Fr. Z's Blog

As the world turns, one expected the Roman sun to rise at 06:32.  It did.  One expects it to set at 19:50.

The Ave Maria Bell – 20:00.

A note about the Ave Maria not being rung.  I was working in my little kitchen last night with the window open and I heard a bell ringing at or near 20:00 and it wasn’t ringing the hour.  Rather, by the time it really caught my attention, it rang a short sequence of 3.  I must, tonight, pay attention.  It may be an Ave Maria Bell.  Wouldn’t that be great?   The confirmation would need to be made on 15 April when the time should change to 20:15.

The Parish Façade Report.

Anvedi, ao!

Before…

Well?   What do you think?

Please remember me when shopping online and use my affiliate links.  US HERE – UK HERE  WHY?  This helps to pay for health insurance (massively hiked for this new year of surprises), utilities, groceries, etc..  At no extra cost, you provide help for which I am grateful.

Meanwhile, last night I made Roman artichokes.  I include a cork for scale.

Mentuccia, parsley, garlic.

After giving them a little color, into the pot they go.

To help keep the steam in, a piece of “frying paper”, as it is here called.

They are not hard to make once you get past the prep.

A good shot of the perfect storm of street blocking morning chaos.

Hello!

I stopped for clams at my fishmonger today.  Tonight, The Great Roman™ will come to eat multiple spaghettis and clams preceded by raw fava beans along with pecorino cheese and white wine.

It was another great morning of errands and running into people.  Also, in a space of about 10 minutes I was hit up for money.  Always the same people.  Always the same response.  I never give money.  Period.  I’ll gladly buy someone something to eat, but I don’t give money.  It’s the money they are after, mostly.

Meanwhile, at Pippo’s stand… these.  What color in the morning sun!

Meanwhile, I have bad news.    Yesterday in Round 7 of the Candidates Tournament, alas, Gukesh was defeated by Alireza Firouzja. He is now no longer at the bottom of the standings. Ian Nepomniachtchi drew against Hikaru Nakamura who had about 20 moves of preparation. With the defeat of Gukesh, Nepo is again the sole leader. Fabiano Caruana is in third place. Today is a rest day. Hostilities resume on Saturday, 13 April.

Here’s a puzzle. White to move and obtain a winning position.   Note that the white knight and queen are under attack.

NB: I’ll hold comments with solutions ’till the next day so there won’t be “spoilers” for others.

Click!

I am now a chess.com affiliate.   So, click and join!   Maybe we can build a fun and active Catholic Chess Club within Chess.com.

Ceterum censeo Firouzja delendum esse.

In Rome today the sun emerged from hiding at 06:34.  It will re-submerge at 19:49.

The Ave Maria Bell, you ask?   Why, 20:00, of course!  For a little while longer.

What a terrific morning it has been.  I am full of gratitude.

Lord, thank you for this day.

The Parish™ Façade report.

On the way out of church of the workers, standing in the truck across from the main doors, raised his arms skyward and said, “Ao! Guarda che bella!”

Speaking of “bella”, in the sacristy I spotted a RED vestment laid out for I know not what reason.   YOU READERS bought those. Today is St. Pope Leo I (+461) and tomorrow is Pope St. Julius I, otherwise a Paschaltide dies non Friday.  The Martyrology says that it is the Feast of St. Zeno of Verona, martyr.   Perhaps you’ve visited his church in Verona.

There is life without Verona walls, by the way.

Today had the most delightful morning.  Strolling up the Via del Arco, I saw an amazing sight.  The door to the tiny little chapel that pertains to the Monte di Pietà was OPEN!  Thirty years and more I haven’t seen that.    Inside there was a painting of Mary, Help of the Wretched, which is now inside The Parish™ church and much attended and venerated.

The painting of S.M. Succurre Miseris in the church.

In the little chapel this is a sort of replacement so there isn’t a blank spot.   Given that it is a Pietà it is a good image for this place.

However, through that door in the back – the guys there let me in to see – I found this, which is somewhat nobler and no doubt harder to hang.

Exiting the little chapel I ran into a nice young fellow from Newcastle who told me about TLM things going on in that region.

