L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 2020 www.italoamericano.org 14 L'Italo-Americano LA VITA ITALIANA TRADITIONS HISTORY CULTURE D ear Readers, Grazie to those of you who re- sponded to my "support your L'Italo- Americano press now!" message by putting pen to check-pad and order- ing a new subscription for yourself, friends, or relatives. Thanks for understanding the importance of supporting our Italian American press, espe- cially these days when our heritage is being threatened by those who seek to rewrite history. And, this time around having great success, defacing and tearing down statues not only of Columbus but of George Washington, Abraham Lincoln and Gen- eral Grant. To those who have faith- fully supported our Italian A m e r i c a n p r e s s f o r a decade or more mille gra- zie. To those of you that still have not given anybody a g i f t s u b s c r i p t i o n t o L ' I t a l o - A m e r i c a n o , d o i t n o w , m e g l i o t a r d i c h e mai. R e m e m b e r , L ' I t a l o - Americano is the only bi- w e e k l y w e s t o f t h e Mississippi. Support your Italian American press now while there is still time. List t h e n a m e a n d a d d r e s s o f friends and relatives, write a check or money order, $59 for one year (26 issues) - ($100 for two years). M a i l c h e c k o r M o n e y O r d e r t o : " L ' i t a l o - A m e r i c a n o P . O . B o x 6 5 2 8 , A l t a d e n a , C A 91003 For la gioventù, who may prefer a 26 issue Digital Edition, the price is $24 for o n e y e a r . T h e L ' I t a l o - A m e r i c a n o w e b s i t e is www.italoamericano.org With all the current social distancing, receiving a copy of L'Italo-Americano in the mail will be for you or your friends like finding a wel- come friend at your door 26 times a year... *** August is a good month t o r e m i n d y o u t h a t S t . R o c c o , a l w a y s p i c t u r e d t o g e t h e r w i t h h i s d o g o n r e l i g i o u s p i c t u r e c a r d s , o f t e n d i s t r i b u t e d o n h i s f e a s t d a y A u g u s t 1 6 , w a s Heaven's first animal rights a c t i v i s t , i f t h e s t o r i e s w e believe in a leap of faith, are true. St. Rocco, with his faith- f u l c a n i n e c o m p a n i o n Roquet by his side is vener- ated throughout Italy for his intercession and service to the plague-stricken in the early 1320s, and celebrated in Calabria with Italian gin- g e r b r e a d f i g u r e s called Panpepati. These represent various parts of the body, and are ex-voto for the people whose arms, legs or various organs are pro- tected by the saint. He is often considered the patron saint of wool carders and cooks. However, after reading this story, I am sure you'll agree that San Rocco deserves to be known as the original equal rights animal activist. S t . R o c c o ( R o c h ) w a s b o r n w i t h a b i r t h m a r k shaped like a cross imprint- e d o n h i s b r e a s t i n M o n t p e l l i e r , F r a n c e . A s soon as he was of age, he gave his earthly possessions to the poor, took up the life o f a m o n k , a n d b e g a n t o wander, accompanied by a little dog named Roquet. He served the plague stricken in Italy while on a pilgrimage of devotion to Rome. This was the time of the B l a c k D e a t h ( b u b o n i c plague) and when Rocco dis- covered that he could heal the stricken with his touch, he devoted himself to their cure. Finally infected with the d i s e a s e h i m s e l f , h e w i t h - drew, dragging himself to an isolated cave in the woods. While he lay there exhaust- ed, his dog Roquet found his way to the castle of a nearby nobleman where he man- a g e d t o s n a t c h a l o a f o f b r e a d f r o m t h e t a b l e . Returning day after day to find food for his master, the dog aroused the interest of the nobleman, who followed him to the cave. The sight of Rocco, now dying, moved the nobleman to abandon his wealth and follow the path of the dying saint, who died circa 1327. S t . R o c c o a s c e n d e d t o Heaven, where he was wel- c o m e d b y S t . P e t e r , t h e Celestial Gatekeeper. When St. Peter refused to admit Roquet, as they had a no pet policy, St. Rocco said the dog had saved his life. St. Advancing our Legacy: Italian Community Services CASA FUGAZI If you know of any senior of Italian descent in San Francisco needing assistance, please contact: ItalianCS.org | (415) 362-6423 | info@italiancs.com Italian Community Services continues to assist Bay Area Italian-American seniors and their families navigate and manage the resources needed to live healthy, independent and productive lives. Since Shelter-in-Place began in San Francisco, Italian Community Services has delivered over 240 meals, over 900 care packages and made over 2000 phone wellness checks for our seniors. Peter replied that a rooster had saved his soul, but that he had never even imagined taking him along to Heaven. R e f u s i n g t o a b a n d o n h i s f a i t h f u l c o m p a n i o n , S t . Rocco sent news of this con- flict and reached the ears of God the Father, who com- manded that St. Rocco and Roquet be admitted to heav- en together. When St. Peter c o m p l a i n e d a b o u t t h e neglect of his rooster and t h r e a t e n e d t o r e s i g n h i s post, the Heavenly Father agreed that the bird should also enter. Then the other saints all made a claim for the ani- mals that had served them - St. Jerome for his lion, St. Calm for his cat, St. Agnes for her lamb, and St. Francis for all the other birds and beasts. And the Heavenly Father saw that he had no choice. He ordered St. Peter to throw open the gates of Heaven to every creature who had served His will. And it was the doing of St. Rocco and his little dog... *** Here is another Italian Canine connected story... W h e n R o m a n p o l i c e i n s p e c t o r B r i g a d i e r G i o v a n n i M a i m o n e r e t i r e d f r o m t h e p o l i c e department, he received a p e n s i o n i m m e d i a t e l y . H o w e v e r , w h e n h i s p a r t - ner Dox Von Coburger L a n d r e t i r e d f r o m t h e Rome police force at the age of 15, the authorities decided that he was not entitled to a pension. Why? Because he was a dog, and not a person. They ignored the fact that Dox had solved more cases than any other detective . Since he held the rank of c o r p o r a l , l o w e r - r a n k i n g human policemen even had t o s a l u t e h i m w h e n h e a p p r o a c h e d . W h e n D o x retired, Maimone did the s a m e a n d o p e n e d a d o g - training center called "Casa Dox" when the 19 year-old dog died in 1965. F e e l i n g t h a t D o x h a d never received his proper recognition as a civil ser- vant, Maimone continued to sue for a pension. In 1974, thirteen years too late, the courts agreed and gave Dox a posthumous award.

• Cover