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.

Meridiunalata: "I’ Nun Songo Nato" by Cav. Charles Sant'Elia

Reprinted from Cav. Charles Sant'Elia's Meridiunalata / Southernade, an evocative bilingual collection of poetry written in Neapolitan and translated to English between 1989 and 2010.*

I’ Nun Songo Nato

I’ nun songo nato p’’e cavalle,
Ma p’’e varche a mare,
D’’e passe secure
Nun me fido chiù,
Saccio meglio l’onne sciuliarelle
Ca mpácchiano.

I’ nun aggio maje vuluto
Ngarrà niente,
Addevinà prufezzíe.
I’ aggio sempe vuluto
Ncuccià ‘a fatalità
Tutta d’’a mia
Ncopp’’o fatto,
Chello ca chiammammo
«Nu juorno ‘e chisto»,
Ca pe me
È stu zico ca stammo
Risciatanno mo.

I’ songo chillo ca lassa
L’antica p’’a nova,
Ca passa dint’’o scuro
D’’o vico cumme fosse miezujuorno,
Ca piglia ‘a sagliuta sudanno
Senza manco nu penziero
‘E stanchezza.
Cumm’a tutt’’a razza
I’ nun songo nato
Pe murì ma pe campà.

I Wasn’t Born

I wasn’t born for horses,
But for boats at sea,
I can’t take
Sure steps any more,
I know the slippery waves
That deceive better.

I never wanted
To guess anything,
Divine prophecies,
I always wanted to
Catch a destiny
All my own
Redhanded,
That which we call
«One of these days»,
Which for me
Is this second that we are
Breathing now.

I’m the one that leaves
The old for the new,
That passes in the dark
Of the alley as though it were midday,
That takes the ascent sweating
Without even a thought
Of tiredness.
Like all the race
I was not born
To die but to live.

* Self-published in 2010, Meridiunalata / Southernade is a treasury of poems gleaned from Cav. Sant'Elia's previous collections (Nchiuso dint''o presente, 'A cuntrora, and 'O pino e l'éllera), which were circulated among friends in New York City and Naples. Special thanks to Cav. Sant'Elia for allowing us to reprint his poetry and translations.

New Book — Science of Naples: Making knowledge in Italy's Pre-Eminent City, 1500–1800

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

• Science of Naples: Making knowledge in Italy's Pre-Eminent City, 1500–1800 by Lorenza Gianfrancesco and Neil Tarrant

Publisher: UCL Press
Publication Date: January 8, 2025
Paperback: $45.00
Hardback: $70.00
Language: English
Pages: 294

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Feast of St. George at St. Anthony of Padua Oratory in West Orange, New Jersey

Feast of San Benedetto Giuseppe Labre

San Benedetto Giuseppe Labre,
ora pro nobis

April 16th is the Feast of St. Benedict Joseph Labre (1748-1783), ascetic, mendicant, Franciscan tertiary, and pilgrim. Known as “God’s vagabond,” St. Benedict Joseph Labre travelled to many holy sanctuaries in France, Spain, Switzerland and Italy. Renouncing all worldly possessions, he lived a life of extreme poverty, prayer and penance. He is the patron saint of homeless people

In celebration, we’re posting a prayer to St. Benedict Joseph Labre. The Accompanying photo was taken in the rectory of St. Rita’s Church in Staten Island, New York. Evviva San Benedetto Giuseppe Labre!

Prayer to St. Benedict Joseph Labre

Saint Benedict Joseph Labre, you gave up honor, money, and home for love of Jesus. Help us to set our hearts on Jesus and not on the things of this world. You lived in obscurity among the poor in the streets. Enable us to see Jesus in our poor brothers and sisters and not judge by appearances. Make us realize that in helping them we are helping Jesus. Show us how to befriend them and not pass them by. Saint Benedict Joseph Labre, you had a great love for prayer. Obtain for us the grace of persevering prayer, especially adoration of Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament. Saint Benedict Joseph Labre, poor in the eyes of men but rich in the eyes of God, pray for us. Amen

Novena to the Infant Jesus of Prague for the Nine Days Preceding the 25th of Each Month (16th–24th)

1. Eternal Father, I offer to Your honor and glory, for my eternal salvation and for the salvation of the whole world, the mystery of the birth of our Divine Redeemer. Glory be to the Father, etc.

