Congratulations Nicole & John on Your Wedding!

"You may kiss the bride." At the end of Mass, principal celebrant HE Bishop Frank J. Caggiano pronounces the handsome couple man and wife

Congratulations Nicole (né di Bona) and John Viola! It was a tremendous honor to be a part of your joyous day and we wish you never-ending love and happiness. God Bless you and the family you are about to start.

Guests were given packaged butterflies to release after the wedding ceremony

For a split second, everyone outside the Church of St. Ignatius Loyola
took their eyes off the bride to watch the butterflies flutter away

HRH Princess Beatrice of Bourbon Two Sicilies
with Nob. Dr. Robert LaRocca (R.) and Cav. Charles Sant'Elia (l.)

Nicole was a stunning bride 

(Above & below) Everyone joined the happy couple
on the dance floor for the tarantella 

Saturday night, Cipriani Wall Street was the place to be

Baron La Rocca tripping the light fantastic with Teresa Viola

Like everything else that night, the wedding cake was magnificent 

I was amazed at how lifelike John's wedding cake topper looked 

It's not a party until the flag of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies comes out.
Cav. Sant'Elia (l.) and Cav. John Napoli (r.) with our beloved U.S. Delegate of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George 

Feast of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, Disciple of the Sacred Heart

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, ora pro nobis

October 17th is the Feast of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque (1647-1690), Virgin and Mystic. Patroness of the devotees of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Visitation nun is also invoked by those suffering from polio or with the loss of parents. Her visions of Christ helped spread the devotion to the Sacred Heart across the Catholic World. 

In celebration, I’m posting a Prayer to St. Margaret Mary. Pictured is an image of Our Lord appearing to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque I salvaged from a yard sale and is now a treasured part of my private oratory. Evviva Santa Margherita Maria Alacoque! 

Prayer to St. Margaret Mary

Saint Margaret Mary, thou who wast made a partaker of the divine treasures of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, obtain for us, we beseech thee, from this adorable Heart, the graces we need so sorely. We ask these favors of thee with unbounded confidence. May the divine Heart of Jesus be pleased to bestow them upon us through thy intercession, so that once again He may be loved and glorified through thee. Amen.

V. Pray for us, O blessed Margaret;
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray.

O Lord Jesus Christ, who didst wondrously open the unsearchable riches of Thy Heart to blessed Margaret Mary, the virgin: grant unto us, by her merits and our imitation of her, that we may love Thee in all things and above all things, and may be worthy to have our everlasting dwelling in the same Sacred Heart: who livest and reignest, world without end. Amen.

Photo of the Week: A View of the Northern Facade of the Reggia di Caserta from the Gardens

A View of the northern facade of the Reggia di Caserta from the gardens.

Photo courtesy of Andrew Giordano

Canonization of Blessed Angelo d’Acri

Evviva Sant'Angelo d'Acri

Pope Francis declared 35 new saints Sunday, October 15 at a Canonization Mass in the Vatican’s St. Peter’s Square. Among them was Fr. Angelo d’Acri (1669-1739) a Capuchin priest, itinerant preacher and patron of Acri in Cosenza, Calabria. 

To commemorate the occasion, I'm posting a prayer to Saint Angelo of Acri. The accompanying photo was taken during the 2015 Feast at Most Precious Blood Church (113 Baxter Street), the national shrine of San Gennaro, located in New York City's historic Little Italy.

The 2017 Feast of San Angelo d’Acri will be celebrated on Sunday, October 29th at 12 Noon at Most Precious Blood Church.

A Prayer to St. Angelo da Acri

O God, you gave to your priest Saint Angelo the grace to call sinners to penance through his words and miracles, grant through his intercession, that we may be sorry for our sins, and gain eternal life. 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

Feast of Santa Chelidonia di Subiaco

October 13th is the Feast of Santa Chelidonia di Subiaco, Virgin, Hermitess, and Benedictine nun. Born in 1077 in Cicoli (currently Cicolano), Rieti, Abruzzo, she made a pilgrimage to Rome and took the monastic veil in the Monastery of Santa Scolastica. For nearly 52 years she lived in solitude in a cave in the Simbruini Mountains, dying on October 13, 1152. She is the patron saint of Subiaco, Lazio. In celebration, I’m posting a prayer in Italian by Nicola Pinna. The accompanying image is a detail of a fresco in Subiaco.

Preghiera a Santa Chelidonia

Amorevole Santa Chelidonia, un'eremo sui monti, accolse la tua fede, ospitandoti e riparandoti con le sue possenti rocce, tenedoti al sicuro dai pericoli, nel silenzio della montagna, dove accompagnata dai versi degli animali, dai sospiri del vento, e dagli scroscicchii della pioggia, stavi la in contemplazione, per conoscere, amare e servire, lodare e onorare il Signore. Ti preghiamo, di protergerci ed intercedere, e portare al Signore le nostre intenzioni. Per Cristo nostro Signore. Amen.

