Mourning James Not Tony

The passing of any person is sad. The passing of someone at the still-young age of 51 is very sad. Actor, James Gandolfini, died in Rome on 19 June 2013. How awful to lose a person described as a "good man who never forgot his roots" a "humble, humorous man of immense talent". So I mourn the death of James Gandolfini...but not the death of Anthony John "Tony" Soprano.

I'm fully aware that the part of Tony Soprano is fictitious...kinda. His character is loosely based on real life NJ mobster and street boss, Vincent "Vinny Ocean" Palermo. I didn't like the HBO drama, "The Sopranos". I didn't like the movies, "The Godfather or Goodfellas". I am immensely proud of being an American-Italian. I don't like those of my nationality being portrayed as goons who can't speak a sentence unless it has the "F" word. None of my relatives carried a gun. The men in my family didn't curse. They were gentlemen.
What is it about evil men that much of society idolizes? Why are some of us drawn to those who murder, cheat, lie and swear up a storm? Why are TV/Movie viewers attracted to dark characters? Lucifer is called the Angel of Light. The Ancient One holds a unique attraction for many because of its wicked beauty and cunning ways. I don't want to be in that presence any more than I want to spend precious time watching men with evil dispositions.

Sorry, but even in our enlightened age, there are those who still believe in the stereotypical Italian. Case in point...my nephew attended a southern university. He never had a run-in with the law, never carried a weapon, etc, etc. His college roommate, a home state boy, commented that he tried to get out of rooming with my nephew because he was afraid to share a dorm with a New York Italian kid. You know, a mafia boy. What?

I know that Mr. Gandolfini had many stellar performances aside from that of a mob boss. But the one that many gush over is none other than cafone, Tony Soprano. Tony Soprano was shown as a short-tempered, violent sociopath prone to depression and panic attacks. Do ya think murdering eight men had something to do with his anxiety? How messed up is it when an animal lover, such as Tony, severely pistol whips a man because he had something to do with the death of a horse? Were there animal lovers out there cheering him on? Two wrongs don't make a right.

My father, Paul Cerabona, was a 1st generation Italian-American. He was admired as a "man's man". He never slapped his wife. He never had a mistress. Tony had 4. Ya know what you feared the most about my dad? That you'd lose his respect or his friendship. He often said, "You have two people to fear...me and God up-above." Interesting and much misunderstood are the words, fear of the Lord. It's not being afraid of Him, but respecting Him with humility. You would be mortified to be disgraced in my dad's eyes...& even more of a disgrace... in God's eyes.

Now gaze upon Tom Selleck's character, Frank Reagan, police commissioner in the TV drama, "Blue Bloods". I want to cheer at the end of each episode. He's someone to look up to. Someone our kids can admire and emulate. He's a family man, fair and balanced. He admits he has flaws and tries to overcome them. Jesus is welcomed at his dinner table...saying grace isn't out of vogue in the Reagan household.
I loved Ray Romano in "Everybody Loves Raymond". Ray Barone was a goofus, sure. But he was decent, and family came first...even if it took the whole episode to prove it. He didn't lust after his daughter's Girl Scout Leader, nor abused his wife for her awful cooking. He is an Italian I can relate to.

Okay, so these are actors playing characters. But who impresses our kids the most? Hollywood stars and the characters they portray. Girls get pregnant out of wedlock because their Hollywood idol is with child. The clothes they wear are trampy because the actress they most admire walks around half nude.  I admire the actress that refuses to strip for the camera. That is a real woman. That takes guts. I don't admire characters in shows like, Sex In The City or Desperate Housewives of NJ...NY...Hollywood, wherever. My friends and I don't sit around and discuss the sordid topics they discuss. My sisters and I don't behave in the raunchy way they do. I'm not desperate enough to watch those shows no less enjoy them. But thousands of viewers are enthralled with their antics. Do you know how many can't distinguish between the character and the actual actor? People meeting a TV doctor on the street will ask for medical advice!

In real life, James Gandolfini was a swell guy. In real life, celebrities like Charlie Sheen and Hugh Hefner are unsavory, to say the least. But so many people gush at their names. Our honor is our name. It's what we leave as our family legacy. Throughout history, people have died for their name's sake. I'm proud of both my maiden and married name. We instilled in our son the importance of his last name. He knows never to sully it. He knows to be proud of his heritage, too. I guess that's what bothers me the most, that characters like Tony Soprano are synonymous with my beloved ancestry. So rest in peace James Gandolfini....and may God have mercy on the Tony Sopranos of this world.

