Another Roman dialect sonnet about the papal funeral in St. Peter’s

Once again we are privileged to have another sonnet from the 19th c. poet Giuseppe Gioachino Belli… Er Belli. He wrote seriously funny sonnets in the Roman dialect about life in Rome and aimed deadly satire at Rome’s clerics, religious, prelates and popes.

Today, we have…

Le ssequie de leone duodescimosiconno a ssan pietro

Prima, a Ppalazzo, tanti frati neri
La notte e ’r giorno a bbarbottà orazzione!
Pe Rroma, quer mortorio bbuggiarone!
Cqua, tante torce e ttanti cannejjeri!

Messe sú, mmesse ggiú, bbenedizzione,
Bòtti, diasille, prediche, incenzieri,
Sonetti ar catafarco, arme, bbraghieri,
E ssempre Cardinali in priscissione!

Come si er Papa, che cquaggiú è Vvicario
De Crist’in terra, possi fà ppeccati,
E annà a l’inferno lui quant’un zicario!

Li Papi sò ttre vvorte acconzagrati:
E ssi Ccristo sciannò, cciannò ppe svario
A ffà addannà li poveri dannati.

28 novembre 1831

My translation of… 

The funeral rites of Leo XII at St. Peter’s

First, in the Quirinal Palace, so many friars in black robes
muttering prayers by night and by day!
Through the streets of Rome, they showed off that great funeral procession!
Here, in the basilica, so many torches and candelabras making a great illumination.
Masses here, Masses there, blessings,
cannon fire, Dies iraes, thuribles,
inscriptions on the catafalque, armor, belts,
and always cardinals in procession!
It’s like the Pope, who down here on earth is Christ’s
Vicar, could commit sins
and go to hell like any cutthroat!
Popes are consecrated three times: and if Christ rose, then for fun
He descended to drive the damned crazy!

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ROME 25/4– Day 20: Tolling and rolling

In the Eternal City, sede vacantewe had the rising of the sun at 6:08 and its setting at 20:08.

The Ave Maria cycle changed to 20:30.

It does that.

Today in the Vetus Ordo was the first day possible for Requiem Masses.  In this shot you see at once vestments in red and in black which some of your readers donated to The Parish™.  What a pleasure to see them used.

Welcome registrants:

Abrusili
Daniel SJP
ewbergeron
Stephanie _ Arra

There was a Solemn Requiem Mass at The Parish™ tonight.  Some sounds and shots.

Bells tolling and Introit

Dies Irae and Gospel

Sermon to the end

After Mass The Great Roman™ and I stopped at a favored watering hole on the Campo de’ Fiori for a cocktail before we headed to our respective domiciles.   The owners have an old Golden Retriever (aka “yellow dog” for those of you who remember that).  Today Lily was terribly concerned that it was time to play with her favorite stuffed flamingo.  Once produced there was ecstatic chewing and rolling about in front of the place.  A little of the pink of the decidedly chewed upon toy is just visible in midst of this paroxysm of canine joy.

Today I dealt with my apartment contract for the rest of 2025 and paid a large chunk of rent.

Please think of me once in a while.

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.

Yesterday, Sunday, I celebrated Holy Mass for my Roman Donors. Bless you.

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FLASH: Conclave to begin on 7 May

According to ANSA a few minutes ago, the Conclave will start on Wednesday 7 May.

We have a little extra time to pray and to take on some penances for the sake of the election of the best man as Successor of Peter.

 

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Orationes pro eligendo Romano Pontifice – Prayers for the Election of a Roman Pontiff (Fr. Z’s and Card. Burke’s)

I was requested to write a prayer – in Latin – for the election of a good Successor of Peter.

Oratio pro eligendo Summo Pontifice

Deus Pater Omnipotens, qui in creationis initio aquas primordiales calmasti, Sancto volitante Spiritu, eundem Spiritum super Ecclesiam Tuam protinus mittere digneris Successorem Sancti Apostoli Petri elegendi caussa, ut tranquillitas, novo Romano Pontifice rite electo, foveatur atque dilatetur.