Rounding my way back from an ATM errand, I ran into a couple more people who recognized me, one from Dallas.  We had a nice chat.

Passing through the Campo de’ Fiori I stopped at a vegetable stand – not the usual – because they usually display in the morning some prepped artichokes.  I was determined that, tonight, I would make carciofi alla Romana!

As, we were talking about how to make them, along comes the Argentinian born proprietor of my chosen wateringhole on the Campo, where I generally meet up with people in town for a beverage before heading to supper.   When the veg stand guy saw us two to be friendly, of course the ribbing started: “Are you Argentinian too?   If you know this one, no artichokes for you!” “Will you sell them at double price?”  “I dunno…..”.  All good natured.  The bar owner is decidedly NOT a fan of one of his co-nationals.

Anyway, to the important stuff.   The nice lady prepped some carciofi for me.

I report on them tomorrow.

Jasmine Report.   No, not the Jesuit.  Nope, it has not yet blossomed.

I also bought freesia this morning from Pippo.  He gave me a great discount so I got two.

These blossoms, however, are great.   They’ve lasted a long time and are wide open.  I’ve discovered that, given some stretches of darkness, they open wide and last a long time.

I also bought freesia this morning from Pippo.  He gave me a great discount so I got two.

After the flowers, to the butcher for some beef for tonight.  It’ll be a nice supper.   As I paid for my purchase, the guy cranked up the volume on “The Final Countdown”.  I guess that’s for me, for I am now past the halfway mark in my Roman Sojourn.  *sigh*

Meanwhile, in chessy news, I am delighted to report that, yesterday at the Candidates tournament, Alireza Firouzja playing white was taken down by Vidit Gujrathi.  Before that, he lost to Hikaru. Here is a decisive endgame moment when F handed Hikaru the nails for his own coffin.

How satisfying.

Right now, Ian Nepomniachtchi and Gukesh D are tied for first with 4/6. Alireza is last with 1.5/6 right there with the lowest rated player in the field.

Meanwhile, black to move and mate in 4.

NB: I’ll hold comments with solutions ’till the next day so there won’t be “spoilers” for others.

Try some wine by the traditional Benedictines of Le Barroux!

Ceterum censeo Firouzja delendum esse.

Please remember me when shopping online and use my affiliate links.  US HERE – UK HERE  WHY?  This helps to pay for health insurance (massively hiked for this new year of surprises), utilities, groceries, etc..  At no extra cost, you provide help for which I am grateful.

At 06:35 the sun lifted it’s blazing head over the Roman horizon… behind clouds.   It is supposed to clear up later in the day for the sunset at 19:48.

The Ave Maria is at 20:00.

Parish™ Façade Report.

This is getting exciting.   You can now see the inscriptions, including the plenary indulgence announcement over the doors.  I learned that the façade will be illuminated.  Ao!

Caption:  “AO!”

A visit to the Chiesa Nuova.

Last October it was full of scaffolding.

Look at that stupid monstrosity of an altar arrangement.  Happily, a few guys with pry bars and carts will be able to remove it swiftly when the day arrives.

A visit to St. Filippo Neri.

Then a visit to the chess guys at the P.za der Fico.

It’s a rough and ready crowd.  If you want to hear Romanaccio being spoken, this is your corner.

For your Roman lesson today, …

I introduce the readership to one of the marvels of Romanesco: ahó or simply ao.    You find ahò in other italians derived from something like a modo…. meh… who really knows?  It’s often used in greetings, like ciaò.  In Rome ao does that but about a million other things too.  It is used in countless contexts and, somehow, you know what it means.   It has a particular pronunciation in Rome as well and it is not to be trifled with.   Get not between a Roman and his ao.

Here’s an amusing illustrative video about the splendors of Roman ao.   If you know something about Italian, Roman in particular, and you have delicate sensibilities, you might be a little bruised by the end.  Romans are expressive in an impressively earthy elegance.