"Madonnina" by Ferruzzi

(My print that hangs in our entry hall
Madonna of the Streets )

My love affair with "Madonnina" began in parochial school in the sixties. At Confirmation, confirmands were given a St. Joseph's missal. Mine was a handsome red bound book to help me comprehend and follow the Mass. I still have it. It's darn near miraculous that it survived a house fire, a major flood & several moves.

In between the whisper-thin pages are Holy Cards. Girls collected them like boys collected baseball cards. They were inspirational and often stunning portrayals of the saints, Christ, the Blessed Mother, the Holy Family or as He was called then, the Holy Ghost. Often on the back of the card was a prayer. My most beloved holy card was the "Madonna of the Streets".

Gaze upon the face of the "Madonnina", the little mother, in the photo above. Have you ever seen a more angelic expression? She is so young, innocent yet there is a strength about her....that mother's protectiveness for her child. Meditating on this lovely girl, a sense of peacefulness washes over me. It's exactly how I'd picture Blessed Mary, a young mother holding the Christ Child safely against her heart.

Truth be known, the beauty in the portrait is only 11 years old and she's cradling her year old brother. Angelina and Giovanni Cian caught the eye of Italian painter,  Roberto Ferruzzi, while he was in Venice. Intrigued by the girl, he asked her to model for him. I'm sure the family was scandalized by such a proposition. Perhaps, the family desperately needed the money. If that had been the case, they accepted it with the promise that no one would know of the arrangement. The fact that the painting was also entitled, "Madonna of the Streets", was enough reason to keep the identity of the girl a secret.

"Madonna della Strada" was exhibited in 1897, and although Ferruzzi did not intend the painting to be a depiction of the Blessed Mother and Child, it was immediately seen as such by Italian Catholics. In the early 20th century, Italian immigrants to America were enraptured with the painting and so began a love affair with Ferruzzi's, "Madonnina".

The identity of the lovely girl and child remained a secret until 1984. No one could have been more surprised at the true identity of the Madonna than Mary Bovo who later became Sr. Angela Marie, order of St. Joseph of Carondelet.

Mary's parents, Angelina and Antonio Bovo, left Italy and settled with their 10 children in Oakland, California, in 1906. The family lived comfortably until 1929, when 42-year-old Antonio died of influenza. Angelina struggled to provide for her family, the stress causing her a nervous breakdown that confined her to a mental institution until her death in 1972.

The children had been placed in orphanages and foster homes, but by the grace of God, were able to keep track of one another. It is not unusual for a person that has experienced family separation to seek their roots. This was so with Sr. Angela Marie. On a visit to Italy in 1984, she was reunited with two elderly aunts. Her resemblance to her mother had not gone unnoticed by the relatives. Excitedly, Aunt Giulia showed Sr. Angela Marie a special print of Roberto Ferruzzi's beloved portrait  "Madonnina".

Sister Angela Marie was informed, "this is your mother". The nun agreed, thinking her aunt referred to Our Blessed Mother. "No,"  her aunt insisted. "Your real mother." What a revelation, what a shock that the serene girl in the print was none other than her mother, Angelina Cian-Bovo. The truth of this discovery had been verified in preserved personal notes belonging to Ferruzzi. For her entire life, Angelina, treasured this secret in her heart. It is much like the Blessed Mother treasuring the many mysteries and prophecies concerning her Son in her heart. 

Sadly, the original painting has never been found. The last known owner was John George Alexander Leishman, a diplomat and steel millionaire who died in France in 1924. It is thought that the original vanished during WWII and could now be in a private collection somewhere in Pennsylvania. 

The remarkable story associated with this portrait continued to unfold. A few years ago, Sr Angela Marie was rummaging through the meager belongings of her mother when she came upon a photo taken at St. Theresa's Convalescent Home. There was Angelina with a shawl gently draped over her head, her gaze heavenward, hands clasped together.
Was this just a pose of an eccentric woman confined to a sanatorium for a half a century? Or had a long ago promise finally been broken? 75 years of silence and the secret had found a voice. God had opened a window for this tucked away promise to be freed, at last. Nothing is a coincidence.

 There are many renditions of this famous painting. In some, the Madonna is wearing a blue cloak or a gold hood. In another she is surrounded by clouds and celestial beings. But all have one thing in common, the ethereal countenance of Angelina Bovo. So beatific is her expression that members of the Sisters Of Life receive a medal of the "Madonnina" at their first profession.

