photo credit: goddess of chocolate

Have a very Happy Halloween and a peaceful All Saints’ Day tomorrow. You can read about how we celebrate Halloween and All Saints’ Day in Calabria right here.

 
Five new saints were canonized on Sunday, April 26 in Saint Peter’s Square … and I was there. No, I didn’t go specifically for the Canonization-in fact, I didn’t understand the magnitude of the event until I was ushered onto the steps of the colossal piazza and saw the sea of people that spread before me.
 
As I tried to focus on Pope Benedict’s Latin-language rituals, my eyes wandered to the five portraits that hung from the front of the church … Geltrude Comensoli, Nuno Alvares Pereira, Arcangelo Tadini, Bernardo Tolomei and Caterina Volpicelli. It was image of the young woman from the final portrait that most mesmerized me, that burned itself in my mind and whose graceful features inspired this five-part series.
 
I’m talking about Caterina Volpicelli.
 

 
Caterina Volpicelli was born on January 21, 1839 into an affluent family in Naples, Italy. Like many adolescent girls of her age and economic class, she spent her days attending plays, ballets and dances and assumed her charmed life would lead to high social standing.
 
However, at the tender age of 15, her life goals took a dramatic turn. She met Blessed Ludovico of Casoria, who taught her of the Sacred Heart and encouraged her to become a Third Order Franciscan. Upon hearing of the French Sacred Heart Apostolate and discovering a new outlet for her spirituality, Caterina founded a new congregation called the Servants of the Sacred Heart, “in fulfillment of her aspiration ‘to revive love for Jesus Christ in hearts, in families and in society.’”
 
December 28 was established as Saint Caterina Volpicelli’s feast day.
 
And that wraps it up … if you are interested in learning more about the Catholic Church’s saints, you can visit The Tail End, a blog that served as a great source of research in my posts. You can also visit Justin Catanoso, the Calabrese-American writer whose cousin, Gaetano Catanoso was Canonized by Pope Benedict XVI on October 23, 2005. Justin’s book, “My Cousin the Saint” is now available in paperback.
 
Happy Love Thursday!
 

 
Bernardo Tolomei was born in Siena, Italy in 1272, as “Giovanni,” but later used the name Bernardo out of veneration for Saint Bernardo of Clairvaux, an 11th century French Cistercian abbot. He was knighted in 1291 and was a member of the Confraternity of the Disciplinati di Santa Maria della Notte that was dedicated to aiding the sick at a local hospital.
 

 
On April 1, 1319, Tolomei, along with two of his friends from the same Confraternity, established the Congregation of the Blessed Virgin of Monte Oliveto. For three election terms he declined requests to be the monastery’s abbot, but when his refusals were no longer accepted by his Olivetan brothers, he became the fourth abbot to the monastery and was re-elected to the position 27 consecutive years.
 
In 1348, Tolomei left Monte Oliveto for the monastery of San Benedetto a Porta Tufi in Siena to administer aid to plague victims in the city. On August 20, he and 82 of his fellow Olivetan monks, fell victim to the plague. They were buried in a mass grave that has never been found.
 
His feast day is celebrated on August 20.
 
Happy Love Thursday!
 

 
Perhaps the world’s first-known advocate for the working woman, Arcangelo Tadini, who was Canonized on April 26, 2009  by Pope Benedict XVI, established a religious order called the Worker Sisters of the Holy House of Nazareth that sought to implement the church’s teachings regarding workers’ rights and to lead working women into Christian faith by setting a strong example.
 

 
Tadini was born in Brescia, Italy on October 12, 1846 and joined the seminary when he was 18. An accident left him with a limp and an unfortunate illness forced him to spend his first year of the priesthood at home with his family. Once he regained his health, he moved from parish to parish and was known for the warm, attentive way he nurtured his community.
 
As the Industrial Revolution spread, he administered aid to the workers, founded the Worker’s Mutual Aid Association and used his own inheritance to build a spinning factory for women and used the proceeds to build them housing. His religious order of sisters worked in the factories alongside other women, sharing their fears and frustrations and teaching them by example.
 
His feast day is May 20.
 
Happy Love Thursday!
 

