Feast of Santa Rita da Cascia

Santa Rita da Cascia, ora pro nobis

May 22nd is the Feast of Santa Rita da Cascia, Augustinian nun, Ascetic, Mystic, Stigmatic and “Saint of the impossible.” Widely venerated across Southern Italy, she is one of the co-patrons of Naples. She is also invoked against smallpox, infertility, difficult marriages and lost or impossible causes. In celebration, I’m posting a prayer to St. Rita. The accompanying photo was taken at the Shrine Church of the Holy Innocents (128 W 37th St.) in Manhattan. Evviva Santa Rita da Cascia!

St. Rita Prayer of the Roses

O Blessed Saint Rita, my powerful advocate, behold me prostrate before thy Divine Spouse, Jesus, thy Lord, thy God, and thy All. Behold me recalling His favors to thee, that thou mayst plead for me. May this blessed Rose, sweet with the memories of thy daily acts of love before the image of the Crucified Savior, and of the wonders wrought for thee in thy dying moments, give me confidence that thou in Heaven wilt plead that I, too, may share in the good things God has in store for thy clients. Saint Rita, mystical Rose of every virtue, pray for us.

Remembering King Ferdinando II of the Two Sicilies

January 12, 1810 - May 22, 1859

In memory of King Ferdinando II of the Two Sicilies, we pray for the happy repose of his soul. Viva ‘o Rre!

Eternal rest grant unto His Majesty, 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

New Book — Your Statutes Were My Song in the Land of Exile: The Collected Works of Dr. John Rao, Vol. 3

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

• Your Statutes Were My Song in the Land of Exile: The Collected Works of Dr. John Rao, Volume 3

Publisher: Arouca Press
Publication Date: May 18, 2025
Hardback: $29.50
Paperback: $15.32
Language: English
Pages: 214

Read description

Click here to see more books

Listing does not imply any endorsement

Feast of the Madonna Della Fontana

Madonna della Fontana, ora pro nobis

May 21st is the Feast of the Madonna della Fontana (Our Lady of the Fountain), patroness of Spilinga, a small town in the Vibo Valentia Province of Calabria. In celebration, I’m posting a prayer to Our Lady of the Fountain in Italian. The photo was taken at the outdoor chapel next to Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Newark, New Jersey during the 2016 Feast of the Madonna della Fontana and St. Michael the Archangel. Evviva Madonna della Fontana!

Preghiera a Maria SS. Della Fontana

O Vergine Maria, tesoriera di grazie, Voi che state rinchiusa in umile grotta, da cui concedete ai fedeli che vi invocano con fede e devozione moltissime grazie fate che noi non perdiamo mai la fede che ci fa sperare le più elette benedizioni dal Cielo e ci conforta in questa valle di lacrime. Proteggeteci o Madre, affinché la mano del Pargoletto Gesù che Voi stringete fra le Vostre braccia si tenda verso di noi Vostri devoti per difenderci da tutti i pericoli della vita presente e così possiamo un giorno, sorretti dal Vostro potente patrocinio, cantare le Vostre glorie nel Regno dell'Amore. Così sia.

Feast of San Costantino il Grande

The Arch of Constantine in Rome. Situated between the Palatine Hill and the Colosseum, the triumphal arch was dedicated in 315 to commemorate the Emperor's victory over Maxentius at the Battle of the Milivian Bridge

In the Eastern Churches, both Catholic and Orthodox, May 21 is the Feast of St. Constantine the Great, Equal to the Apostles and Emperor. Once widely venerated across Southern Italy, the Emperor's cult has sadly diminished and become more localized. Patron saint of converts, he is also the patron of San Costantino Albanese in Provincia di Potenza in Basilicata and Capri Leone in Provincia di Messina in Sicily.

According to tradition, the night before his great victory over the usurper Maxentius at the Battle of the Milivian Bridge on October 12, 312 AD, Constantine dreamt of the Chi and the Rho (XP), the first two letters of Christ’s name in Greek, and heard a voice proclaim In Hoc Signo Vinces, which means “By this sign you will conquer.”

That morning the Emperor had a vision of the cross emanating from the light of the rising sun and commanded his men to paint the Chi and the Rho on their shields and his golden standard (labarum). As proclaimed in his dream, adopting the insignia of Christ he routed his enemy on the field of battle.

