Orvieto’s Underground Nativity Scene

Nativity scenes have been a part of Italian Christmas celebrations since medieval times, but Orvieto’s reenactment is the first to put the Holy family underground. For 14 years running, speleologists have ventured 30 meters (circa 98 feet) down below to set up a nativity scene in the Pozzo della Cava, located in the medieval quarter of the Umbrian city.

Visitors find themselves in historically accurate scene where where life-size figures, costumes and music take them back 20 centuries in time. Special tours of the complex offered during the holidays offer a look a Orvieto underground–an Etruscan cistern, “butti” medieval garbage disposals, a Renaissance kiln and wine cellar–and a kosher menu from the excellent restaurant. Festivities kick off Sunday Dec. 23 and run until Jan. 13.
www.pozzodellacava.it/presepe

Priest Holds Weekly Exorcism Mass For ”Bedeviled” Village

"The devil is among us here, I have no doubt," said parish priest Father Sergio Bagliani. This man of the cloth is convinced that Satan has possessed at least two families…

Although the tranquil town of Gravellona Pavia (Lombardy), population 2,100, seems an unlikely place for breeding Beelzebub, Bagliani started a weekly “purification mass” against what he called an “infestation.” The service drew hundreds, enough to move from the parish church of S. Maria Assunta to nearby sanctuary Madonna delle Bozzole.
One of the presumably possessed members of the community, housewife and mother of four Giulia Davide, has a prosaic explanation for recent events. "I suffer from low blood pressure and had a spell while the priest was blessing our house," said Davide. "The priest got a bit spooked and nearly drowned me in Holy water. That’s it."
Father Bagliani could not be reached for comment, the sacristan said he is on a spiritual retreat. Newspapers reports claimed the priest was instead getting a good talking to by the Bishop of Novara.

Managers Pray to St. Expedite

by Nicole Martinelli

Italians say a confused person doesn’t know which saint to pray to, but busy managers have little doubt: Saint Expedite is the right one. In the heart of the business district, there’s an uninterrupted flow to Milan’s Santa Maria del Carmine for a quick prayer.

“It’s one of the least known but most efficient saints,” remarked Bernardino Visconti, who pops in every day before heading to work in an insurance company. “I acknowledge the other ones, but I always pray to Sant’Espedito.”
The plaster statue in faded fluorescent colors is placed (for speed?) right near the door. It’s the only chapel in the church with a waiting line to recite the prayer posted on the wall. Surrounded by candles and votive offerings, Sant’Espedito (also known as St. Expeditus) has clearly won favor over the 107 saints in Milan, including city patron Saint Ambrose, according to author Rino Cammilleri, who just completed a work on the holy figures who lived or were born in the city. The popularity surge follows changes in modern life — while Saint Expedite has been burdened with looking after quick solutions, procrastinators, computer programmers and e-commerce, St. Ambrose is keeping an eye on beekeepers, candle makers and domestic animals.

Like many early saints, it’s uncertain whether the quick-fix saint ever existed. The name “Expeditus” was attributed to two different martyrs on two different days in the Roman Martyrology, though celebrations are now held on April 19. Historians once asserted the Saint’s name derives from a package of remains from Roman catacombs — marked ‘spedito’ (sent)– to a Paris convent, but this appears to be another religious legend. Although Saint Expedite has become increasingly popular in recent years, in Turin he was dubbed the patron saint of merchants in Medieval times. Dressed as a soldier (the name expeditus appears to refer to a foot soldier) he has a cross with the word “hodie” (today) and a crow underfoot (symbolizing tomorrow).

Related resources:
www.gahp.org/espedito.htm
Also claimed by Milan’s Futurist art movement, here’s a print & cut St. Expedite prayer card…

Catechism: The Trading Cards

Move over Pokemon: an Italian priest hopes the children of his parish will be equally enthusiastic about bible-related trading cards. Father Gian Giudici got tired of confiscating Pikachu and friends during Sunday school lessons–so he came up with “Katemond” Catechism trading cards. The five-part series (the commandments, the bible, the sacraments, qualities of the Holy Spirit and the Trinity) star the “little flames of the Holy spirit.”
Local artists Gloria and Novella Morandi, who created the series, tried to give them sufficiently funny names to attract youngsters: “Confirmator” for the info on confirmation, “Eucor?sticor” for teachings on the Eucharist and “Pa-ma-amor” the section on honoring one’s parents, naturally.

Hard to say whether the idea will catch on–or lead to mixed trading on the black market. The cards, which cost about $0.50 a pack, work the way any trading cards do. Some packs have doubles while certain cards- in this case the Father, Son and Holy Spirit- are almost impossible to come by. So far Father Giudici has given out some 2,600 cards or 520 packs in the parish of San Luigi e Sant’Agnese of Corbetta. “They’re not meant to substitute the Bible,” said Father Giudici. “It’s just another way of using children’s language and toys to bring them closer. ”

TV Priest Favorite for Italian Women

“He would understand me in a way my husband never could,” commented one female viewer. Don Giovanni D’Ercole, a priest who reads the Gospel on state broadcaster RAI’s morning magazine (Raiuno Mattina), was voted the “most trustworthy” man on Italian television. D’ercole, who bears a vague resemblance to Richard Chamberlain of “Thornbirds” fame, beat out noted doctors, presenters and journalists. The results were a “surprise” to ad agency BRW & Partners, which conducted the focus group of 978 women between 25-55 to find which current male stars appeal most to female audiences.The recent trend of TV dramas which feature handsome, heroic priests must have had some influence–the runner-up was actor Massimo Dapporto, who recently played priest Don Marco in the series “Casa Famiglia.”Copy & Paste for Dapporto, a dashing man of the cloth who conducts biblical archeology, on a scooter.

