Evviva i Santi Medici! A Look at the 114th Annual Feast of Saints Cosma and Damiano

(L) The statues inside Most Precious Blood. (R) A close-up of the standard
Photos by New York Scugnizzo

Traditionally held at the Shrine Church of the Most Precious Blood in New York City’s Little Italy, which is currently undergoing much-needed renovation, this year’s Feast of Saints Cosma and Damiano, patrons of San Cosmo Albanese in Cosenza, Calabria, was moved to the nearby Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral. 

On my way to Sunday’s celebration, I was curious to see if the statues of the Healing Saints were moved to the new venue and stopped by Most Precious Blood. Admittedly a little disappointed to find the brothers still in their corner niche, I took the opportunity to light a few candles and pray for my sick relatives and for the happy repose of the souls of my ancestors.

Afterward, I continued on to Old St. Pat’s and met up with our friends of the Saints Cosma e Damiano Society for their celebratory luncheon in the church’s cozy event space. Warmly welcomed, I was invited to break bread with them and partake in the joyous festivities. Partygoers enjoyed a delicious repast, games and raffles, as well as a guided tour of Old St. Pat’s historic catacombs by electric candlelight. 

Motivated by Economos Russo, I took the opportunity to go next door to Saint Michael’s Russian Catholic Church, which serves the Byzantine Rite community. Luckily, I caught the end of the Divine Liturgy and was able to take a few pictures inside the tiny chapel. Coincidentally, I’ve only celebrated the Byzantine Rite Divine Liturgy once before and that was at the 112th Annual Feast of Saints Cosma and Damiano at Most Precious Blood back in 2015. The parishioners kindly invited me to join them for coffee and cake, but I needed to get back to the party and celebrate Mass inside the beautiful Basilica.

I want to thank George, Damiano, Frank, Rosemary and all the members of the Saints Cosma e Damiano Society for their hard work and warm hospitality. It was an honor and a privilege to celebrate our faith and culture together and look forward to doing it again next year. Evviva i Santi Medici!

Revelers gather for a group photo

The Board of Directors with the society standard

Children took turns drawing the winning raffle tickets

Guests enjoying the festivities

We were treated to a delicious repast

There were plenty of raffle prizes to be won

Icons inside St. Michael's Chapel (Click here to see more pics)

We enter the catacombs

(L) The Delmonico family's hermetically sealed vault.
(R) Crucifix between Msgr. Arthur Tommaso and Msgr. Nicola Marinacci

Msgr. Nicola Marinacci's sarcophagus

The "Mayor of Little Italy," John Ciarcia's columbarium

(L) During Mass, the society standard was displayed in the church sanctuary.
(R) A look inside the beautiful Basilica 

After Mass, worshipers take a commemorative photo

A Look Inside Saint Michael’s Byzantine Rite Russian Catholic Church in Nolita, New York

Evviva San Michele!

During Sunday's celebration of the 114th Annual Feast of Saints Cosma and Damiano at the Basilica of St. Patrick's Old Cathedral, I took a moment to visit St. Michael's Russian Catholic Church, located next door at 266 Mulberry Street in Nolita, New York. Invited in, I was able to explore the chapel, say a prayer and take a few pictures of the beautiful religious icons.

Photos by New York Scugnizzo

A Prayer for the Victims in Las Vegas, Marseille and Edmonton

We are shocked and appalled by the ever-increasing politically and religiously motivated violence and senseless acts of evil, as well as the shameless gloating and unhinged demagoguery of those who try to excuse, normalize and distort these tragedies for their own abhorrent worldview. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of the recent attacks in Las Vegas, Marseille and Edmonton and their families. May St. Cajetan of Thiene, St. Victor of Marseille, and St. Jean de Brébeuf watch over you.

Prayer for Victims of Terrorism  

Loving God, welcome into your arms the victims of violence and terrorism. Comfort their families and all who grieve for them. Help us in our fear and uncertainty, and bless us with the knowledge that we are secure in your love. Strengthen all those who work for peace, and may the peace the world cannot give reign in our hearts. Amen.

Also see:
• A Prayer for Barcelona
• A Prayer for London
• A Prayer for Manchester
• A Prayer for the Church Bombing Victims in Egypt
• A Prayer for Stockholm
• A Prayer for St. Petersburg
• A Prayer for Westminster
• A Prayer for Berlin
• Requiescat in Pace: Fr. Jacques Hamel
• A Prayer for Nice
• A Prayer for Brussels
• Solidarité

* Photo of the Seal from the Abbey of St. Victor in Marseille courtesy of www.traditioninaction.org

Celebrating the Second Annual Feast of St. Michael the Archangel at Most Precious Blood Church in Little Italy, New York

Evviva San Michele!

Photos by New York Scugnizzo

By Cav. John Napoli

Friday evening (Sept. 29th), devotees from far and wide gathered at the Shrine Church of the Most Precious Blood in Little Italy, New York for the Second Annual Traditional Solemn High Latin Mass in honor of St. Michael the Archangel, patron saint of police officers. The Mass was sponsored by the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George and the Circolo delle Due Sicilie USA, but the celebration would not have been possible without the encouragement and support of many others.

Once again, we must thank our dear friends Stephen La Rocca, President of the St. Rocco Society of Potenza in NYC, and Lorenzo Tinio for their indispensable help and guidance. True friends, they have been a great source of strength and inspiration to me.

On top of being our lay master of ceremonies, Lorenzo generously donated this year’s beautiful programs and laminated copies of the Prayer to St. Michael composed by Pope Leo XIII, which we recited during Mass. Our friend Lucian donated the flyers and George Pompilio of Gothic Press donated this year’s prayer cards. Your devotion and generosity is greatly appreciated.