Though Ferruzzi's other works,

"The Girl"

"The Girl", "La Prima Penitenza", and "Zitto" to name a few, have enjoyed recognition among Italian painters, his "Madonnina" is the most famous. I believe the success of this painting is a message from God Who found favor with Angelina Bovo. The little Madonna beckons His children to open their hearts to her Son, the Christ.

(Sr Angela Marie 50th Jubilee)

   

 

Our Lady of Guadalupe: Amazing Facts

As a practicing Catholic, I think a lot about the birth of Christ during the Sacred Season.  This past season was no exception. The event never ceases to amaze me and the older I get the more amazed I am. The miracle is too enormous to put into thought or words.

It is during this most holy time that much attention is given to the Christ Child, the Blessed Mother and dear St. Joseph. Church pews are full and greetings of peace and good-will abound. 

This year, I devoted more thought to Our Lady. The story of the Annunciation and her "yes" is profound, to say the least.

I love the fact that there are many images of the Blessed Mother...Our Lady of Fatima, Our Lady of Lourdes, Our Lady of Grace, Madonna of the Streets. She is beautiful in each one. But the most unique is Our Lady of Guadalupe.  What a wondrous story to read on Catholic Online.

Our Lady of Guadalupe is considered the patron saint of the Americas. Mexican Catholics have a particular attachment to this image. Due to a claim that her black girdle on the image indicates pregnancy, the Blessed Virgin Mary, under this title is popularly invoked as The Patroness of the Unborn and a common image for the Pro-Life movement.  

Miracles are associated with many images of the Blessed Mother. Healings, both physically and spiritually, are documented at Lourdes, Fatima & Medjugorje, to name a few. But the amazing facts associated with the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe are simply astounding! May your faith be strengthened by what you read below:

Ophthalmalgic studies made on the eyes of Mary detected that when the eye is exposed to light, the retina contracts, and when the light is withdrawn, it returns to a dilated state, just as happens with a living eye.

The temperature of Juan Diego’s tilma, made of a material that comes from fibers of the maguey cactus, maintains a constant temperature of 98.6 degrees, the same as that of a living human body.

One of the doctors who analyzed the tilma placed his stethoscope below the black band at Mary’s waist, and heard rhythmic beats at 115 pulses per minute, the same as that of a baby in the maternal womb.

No sign of paint has been discovered on the tilma. From a distance of 3-4 inches from the image, one can see only the maguey cactus fibers of the material: the colors disappear. Scientific studies have not been able to discover the origin of the coloration, nor the way the image was painted. They cannot detect vestiges of brush strokes or any other known painting technique. NASA scientists confirm that the paint material does not belong to any known element on earth.

 When the material was examined under a laser ray, it was shown that there is no coloration on the front or the back of the cloth, and that the colors hover at a distance of 3/10th of a millimeter (1/100th of an inch) over the cloth, without touching it.

The colors actually float above the surface of the tilma.

                                                               Isn’t that amazing?

The rough material of the tilma has a lifespan of no more than 20-30 years. Several centuries ago, a replica of the image was painted on an identical piece of maguey cloth, and it disintegrated after several decades.

Nonetheless, during the almost 500 years of the miracle, the cloth with the image of Mary remains as strong as it was on the first day. Science cannot explain why the material has not disintegrated.

In the year 1791, muriatic acid accidentally spilled on the upper right side of the tilma. During the period of 30 days, without any special treatment, the affected fabric re-constituted itself miraculously.

The stars that appear on the Mantle of Mary reflect the exact configuration and positions that could be seen in the sky of Mexico on the day the miracle happened.

On the right side of the Virgin’s mantle, the southern constellations are indicated:At the top are four stars that form part of the Ophiuchus constellation.Below it to the left, one finds Libra, and to its right, at what seems an arrow point, is the beginning of Scorpio. In the middle are the constellations of Lupus and to its left, an end point of Hydra. Further down, one can clearly see the Southern Cross; above it appears the slightly inclined square of the Centaurus. 

On the left side of the Virgin’s mantle one sees the northern constellations: At her shoulder, a fragment of the stars of the Herdsman constellation; below it and to the left is the Great Bear. To its right is Berenice’s Hair; below it, Hunting Dogs, and to its left, the Thuban, which is the brightest star of the Draco constellation. Below the two parallel stars (which still form part of the Big Bear), one finds stars from another pair of constellations: the Auriga and at the bottom, three stars of Taurus.Thus, in their totality and proper places, the 46 most brilliant stars that can be seen on the horizon of the Valley of Mexico are identified.