Deus Domine Iesu, cuius Corpus est Ecclesia a Te Tuum super Apostolum Petrum fundata, Cardinales, quorum eius Successorem eligere est munus, munias angelica protectione necnon multis robores gratiis, quaesumus, ut his in diebus ante et inter Conclavi conventum, dicta eorum et facta fide digno pro Ecclesiae Tuae bono ad pacem et salutem animarum consequantur.

Deus Spiritus Sancte, Paraclite, Trinitatis Divine Afflatus, omnes sedes habitaculaque Cardinalium Electorum perflare digneris, quaesumus supplicantes, ut diabolicas fraudes repellas, disceptationes veritate et caritate informes, vires exstrinsecas contundas, Ecclesiae Tuae denuo claritatem et serenitatem afferas.

Deus Sanctissima Trinitas, in infinita Tua misericordia et secundum providentiam Tuam Tua pro Ecclesia ineffabilem, inspira urge et insusurra, etiam signis supernaturalibus si opus sit, Cardinales in Conclavi ut nobis munerent bonum Papam et sapientem, mitem Pastorem sed fortem, Christi Vicarium fidelem et reverentem, precantem Petri Successorem et prudentem, amantem mores maiorum Romanum Pontificem et serventem, stabilem pium virilem et sanctum, scilicet meliorem quam mereamur. Amen.

Santa Dei Genetrix, intercede pro nobis.
Sancte Petre, intercede pro nobis.
Sante Paule, intercede pro nobis.
Omnes Sancti Papae, intercedite pro nobis.

___

Prayer for the Election of the Roman Pontiff

O God the Father Almighty, who at the beginning of creation calmed the primordial waters by the hovering of the Holy Spirit, deign swiftly to send the same Spirit upon Your Church for the purpose of electing the Successor of the Holy Apostle Peter, so that, the new Roman Pontiff duly elected, tranquility may be fostered and expanded.

O God, Lord Jesus, whose Body is the Church founded by You on the Apostle Peter, grant, we beg You, that you defend with angelic protection and strengthen with many graces the Cardinals whose task it is to elect his Successor, so that in these days before and during the Conclave, their words and deeds, for the true good of Your Church, will result in peace and the salvation of souls.

O God the Holy Spirit, Paraclete, Divine Breath of the Trinity, deign to waft through all the locales and dwellings of the Cardinals-elect, on our knees we beg You, to repel diabolical schemes, to crush external forces, to bring clarity and serenity to Your Church.

O God, Most Holy Trinity, in Your infinite mercy and according to Your ineffable providence for the Church, inspire, guide and gently urge, if necessary even with supernatural signs, the Cardinals in the Conclave to grant us a good and wise Pope, a kindly but strong Shepherd, a faithful and reverent Vicar of Christ, a praying and prudent Successor of Peter, a Roman Pontiff who loves and preserves the customs of our forebears, a steadfast, pious, virile and holy man, namely, one better than we deserve. Amen.

Holy Mother of God, intercede for us.
Saint Peter, intercede for us.
Saint Paul, intercede for us.
All Holy Popes, intercede for us.

___

Here is the beautiful prayer that Card. Burke wrote for the Sacred College of Cardinals for the Novendiales

Oratio Novendialis Pro Sacro Cardinalium Collegio Romae Congregato in Conclavi Ad Romanum Pontificem Eligendum A die XXVI mensis Aprilis usque ad diem V mensis Maii, anno Salutis MMXXV

Ad pedes tuos proiectus, 0 Virgo Dei Mater, Domina Nostra de Guadalupe, te supplico, mater compassiva omnium qui te amant, qui ad te clamant, te quaerunt, omniumque qui in te confidunt. Hoc magnae probationis ac periculi Ecclesiae tempore, pro eadem te obsecro. Sicuti olim in colle Tepeyac, anno millesimo quingentesimo trigesimo primo, Ecclesiae subvenisti, rogo te ut intercedere digneris pro Sacro Cardinalium Collegio Romae congregato ad eligendum Sancti Petri Successorem, Christi Vicarium Ecclesiaeque Vniversalis Pastorem.