Soon after his great victory, the Emperor legalized Christianity with his famous Edict of Milan, thus ending 300 years of Christian persecution by the Romans. A great benefactor of the Faith, he granted privileges, built churches and convened the First Council of Nicaea. In 324 AD Constantine moved the Empire's capital from Rome to Byzantium, which was rechristened Constantinople. He was baptized on his deathbed in 337 AD.

In celebration, I’m posting the prayer to St. Constantine. The accompanying photo of the Arch of Constantine was taken during my 2007 pilgrimage to Rome. San Costantino il Grande, ora pro nobis.

Prayer to St. Constantine

O God, You who work in mysterious ways, we thank you for St. Constantine and the important role he played in the flourishing of the early Church. The proverb holds that You O Lord direct the heart of a good king and guide all his ways. Truly it was you, working through Constantine, that freed your Church from the unjust oppression it had lived under for centuries. May you direct the heart of world leaders still today, so that your Church may be free and kept safe from all harm. We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Novena to Santa Giovanna d’Arco

St. Jeanne d'Arc, ora pro nobis

Pray novena for nine consecutive days, May 21st — 29th (Feast on May 30th)

Eternal Father, Thou gave us Saint Joan of Arc through Thine infinite love and mercy for us. We humbly ask Thee to send down Thine Holy Spirit upon us, as the intermediary by which the Word goes forth from Thy lips and reaches the ears of the faithful. Allow me to be a witness to Thy Son Jesus Christ just as Saint Joan of Arc was. O Lord Jesus, grant me the courage to do Thy will, that I may be in one accord with Our Father in Heaven. I thank Thee for the gift of Thy love, which I hope to one day fully understand.

Pray 19 times the Our Father, followed by “Saint Joan of Arc, by thy powerful intercession, hear and answer me.”

Saint Joan of Arc, patron of France, my patron saint, I ask thee now to fight this battle with me by prayer, just as thou led thy troops to victory in battle. Thou, who were filled with the Holy Spirit and chosen by God, help me this day with the favor I ask thee [intentions]. Grant me by thy divine and powerful intercession the courage and strength I need to endure this constant fight. O Saint Joan of Arc, help me to be victorious in the tasks God presents to me. I thank thee and ask thee for thy continuing protection of God’s people.

O sweet Saint Joan of Arc, plead for me before the throne of God Almighty that I may be deemed worthy to be granted the request I have asked. Help me Saint Joan, to be more like thee in the attempt to love Our Lord with my whole heart, soul and mind. Through thy guidance and prayer, help me to be a truly devout and loving Catholic, that I may both know and see the will of God. Help me now in my time of need Saint Joan. I ask that thou may always be near me guiding me closer each day to Jesus Christ, Our Lord. I give thee thanks for having heard my prayer. Amen.

 

Glorious Saint Joan of Arc, filled with compassion, for those who invoke thee, filled with love, for those who suffer, heavily laden with the weight of my troubles, I kneel at thy feet and humbly beg thee, to take my present need, under thy special protection. [Intentions] Grant to recommend it, to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and lay it before the throne of Jesus. Cease not to intercede for me, until my request is granted. Above all, obtain for me, the grace to one day, meet God face to face, and with thee and Mary, and all the angels and saints, praise Him through all eternity. O most powerful Saint Joan of Arc, do not let me lose my soul, but obtain for me the grace of winning my way to Heaven, forever and ever. Amen.

Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory Be…

* The accompanying photo was taken at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Newark, New Jersey.

Feast of San Bernardino da Siena

San Bernardino da Siena, ora pro nobis

May 20th is the feast of St. Bernardine of Siena, Priest, Missionary preacher in Italy, Vicar General of the Observant Friars of Tuscany and Umbria, reformer of the Franciscan Order, and promoter of the devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus. Patron saint of advertisers; public relations; Bernalda, Matera; Vinchiaturo, Campobasso; and co-patron of L’Aquila, Abruzzo; he is also invoked against compulsive gambling, dysentery, and respiratory problems.

Through his preaching and the use of his IHS trigram, representing the first three letters of Our Lord’s name, San Bernardino made popular the devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus. According to some, the abbreviation also stands for Iesus hominum salvator, which is Latin for “Jesus the Savior of Men.”

Retiring from his position due to illness, San Bernardino wished to evangelize in the Kingdom of Naples. The itinerant preacher died in L’Aquila, Abruzzo, on May 20, 1444, at the age of 64. After his death, his body was exposed for veneration and it miraculously excreted a prodigious amount of blood, which caused the factious inhabitants to cease fighting amongst themselves. The Aquilani refused to allow his body to be taken to his native Tuscany and a great many miracles have been attributed to the Saint.

In celebration, we’re posting the Prayer of St. Bernardine of Siena. The accompanying photo, courtesy of Fr. Eugene Carrella, was taken at the Church of the Assumption in New Brighton, Staten Island. Evviva San Bernardino da Siena!

Prayer of St. Bernardine of Siena

Jesus, Name full of glory, grace, love and strength! You are the refuge of those who repent, our banner of warfare in this life, the medicine of souls, the comfort of those who mourn, the delight of those who believe, the light of those who preach the true faith, the wages of those who toil, the healing of the sick.

To You our devotion aspires; by You our prayers are received; we delight in contemplating You. O Name of Jesus, You are the glory of all the saints for eternity. Amen.

Mass of Rogation at the Shrine Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament in Raritan, New Jersey

Feast of Santa Pudenziana di Roma

Santa Pudenziana di Roma, ora pro nobis

May 19th is the Feast of St. Pudentiana of Rome, 2nd-century Virgin and Martyr. Daughter of St. Pudens, a Roman senator and early convert to Christianity, she dedicated herself entirely to the service of the poor, widows, orphans, and persecuted Christians. Pudentiana is also recognized as the sister of St. Praxedes, and together they are remembered for their piety, charity, and dedication to the early Christian community in Rome.

After their father’s death, the holy sisters distributed their inheritance to support the Church and assist those suffering from persecution. They also contributed to building a baptistry in the church founded by their father, converting and baptizing numerous pagans. This later became the site of the church of Santa Pudenziana, one of the oldest and most historically significant churches in Rome.

Though accounts of her martyrdom vary, tradition holds that Pudentiana died around the age of 16. Some sources claim she was martyred for her faith, while others suggest she died a natural death due to her intense ascetic lifestyle and the harsh conditions she endured while caring for sick and persecuted Christians.

Venerated as a model of Christian charity and service, St. Pudentiana is the patroness of those who provide hospitality and care for the poor. Her life exemplifies unwavering faith, sacrificial love, and steadfast service to the suffering. She is often depicted with an oil lamp, a symbol representing a girl’s virginity.

In celebration, we're posting a prayer to St. Pudentiana of Rome. Evviva Santa Pudenziana di Roma!

Prayer to St. Pudentiana of Rome

O Saint Pudentiana, faithful virgin and martyr, who bore witness to Christ in the face of persecution, intercede for us before the throne of God. Grant us the courage to remain steadfast in our faith, even in the midst of trials and tribulations. May your example inspire us to live lives of devotion and love for our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Photo of the Week: Terracotta Head of a Woman, Possibly Artemis

Greek, South Italian, Tarentine, 3rd century B.C., Metropolitan Museum of Art

Photo by New York Scugnizzo

Feast of San Venanzio di Camerino, Martire

San Venanzio di Camerino, ora por nobis

Saint Venantius was a Christian martyr from Camerino, in the Marche region of Italy, who lived in the 3rd century. According to tradition, he was a young nobleman who was arrested around the age of 15 during the persecution of Christians under Emperor Decius. Despite being subjected to various tortures, including scourging, burning, and being thrown off a high cliff, he miraculously survived each ordeal. He continued to profess his faith boldly, converting many through his steadfastness and miracles. Ultimately, he was beheaded, earning a place among the revered martyrs of the Church. His feast day is celebrated on May 18th, and he is honored as the patron saint of Raiano in L'Aquila, Abruzzo, and Camerino in Macerata, Marche.

In celebration, we’re posting a prayer to Saint Venantius of Camerino. Evviva San Venanzio di Camerino!

Prayer to Saint Venantius

O God, who hast hallowed this day by the triumph of Thy blessed Martyr Venantius: graciously hear the prayers of Thy people and grant that we who venerate his merits, may also imitate the constancy of his faith. Through Christ, Our Lord. Amen.

New Book — Diodoros of Sicily: Bibliotheke Historike: Books 21-40: From the Battle of Ipsos (301 BC) to the Catilinarian Conspiracy (62 BC)

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

• Diodoros of Sicily: Bibliotheke Historike: Books 21-40: From the Battle of Ipsos (301 BC) to the Catilinarian Conspiracy (62 BC) by Duane W. Roller

Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Publication Date: November 30, 2025
Hardback: $130.00
Language: English
Pages: 348

Read description

Click here to see more books

Listing does not imply any endorsement

A Prayer for the Central United States

San Medardo, ora pro nobis

We offer prayers for the victims of the deadly storms and tornadoes that swept across the Central United States late Friday into Saturday. The loss of life, the suffering, and the destruction deeply sadden us. May San Medardo, Santa Rosalia, San Marciano, and the Madonna del Soccorso protect and watch over you.