 
Welcome to the 2nd edition of “The Life of a Saint.” This week we’re honoring, Saint Nuno Álvares Pereira, the Portuguese saint who-although his followers had to travel more than 2,000 kilometers-had the loudest, if not the largest, cheering section at the Canonization.
 

 
This group was fascinating. They cheered and chanted and sang songs whose words were incomprehensible, but whose love and devotion to their hometown Saint illuminated the square.
 
Truth be known … I was a little jealous. I wanted to feign Portuguese, hop in the circle and join in with their singing and dancing … but my husband held me back.
 
So who was this saint they were cheering for? None other than Saint Nuno Álvares Pereira, also called Saint Nuno of Santa Maria, the 14th century general who helped Portugal secure independence from Castile.
 

 
Saint Nuno descended from Portuguese nobility and had-get this!-32 siblings. He married at 17 and had one daughter but was later widowed. He is described as a war hero and a knight  although he was often referred to as “the Peacemaker.” After his daughter married, he renounced his nobility and gave one-third of his wealth to the poor. He later relinquished all of his money and entered the monestary he had established.
 
At one point he was so famished, he traded his horse for six loaves of bread, then gave them to hungry English knights who were searching for food. But his blood line and sacrifice weren’t in vain.
 
According to BlessedNuno.Org,
 

“His direct descendants included Isabella the Catholic, supporter of Christopher Columbus, Emperor Charles V, who ruled over more territory than any other European monarch (including most of the Americans), and Archduke Ferdinand, whose death triggered the World War which was tearing Europe apart at the time of Our Lady’s Fatima apparitions.
 
Also descended from Blessed Nuno were the members of the Royal House of Braganca, monarchs of Portugal and Brazil, including England’s Queen Catherine, for whom the Borough of Queens, New York was named.”

 
November 6 was established as the Saint Day to celebrate Saint Nuno, although many people still recognize his life on the anniversary of his death which is April 1.
 
Did you miss last week’s “The Life of a Saint?” If so, click here to read about Saint Geltrude “Caterina” Comensoli or click here to read about Calabria’s own, Saint Gaetano Catanoso.
 
Happy Love Thursday!
 

 
During Rome Week I mentioned that my husband and I had the opportunity to attend Mass in Saint Peter’s Square. Although the day was gray and windy, we were thrilled to encounter none other than Vatican City’s own Pope Benedict XVI, who was both leading the Mass and Canonizing five new saints.
 
I’ve always been enchanted with Saints … with their lives, their sacrifices, their gifts. So for the next five weeks I’m going to share what information I can gather on the world’s five newest Saints and who knows … maybe some of their good-nature and reverence will rub off on  me.
 
Saint Geltrude Comensoli
 

 
Saint Geltrude “Caterina” Comensoli, born in Brescia, Italy on January 18, 1847, created the Sacramentine Sisters order that is present throughout Europe, South America and Africa and whose purpose was to help working people find time for God.
 
Her most significant miracle occurred in the early morning hours of October 3, 2001 in Agnosine, Italy where a dying four-year-old child saw her standing beside his bed shortly before he was miraculously healed of his rare strain of meningitis.
 
You can click here to read the full recount of the miracle or read more about Saint Geltrude “Caterina” Comensoli here.
 
Happy Love Thursday!
 

 
Today is San Giuseppe Day and Joes, Josephs, Giuseppes, Peppes, Gius and Giusys throughout the world are celebrating their namesake. Well, maybe not throughout the world … but they could. And in fact, I think they should.
 
March 19 is the day Italians remember Saint Joseph who, according to an article published in the Guarda! Column at Italy Mag, saved Sicily from famine in the Middle Ages by providing them with fava beans, which still play a large role in southern Italian celebrations.
 

photo credit: ourladymedjugorje

 
In addition to Joes, La Festa di San Giuseppe honors Saint Joseph as Jesus’ stepfather and pays tribute to all fathers throughout Italy-and what better way to honor them than with some of the best sweets this side of the Atlantic?
 

 
Just look at that zeppole, won’t you?
 
Thinking about making these deep fried Italian doughnuts for the fathers in your life? Well, look no further. Here are a few mouth-watering recipes that will send your taste buds into overdrive.
 
AllRecipes
 
Adriana’s Italian Gourmet Cookies
 
Diana’s Desserts
 
Auguri to all of the Giuseppes out there, the Italian fathers and to all of the fathers who are with us today in both body and spirit.
 
