Novena to Our Lady of Montserrat

Madonna di Monserrato, ora pro nobis

Pray novena for nine consecutive days, April 18th to April 26th, in preparation for the Feast on April 27th. Evviva Maria!

O God, Giver of all good things, who didst choose Montserrat as a glorious Shrine for the Mother of thy only begotten Son, and through her intercession there hast granted favors without number to those who sought them there: bow down thine ears now to our petitions as we kneel and pray before Her image. Thou Who livest and reignest forever and ever. Amen

Mention your request here…

Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory Be…

Our Lady of Montserrat, Pray for us.

* A prayer card with a photograph of the Madonna del Monserrato statue in Craco Vecchio, courtesy of the Craco Society.

Around the Web: Baroque in Kentucky

The Martyrdom of St. Bartholomew by Mattia Preti
Donated by King Francesco I of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies

Reprinted from The Society of St. Hugh of Cluny

New York, Boston, Philadelphia and … Bardstown? Furthermore, what could be the connection between this not-very-well-known Kentucky town and Naples, Italy? And what are its remote links not just with one, but two Catholic chivalric orders?

Bardstown, KY today is a quaint town – population 13,000 – with numerous buildings from the 1770’s onwards. It resembles Litchfield or Farmington, CT, Deerfield or Salem, MA – all localities once important in preindustrial America but subsequently bypassed by economic progress and therefore fortunately preserved. Bardstown, however, has unique Catholic significance. For it was to this region that Catholic settlers came to establish a new community west of the Alleghenies.  These first Catholics, moreover, were in large part descendants of the original English Catholic population of Maryland. Continue reading

Novena to San Giorgio Martire

San Giorgio Martire, ora pro nobis

Prayers by Rev. Bonaventure, O.F.M. to be recited for nine consecutive days, April 14th — 22nd (Feast on April 23rd)

Preparatory Prayer

Almighty and eternal God! With lively faith and reverently worshiping Thy divine Majesty, I prostrate myself before Thee and invoke with filial trust Thy supreme bounty and mercy. Illumine the darkness of my intellect with a ray of Thy heavenly light and inflame my heart with the fire of Thy divine love, that I may contemplate the great virtues and merits of the saint in whose honor I make this novena, and following his example imitate, like him, the life of Thy divine Son.

Moreover, I beseech Thee to grant graciously, through the merits and intercession of this powerful Helper, the petition which through him I humbly place before Thee, devoutly saying, "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." Vouchsafe graciously to hear it, if it redounds to Thy greater glory and to the salvation of my soul. Amen.

Prayer in Honor of St. George

O God, who didst grant to St. George strength and constancy in the various torments which he sustained for our holy faith; we beseech Thee to preserve, through his intercession, our faith from wavering and doubt, so that we may serve Thee with a sincere heart faithfully unto death. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Invocation of St. George

Faithful servant of God and invincible martyr, St. George; favored by God with the gift of faith, and inflamed with an ardent love of Christ, thou didst fight valiantly against the dragon of pride, falsehood, and deceit. Neither pain nor torture, sword nor death could part thee from the love of Christ. I fervently implore thee for the sake of this love to help me by thy intercession to overcome the temptations that surround me, and to bear bravely the trials that oppress me, so that I may patiently carry the cross which is placed upon me; and let neither distress nor difficulties separate me from the love of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Valiant champion of the Faith, assist me in the combat against evil, that I may win the crown promised to them that persevere unto the end.

Prayer

My Lord and my God! I offer up to Thee my petition in union with the bitter passion and death of Jesus Christ, Thy Son, together with the merits of His immaculate and blessed Mother, Mary ever virgin, and of all the saints, particularly with those of the holy Helper in whose honor I make this novena.

Look down upon me, merciful Lord! Grant me Thy grace and Thy love, and graciously hear my prayer. Amen.

* For more on St. George and the Fourteen Holy Helpers, I highly recommend Project Gutenberg's free ebook, Mary, Help of Christians and the Fourteen Saints Invoked as Holy Helpers, compiled by Rev. Bonaventure, O.F.M. It has instructions, legends, novenas and prayers, with thoughts of the saints for every day of the year. Pictured is my makeshift shrine to glorious San Giorgio with miniature flags of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George and the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. 

Announcing the Sons of the Two Sicilies Smoking Pipe Club

Photos courtesy of the Sons of the Two Sicilies Smoking Pipe Club

The Sons of the Two Sicilies Smoking and Pipe Club is a gathering place for the smokers, collectors and creators of tobacco pipes made in the territories of the former Kingdom of the Two Sicilies.