Saintly Spectacles: St. Francis Takes Center Stage

There was bound to be a boom in religious-inspired entertainment during the Jubilee year, harder to predict, however, that St. Francis of Assisi would become the center of attention. The patron saint of animals is the object of two musicals and an album by singer/songwriter Angelo Branduardi.
“Francesco, il Musical” is the result of collaboration between American Dick Leach, best known for creating the children’s program Barney & Friends and acclaimed writer Vincenzo Cerami, noted for long collaboration with Roberto Benigni. After a trip to Assisi in 1987, Leach was inspired to produce the musical and determined to stage the production in the birthplace of the saint– overcoming the lack of venue by building the Lyrick Theater. The protagonist of the sumptuous production (total cost: around $12 million USD) is a young priest, Leonardo, who longs to emulate the saint. In Italian with English supertitles.
www.francescoilmusical.com/home.html

“Forza Venite Gente,” is the re-edition of a musical by Michele Paulicelli. The original version, created in 1981, logged in over 2,000 performances in Italy and hit stages in Poland and Mexico. Paulicelli, former frontman for 1970s band Pandemonium, says his aim was to show the lighter and joyous aspects of the saint’s life and love of nature. The no-frills production garnered a recommendation from the Artistic and Cultural Commission of the Jubilee and the success has inspired Paulicelli to start work a second musical–on Mother Theresa. www.forzavenitegente.com/mappa.htm

St. Francis: the Album Angelo Branduardi’s latest effort “Infinitamente piccolo” is a complex work of prose and music, woven together by contributing musicians like Morricone, Madredeus and Franco Battiato. The best way to experience it-listen to excerpts from the live performance in Assisi. www.kwvideo.kataweb.it/archivio/webcast/branduardi/frame_branduardi.htm
For tour dates: www.branduardi.com

So, why St. Francis? The bare outlines of his story transcend the time he lived in –1181 to 1226. He had it all (and when he did, lived it up) but renounced his wealth in favor of a spiritual life in harmony with the environment and not without the usual pangs. Interesting to note the figure of Sister Chiara–noted platonic flirt of the saint–figures in both plays.

Italy by Numbers: Modern-day sins

79% don’t fear consequences of sins
72% think pride, not humility, is indispensable
67% believe that sin exists
29% excessive smoking is a sin
22% worst sin: being a turncoat
15% believe lies constitute sin

The seven deadly sins, considered an express ticket to hell since the Middle Ages, have been replaced by other vice. For 860 Italians between 18-45 interviewed by a popular men’s magazine, most don’t even make the list.
Both pride and sloth (only 15% knew what "l’accidia" meant) went by the wayside as milder versions like self-esteem and relaxation are considered necessary in frantic modern life.
Lust, greed and gluttony were condemned mainly for the undesirable effects of getting a divorce, thrown into jail or growing out of the Armani trousers–not for fear of celestial repercussions. Envy and anger weren’t even taken into consideration.
An unnerving discovery: cutting a good figure in public ("fare la bella figura") is not only important, but being poorly dressed or improperly dressed for the occasion can actually be "guilt provoking" for some Italians.

Related resources:
www.iltuosito.it/iltuosuccesso/look.htm
One way to keep guilt at bay: get the right look.

Italy by Numbers: Padre Pio, a Booming Industry

7,500,000 overnight visitors to San Giovanni Rotondo, 1999
2,241 hotel beds available
49 hotels currently under construction
2,156 dedicated prayer groups, worldwide
40 billion USD (90 billion lire) est. yearly profits

Despite formal denials, word has it the Vatican will send an emissary to understand just what goes on in the “miracle” village dedicated to Padre Pio. San Giovanni Rotondo, perennially under construction in the province of Foggia, has been under increasing assault by pilgrims since the beatification of the Capuchin monk in May 1999. Work in progress includes a church, designed by Renzo Piano, big enough for 10,000 people. The Church is keeping an eye of developments -should Pio, a stigmatist with one recognized miracle, be made a saint the numbers will explode.
www.padre-pio.com

The official site, includes a virtual tour of the sanctuary

Holy Thursday with Mafia Oil

Holy oil used to baptize babies, in confirmation ceremonies and to administer last rites in 2001-2002 in Turin has a rather unholy provenance– the groves of fugitive Sicilian Mafia baron Bernardo Provenzano. The idea came from Father Luigi Ciotti, head of an umbrella group for 700 antimafia organizations called Gruppo Abele e Libera, as a pledge to fight the Mafia.Ciotti wanted the oil, traditionally consecrated on Holy Thursday to anoint neophytes at Baptism on Easter night, to take on contemporary significance. The oil is produced by a coop, which has taken over the groves confiscated from the Mafia boss who has eluded capture for over three decades. ?1999-2004 zoomata.com

Zoomata is the brainchild of a bilingualjournalist based in Italy who thinks out of the box. This brain is for hire.

Related resources:
www.enotecafranci.com
While far from holy, olive oil from Franci just received highest honors at Italy’s most important wine fair, Vinitaly.

Open Cloisters Via Internet

The 40 Benedictine nuns of the monastery of San Salvatore near Como have gone wired to break the silence. The Internet site features photos, a daily prayer schedule, train timetable from Milan and how to plan a spiritual retreat at the convent. Interestingly, it’s also a way to communicate, albeit one way, about the cloistered life.”It’s true people think a nun’s life is pointless-“scandalous” for people who think they can change the world with their own hands and “stupidity” for people who think happiness means personal success. But do you believe in God? If so, tell me, what’s the point of your life? And if you don’t believe in, what is your reason for living?”

Related resources:
www.cometacom.it/monastero/grandate
Take a peek at the cloisters…