2. Eternal Father, I offer to Your honor and glory, for my eternal salvation and that of the whole world, the sufferings of the most holy Virgin and St. Joseph on that long and weary journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem. I offer Thee the sorrows of their hearts at not finding a place wherein to shelter themselves when the Saviour of the world was about to be born. Glory be to the Father, etc.

3. Eternal Father, I offer to Your honor and glory, for my eternal salvation and that of the whole world, the sufferings of Jesus in the manger where He was born, the cold He suffered, the swaddling clothes which bound Him, the tears He shed, and His tender infant cries. Glory be to the Father, etc.

4. Eternal Father, I offer to Your honor and glory, for my eternal salvation and that of the whole world, the pain which the Holy Child Jesus felt in His tender body when He submitted to the rite of circumcision. I offer Thee that Precious Blood which then for the first time He shed for the salvation of all mankind. Glory be to the Father, etc.

5. Eternal Father, I offer to Your honor and glory, for my eternal salvation and that of the whole world, the humility, mortification, patience, charity and all the virtues of the Child Jesus; and I thank Thee, and I love Thee, and I bless Thee without end for this ineffable mystery of the Incarnation of the Word of God. Glory be to the Father, etc.

V. The Word was made flesh.
R. And dwelt among us.

Let us Pray

O God, whose only-begotten Son was made manifest to us in the substance of our flesh, grant, we beseech Thee, that through Him, whom we acknowledge to have been outwardly like us, we may deserve to be renewed in our inward selves. Who lives and reigns with Thee forever and ever. Amen.

Source: Devotion to the Infant Jesus of Prague, TAN Books, 1990

Feast of San Cesare de Bus

San Cesare de Bus, ora pro nobis

April 15th is the Feast of St. Caesar de Bus (1544-1607), Priest, teacher, and Founder of the Fathers of Christian Doctrine. He is the patron saint of catechists.

In 1562, Caesar served in King Charles IX’s army and fought to quell the Huguenot unrest in Provence, France. Following the pacification of the region in 1563, he returned to his studies but allowed himself to be seduced by the attractions of the world.

Returning to the faith, after a moment of conversion by a wayside shrine of the Blessed Mother in Paris, Caesar is ordained a priest in 1582. Working tirelessly to fight heresy and catechize poor and marginalized Christian families, he founded a congregation of priests devoted to preaching the Christian Doctrine and wrote a five-volume treatise on Catechism, still in use today.

In celebration, we are posting a prayer to St. Caesar de Bus by Pope Paul VI. The photo comes courtesy of Father Eugene Carrella. The medal and "ex ossibus" relic of St. Caesar de Bus is part of Father Carrella’s impressive collection of religious statuary and relics. Evviva San Cesare De Bus!

Prayer to St. Caesar de Bus

Blessed Caesar de Bus, you who left us the admirable example of a life completely dedicated to God, you who were on fire with the desire to communicate the life of God to your brothers, intercede for us with the Lord now, so that the same fire may consume us and the same charity urge us.

Photo of the Week: Farnese Hercules in the Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli

The Ercole Farnese is an early third century AD copy by the Athenian Glykon of a
4th century BC bronze statue by Lysippus for the Baths of Caracalla in Rome.
The original was destroyed in 1205 during the Sack of Constantinople
Photo by New York Scugnizzo

Drinks in Memory of Maria Theresa of Naples & Sicily, Last Holy Roman Empress & First Empress of Austria

For the third year in a row, a handful of us gathered at our local Bavarian Biergarten Saturday afternoon, in memory of Maria Theresa of Naples and Sicily (1772-1807), the Last Holy Roman Empress and First Empress of Austria, for some fellowship and beer. Discussing the world’s myriad problems, it’s amazing how easy they would be to solve if one’s judgment wasn’t hindered by progressive ideology, power-madness or filthy lucre, let alone sobriety. We pray for peace, better leaders, and the poor and forgotten souls in Purgatory.

Eternal rest grant unto Her Majesty, O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon her. May her soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

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. 

New Music — Cimarosa: L'Olimpiade

New music that may be of interest to our readers.

• Cimarosa: L'Olimpiade performed by Christophe Rousset and Les Talens

Label: Chateau Versailles
Release Date: March 19, 2024
Audio CD: $20.99
Number of Discs: 2

Available at Amazon.com

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14 aprile 2024, II Domenica dopo Pasqua: S. Messa cantata nel Santuario di San Gaetano, ore 11.30

www.messatridentinanapoli.com

Remembering Maria Theresa of Naples and Sicily

6 June, 1772 — 13 April, 1807

In memory of Maria Theresa of Naples and Sicily, Last Holy Roman Empress and first Empress of Austria, we pray for the happy repose of her soul.

Eternal rest grant unto Her Majesty, O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon her. May her soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Regno Delle Due Sicilie F.A. Kits and Sportwear Available at Givova Merchandising

Shop at merchandising.givovashopping.it

54° Incontro Tradizionalista di Civitella del Tronto

A Prayer for the Memphis Police Department

San Michele Arcangelo, ora pro nobis

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Officer Joseph McKinney, who was shot and killed, and the two other Memphis Police officers wounded in the line of duty on Friday, April 12th in Memphis, Tennessee. Once again, innocent blood stains the hands of soft-on-crime politicians and ideologues who allow dangerous recidivists to commit more violent crimes. May St. Michael the Archangel, Patron Saint of Police Officers, protect and watch over you.

Prayer for Police Officers

O Almighty God, Whose great power and eternal wisdom embraces the universe, watch over all policemen and law enforcement officers everywhere. Protect them from harm In the performance of their duty to stop crime, robbery, riots and violence. We pray, help them keep our streets and homes safe, day and night. We commend them to your loving care because their duty is dangerous. Grant them strength and courage In their daily assignments. Dear God, protect these brave men and women. Grant them your almighty protection, Unite them safely with their families after duty has ended. Please God, grant us this wish. Amen

Feast of San Giuseppe Moscati

San Giuseppe Moscati, ora pro nobis

April 12th is the Feast of San Giuseppe Moscati, the "Holy Physician of Naples." Born on July 25th, 1880 in Benevento, Giuseppe was the seventh of nine children of Rosa (née de Luca, Marchesi dei Roseto) and Francesco Moscati, a magistrate from Santa Lucia di Serino. He studied medicine and surgery at the University of Naples, graduating summa cum laude in 1903. In 1906, during an eruption of Mount Vesuvius, he risked life and limb evacuating patients from the crumbling Riuniti Hospital in Torre del Greco.

With the outbreak of WWI, Dr. Moscati volunteered his services and treated thousands of wounded soldiers. After the war, he returned to his practice in Naples caring for the poor at the Hospital for the Incurables. Not only did he refuse payment from his impoverished patients, Dr. Moscati would often give them money for their prescriptions. He tragically died on April 12th, 1927 at the age of 46. Beatified on November 16th, 1975 by Pope Paul VI, he was canonized on October 25th, 1987 by Pope John Paul II. He is the patron saint of physicians and bachelors. In celebration, I'm posting a prayer to St. Giuseppe Moscati. The accompanying photo is from a friends private shrine. Evviva San Giuseppe Moscati!

Prayer to St. Giuseppe Moscati

O St. Joseph Moscati, doctor with a huge heart, in the exercise of your profession you cured the body and spirit of your patients, turn towards us too who now run to you with faith in your intercession. Give us physical and spiritual health, so that we can serve our brothers with generosity. Alleviate the pain of those that suffer, give comfort to the sick, consolation to the afflicted, and hope to the hopeless. Make that the sick might encounter doctors like you: human and Christian. The youth find in you a model of life, the workers, an example, the old, comfort, and the dying, hope in eternal salvation. Be for all of us a sure guide: teach us to work with serenity, honesty and charity, to be able to complete in a Christian way our everyday tasks.

Our Father…. Hail Mary…. Glory Be…

Lord thou great physician, we kneel before thee. Since every good and perfect gift must come from thee, we pray: Give skill to our hands, clear vision to our minds, kindness and sympathy to our hearts. Give us singleness of purpose, strength to lift at least part of the burden of our suffering fellowmen, and a true realization of the rare privilege that is ours. Take from our hearts all guile and worldliness, that with the simple faith of a child, we may rely on thee. St. Giuseppe Moscati, Pray for Us!

Feast of San Giulio I Papa

San Giulio I Papa, ora pro nobis

April 12th is the Feast of St. Julius I, Pope. A Roman deacon, San Giulio I is elected Pope in 337 after the brief pontificate of Pope St. Mark. During his Papacy, he built at least five new churches and basilicas in Rome and was a great defender of the Faith against the Arian heresy. He died on April 12, 352 and was buried in the catacombs of Calepodius. His relics were later translated to the Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere, which he built.

In celebration, we’re posting a prayer to Pope St. Julius I. The photo comes courtesy of Father Eugene Carrella. The statue and "ex ossibus" relic of Pope St. Julius I is part of Father Carrella’s impressive collection of religious statuary and relics. Evviva San Giulio I Papa!

Prayer to Pope St. Julius I

God, Light and Shepherd of souls, you established St. Julius as Pope over Your Church to feed Your flock by his word and form it by his example. Help us through his intercession to keep the Faith he thought by his word and follow the way he showed by his example. Amen.

New Book: The Martyrs of Castelfidardo

Photo courtesy of Papal Zouave International

Launching April 13th from www.papalzouave.com and www.aroucapress.com

A compilation of stories about the soldiers who were martyred while answering the call to defend Bl. Pius IX and the Papal States from revolutionaries during the Battle of Castelfidardo.

• The Martyrs of Castelfidardo by Anatole-Henri-Philippe, Marquis de Ségur, and edited by Brendan Cassell

Publisher: Arouca Press
Publication Date: April 12, 2024
Paperback: $21.95
Hardback: $31.95
Language: English
Pages: 220

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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.

Download the Latest Edition of 'Il Portastendardo di Civitella del Tronto' at Ernesto il Disingannato

Click here to download the current issue (N. 34 Aprile 2024)

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. 

Thoughts on 'Vaincre ou Mourir'

Vaincre ou Mourir (2023)

Reprinted from Western Exile @westernexile

It is scarcely possible to exaggerate just what a momentous leap forward the production of this film represents.

The present malaise of the West will never be cured so long as the source of it remains sacrosanct in the popular imagination - the myth of the French Revolution.

Only when a critical mass learns the truth, that the 'Revolution' was an opportunistic oligarchic coup d'etat, perpetrated by an urban élite who, as a consequence, still today wields power throughout the West, will the healing truly begin.

Unlike the Paris coup, the Vendée rebellion, which rose up against the murderous new regime in 1793, was an actual popular movement, that rejected the apostasy of the Revolution and the desecration of creed, culture and country it perpetrated, and faced genocide as a consequence. As a result, history has long preferred that the majority remain unaware the rebellion ever occurred.

It is little surprise, therefore, that the choice of such a subject for the powerful medium of film triggered the scorn of the press, for we today face the same foe that the heroes of the Vendée stood so bravely against, giving their lives in the valiant belief that evil must never advance unopposed.

Rogation Day with Procession at the Shrine Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament in Raritan, New Jersey

In Memoriam Louis Infante

Photo courtesy of @CarlismoGalicia

Il Regno deeply regrets the loss of Don Luis Infante de Amorín, director of la Agencia FARO and member of la Secretaría Política de S.A.R. Don Sixto Enrique de Borbón. We pray for the happy repose of his soul. Requiescat in pace.

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.