For over one hundred and fifty years, the Italian Peninsula has been an important hub for the manufacture of tobacco pipes. From the finest artisans crafting each piece by hand, to some of the world’s best known industrial manufacturers - Italy remains a center for pipe making in the world. Cementing her place in the pipe smoking world, Italy is also one of the foremost producers of briar root - the extremely hard and heat-resistant, wood most favored in the production of smoking pipes.

But while many of the most well known names in pipe making come from the famed centers of production in northern Italy, the incredible artists and artisans creating smoking pipes in the territories of southern Italy and Sicily - the lands that once constituted the ancient Kingdom of the Two Sicilies - are sometimes difficult to identify, and far-too-often completely overlooked.

We’ve set out to catalogue, collect, and circulate the fine works being crafted in the Two Sicilies today, so that pipe smokers, collectors, and connoisseurs from around the world - and those of us with roots in this ancient land - can share in the excellence that is the Southern Italian pipe making tradition.

The Sons of the Two Sicilies Smoking Pipe Club can be found on Facebook and Instagram

Photo of the Week: The Incredulity of St. Thomas by Marco da Siena

The Incredulity of St. Thomas by Marco da Siena (c.1525–c.1587).
Altarpiece in the cappella di San Teodoro (St. Theodore chapel) inside the Duomo di Santa Maria Assunta, or Cattedrale di San Gennaro, in Naples
Photo by Andrew Giordano

Feast of San Leone Magno

San Leone Magno, ora pro nobis

April 11th is the Feast of San Leone Magno (St. Leo the Great), Pope and Doctor of the Church. He is the patron saint of Cairano (AV) and Ruviano (CE).

Reigning from September 29, 440 to his death on November 10, 461, St. Pope Leo I ardently fought against the Manichaean, Monophysite, Nestorian and Pelagian heresies.

He famously persuaded Attila the Hun not to invade Rome in 452. According to tradition, the Scourge of God yielded to the Holy Pontiff because he was flanked by two imposing angels brandishing flaming swords.

In 455, St. Leo was unable to prevent the Vandals from conquering the Eternal City, but he did convince the Chieftain Genseric to spare the Roman people and churches.

In celebration, I’m posting a prayer to St. Leo I. The accompanying photo of the bust of San Leone Magno, courtesy of Anthony Scillia, was taken at St. Anthony of Padua Church in New Haven, Connecticut. Evviva San Leone Magno!

Prayer to St. Leo I

God our Father, you will never allow the powers of hell. to prevail against your Church, founded on the rock of the apostle Peter. Let the prayers of Pope Leo the Great keep us faithful to your truth and secure in your peace. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Feast of San Michele dei Santi

San Michele dei Santi, ora pro nobis

April 10th is the Feast of San Michele Dei Santi, Mystic, discalced Trinitarian Priest and patron saint of cancer patients. Miguel Argemir was born in Vich, Catalonia on September 29, 1591. Embracing a religious life, in 1603 he joined the Order of the Most Holy Trinity. Taking his vows in 1607, he took the name San Michele Dei Santi (St. Michael of the Saints). In 1609 he entered the more austere discalced branch of the Trinitarians in order to live a more ascetic life. Giving great importance to Eucharistic devotion, many miracles were attributed to him and his reputation for holiness spread. Despite his young age, he was elected superior of the house of Valladolid and served as spiritual advisor to Philip III, King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily and Sardinia. San Michele died on April 10, 1625. He was canonized by Pope Pius IX on June 8, 1862. In celebration, I’m posting a prayer to St. Michael of the Saints for cancer patients. The accompanying photo, courtesy of Anthony Scillia, was taken at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Asbury Park, New Jersey. Evviva San Michele Dei Santi!

Prayer for Cancer Patients

Most Holy Trinity, Thou Who didst give us Saint Michael of the Saints as trusted friend and intercessor, and as patron of those afflicted with cancer, look with kindness on Thy servants who this day invoke his name. Through his intercession, comfort those in distress, confirm those in doubt. Satisfy their spiritual needs from the treasury of Thy grace. Remember all those who call on Thy help, but be especially solicitous of [Mention Name]. Restore health to this person and to all who are sick. Sanctify those who endure pain with Christ-like acceptance and grant to all of us a just reward in the life of glory to come. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. 

Feast of San Demetrio di Tessalonica

San Demetrio di Tessalonica, ora pro nobis

April 9th is the Feast of San Demetrio di Tessalonica, third century Deacon and Martyr. Widely venerated in Southern Italy, he is the patron saint of soldiers as well as the towns of San Demetrio Corone (CS), Morigerati (SA), Mosorrofa (RC), Piana degli Albanesi (PA), and San Demetrio ne' Vestini (AQ), among others. In the Byzantine Synaxarion his feast is celebrated on October 26th. 

Second in importance only to St. George, San Demetrio was very popular among the early crusaders, especially after his intervention at the Battle of Antioch during the First Crusade. Capturing the city in 1098, the Christians soon found themselves besieged by Kerbogha, Atabeg of Mosul. Witnessing a vision of an army arrayed in white atop a hill and led by Saints George, Mercurius (or Theodore) and Demetrius, the beleaguered knights rallied and routed the enemy. 

Devotion to San Demetrio was first introduced into Southern Italy with the arrival of Eastern refugees fleeing the iconoclast controversy in the 8th and 9th centuries. It was later reinforced by the crusaders returning from the Holy Land and further still during the 15th and 16th centuries by those escaping the Ottoman scourge in the Balkans.

According to tradition, San Demetrio openly preached the Word of God, performed miracles, and converted many to the faith. In the West he is said to have been a deacon in Sirmium (Sremska Mitrovica in modern-day Serbia), while the Orthodox Churches believe he was a senator, or proconsul, from Thessalonica in Macedonia. All agree he was denounced as a Christian, arrested and brought before Emperor Maximian to be tried. 

Imprisoned at the local baths, San Demetrio awaited his fate while the Emperor attended the games at the arena. As the bloody spectacle raged on, St. Nestor of Thessalonica visited the holy prisoner and received his blessing before dispatching the hulking Lyaeus in hand-to-hand combat before a stunned crowd.  

Angered that his favorite gladiator was bested by a Christian, Maximian took out his frustration on his helpless captive and had San Demetrio run through with a spear. His rage undiminished, the bloodthirsty tyrant had St. Nestor beheaded the next day. San Demetrio’s discarded corpse was recovered and properly buried by fellow Christians. 

Over the centuries many miracles have been attributed to San Demetrio, the most famous being the slaying of the Bulgarian Tsar Johanista (Kalojan). It is said during the siege of Thessalonica in 1207 San Demetrio came to the aid of the city mounted on a white charger and killed Kalojan with his lance while he slept in his tent. Their leader dead, the Bulgarians lifted the siege and withdrew to their homeland.

Back in 2009 I was fortunate enough to see a 16th century icon depicting the miracle at the “Origins of El Greco: Icon Painting in Venetian Crete” exhibit at the Onassis Cultural Center in Manhattan. Painted by Donato Bitzamanos the panel originates from Otranto in Apulia and is currently housed at The State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia.

In celebration, I’m posting the prayers to San Demetrio from Byzantine Catholic Prayer for the Home [link will open PDF file]. They are meant for private use. The accompanying photo of the statue, courtesy of Anthony Scillia, was taken at Holy Rosary Church in Jersey City, New Jersey. The image of the icon was taken from the Origins of El Greco: Icon Painting in Venetian Crete exhibit catalogue. Evviva San Demetrio di Tessalonica!

Troparia
Troparion Tone 3 The world has seen you as a defender of those imperiled, and a conquerer of the nations, O martyr. In cutting down the arrogance of Leo, you bolstered Nestor by your courage. O holy Demetrius, pray to Christ our God to save our souls!
Kontakion Tone 2 God washed the Church red in the rivers of your blood, and presented you to her as an invincible power. Keep this city safe, for you are its patron. 

Stichera
O glorious martyr Demetrius, like a bright star you glisten forever for your fatherland because you always protect it from destruction at the hands of enemies, and you deliver it from every strife and menace. Therefore, O blessed one, your people annually observe your memory and celebrate with joy, and with faith and love they extol the Lord who glorified you.
Glory be...now and ever...Today the universal feast of the martyr summons us. Come, therefore, O lovers of feasts, let us celebrate his memory in splendor and say: Rejoice, for you overcame the snares of the enemy by the might given to you by the one God. Rejoice, for you suffered wounds by the thrusts of a sword, and thus spiritually depicted for us the blessed passion of Christ. O Demetrius, O inspiration of martyrs, implore Him that we be delivered from visible and invisible enemies, and that our souls may be saved. 

Sessional Hymns
Let us devoutly observe today the feast of the martyr Demetrius, for he prays constantly to Christ to grant great mercy to us all.
Glory be...now and ever...O faithful, let us bless the Theotokos, the fervent defender of those in danger. She is our help and our conversion to God. Through her we have been delivered from corruption. 

New Music: Sonate a Quattro

New music that may be of interest to our readers.

• Allessandro Scarlatti: Sonate a Quattro by Les Recreations

Label: Ricercar

Release Date: February 18, 2021

Audio CD: $18.99

Number of Discs: 1

Available at Amazon.com

Read description

Grazie Easter Bunny!

After Mass, I came home to find a basket full of goodies

As usual, the Easter bunny left me another terrific basket brimming with fruit, nuts and other treats, including Ernst Jünger’s Interwar Articles and a few stamps for my ever-growing philatelic collection. Buona Pasqua!

(L) 1920 stamp from Fiume with portrait of Gabriele D'Annunzio
and (R) 1956 Hungarian stamp with John Hunyadi on horseback

(L) 1913 Albanian stamp with likeness of George Kastrioti (Skanderbeg)
and (R) 1918 stamp from Bosnia & Herzegovina with portrait of Empress Zita

1932 Kingdom of Italy stamp with portrait of Torquato Tasso

Photo of the Week: The Risen Christ in the Basilica Madonna dei Martiri Museum in Molfetta

Photo by Andrew Giordano

Pasquetta – Little Easter 2021

Frittata di maccheroni

In remembrance of the risen Christ's meeting and subsequent dinner with his disciples on the road to Emmaus, a small town outside Jerusalem, Duosiciliani (Southern Italians) celebrate Pasquetta, or Little Easter. Traditionally family and friends would pack a lunch and take a short trip to the shore or countryside in commemoration of Christ’s journey, but because Easter Monday is not a national holiday here in the States, and people have to work, it’s not always easy to organize a group outing. As expected, COVID made it more difficult and once again deterred my usual fellow day trippers. Nonetheless, I still try to keep the tradition whenever possible, even if it is by myself. So I packed my picnic basket with Easter leftovers, some frittata di maccheroni and a good book, and found a peaceful location to reflect on my many, many blessings. Buona Pasquetta!

Happy Birthday Princess Camilla di Borbone!

HRH was born in Rome, Italy on April 5, 1971
Photo courtesy of Real Casa di Borbone

Happy Birthday Princess Camilla di Borbone — Two Sicilies, Duchess of Castro and Dame Grand Cross of Justice of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George! May God almighty bless you with a life full of joy and happiness. May you always find favor in His eyes. Peace be upon you. Auguri!

Feast of San Benedetto il Moro

San Benedetto il Moro, ora pro nobis

April 4th is the feast of St. Benedict the Moor (San Fratello c.1524–Palermo, April 4, 1589), hermit and miracle worker. Invoked against pestilence, famine and other natural disasters, he is the protector of San Fratello, Sicily, as well as one of the co-patrons of Palermo. 

Descended from African slaves that converted to Christianity, the meek and pious youth entered a Franciscan hermitage on Monte Pellegrino under Girolamo Lanza. Following the passing of their founder, Benedetto was elected their superior. 

In 1562, Pope Pius IV disbanded the hermit community and encouraged the confreres to join another order. Benedetto joined the Order of Friars Minor in Palermo and, despite being illiterate, eventually rose from cook to superior of the Friary of Santa Maria di Gesù. 

Revered for his sanctity, he was often consulted by priests, prelates and even the illustrious Viceroy of Sicily, Marcantonio II Colonna. He is renowned for healing the sick and feeding the poor by miraculously multiplying bread and fish through prayer.

After his death, San Benedetto’s cult spread from Sicily to Spain and the new world with the Spanish. He was beatified by Pope Benedict XIV in 1743 and canonized by Pope Pius VII in 1807. His patronal Feast Day in San Fratello is commemorated on September 17th. 

In celebration, we’re posting a prayer to St. Benedict the Moor in Italian. The prayer card pictured was a gift from a friend who is a fervent devotee of “il santo Moro.” Evviva San Benedetto il Moro!

Preghiera

O celeste patrono S. Benedetto che per seguire fedelmente Gesù abbracciasti volontariamente la poverta', insegnaci a distaccare il nostro cuore dai beni terreni per non divenire schiavi. TU che vivesti nell' ardente amore di Dio e del prossimo, ottienici di praticare la vera carita' e di avere il cuore aperto a tutte le necessita' dei nostri fratelli. TU che conosci le ansie e le speranze di questa tua terra , proteggici sempre e donaci di poter conseguire con te la gloria eterna. Amen

Paulaner Bier for San Francesco di Paola

For the second year in a row, we did not celebrate the Feast of San Francesco di Paola with our usual pizza and Paulaner party. Last year, due to COVID, we did it virtually, but unsurprisingly it just wasn’t the same. This year, for an infinitely better reason, we did not celebrate because the great Calabrian saint’s feast day fell on Good Friday.