Prayer to St. Medard

Saint Medard, patron saint for protection against bad storms, we ask you to intercede for us during the storms of our lives as well as the storms in nature. Protect our families and our homes. We pray for assistance for the victims of hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, and other natural disasters. Loving God, send in more helpers, and multiply resources and supplies for the aid of those in need. You calmed the storm on the Sea of Galilee; deliver us from the storms that are raging around us now. Amen

Feast of Santa Restituta

Santa Restituta, ora pro nobis

May 17th is the Feast of Santa Restituta, Virgin, Martyr, and patroness of Lacco Ameno in northwestern Ischia. According to tradition, in 284 AD, during the reign of Emperor Diocletian, Santa Restituta was tortured and sentenced to death for her faith and piety. Brought out to sea, she was placed in a small boat, lashed to a pyre and set aflame. However, a strong wind blew the burning pitch onto her executioners' ship, consuming their vessel in flames instead. She died from her wounds while adrift. 

[An alternate version of her martyrdom states that she was cast overboard with a millstone tied around her neck. Miraculously recovered, the stone is said to be embedded into the wall of the Chiesa di Santa Restituta in Lacco Ameno.]

An angel safely guided the raft from the coast of Abitina (near Carthage) across the Mediterranean Sea to the shores of San Montano just outside Lacco Ameno. Her incorrupt body, resting on a bed of sea daffodils (pancratium maritime), was discovered by a Christian matron named Lucina, who was foretold of the martyr's arrival in a dream. Collecting her remains, the locals buried Santa Restituta at the foot of Monte Vico, where a small sanctuary was dedicated to her. 

In 812 the sanctuary was sacked during a Saracen incursion, but miraculously they were unable to carry off her gilded statue. In a rage an infidel struck the statue with his scimitar, leaving a gash still visible today. It's believed the corsair was paralyzed by the saint for his offense. Deserted by his comrades, the pirate was unable to escape with his spoils. His fate is unknown.

Several years later, her relics were translated to the Basilica in Naples to prevent them from being further desecrated by Muslim slavers. Incorporated into the Gothic Duomo di San Gennaro in the 13th century, the Basilica (now Cappella) di Santa Restituta was the oldest church in Naples. Dating from the 4th century, the Basilica was built on the orders of Emperor Constantine. Popular allegations that the church was erected over a temple to Apollo may be unfounded.(1)

In celebration, I'm posting a prayer to Santa Restituta. The accompanying photo was taken at Sacred Hearts of Jesus & Mary and Saint Stephen's Church in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn. Evviva Santa Restituta!

Prayer to Santa Restituta

Grant, we beseech Thee, almighty God, that the examples of Santa Restituta may effectually move us to reform our lives; that while we celebrate her festival, we may also imitate her actions. Look upon our weakness, almighty God, and since the burden of our own deeds weighs heavily upon us, may the glorious intercession of Santa Restituta protect us. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Notes: 

(1) Apolline Project Vol. 1: Studies on Vesuvius' North Slope and the Bay of Naples edited by Girolamo F. De Simone and Roger Macfarlane, Università Degli Studî Suor Orsola Benincasa Brigham Young University 2009, p. 250. See Google Books

Feast of San Pasquale Baylon

San Pasquale Baylon, ora pro nobis

May 17th is the Feast of San Pasquale Baylon (St. Paschal Baylon), Mystic and Contemplative. Known as the "Seraph of the Eucharist," San Pasquale is the patron saint of shepherds, cooks and kitchens, as well as the protector of Airola, a commune in the Province of Benevento. In celebration, I’m posting a prayer to St. Paschal. The accompanying photo was taken at the Reale Cappella del Tesoro di San Gennaro inside the Duomo di Napoli. Evviva San Pasquale Baylon!

Prayer to St. Paschal

St. Paschal, you were filled by the Holy Spirit with a wondrous love for the sacred mysteries of Christ’s Body and Blood. Intercede for us now that we may obtain the grace of a profound faith and tender devotion for Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament. May we draw from the Eucharist the same spiritual riches you received with great joy, and may our lives reveal the enduring fruit of love, generosity and goodness to the glory of God our Father. St. Paschal Baylon, lover of the Eucharist, pray for us. Amen.

