L'Italo-Americano

L'Italo-Americano THURS DAY,   MAY  30,   2013 Dear Readers, A May minestrone of Italian Connections for you: Auntie was a saint or "zia era una santa" has been said by the grateful nieces and nephews of caring and kind aunts for many centuries, however, "grazie" to Signora Rachael Boschetti, widow of our late Northern California representative for L'Italo-Americano Newspaper, Roger Boschetti (1921-2004) who had "roots" in Lucca, Italy, I can tell you that when said by Fr. Lodovico Landi, of St. Cecilia's parish in San Francisco's Sunset district, it is not just a figure of speech but literally true, for his auntie (his mother's sister) was Santa Gemma of Lucca. Here, in part, is her story: In a small chapel in Lucca, lie the mortal Gemma Landi Galgani remains of a poor girl who knew how to love Jesus and Jesus crucified. Gemma Landi Galgani was once only a humble girl. