Ever wondered what the inside of a Capello Romano looks like?
Sunday, March 25, 2007
To extol the labors of the dear sisters...
Prodotto in Italia! Back in the day when there was craftsmanship in this category, the good sisters gave these gifts to the Almighty. One can still admire these antique surplices all over Europe and even in the New World here and there (albeit often in antique shops in Toronto, Chicago, etc.).
Monday, March 19, 2007
Sweet nuns in Venice...
In this epoch when so many of our sisters have sought to forego the religious habit (each piece of which is blessed and carries a meaning), I just had to thank our Blessed Lord for this witness to us brethren on the canals of Venice.Sweet nuns in Venice...
I always obligate myself to pray for our dear sisters. They are the angels who taught me, my parents and grandparents the Faith. They are the firstlings of our flock!
F.S.S.P. in Venice...
When you arrive in Venice on the train and exit the station this is what you see! It's the F.S.S.P. parish of San Simon Piccolo (www.sansimon.info). It was in this church that the Ambrosian Rite Mass was sung on Sunday, March 11. The celebrant was a Canon from the Cathedral of Milan, Mons. Angelo Amodeo. The Mass was well attended and the photos follow here below.
F.S.S.P. in Venice...
San Simon Piccolo is a lovely parish. Every day they have Holy Mass here in the Tridentine Rite and Vespers every Sunday afternoon. It's a must to see this church so venite.
F.S.S.P. in Venice...
Here I am on the front steps of the F.S.S.P. parish in Venice, the Chiesa di San Simon Piccolo (www.sansimon.info). I guess it's the best location ever as it's just across the Grand Canal from the Venice train station built by il DVX (as seen in the photo).
The "stylin" surplice...
Yes, Italians know fashion design and such an interesting surplice I had never seen in all my days. Although we romani all prefer the cotta griccia, this one might deserve a close second.
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Meet the Ambrosian Rite...
The Catholic Faith entered the 1960s with no inkling. It was confident and free and then was quickly questioned, overburdened and then hated.
During that time, for whatever reason, many sought to succumb under the complex means of compulsion and persuasion of the cultural/sexual revolution. In the process, liturgy suffered.
And now we rebuild in peace and joy. The liturgy was not spared during that time and its aftermath.
Before the Mass in the Ambrosian Rite...
Monsignor Amodeo, because he is a canon of the Cathedral of Milan, enjoys the privilege of wearing the pectoral cross. 
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
During the Ambrosian Rite Mass...
As with the Dominican Rite, with the Ambrosian Rite, too, we see the altar servers often lined up in front of the altar, instead of mostly off to the side, as with the Roman Rite.
The elevation at the Ambrosian Rite Mass...
Tra cielo e terra...the most beautiful thing this side of heaven.
The glorious altar missal...
Of course everybody loves an antique altar missal: the old sheepskin with red pigment and gold embossed cover is always the best. This one weighed a ton and almost had to be carried in a canvas sling.
The Ambrosian Rite recessional...
Notice the kid behind the Monsignor as he picks up the end of the procession with the bugia candle?
Silent prayer after the Mass...
I regali che hai sempre sognato: il Rito Ambrosiano Tradizionale!
The F.S.S.P. are blessed to have such a lovely parish in Venice under their care (see: www.sansimon.info).
The Monsignor in the Ambrosian Rite vestments...
Here we see the celebrant of the Ambrosian Rite Mass, Mons. Angelo Amodeo. He's a Canonico del Capitolo Metropolitano from the Milan Duomo.
Through the liturgical tumult of this broken era it was a distinct honor to meet the Monsignor and to witness the exalted Ambrosian Rite.
Not to mention, he was ordained a subdeacon in 1953 by Blessed Ildefonso Schuster, former abbot of the Monastery of St. Paul's Without the Walls.
The Monsignor in the Ambrosian Rite vestments...
Such exalted vestments I'd never seen in my days, but I sure did enjoy them. Notice the attached top part here with the cross and fringe on it?
Any comments from anyone who knows more about Ambrosian Rite toys?
Monday, March 12, 2007
After Mass in the Ambrosian Rite...
Needless to say, Mass in the Ambrosian Rite is a touch of heaven: it was born in the mystical climate of Catholic Europe and its glory shines even today (natus ad gloriam)!
After Mass the Monsignor came out to greet the faithful as he is celebrating the 50th anniversary of his priestly ordination (he was ordained a priest in 1956 by John Baptist Cardinal Montini, the future Pope Paul VI).
To each of the faithful after Mass he gave a commemorative holy card and little bundles of sugar-coated almonds wraped up in lace. It was a delight.
After Mass on the Grand Canal in Venice...
After he celebrated High Mass in the Ambrosian Rite for us, the Monsignor posed for this photo with some of the faithful. Then, it was off to lunch as we all hiked across the canals of Venice to a popular seafood ristorante.