In the year 1921, a man concealed a high power bomb in a flower arrangement, and placed it at the feet of the tilma. The explosion destroyed everything around it, except for the tilma, which remained intact.

Scientists discovered that the eyes of Mary have the three refractive characteristics of a human eye.

In the eyes of Mary (only about 1/3rd inch in size), minuscule human figures were discovered that no artist could have painted. The same scene is repeated in each eye.

Using digital technology, the images in the eyes were enlarged many times, revealing that each eye reflected the figure of the Indian Juan Diego opening his tilma in front of Bishop Zumarraga.

Sandy Hook Massacre & The Holy Innocent

Children light candles to pay their respects to the victims of the Newtown, Connecticut
CNN U.S. 17 December 2012

During this Sacred Season, Christians are preparing to celebrate the miracle of the birth of our Saviour, Jesus Christ. It is a time of great joy and awe. But for the families of 20 children and 6 school personnel, there is no laughter or anticipation of having a merry Christmas. Funeral arrangements are ongoing for those who had been murdered on December 15th in the sleepy town of Newtown, Connecticut.

In Sandy Hook Elementary School, mere babies, 8 boys..12 girls -all first graders, died at the ruthless hands of a madman. It brings to mind the Biblical event of the Slaughter of the Holy Innocent.  We don't often think about this historical event when we think of Christmas.

Matthew 2:1-18 tells this story: Herod was “greatly troubled” when astrologers from the east came asking the whereabouts of “the newborn king of the Jews,” whose star they had seen. They were told that the Jewish Scriptures named Bethlehem as the place where the Messiah would be born. Herod cunningly told them to report back to him so that he could also “do him homage.” They found Jesus, offered him their gifts and, warned by an angel, avoided Herod on their way home. Jesus escaped to Egypt.

François-Joseph Navez,
The massacre of the innocents, 1824

Herod became furious and “ordered the massacre of all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity two years old and under.” The horror of the massacre and the devastation of the mothers and fathers led Matthew to quote Jeremiah: “A voice was heard in Ramah, sobbing and loud lamentation; Rachel weeping for her children...” (Matthew 2:18). Rachel was the wife of Jacob/Israel. She is pictured as weeping at the place where the Israelites were herded together by the conquering Assyrians for their march into captivity.  Feast of the Holy Innocent at Americancatholic.org. The memory of these innocent babes is celebrated on December 28th.

As with most top-shelf news, the coverage is 24/7. Old facts are rehashed, new facts discovered and doled out to the public. Such tragedy will never make sense, no matter what angle the experts give. Gun-control and reform is bandied about once again.  The state of our mental health programs is scrutinized. School safety is tightened. Church pews are filled, for a short time, as they always are when a tragedy occurs. Where was God when the children were gunned down, we ask? Aren't our Guardian Angels suppose to protect us from such happenings?

I cannot imagine what the parents, loved ones, friends of those who were massacred on Friday are going through. I cannot imagine the guilt felt by those whose children survived. It must be akin to the guilt the Blessed Mother, Mary, felt when she fled into the night to save her child, the Messiah. The anguish is unimaginable.

We live in a Godless society. When we had prayer in school, it made us more aware that HE was watching what we did throughout the school day. We answered to a Higher Power. In the fifties, the two worst things a student endured were....being reprimanded for talking in class and getting caught chewing gum. We've come a long way, baby...& not for the better.

Does abortion have a rippling effect on society? If a mother can murder her own child in the one place a baby should be the safest, her womb, then why would her other children, knowing about the abortion, uphold the sanctity of life? When life is no longer dear to us....it is easy to snuff it out.

Where was God's invitation to the Democratic Convention? Imagine...He, the Creator of Life and All Good, had to be voted in to be part of this important political event. Gift baskets made by the loving hands of local church goers were refused because....their values didn't jive with those of the hosting party. Yikes!!

When the president of these United States was a senator, he was asked to support the Born Alive Infant Protection Act. It is a bill stating that should an infant survive a "botched" abortion, that baby had the right to immediate medical care. He opposed it in committee, and then went on to be the sole senator to speak against this bill on the Senate floor, not once, but two years in a row. It's heart-wrenching that breathing, helpless human beings were placed in the trash, covered with a lid and left to die. It is shocking that anyone would hesitate to defend a struggling-to-survive infant. Actions, such as this, promote a Culture of Death.

