Our thanks to Mr Jay Rattino for sharing with us this interesting article about the folk customs of Italian Catholics, and the efforts being made to preserve and revive them.
The Italian Catholic communities throughout New Jersey and the surrounding areas are filled with long-standing traditions, and there are renewed efforts going on to revive the devotional customs brought to this country by their ancestors. For those unfamiliar with these practices, witnessing them can evoke both awe and confusion, often prompting the question, “What exactly is this?” Many of these traditions fall under the umbrella of Catholic folk piety, which Gregory DiPippo defines as “devotional customs and practices which have arisen spontaneously among the people, and not from the Church’s official rites.” Phillip Campbell, in a video for Unam Sanctam Catholicam, further reflects on how these simple acts express profound theological truths.
A great example—recently highlighted in an article on New Liturgical Movement—comes from Dr. Peter Kwasniewski’s pilgrimage to Catania, Sicily. The patroness of the town is St. Agatha, who endured multiple tortures, including the cutting off of her breasts. During her feast, which spans three days, Dr. Kwasniewski witnessed “countless individual candles,” “hundreds of devotees wearing white garments and medallions,” a “giant silver reliquary,” depictions of St. Agatha in prison, and more. The picture of an entire city embracing its patroness with such dramatic public devotion is striking. This is a vivid and moving example of Catholic folk piety in action.The Italian immigrants who came to the United States brought with them many of these folk devotions, and while they may not be on quite so grand a scale in New Jersey — or in the United States as a whole — one can still see traces of them, which we can perhaps also think of as seeds read to sprout again.
During March, you can see a plethora of tables presented to St. Joseph at churches like St. Joseph’s in Lodi, St. Mary’s in Nutley, Our Lady of Mount Virgin in Garfield, and more. As the blog Il Regno explains, the St. Joseph table is a popular tradition throughout Sicily, which dates back to medieval times, when the saint interceded during a severe drought and famine. It is customary for these tables to include a serving of Pasta con le Sarde (Pasta with Sardines); the pasta is topped with toasted breadcrumbs (a muddica), symbolizing the sawdust of a carpenter’s workshop—a tribute to St. Joseph the Worker.
The St. Rocco Society of Fort Lee carries their saint in a traditional procession, but at one point, they begin to run—a joyful tradition known as the Running of the Saint, which traces its origins back to their hometown in Italy.
At St. Lucy’s in Newark, you’ll find St. Gerard’s statue on full display before the novena begins. Shortly after, you’ll consistently see blankets of cash wrapped around the statue—an expression of gratitude by devotees for favors received.
The St. Joseph Society of Lodi celebrates their patron on (or around) March 19 and May 1—but also during Labor Day Weekend. According to society leaders, the founders chose this weekend without work to honor St. Joseph the Worker, dedicating it as a time of rest in his name.
These traditions (and many more) are alive—some thriving more than others, comparable to a pilot light: steady and quietly burning. But recently, that pilot light has been turned up to full blast, thanks to a fresh wave of energy from young people involved in the Italian Apostolate of the Archdiocese of Newark.
Under the direction of Eric Lavin, the Apostolate has been actively supporting these traditions across the archdiocese through promotion and participation. In addition to preserving the rich cultural and spiritual heritage of Italian communities, the group has organized pilgrimages (including to the Padre Pio Shrine and Mother Cabrini Shrine) and continues to support both an Italian-language RCIA program and Italian-language Masses throughout the archdiocese. Most notably, the Italian Apostolate is also helping to revive and bolster forgotten or fading Italian Catholic traditions—and even to bring to light devotions previously unknown to many.
In southern Italian tradition, sepolcri are donated to churches and presented at the Altar of Repose on Holy Thursday. As Il Regno explains, these are potted wheat or lentil sprouts that lack color because they are grown in darkness during the days leading up to Holy Week. The pale, yellow plants represent death, rebirth, and the Resurrection. Over the past two years, the Italian Apostolate has revived this custom by growing the plants and providing them to parishes across the archdiocese.
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| Courtesy of the blog Il Regno |
In much of Italy, including the south, it is more common to distribute olive branches on Palm Sunday instead of palms. The branches are typically decorated with ribbons, paper flowers, and sometimes even caciocavallo cheese—a unique offering of beauty and abundance to begin Holy Week. The Italian Apostolate has embraced this tradition, organizing the distribution of these decorated olive branches to both Italian and non-Italian parishes throughout the archdiocese, continuing the legacy of southern Italian Catholic customs with renewed devotion.
Other examples of interesting devotions include two distinguished feasts—Madonna del Sacro Monte and the feast of Maria Santissima Incoronata—where young girls may dress as the Blessed Virgin Mary or an angel, and young boys as Saint Anthony of Padua or Saint Pio of Pietrelcina. The processions and reenactments are expressions of deep devotion, allowing children to embody the saints as part of the community’s act of worship and celebration.
Some other feasts have gone defunct, such as those of St. Rocco (Church of the Assumption in Emerson), St. Michael (St. Lucy’s in Newark), Our Lady of the Snows (same), and Maria SS. della Lavina (St. Aloysius in Caldwell). But this last has recently seen a promising revival, featuring a Solemn High Latin Mass, with the celebration resuming and growing steadily. Perhaps, with a little zeal, the others too may experience a revival.
Locally, the Italian Apostolate of the Archdiocese of Newark is working hard to bring people back to Mass, preserve long-held traditions, and revive those that were once lost. Beyond New Jersey, this trend is gaining traction among young Italian Catholics across America.
The Italian Mass Project of New York promotes Catholic initiatives for the Italian-American community throughout the New York area. In Denver, Colorado, La Società Maria SS. dei Sette Dolori seeks to restore religious and cultural traditions at their local parish, Our Lady of Mount Carmel. The Madonna del Lume Associazione is instituting an annual procession in Tampa, Florida—featuring a 24-man processional vara (platform) to carry their statue of Our Lady of Light. Under the patronage of St. Catherine of Alexandria, Italian Feasts promotes Italian celebrations and traditions nationwide, offering a current calendar of events that connects communities across the country.
“So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter.” 2 Thessalonians 2, 15
True pious devotions and traditions need to be preserved. Lost ones need to be revived.
At Newark Italian Apostolate events and meetings, you'll find the familiar group of dedicated members working hard to preserve, revive, and support Italian Catholic traditions.
But perhaps the greater victory is this: the curious secular soul who observes one of these traditions and asks, “What is this?” They drop into a meeting or event, drawn by something they saw in person or on social media. There, they encounter Catholic folk piety—and then say to themselves, “I’d like to be a part of this.”
That’s because these traditions can be the hook a soul needs to draw close to Jesus. Many people are not yet ready for direct catechesis—but the taste of a St. Joseph pastry or a plate of pasta con le sarde can be the first door to a life of grace in Christ and His Church.
Rendiamo grazie a Dio!
