By Giovanni di Napoli

Thursday evening (Sept. 8th), I met up with some friends at Most Precious Blood Church in Manhattan's Little Italy to celebrate the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Luckily, for the duration of the extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy, the Holy Doors remain open until 10:00pm, so those of us who work late still had an opportunity to visit and pay tribute to our glorious Queen.

The day also marks several Marian Feasts under her various titles, including the Madonna di Piedigrotta in Naples and the Madonna dei Martiri in Molfetta. The Feast of the Madonna di Ripalta, patroness of Cerignola, Foggia is also celebrated, and thanks to the tenacious devotion of Stephen La Rocca and members of the Iacobazzo family, her remarkable icon, which was housed for many years at St. Joseph's Church, is now counted among Most Precious Blood's impressive collection of southern Italian saints.

Read more

Source: http://ilregno2s.blogspot.it/