Despite my conservative beliefs, I don't blame one particular political party, religion or special interest group for our moral and social decay. The blame lies on each of us when we glamorize death, destruction & Goth mentality.  The bloodier the movie, the better the box office sales. The more violent the video game, the more popular it is. In the minds and hands of an unhinged person....this is a dangerous cocktail. It is a bitter drink we all taste. Shame on anyone who knows a child is being bullied, knows a person needs psychological help, but remains silent because "it's not our business" or "there might be a confrontation". Shame on us if we don't protest against violence or disturbing behavior because modern thinkers believe it has a right to exist. Shame on us if we don't protect the most vulnerable.

Perhaps, if  the Adam Lanzas of the world are confronted and helped, the bullies tattled on, incidents that took place in Sandy Hook, Columbine and Aurora will cease. Children will celebrate birthdays, experience their first kiss, and hold their own infant in their arms if we pray to the Great Physician to heal our nation because our actions are honorable. If we uphold the sanctity of life, our world will be blessed and the next Slaughter of the Innocent will remain between the dusty pages of a history book.

        Please pray for those in Newtown & all who have experienced violence

Naughty Or Nice Stores 2012

American Family Association's NAUGHTY OR NICE

2012 listing of top retailers and how they recognize Christmas

Color Code: 
BLUE: An AFA "5-Star" rated company that promotes and celebrates Christmas on an exceptional basis.
GREEN: Company uses the term "Christmas" on a regular basis, we consider that company Christmas-friendly.
YELLOW: Company refers to Christmas infrequently, or in a single advertising medium, but not in others.
RED: Company may use "Christmas" sparingly in a single or unique product description, but as a company, does not recognize it. 
List updated on 11-28-12 

Companies For "Christmas" AFA Online Store ACE Hardware Amazon.com Bass Pro Shops Bed Bath & Beyond Belk Best Buy Big Lots Books-A-Million Cabella's Collective Brands Costco CVS Pharmacy Dick's Sporting Goods Dilliards Dollar General Dollar Tree H.E.B. Stores HSN.com Hallmark Hancock Fabrics Harris Teeter Stores Hobby Lobby Home Shopping L.L. Bean Network JC Penney JoAnn Fabrics & Crafts Stores Kmart Kohl's Kroger Lowe's Macy's Marshals Meijer Menard's Michael's Stores Neiman Marcus Nordstrom Office Max Petsmart Pier One Imports ProFlowers.com Publix QVC.com Rite Aid Sam's Club Sears Scheels Sporting Goods Super D Drug Stores Target TJ Maxx Toys R Us True Value Wal-Mart Zappos.com

Companies marginal on "Christmas" 1-800-Flowers.com Bath & Body Works Cooking.com Hy-Vee Stores Safeway Starbucks UncommonGoods.com Walgreens Whole Foods

Companies AGAINST "Christmas" Banana Republic Barnes & Noble Family Dollar Foot Locker Gap Stores BOYCOTT! Limited Brands Maurice's Office Depot Old Navy BOYCOTT! Radio Shack Staples Supervalu Victoria's Secret

Based on current advertising, above is a list of companies that avoid, ban, or use the term "Christmas" in their advertising. AFA will continually update the list, so check their site often.
Criteria - AFA reviewed up to four areas to determine if a company was "Christmas-friendly" in their advertising: print media (newspaper inserts), broadcast media (radio/television), website and/or personal visits to the store. If a company's ad has references to items associated with Christmas (trees, wreaths, lights, etc.), it was considered as an attempt to reach "Christmas" shoppers.
If a company has items associated with Christmas, but did not use the word "Christmas," then the company is considered as censoring "Christmas."
Want to report on a company? Send your detailed report to christmas@afa.net. Please know that AFA receives hundreds of reports (emails) each day. They are unable to respond to each one personally, but your report will be read by one of their staff. 
Note: AFA does not list local or regional companies. Only nationally-recognized companies will be listed. This list only reflects a company's "Christmas" advertising and does not take into account other corporate policies AFA may not agree with.

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SPECIAL ALERT! Legal group offers valuable resources 
If you hear of instances of hostility toward Christmas expression, please let AFA know. AFA is working with the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) to provide resources for government and public school authorities laboring under the misimpression they must censor Christmas. You can contact ADF at (1-800-TELL-ADF ) for a copy of their legal analysis and memo on rights of seasonal expression at Christmas. AFA wants to inform public officials about the law, and then encourage them to take a stand for Christmas.