In chessy news, after the rest day, Candidates continued.  Pretty tense stuff.   Prag had Nepo on the ropes, but Nepo pulled out a draw with black.  The same Fabi with black against Vidit.  Meanwhile, Gukesh got a full point in a something 6 hour slug fest against lowest rated Abasov.  The real accomplishment was Hikaru’s, black, back and forth eventual defeat of Alirezja Firouzja, who made a single wrong move at the end and snatched defeat from the jaws perhaps of a draw which was already avoidable.   Hikaru’s defense was great and his opponent’s time struggle was decisive.  Therefore, Firouzja is exactly where he ought to be and stay: at the bottom of the field.  Hikaru, with a full point has his first win and moves up.  Nepo and Gukesh share the lead with 3.5/5.

Firouzja, ao! (= Ceterum censeo Firouzja delendum esse. )

I am now a chess.com affiliate.   So, click and join!   Maybe we can build a fun and active Catholic Chess Club within Chess.com.

Meanwhile, again… white to move and win.  From Emmanuel Lasker in 1917.  Gimme a winning position, not a mate, in 5.

1.Bd4 Bg3 2.Ba7 Bf4 3.Bb8 Be3 4.Bc7 Ba75.Bb6.
NB: I’ll hold comments with solutions ’till the next day so there won’t be “spoilers” for others.

After the rather heavy food over the last couple of days, yesterday, this was it.   Ao! (= Really good caprese)

This, my dear readers, is why I started the Black Vestment Project.  Thank you, btw, to the six chosen donors.

Ao! (= Look at this set.)  Two of the pieces match and there are holes worn into and through some parts.

Ao! (= this is too sad)

Anyway, the problem is now on the road to remedy!  Gammarelli has the order for 7 new black sets in wonderful fabric with gold trim.   We are doing them in the more Roman, Roman style, with straight stoles, higher cross on the maniple and no cross on the chalice veil.

In Rome the sun rose at 06:37 and it will set at 19:47.

The Ave Maria should ring at 20:00.

Today is a 4th class feria, so I celebrated a Votive Mass of the Holy Angels and offered it for my monthly donors.  You are deeply appreciated.

Last night I met up with a distinguished Catholic writer and commentator who would be instantly recognized by most of you.  We had a nice supper and a great chat, including about the new document from the CDF DDF.  12K words, 161 notes.

On a more pleasant subject, I had carbonara.  The consistency was perfect, though there was perhaps a bit too much of the sauce.

Saltimbocca.

On the way home I noticed that the light at this Madonnella had been fixed.    Nice for the Annunciation.

There were once thousands of these Maddonelle in Rome, and they were cared for by the people in that street or neighborhood.  There are still about 500 left.  Some are in less than perfect repair.  Others are very well tended.   I find them touching.  When I spot one, it is a reminder to say a quick prayer.  I will often ask Mary to put her protective mantle over me, or someone I think of in that moment, or someone who has asked for my prayers.  More than once a day, when I am out and around, I say a prayer for my benefactors, in particular these days all those who contributed so that I could be here again for a while and refresh my batteries.

The Parish™ façad report… progress.  It is going to be so beautiful.  I can hardly wait.

In the market, this is barba di frate … friar’s beard.  I’ll make it one day soon.   Not to be confused with frariarelli, of course.

I gave you an Ivy Report.  This is a JASMINE Report (and I don’t mean a certain Jesuit).

I enjoy the wonderful fragrance of the jasmine, especially in the evening as things cool down.   It will bloom pretty soon.

Meanwhile…

Please remember me when shopping online and use my affiliate links.  US HERE – UK HERE  WHY?  This helps to pay for health insurance (massively hiked for this new year of surprises), utilities, groceries, etc..  At no extra cost, you provide help for which I am grateful.

Meanwhile, again… white to move.  Mate in 3.

NB: I’ll hold comments with solutions ’till the next day so there won’t be “spoilers” for others.

In chessy news, … nope.  Well, yes, I guess.  The Candidates had a rest day, but there was a tournament in Menorca and Arjun Erigaisi emerged on top.  So, he climbs in the live ratings list a couple spots.  And there’s now yet another 12 year old grandmaster.   *sigh*  Today I will be pulling for Hikaru against Firouzja.

Ceterum censeo Firouzja delendum esse.

I am now a chess.com affiliate.   So, click and join!   Maybe we can build a fun and active Catholic Chess Club within Chess.com.