Celebrating Traditional Latin Mass in Honor of Sant’Elena di Laurino

Statue of Sant'Elena di Laurino. Photos by New York Scugnizzo

Some fifty pilgrims, including a couple of Knights of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George, celebrated High Mass at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Pontifical Shrine in East Harlem, New York Tuesday evening in honor of Sant’Elena di Laurino. 

First class relic of S.Elena

Mass was sung by Fr. Christopher Salvatori, SAC, and included the veneration of the first class relic of Sant’Elena.

Afterward, worshippers had the extraordinary opportunity to perform the traditional practice of Eucharistic Adoration for an hour in silence by candlelight, with the Eucharist displayed in a monstrance on the altar.

Thank you to the Pallotine Fathers for organizing the Mass and warmly welcoming us inside their beautiful church. It was a great joy to celebrate our faith and culture together. Evviva Sant’Elena di Laurino!'

Photo of the Week: A View of Monte Vesuvio

A View of Mount Vesuvius, Napoli. Photo courtesy of Andrew Giordano

The Search for our Ancestry (XLI)

SICILIAN AND ITALIAN CIVIL Records ON Ancestry

By Angelo Coniglio

Ancestry refers to the subscription website www.Ancestry.com. Like many other genealogy sites, it continues to grow and add records. Compared to www.familysearch.org, it does not have as many Sicilian and Italian records, but those that it does have are much easier to browse. As mentioned previously, if you prefer not to pay for the service, Ancestry is available for free at many public libraries and at Mormon FamilySearch Centers, also referred to as Family History Centers (also called FamilySearch Centers). Find a Center near you at http://bit.ly/LocateFSCs

To view a town’s civil records of birth, marriage and death on Ancestry, you must know the name of the town’s ‘provincia’, or province (a political subdivision similar to a U. S. state or county). Generally, the largest town in a province also bears the name of the province, as the city of Palermo in Palermo Province; the city of Messina in Messina Province, and so on. Some of the provinces covered by Ancestry include the Sicilian provinces of Caltanissetta, Agrigento, Messina, and Palermo. Provinces on the mainland that are covered include Calabria, Napoli, Liguria, and others.

Enter the Ancestry site and sign in. At the top, select “Search”, then “Card Catalog”. Type in the exact name of the province. If the province is covered, a list of links to records available for it will appear. In some cases, there will be just one link, to the ‘Civil Registration Records’ of the province. Such links will lead to records for fifteen, twenty or more different towns in that province. Or, searching the province name may return a link to just one or two, or several towns in the province. It must be emphasized that the province names must be spelled exactly for these searches to work. You may have to do some preliminary research on the province’s name to be sure you use the modern spelling.  If your ancestors said they came from the province of Girgenti, for example, you need to recognize that Girgenti is now called Agrigento.

Typing a province’s name, such as Caltanissetta, in the Card Catalog search box will return the link Caltanissetta, Sicily, Italy, Civil Registration Records, 1866-1939 (in Italian) Click that link, and you’ll see, on the right, ‘Browse This Collection’. Under ‘Province’ choose Caltanissetta, then click on the ‘Choose Locality’ option and you’ll see a list of twenty-three Caltanissetta provincial towns ranging from Acquaviva Platani to Villalba. Click the one you want, then you’ll be prompted to choose a ‘Record Type’.

The record types available may vary from province to province and town to town but the main ones include the following: Atti di Nascita (Birth Records); Indice Annuale Atti Nascite (Annual Indexes of Births); Atti di Matrimonio (Records of Marriage); Indice Annuale Matrimoni (Annual Indexes of Marriages); Atti di Morte (Records of Death); and Indice Annuale Morti (Annual Indexes of Deaths). Large towns may also have decennale (ten-year) indexes for births, marriages or deaths, and some have records of Pubblicazioni or Notificazioni (Marriage Banns) and corresponding indices.

The next search choice is ‘RecordYear’, and usually includes years from 1866 through 1910. Earlier records for most towns must be accessed via rented microfilms or on-line records viewed at FamilySearch Centers. I usually proceed as follows: say I’m searching for birth records; I select the province, town, and birth index for the year I want: then a page showing images of indexes will be displayed. I find the name I’m looking for and make a note of its ‘Numero di Ordine’ (Record Number). I leave the index pages displayed, then open a new ‘tab’ and follow the steps to open the birth records. Then I page through the images until I find the proper Record Number. In this way, if there are other records in the same year that are of interest to me, I can conveniently switch back and forth between the index and the images of complete records.

Coniglio is the author of the book The Lady of the Wheel, inspired by his Sicilian research. Order the paperback or the Kindle version at http://bit.ly/SicilianStory. Coniglio’s web page at http://bit.ly/AFCGen has helpul hints on genealogic research. If you have genealogy questions, or would like him to lecture to your club or group, e-mail him at genealogytips@aol.com

Acqua Restaurant and Wine Bar Fall Party

Chef Marrone shucking oysters

Back from his recent trip to Napoli, executive chef Giuseppe Marrone and his crack staff celebrated the change of seasons with a roisterous party at Acqua Restaurant and Wine Bar (21 Peck Slip) in Downtown Manhattan’s renowned Seaport District. Packed to the gills, revelers enjoyed the potent drinks, live music (by Roberto Iriti Jit and Robin Daniel Grasso) and, of course, the complimentary food served up by our most gracious host. 