Hoc tempore Ecclesiae ac saeculo tumultuoso, Filium tuum divinum supplica, ut Cardinales Sanctae Romanae Ecclesiae, Corporis Eius Mystici, Spiritus Sancti inspirationibus humiliter oboediant. Te intercedente, virum qui vel dignissimum ad officium Christi in terris Vicarii eligant. Una tecum, in Eum qui est adiumentum et salus unica nostra, omnino confido. Amen.

Cor Iesu, salus omnium in Te confidentium, miserere nobis!

Domina Nostra de Guadalupe, Virgo Dei Mater et Mater Divinae Gratiae, ora pro nobis!

Raymundus Leo S.RE. Cardinalis BVRKE Die XXIV mensis MMXXV

___

Novena Prayer for the Sacred College of Cardinals gathered for the Conclave to elect the Roman Pontiff April 26-May 5, 2025

I kneel before you, 0 Virgin Mother of God, Our Lady of Guadalupe, the compassionate mother of all who love you, cry to you, seek you, and trust in you. I plead for the Church at a time of great trial and danger for her. As you came to the rescue of the Church at Tepeyac in 1531, please intercede for the Sacred College of Cardinals gathered in Rome to elect the Successor of Saint Peter, Vicar of Christ, Shepherd of the Universal Church.

At this tumultuous time for the Church and for the world, plead with your Divine Son that the Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church, His Mystical Body, will humbly obey the promptings of the Holy Spirit. Through your intercession, may they choose the most worthy man to be Christ’s Vicar on earth. With you, I place all my trust in Him Who alone is our help and salvation. Amen.

Heart of Jesus, salvation of those who trust in Thee, have mercy upon us!

Our Lady of Guadalupe, Virgin Mother of God and Mother of Divine Grace, pray for us!

Raymond Leo Cardinal BURKE April 24, 2025

 

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PASCHALCAzT 2025 – 54: Low Sunday – “scandal, hypocrisy, bland liturgies, false teaching, broken families, sin and sinners everywhere.”

Today is the last podcast for this Lenten and Easter Cycle. Perhaps we will meet again at Pentecost.

The final Roman Station is San Pancrazio in the Janiculum Hill.

Scott Hahn gives us a helpful view of the Church which we should always keep in mind in spite of the “scandal, hypocrisy, bland liturgies, false teaching, broken families, sin and sinners everywhere.” It’s a summary of all times in the Church. But doesn’t this have a ring of truth for the period we have just passed through?

We pray for better times, but much depends on us. As St. John Paul II said: “Make yourselves saints, and do so quickly!”

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ROME 25/4– Day 19: Low Sunday – with a grand digression

Today the sun rose at 06:10 and it will set at 20:07 and the Ave Maria Bell is still in the 20:25 and it is Low Sunday and the Station is San Pancrazio and the Feast day of of St. Simeon, 2nd bishop of Jerusalem.

St. Simeon succeed James, cousin of Jesus, and some think he was Simon the Zealot.  St. James was murdered no later than 70 AD.   Simeon son of Clopas (also called Alphaeus, the father of Matthew and husband of Mary of Clopas).  When he was martyred in the time of Trajan, he would have been about 100 years old.

People ask me sometime which of the Sts. John do I say is my patron or onomastico. I claim them all. Why not? However, I do give special attention to the Feast of St. John Beheaded, given how I have been treated by authorities. Anyway, if Cathedral of Rome can be named St. John for BOTH the Baptist and the Evangelist, I can claim more than one too.