After Mass, Clergy, Servers and Cavalieri take a commemorative photo 

Special thanks to Fr. Stephen Saffron, Parochial Vicar at St. Anselm Church, for being our celebrant and homilist; Fr. Robert Rodriguez for being our Deacon; Fr. Christopher Salvatori, SAC, for being our Subdeacon; and Fr. Daniel Kingsley who sat in choir. As always, it was an incredible honor and pleasure to celebrate Liturgy with you.

Thank you to the dutiful altar servers. Along with Lorenzo, thurifer Teddy Thongratnachat, crucifer Brian Hilley, and acolytes Michael Soto-Torrellas and Brian McGuire did a fantastic job.

San Michele was placed on the bye-altar with flowers

Thank you to music director Art Manabat, organist Robert Harsághy and the rest of the schola for your precious gift of sacred music. What a blessing and joy it was to listen to you sing.

Thank you Msgr. Donald Sakano, Pastor of the Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral, for giving us his blessing and letting us hold the celebration at Most Precious Blood again. The staff and congregation, especially project manager Bill Russo and Emily Bisogno, have been incredibly supportive and hospitable.

(L) Relic from the Sanctuary of Monte Sant'Angelo sul Gargano, Puglia.
(R) Devotees pin donations on to the statue

Thank you to our friends from the St. Rocco Society of Potenza; the Comitati Due Sicilie USA; Brooklyn Latin Mass; the Figli di San Gennaro; the Society of St. Hugh of Cluny; the Craco Society; the Society of Saint Anthony of Giovinazzo; the Associazione Culturale Pugliese Figli Maria SS. Addolorata; and the NYPD Holy Name Society of Manhattan, Bronx and Staten Island. It was an honor and a privilege to celebrate our faith and culture together.

(L-R) Bill Russo, Cav. Sant'Elia, Cav. Napoli and Stephen La Rocca

Thank you to my fellow Cavalieri Joseph Sciame, Charles Sant’Elia and Vincent Gangone of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George for serving as honor guard. 

I apologize if I forgot anyone.

God willing, we will see you all again next year, Saturday, September 29, 2017 for the Third Annual Feast of St. Michael at Most Precious Blood Church. Evviva San Michele!!!

Prayer cards at the base of the statue

Photo of the Week: A View of Positano from the Pier

Positano, the Vertical City, Amalfi Coast. Photo by New York Scugnizzo

New Book: Neapolitan Legends by Matilde Serao

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

• Neapolitan Legends by Matilde Serao

Publisher: CreateSpace
Publication Date: September 25, 2017
Paperback: $7.99
Language: English
Pages: 98

Read description

Click here to see more books

Feast of San Girolamo

St. Jerome in his study removing a thorn from the lion’s paw

September 30th is the Feast of San Girolamo (Saint Jerome), Doctor of the Church. A fourth century scholar and historian from the Roman province of Dalmatia, he is best known for his translation of the Holy Bible into Latin (the Vulgate) from the original Hebrew and Greek Septuagint. Protector of Cittanova in Reggio Calabria, San Girolamo is also the patron saint of archeologists, translators, scholars, librarians and students. In celebration, we're posting a Prayer to St. Jerome. The accompanying photo of St. Jerome removing a thorn from the lion’s paw (c. 1440-70) by Early Neapolitan Renaissance painter Niccolò Antonio Colantonio is on view at the Museo Nazionale di Capodimonte in Naples.

Prayer to St. Jerome

Master of unworldliness and founder of monasteries, you had a deep love for God's inspired Word and were a most careful translator of the Sacred Scriptures. Your single-mindedness in seeking God's glory is a perfect model for all exegetes. Inspire them with respect for the sacred text as well as for Tradition and the Church's Magisterium. Help them to impart to all the true meaning of the Word of God. Amen.

A Look at the 2017 Santa Fortunata Procession in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn

Evviva Santa Fortunata!

Photos by New York Scugnizzo

Scenes from Saturday’s 117th Annual Procession in honor of Santa Fortunata, beloved patroness of Baucina, Sicily, in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn.

The two day celebration, full of pomp and pageantry, began at the society clubhouse (7702 17th Ave.) in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn

Devotees offer donations

A prayer before the procession

The Color Guard led the way down 77th Street

Vincent and Ciro have the great honor of carrying the society's standards

Society women display the banner 

Flowers spell out Santa Fortunata

(Above & below) Decked out in their colorful raiment, participants reenact
the life and martyrdom of Santa Fortunata

The Tony Neglia Band

President Ciro Quattrocchi (right) enjoying the festivities 

Devotees pull the vara with Santa Fortunata through the neighborhood

A good time was had by all

The procession makes its way through the neighborhood

Congratulations Princess Maria Chiara di Borbone, Duchess of Capri and Noto

HRH Princess Maria Chiara di Borbone, Duchess of Capri and Noto
Photo courtesy of Real Casa di Borbone delle Due Sicilie

During an official visit to the city of Noto, Sicily over the weekend, HRH Prince Carlo di Borbone, head of the Royal House of Bourbon Two Sicilies, has conferred upon his youngest daughter HRH Princess Maria Chiara di Borbone, Duchess of Capri, the additional title of Duchess of Noto. With much love and joy in our hearts, we wish Her Highness all the best in her future endeavors and pray for God to watch over and protect her always! Auguri!

Photo of the Week: Bust of San Gennaro in the Duomo di Napoli

Bust of San Gennaro in the Duomo di Napoli
Photo courtesy of Patrick O'Boyle