Feast of St. Simon Stock

St. Simon Stock, ora pro nobis

May 16th is the Feast of St. Simon Stock, Mystic and Carmelite friar. An early Prior General of the Carmelite Order, in 1251 Our Lady appeared to him in Cambridge, England and gave him the Carmelite habit, the brown scapular, as a token of her protection and a promise of salvation to those who died wearing it. In celebration, I’m posting a prayer to St. Simon Stock. The accompanying photo is a detail of The Madonna in Glory with Saints and Angels by Onofrio Avellino (1674-1741) taken during my 2010 pilgrimage to the Santuario della Madonna del Carmine in Sorrento, Campania. Evviva St. Simon Stock!

Prayer to St. Simon Stock

O holy Saint simon, thou wert blessed with the apparition of Our Lady and received the Scapular as a special sign of her favor. Following thy example, I pledge to wear the Scapular faithfully and devoutly so that I may always have Our Lady's wonderful protection in life and her special help at the hour of death. 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 Liberatore

San Liberatore, ora pro nobis

May 15th is the Feast of San Liberatore, Bishop and Martyr. Widely venerated across Southern Italy, he is the principal patron of Ariano Irpino (AV), Civitacampomarano (CB) and Torrecuso (BN), among others. 

In celebration, I’m posting a prayer to San Liberatore. The accompanying photo was taken at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Belleville, New Jersey. Evviva San Liberatore!

Prayer to San Liberatore

God our Father, enable us who honor the memory of San Liberatore, martyr and protector of Ariano Irpino, to share with him in the joy of eternal life, through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen

Brief Excerpt from "The Skin" by Curzio Malaparte

"For in Naples princes and paupers, the aristocracy and the poor, have all known one another for countless centuries, and their acquaintanceship has been handed down from generation to generation, from father to son. They know one another by name, they are all blood relations, in virtue of that family affection which has from time immemorial existed between the commonalty and the old nobility, between the hovels of Pallonetto and the palaces of the Monte di Dio. From time immemorial the aristocracy and the commonalty have lived together in the same streets, in the same palaces, the populace in their bassi, in those dark caves which open out on to the alleys, the aristocracy in the magnificent gilded halls of the piani nobili.* For countless centuries the great noble families have fed and protected the common people, huddled together in the alleys that surround their palaces, not, to be sure, in a spirit of feudalism, nor merely out of Christian charity, but in fulfillment, I would say, of the obligations of kinship. For many years the aristocracy too have been poor; and the populace almost seem to apologize because they cannot help them. Commonalty and nobility share the joy of births and marriages, the anxieties of sickness, the tears of mourning; and there is not a pauper who is not accompanied to the cemetery by the lord of his district, nor a lord whose bier is not followed by a weeping crowd of paupers. It is an old saying among the populace of Naples that men are equal not only in death, but in life.

"The traditional attitude of the Neapolitan nobility to death is different from that of the common people. They greet it not with tears but with smiles, almost gallantly, as one greets a beloved woman or a young bride. In Neapolitan painting, as in Spanish, weddings and funerals recur with a haunting regularity. The pictures have a macabre and at the same time a gallant character; they are the work of obscure painters who maintain even today the great tradition of El Greco and Spagnoletto, though in their hands it has lost its scrupulousness and its distinctive character. And it was an ancient custom, observed until a few years ago, that noblewomen should be buried with their white bridal veils about their heads."

* The "noble floors," i.e., the two floors immediately above the mezzanine. (Translator's note.)

Reprinted from The Skin by Curzio Malaparte, translated from the Italian by David Moore, New York Review Books, 2013, pp.238-238

Catholic Movie Night: The Passion of Joan of Arc at Atrium Stadium Cinemas in Staten Island, New York

Feast of the Beato Simeon Maria Cardon

Beato Simeon Maria Cardon, ora pro nobis

May 14th is the Feast of Blessed Simeon Maria Cardon, Cistercian priest and Martyr. Between May 13th and 16th in 1799, Blessed Simeon Maria Cardon and five companions were massacred in the Gothic Abbey of Casamari by a band of French Revolutionary soldiers returning northward after the Napoleonic invasion of the Kingdom of Naples. In search of plunder, the drunken ruffians looted the friary and desecrated the chapel. As the horrified friars desperately attempted to recover the Consecrated Hosts strewn across the sanctuary floor they were murdered in cold blood.