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

Would you like to hear the Regina Caeli after today’s Solemn Mass at The Parish™?

Today is another day when we properly observe good things.

27 April is International Morse Day.

I don’t mean the “morse” which is the large buckle that closed a papal cope, and I don’t mean the great British TV series and its spin offs, though they are worthy, but rather the groundbreaking code that Samuel Morse developed for long distance communication. In 1836 they developed the electric telegraph. Before that messages were delivered overland or by lights and flags in relays. On this day, I firmly resolve to step up my use of Morse for CW.

I’d like to get back into ham radio stuff, though lately my motivation flagged and also my eastern coast mentor who helped with Zed Net disappeared on us.

Finally, it is also international Prime Rib day. Therefore….

I could get some prime rib tomorrow at my butcher. They are closed today. Not sure where in the area there is a good prime rib. I know where to get a ribeye, however.

Talk about a biting problem to solve!  (PS: That was code aka pun)

To celebrate this day, listen to the poignant theme for Inspector Morse, one of the best TV series themes ever and a whale of a good show.  Implanted in the song is the Morse code for the name Morse.

YouTube thumbnailYouTube icon

A spin off from Inspector Morse is Inspector Lewis.

Samuel Morse spent time in Rome.  In the Via dei Prefetti there is a plaque where he lived.

THIS HOUSE WAS LIVED IN
FROM 20 FEBRUARY MDCCCXXX
TO 5 JANUARY MDCCCXXXI
BY SAMUEL FINLEY BREESE MORSE
INVENTOR OF THE WRITING ELECTROMAGNETIC TELEGRAPH

With the partial return of some decorum for the exequies of Francis, a beautiful cope though worn by a … a … yutz… I track back to morse.   This is clap for a cope, especially papal and elaborate.   Near to where I write at this moment is the church where the Confraternity of BUTCHERS, speaking of prime rib, is found at the P.za della Quercia (because there is an oak tree there).  That confraternity, as others did in Rome, had the ability to pardon someone on death row.  They pardoned Benvenuto Cellini. Cellini had, among other things, had made a magnificent morse for Clement VII, which was his toe-hold into higher society.  You can see it HERE

Note the “biting” lions.

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Internet again…

Yeah it’s down again and I’m working from my phone. The helicopters have recommenced their circling as heads of state get out of town. It has been a noisy couple of days.

You might ask your favorite saint for technical issues to give me a hand. I think this will sort out as the funeral stuff calms down during the Novendiales. When the real goat rodeo begins, it’ll probably again get iffy. We shall see. Pazienza.

(Of course as soon as I post this, the internet outage will cease. Zuhlsdorf’s Law may be in evidence.)

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ROME 25/4– Day 18: Easter Saturday

A little bit each day. The sun appeared to be raised up at 06:11 and to be pushed down at 20:06

The Ave Maria was to ring at 20:15.

It is Saturday “in albis” in the Octave of Easter.

It is the Feast of St. Cletus, Pope and Martyr (+ c. 88)

Today was the funeral Mass for Francis.  Elsewhere I posted a video of his body be driven to Santa Maria Maggiore.  I think the slot he has take next to the entrance to the Borghese Chapel was where a confessional was.  Not sure.

Meanwhile, before the Mass…

I hope it was productive… in such a place at such a time….

I’m tired.  Can I just stop now?

Just a couple.

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Sonnet about the papal funeral procession

In Rome there is a saying: “A pope dies, ya’ make another.”   For Romans, popes come and go.  A Roman might get a little bored or cynical about the whole thing, especially back when.

This morning was Francis funeral at St. Peter’s.  When it was over, and I saw via live stream that the procession with his coffin had left Vatican City, I walked out of my apartment, around the corner, and up to the street where Francis’ body was to pass on its way from St. Peter’s to St. Mary Major.

The cars behind were full of cardinals.

It was a funeral procession of a pope.   They come and they go.  One might get a little bored or cynical.