Be that as it may, returning from the Three Hours Agony Devotions and the afternoon liturgical service at my parish, I did allow myself to have a “liquid lunch” in his honor. Fasting and abstaining from all meat, eggs and dairy I did not eat any pizza, or anything else for that matter, but I did break in my new stoneware stein with a nice cold Paulaner bier.

For the sake of new readers unfamiliar with our custom, we drink Paulaner because it was originally brewed in Bavaria in 1634 to help support the charitable works of the Minims, a mendicant order of monks founded by St. Francis in the fifteenth-century. The name Paulaner itself is a corruption of Paola, the town in Provincia di Cosenza where St. Francis was born. It also helps that the golden Bavarian elixir taste great. Evviva San Francesco di Paola!

Feast of San Francesco di Paola

San Francesco di Paola, ora pro nobis

April 2nd is the Feast Day of St. Francis of Paola, patron saint of sailors, the Region of Calabria and the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. In celebration, I'm posting a Prayer to Saint Francis of Paola. The accompanying photo of the Saint was taken at the Shrine Church of St. Bernadette in Dyker Heights, Brooklyn. The pictures of the Santuario di San Francesco in Paola, Cosenza, comes courtesy of our good friend John Cordi. The pictures below of the Basilica di San Francesco di Napoli were taken during my 2007 visit to Naples. Completed in 1846, this monumental neoclassical church (inspired by the Pantheon in Rome) was built by HM King Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies in homage to St. Francis of Paola for the recovery of Naples from Joachim Murat and the French. Evviva San Francesco di Paola!

Prayer to Saint Francis of Paola

Lord God, by whom the holy are exalted and Saint Francis was raised to share in the glory of the saints, let his prayer and example bring us the reward you have promised to the humble. Amen.

Santuario di San Francesco di Paola in Paola, Cosenza

Basilica di San Francesco di Paola in Napoli

Another look at the Basilica di San Francesco di Paola in Napoli

Photos by New York Scugnizzo

Novena to San Leone Magno

San Leone Magno, ora pro nobis

Pray Novena to San Leone Magno (St. Leo the Great) for nine consecutive days, April 2nd to April 10th, in preparation for the Feast on April 11th. Evviva San Leone Magno!

Eternal Shepherd, look favorably upon Thy flock, which we beseech Thee to guard and keep for evermore through the blessed Leo, Supreme Pontiff, who Thou didst choose to be chief shepherd of the whole Church. And by his mighty merits, glorious intercession, and solicitude care for the flock we beg of Thee to: (Mention your intentions) And govern Thy Church in Thy clemency, we beseech Thee, O Lord, so that under the guidance of Thy mighty rule, she may enjoy greater freedom and abiding integrity of religion. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

O God, who never allow the gates of hell to prevail against your Church, firmly founded on the apostolic rock, grant her, we pray, that through the intercession of Pope Saint Leo, she may stand firm in your truth and know the protection of lasting peace. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you together, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

* The accompanying photo of the first class relic of San Leone Magno was taken in 2015 by Anthony Scillia at the Treasures of the Church Exposition at St. Leo’s Church in Elmwood Park, New Jersey.

Ponderable Quote from "The Ruling Class" by Gaetano Mosca: Causes of Socialism

Gaetano Mosca
April 1, 1858—Nov. 8, 1941
Sicilian jurist and philosopher

An important factor in the progress of socialist propaganda, and one of its most direct and immediate causes, has been the broadening of suffrage, or, more exactly, universal suffrage, which has come to be more and more widely adopted in Europe in deference to the principles of the radical school and to democratic logic. Now the danger in broad based suffrage is not so much that if proletarians get the right to drop their ballots into a box their genuine representatives may come to be in the majority in our political assemblies, as many fear or hope. After all, whatever the election system, control will always remain with the more influential classes, rather than with the more numerous classes. The danger lies rather in the fact that in order to gain an advantage over their rivals most candidates do all they can to pamper popular sentiments and prejudices. That attitude leads to promises and professions of faith that are based on the postulates of socialism. The natural result of the system is that the more honest and energetic people are alienated from public life, compromises and moral reservations become more and more the rule, while the ranks of the so-called conservatives become more and more stultified, both intellectually and morally.

Reprinted from The Ruling Class by Gaetano Mosca, p.310-311, McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc., 1939