The Blessed Martyrs are Father Simeon Cardon of Cambrai, died on May 14th; Father Domenico Maria Zawrel, killed on May 13th; Brother Maturino Maria Pitri, killed on May 13th; Brother Albertino Maria Maisonade, killed on May 13th; Brother Modesto Maria Burgen, killed on May 13th; and Lay Brother Zosimo Maria Brambat, died from his wounds on May 16th. 

In celebration, we’re posting a prayer to Blessed Simeon Maria Cardon. Evviva Beato Simeon Maria Cardon!

Prayer to Blessed Simeon Maria Cardon

All powerful, ever living God, You gave Blessed Simeon Maria Cardon the courage to witness to the Gospel of Christ, even to the point of giving his life for it. By his prayers help us to endure all suffering for love of You and to seek You with all our hearts, for You alone are the source of life. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
 

May the Lord bless us, protect us from all evil and bring us to everlasting life. Amen. 

Feast of San Bonosio

San Bonosio Vescovo, ora pro nobis

May 14th is the traditional Feast of San Bonosio, first Bishop of Salerno. After the reform of 1975, it was moved to May 15th, the patronal feast of Salerno's Holy Bishops. In celebration, I’m posting a prayer to St. Bonosius. The accompanying photo, courtesy of Andrew Giordano, was taken at the Basilica Cattedrale SS. Matteo e Gregorio in Salerno. Evviva San Bonosio!

Prayer to St. Bonosius

Grant, we beseech Thee, almighty God, that the examples of St. Bonosius, first Bishop of Salerno, may effectually move us to reform our lives; that while we celebrate his festival, we may also imitate his actions. Through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Look upon our Weakness, almighty God, and since the burden of our own deeds weighs heavily upon us, may the glorious intercession of St. Bonosius protect us. Through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Feast of St. Rita at St. John Vianney Church in Colonia, New Jersey

Feast of the Madonna di Fátima

Madonna di Fátima, ora pro nobis

May 13th is the Feast of Madonna di Fátima. The celebration recalls the first of six Marian apparitions that appeared to three shepherd children (Lúcia dos Santos, and Francisco and Jacinta Marto) at Cova da Iria in Fátima, Portugal in 1917. Famously during these visits, Our Lady confided a three-part secret to the seers, which were to be completely revealed by 1960. The first was a terrifying vision of Hell and tormented souls. The second prophesied impending war (WWII), the spread of Communism, and the persecution of the Church. Sadly, in disobedience to the Blessed Mother, the contents of the third part (an apocalyptic vision of the Pope, priests and lay people being killed) was only partially revealed by the Vatican in 2000 and thus not sufficiently heeded. According to Our Lady, these evils can be avoided with the devotion to her Immaculate Heart and the consecration of Russia. We as Catholics must pray the Rosary daily in reparation for sin, as well as for the conversion of poor sinners. 

In celebration, I’m posting the Litany to Our Lady of Fátima. The accompanying photo was taken at the Shrine Church of St. Bernadette in Dyker Heights, Brooklyn. Ave Maria!

Litany to Our Lady of Fátima

Our Lady of Fátima, pray for our dear country.
Our Lady of Fátima, sanctify our clergy.
Our Lady of Fátima, make our Catholics more fervent.
Our Lady of Fátima, guide and inspire those who govern us.
Our Lady of Fátima, cure the sick who confide in thee.
Our Lady of Fátima, console the sorrowful who trust in thee.
Our Lady of Fátima, help those who invoke your aid.
Our Lady of Fátima, deliver us from all dangers.
Our Lady of Fátima, help us to resist temptation.
Our Lady of Fátima, obtain for us all that we lovingly ask of thee.
Our Lady of Fátima, help those who are dear to us.
Our Lady of Fátima, bring back to the right road our erring brothers.
Our Lady of Fátima, give us back our ancient fervor.
Our Lady of Fátima, obtain for us pardon of our manifold sins and offenses.
Our Lady of Fátima, bring all men to the feet of thy Divine Child.
Our Lady of Fátima, obtain peace for the world.

O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.
Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Let Us Pray:
O God of infinite goodness and mercy, fill our hearts with a great confidence in Thy dear Mother, whom we invoke under the title of Our Lady of the Rosary of Fátima, and grant us by her powerful intercession all the graces, spiritual and temporal, which we need. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Photo of the Week: Terracotta Head of a Woman, Possibly Artemis

Greek, South Italian, Tarentine, 3rd century B.C., Metropolitan Museum of Art

Photo by New York Scugnizzo