Heads You Lose

Today is the Feast of Saint John the Baptist - one of those secondary feast days in the church calender that becomes a major celebrations in some regions of not just Italy but the World. As an example in Québec June 24th has always been a major celebration of Saint Jean-Baptiste the patron of the province. It has since taken on a slightly more nationalistic nature but the traditions of the older celebration still hold on.

You have to admit that the story of John the Baptist is a pretty good one. Its got everything - religion, sex, politics, sex, political descent, sex, intrigue, sex, death and did I mention sex? Its no wonder it's attracted writers, artists, composers, choreographers and movie makers.

In paintings the child John is normally seen with the Madonna, his smug little cousin Jesus and his mother Elizabeth. Often he's holding a lamb or a cross and when he gets older is dressed in camel skin. However this sculptor seems to think he started his career as an ascetic - howbeit a chubby well-fed one - early in life.

The story of Salome dancing for her step-father Herod on his birthday and, at the insistence of her mother, demanding the head of John has been expanded from a few lines in two of the gospels. She is not even mentioned by name but historically it is known that the daughter of Herodias was called Salome.
The idea of Salome as an icon of dangerous female seductiveness is an old one that became more entrenched in our modern sensibilities with Oscar Wilde's play and later Richard Strauss opera based on it.

The Feast being celebrated today is his birth - which is exactly 6 months before Christmas, no doubt to jibe with the story of Mary's visit to his mother Elizabeth. The Beheading - a much lesser Feast in the calender - isn't celebrated (?) until August 29.

All the photos here were taken in the Bode Museum during our trip to Berlin late last year.

24 giugno - Natività di San Giovanni Battista

La Festa di San Giuseppe

Yesterday was the Feast of Saint Joseph here in Italy and because he was the "earthly father" of Christ it is also celebrated as Father's Day. This, in a recent turn, in events has become a bit like Father's Day in North American. Ties and socks are bought and presented, often with a home made card as I don't recall seeing Father's Day cards in the stores here - yet.

As a religious holiday it is celebrated more in the South than in Central and Northern Italy. One of the regular writers for Italian Notebook posted this item on celebrations in Sicily. Of course being Italy there is a traditional pastry associated with the Feast Day. Zeppole di San Giuseppe are large balls of sweet choux pastry, fried not baked, and filled with custard or canolli cream. Though there does seem to a heated discussion as to what it the correct filling to honour the Saint. My friend Marco tells me that there is only one pastry shop in Roma that makes them the right way - it is, surprise! surprise! - Napolitano.

Often, just to ensure the full calorie level for the day is reached, they are topped with whipped cream and a glaceed cherry. I had one at coffee break yesterday - it was... filling!

19 marzo - Sant'Alessandra di Amiso

Angels and Archangels

Tomorrow is the Feast of St Michael and All Angels and back in the days when I was active at St Thomas Huron Street it was one of my favorite feast days. There was something about the readings, the music and the ceremonies of Michaelmas which I loved. I always made sure I was scheduled to serve at the Procession and High Mass of the day - perhaps as Master of Ceremonies, sometimes Crucifer or Attendant but never as Thurifer. The Thurifer is the one with the burning purse as Tallulah Bankhead use to say. After having almost set the sanctuary aflame at one memorable evensong I decided creating holy smoke was not for me.

Angelic Council (Ангелскй Собор). Orthodox icon of the seven archangels. From left to right: Jegudiel, Gabriel, Selaphiel, Michael, Uriel, Raphael, Barachiel. Beneath the mandorla of Christ Emmanuel are representations of Cherubim (blue) and Seraphim (red).

Angels are part of many world religions - amongst them Judaism, Bahai, Zoroastrianism, Islam and Christianity. By the Middle Ages Christianity had broke angels down into 9 categories: Angels, Cherubim, Seraphim, Virtues, Powers, Principalities, Dominions, Thrones and Archangels. The latter being the greatest in the hosts of the heavenly and also the ones held in common with both Judaism and Islam.

Although Gabriel the Messenger is the best know from the Christmas story, St Michael is the most important in both the Orthodox and Roman church. He is the Defender of the faith, the chief warrior against Satan and heresies. He is often depicted defeating Lucifer during the great battle that led to his fall.

Here in Roma the best known - and certainly most visible - statue of St Michael stands atop Castel San Angelo. Legend says that a vision of the Archangel sheathing his sword appeared over the Castel signaling an end to the plague that had devestated the city in 590 AD. The current bronze - created by the Flemish sculptor Peter Anton von Verschaffelt in 1753 - commemorates that event.

28 settembre - San Prospero

Assumpta Est Maria

Today is the the Feast of the Assumption - a national holiday certainly in Italy and many other European countries. Most things are closed and people head to church or the beach or the family home. Think I'll take the day off to but I'll leave you with this remarkable performance of the Ave Maris Stella from Monteverdi's Vespers of the Blessed Virgin. John Eliott Gardner conducting Monteverdi in San Marco in Venice - highly appropriate to the day or any day for that matter.



Buona Festa a tutti e buono ferragosto.

Thanks to Condoauta for posting this on YouTube.

15 agosto - Assunzione di Maria Virgine

Name the Day

At dinner last night our good friend Larry surprised Laurent by presenting him with a holy card (above) and wishing him a "Happy Name Day vigil." And indeed today is the Feast Day of Saint Lawrence (Laurent, Lorenzo,)Deacon and Martyr, after whom Laurent was named.

Though not as widely observed here in Italy as in some countries (Poland for example where it is more important than a birthday)a Name Day or Onomastico is still a cause for celebration in some parts of the country. Laurent has decided that a celebration and a gift would be in order. On both those counts he is going to be sadly disappointed.

Larry mentioned that, to the best of his knowledge, there was no Saint William so I was out of luck. WRONG LARRY WRONG!! I found three so I have my choice: January 10th - St William of Bourges; June 8th - St William of York; or June 25th - St William the Abbot.

Perhaps I should reconsider that celebration and gift idea of Laurent's, I could make out like a bandit!

Correction: Along with a slightly revisionist take on last evening's conversation Larry e-mailed me a list of 61 Saint Williams (though a few go by several variations of their name - a saintly trait that I myself have emulated - so its probably more like 50.) Still it could make for a not bad haul.

10 agosto - San Lorenzo

Buon San Valentino

Auguri e amore a tutti!

e grazie Maurizio for the photo....

14 febbraio - San Valentino