One Roman who who was definitely not bored, but was more than a little cynical, as only Romans manage, was the 19th c. poet Giuseppe Gioachino Belli… Er Belli. He wrote seriously funny sonnets in the Roman dialect about life in Rome and aimed some deadly satire at Rome’s clerics, religious, prelates and popes.  He had a conversion when he saw Masonic thugs burning the confessionals in front of San Carlo ai Catinari.  At first his sonnets, more than 2200, were for private readings only and he asked that, at his death, they be burned.  That didn’t happen, Deo gratias. I’ve written about Belli before and read some of his poems.

I read them, but not as well as The Great Roman™ reads them!

Here is Belli’s sonnet about the death and funeral procession of Pope Leo XII.  If you are agile you’ll catch some of the frankly obscene puns (far less shocking than the prose of Tucho’s pornotheology) along the way which are not reflected in the English translation (not mine).   Read by, of course, The Great Roman™.

Er mortorio de Leone Duodescimosiconno The Funeral of Pope Leo XII
Jerzera er Papa morto c’è ppassato
propi’avanti, ar cantone de Pasquino.
Tritticanno la testa sur cuscino
pareva un angeletto appennicato.
Vienivano le tromme cor zordino,
poi li tammurri a tammurro scordato:
poi le mule cor letto a bbardacchino
e le chiave e ’r trerregno der papato.
Preti, frati, cannoni de strapazzo,
palafreggneri co le torce accese,
eppoi ste guardie nobbile der cazzo.
Cominciorno a intoccà ttutte le cchiese
appena uscito er morto da palazzo.
Che gran belle funzione a sto paese!
Last night the late great Pope went cruising by
Pasquino’s corner, right in front of us,
head nodding on a bed of fluffiness
just like an angel kipping on the sly;
and then the muted buglers came on down,
and drummers drumming with a muffled din,
and mules to haul the mighty baldaquin,
and then the papal keys and papal crown;
friars and priests, and next a clapped-out gun,
and grooms who held aloft their flaming tapers,
and then those bloody guardsmen on display.
The bells of all the churches tolled as one
the moment that the corpse went on its way…
This country has such entertaining capers!
26th November 1831

Belli might have purposely conflated the funeral of Leo XII (10 Feb 1829) and Pius VIII (30 Nov 1830).  It doesn’t really matter.

BTW… what’s that Pasquino bit all about in the second line?

Some of you who have been in Rome quite a lot, or had a really good guide, or who have followed this blog, may know about the “statue parlanti… talking statues”.

In days past, these statues scattered about the Centro were used by various groups to post written opinions on public matters.  The statues “talked” to each other.  The most famous is Pasquino, near the Piazza Navona.  The remarks Pasquino made were called “pasquinate”.   (There’s also a great restaurant just across from it called Cul du Sac.)

Pasquino – maybe named after a local witty tailor way back in the day in that neighborhood – is a rather battered Hellenistic-style statue maybe 3rd c. BC found in the 15th c. century. The subject of the statue might be Menelaus supporting the body of Patroclus, or some such Roman copy. In the early 16th c Cardinal Oliviero Carafa draped  it in a toga and decorated it with Latin epigrams on the occasion of the Feast of Saint Mark. That opened the box, as it were, and people started doing this with other statues. They formed a public salon, the “Congress of the Wits … Congresso degli Arguti”, with Pasquino along with Marphurius (Marforio), Abbot Luigi, Il Facchino, Madama Lucrezia, and Il Babbuino. These poems posted were collected and published annually as early as 1509 as the Carmina apposita Pasquino.

Here’s Pasquino.

Up that street on the left and you reach Piazza Navona.

 

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PASCHALCAzT 2025 – 53: Easter Saturday – More real than now’s real

Today’s Station is St. John Lateran. We hear about the white garments of the recently baptized.

Scott Hahn reflects on the fact that Heaven is more real than the reality we experience with our senses.

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