Have you ever had these Father’s Day cream puffs? Have you ever made them yourselves? If so, leave a link to your favorite recipes in the comments!
 

photo credit: abmaac

 
One of my favorite childhood memories is of celebrating Halloween with my 28 first cousins, my sister and our friends all rounded up at grandma’s house for her annual Halloween Party. We’d all dress up – parents, too – and make a campfire, bob for apples, smack around a few pinatas and go on a hayride to the ghost-filled Bragg Road in Honey Island, Texas.
 
But things are different now.
 
Italy doesn’t *do* Halloween the way we do back home and gosh darn it-I miss those days!
 
Halloween around here is comprised of a couple of shelves of cheap plastic store-bought costumes and … no wait. Halloween here has been comprised of a few shelves of cheap plastic store-bought costumes. And nothing more.
 
Kids rarely trick or treat and no one decorates their homes. It’s a tad sad.
 
However, tonight Valentino’s Cocktail bar in Catanzaro Lido is hosting a Halloween Party. Customers and staff members are encouraged to dress up and spooky cocktails will be served all night. My husband and I have also been invited to a post-Halloween party on Saturday afternoon.
 
Are times a changing?
 
Well, maybe.
 
The Saturday invite is from a new expat friend who hails from Ireland and whose six-year-old son, she says, WILL celebrate Halloween this year.
 
All Saint’s Day is another story. November 1, or All Saint’s Day, is a day I never celebrated back home, however, my first year in Italy brought over €200 cash, flowers, pastries and dinner on the town. All. For. Me. Because it is my Onomastico, or my Saint Day.
 
No, no … you haven’t missed anything. Santa Ciliegia has not been canonized. But on November 1, everyone who wasn’t named after a Saint-although there aren’t too many of them in Italy-celebrate.
 
So for all of you spooky ghouls and non-Saint-named heathens out there Happy Halloween and enjoy your All Saint’s Day!
 
What about you? Did you celebrate Halloween or All Saint’s Day growing up? Do you still celebrate it? What are your favorite family traditions?
 
* Come back tomorrow for my first NaBloPoMo post … 30 days of postings right here on My Bella Vita for the month of November! Also, check out Judith’s peach crisp for la Buona Cucina Americana.
 

 
When Pope John Paul II passed away in April, 2005 documentaries and videos dropped from the sky and we were offered a glimpse into his life by people who had met him. The interview with Jim Caviezel, who met Pope John Paul II in preparation for his role in The Passion of Christ, stood out for me and I have always felt a bit closer to the Pope for having heard it.
 
Caviezel told of his first meeting with the Pope. Due to the years that have passed and the unfortunate state of my pitiful memory, I have paraphrased his words below.
 

“I was nervous about meeting Pope John Paul II, so I thought I would start with a joke. I told him, Holy Father, I am pretty sure Jesus was Italian.”
 
“Oh, yes?” He asked me. “Why is that?”
 
“He lived at home ’til his 30s, He always hung out with the same 12 guys and His mother thought he was God.”
 
He didn’t say anything for a few minutes and I was worried I had offended him, so I said, “Have I upset you, Holy Father?”
 
He shook his head and said, “No. I just thought he was Polish.”

 
In his nearly 27 years as Pontiff, Pope John Paul II canonized 51 saints and beatified 1,340 Blesseds, including Calabria’s own, Padre Gaetano Catanoso.
 

 
Saint Gaetano was born on Valentine’s Day, 1879 in Chorio di San Lorenzo, a small village in Reggio Calabria. He served as a role model for at-risk children and young adults and worked to support elderly people who felt isolated or alone.
 
For thirty years he ministered to local hospitals and prisons and he founded the Congregation of the Daughters of St Veronica Missionaries of the Holy Face convent.
 
He devoted his life to the Holy Face of Jesus and was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI on October 23, 2005.
 
As the first Calabrian priest ever to be canonized, Saint Gaetano has established his place in our hearts.
 
But what connection does he have to you in America and how would it feel to have a saint walking among us?
 
Click here to find out.
 
And come back on Wednesday to see what Saint Gaetano, My Bella Vita, Bleeding Espresso and this guy from Jersey have in common (hint … hint … there will be prizes!)
 
Photo source: Vultus Christi