With much anticipation, Giuseppe unveiled the restaurant’s new pristine raw bar, packed with fresh lobster, shrimp, oysters and more. Guests were treated to an assortment of oceanic delicacies and southern Italian specialties, including arancini, pizza and Giuseppe’s take on pasta e patate con provola affumicata nella forma di parmigiana, pasta, potato and smoked provola served in a giant cheese wheel. As always, everything was phenomenal! 

My prediction that Chef Marrone would take Acqua to new heights is clearly coming to pass. Admittedly, knowing Giuseppe’s passion and professionalism this deduction didn’t require any extrasensory perception on my part. In fact, while mingling with partygoers, it became crystal clear to me that I was not alone in my admiration for this gifted young man. Everyone spoke glowingly of him, not just as a restaurateur but, more importantly, as a man. 

If you’re looking for a down to earth southern Italian eatery, with delicious food, unpretentious and friendly atmosphere then I highly recommend Acqua. It is one of my favorite haunts and with Giuseppe at the helm, it will be for years to come.

Packed to the gills, revelers spill into the streets to enjoy the cool night air

Partygoers had a great time

Giuseppe serving up some delicious pasta

A neobriganti hotspot, my confrères and I
nicknamed the restaurant “The Brigands’ Roost”

ACQUA Restaurant & Wine Bar ★★★★★
21 Peck Slip @ Water Street
New York, New York 10038
Tel 212.349.4433

Feast of Santa Maria Francesca delle Cinque Piaghe

Santa Maria Francesca delle
Cinque Piaghe, ora pro nobis

October 6th is the Feast of Santa Maria Francesca delle Cinque Piaghe (St. Mary Frances of the Five Wounds), Mystic and Stigmatic. Patroness of expectant mothers and women having difficulty conceiving, she is the protectress of the Quartieri Spagnoli, or Spanish Quarter of Naples. 

In 1856, King Ferdinand II of the Two Sicilies transformed her house on the Vico Tre Re a Toledo into a small church, which he named after her. To this day, pregnant women and couples trying to conceive make a pilgrimage to the sanctuary and pray for her intercession while sitting on her miraculous chair. 

In celebration, I’m posting a prayer to Santa Maria Francesca delle Cinque Piaghe. The accompanying photo comes courtesy of Father Eugene Carrella. The holy card is part of Father Carrella’s impressive collection of religious artifacts. Evviva Santa Maria Francesca delle Cinque Piaghe!

Prayer to Santa Maria Francesca delle Cinque Piaghe

Santa Maria Francesca, who bearing humiliations and suffering you have shared the pain and anguish borne by Jesus in his Passion, help us to understand that pain, to look at Jesus crucified with the tenderness of a mother that would want to substitute herself with Him so to not make Him suffer anymore. Saint Maria Francesca, you who have made the Eucharist the only great desire of your life, help us welcome in us with faith and  awareness, the consecrated Host. Santa Maria Francesca, you who have exhorted us to have faith in God and in the Virgin Mary, help us to pray to them with the trust and ardor with which you prayed. Santa Maria Francesca, be our guide, teach us to listen to Jesus and to accompany us on the path that He has prepared for each of us. Amen

Feast of Santa Maria Francesca delle Cinque Piaghe

Santa Maria Francesca delle Cinque Piaghe, ora pro nobis

October 6th is the Feast of Santa Maria Francesca delle Cinque Piaghe (St. Mary Frances of the Five Wounds), Mystic and Stigmatic. Patroness of expectant mothers and women having difficulty conceiving, she is the protectress of the Quartieri Spagnoli, or Spanish Quarter of Naples. 

In 1856, King Ferdinand II of the Two Sicilies transformed her house on the Vico Tre Re a Toledo into a small church, which he named after her. To this day, pregnant women and couples trying to conceive make a pilgrimage to the sanctuary and pray for her intercession while sitting on her miraculous chair. 

In celebration, I’m posting a prayer to Santa Maria Francesca delle Cinque Piaghe. Pictured is a devotee's decade bracelet with the Neapolitan saint’s image. Evviva Santa Maria Francesca delle Cinque Piaghe!

Prayer to Santa Maria Francesca delle Cinque Piaghe

Santa Maria Francesca, who bearing humiliations and suffering you have shared the pain and anguish borne by Jesus in his Passion, help us to understand that pain, to look at Jesus crucified with the tenderness of a mother that would want to substitute herself with Him so to not make Him suffer anymore. Saint Maria Francesca, you who have made the Eucharist the only great desire of your life, help us welcome in us with faith and  awareness, the consecrated Host. Santa Maria Francesca, you who have exhorted us to have faith in God and in the Virgin Mary, help us to pray to them with the trust and ardor with which you prayed. Santa Maria Francesca, be our guide, teach us to listen to Jesus and to accompany us on the path that He has prepared for each of us. Amen

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

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