena to Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception
• November 29 — Vigil of Saint Andrew the Apostle and Feast of St. Saturninus of Toulouse
• November 30 — Saint Andrew Christmas Novena
• November 30 — Feast of Sant’Andrea Apostolo