After Mass on the Grand Canal in Venice...
This photo was taken in front of the famous F.S.S.P. parish in Venice, the Chiesa di San Simone e Giuda (www.sansimon.info).
The cleric on the left is Mons. Angelo Amodeo (a Canon of the Cathedral of Milan who was ordained a subdeacon by the Blessed Schuster in 1954). The cleric on the right is Fr. Konrad zu Loewenstein (a German prince from Bavaria).
To lunch with the Monsignor...
We all had the joy to pranzare in the presence of the Monsignor at a nice ristorante there in Venice. He shared lots of nice stories that we all enjoyed (he was ordained a priest by the future Pope Paul VI in 1956).
After I took this photo I told the Monsignor how much I liked his hat. I thanked him for it while describing it as being "bellissimo." Then, with a smile he looked up at me and said with a twinkle in his eye, "No, è elegante!"
To lunch with the Monsignor...
When you're in Venice you're in the Patriarcato di Venezia. We all had a laugh with the Monsignor as a tourist took a picture of him surrounded by our group while someone then remarked that some likely would think he's the Patriarch out for a stroll!
Vespers with the Monsignor...
Here we see tourists and others on the front steps of the F.S.S.P. parish in Venice, the Church of San Simeon Piccolo (www.sansimon.info). Vespers in the Ambrosian Rite, with Mons. Angelo Amodeo was held here yesterday, March 11. See this site, too: www.unavoce-ve.it .
Vespers with the Monsignor...
Because the Monsignor is a Canon of the Archdiocese of Milan, he is entitled to the privilege of "pontificals." I heard, too, that after Pope Pius XI was elected in 1922, as he was from Milan, he granted the privilege to the canons of the Cathedral of Milan to wear the pectoral cross.
Vespers with the Monsignor...
Before vespers the Monsignor prayed in silence in the sacristy. It was a delight to chat with him. He explained that with his sister he once visited Boston and they both just loved it (I then just wanted to tell him how much I loved his monsignoral biretta!).
Vespers with the Monsignor...
Before vespers in the Ambrosian Rite, all the clerics gathered in the sacristy to process.
Of course everybody loves Gregorian Chant. Now if everybody could just hear the lovely chant of the Ambrosian missal and breviary!
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
Beatus Carolus E Domo Austriae...
I offered prayers to our Lord in front of this oil on canvas in the Opus Dei parish in Vienna (Peterskirche). Such an honour that I even once met his son, Otto, in Rome.
Prevalent beauty: in the auto as in my godmother...
In the oblique cars of today one often doesn't see the beauty seen in the cars of yesteryear. Anyways, at least the beauty lives as seen here as well as in warm hearts like that of my godmother.
I ask for continued prayers for my godmother. She was my first voice of faith at my baptism on Palm Sunday, 1979. You can see her site here and offer prayers and even send her a message: www.redshope.com .
To ski in Catholic Italy: come le aquile...
If you are ever in Rome during the winter months and want to ski just rent a car and in auto da roma take the Autostrada A24 for l'Aquila and it will take you nell cuore dell'Abruzzo to the lovely ski resort of Campo Felice (www.campofelice.it). It's only a couple hours drive and only 20 euro to rent skis and another 24 euro for the ski pass.
To ski in the Catholic distinctiveness of Italy...
Sometimes the Catholic life in America is so inherently minimalistic. Not in Italy! Here it is so Marian and so public and to ski past this statue on the highest mountain of the ski resort of Campo Felice was an honour (even as I almost wiped out while raising my had in salute).
Un panorama mozzafiato...
Here I am with my journalist friend from Rome. It was the first time that I had seen snow in over three years! I used to complain about snow, but it really is inherently beautiful.This is where I nearly died from collision...
Behold the insipid hill where I wiped out and hurt my back! There's an oft-told mountain tale about the dumb guy in the group who hasn't been skiing in years and then still tries to be a hot-shot and then ends up on his belly in the snow having just lost both poles and skis even after a quick prayer while in mid-air launch from a three-foot or so jump...
Passione del bianco...
My only guarantor to save me on the slopes was the good Lord.
Anyways, at least chaos of the rain didn't melt all the snow that day at 2,000 meters!
Lunch in the ski chalet...
When you go for some lo sci at Campo Felice, be sure to eat lunch in this nice mountain chalet called Ristorante Bar "Chalet del Bosco." The food there was the best ever (but then again, after many hours of sciare, such food is a must)!
Sunday on the ski slopes in Catholic Italy...
Such an embodiment of the devotion of the local Church - they just constructed this nice chapel at the ski resort at Campo Felice. Such embers of spiritual life glow under the snowy Italian mnts just northeast of Rome.
Clima Italia...
Mai cosi caldo negli ultimi duecento anni? You'd never know it going down a pista nera in Abruzzo! It was cold, but it did rain!
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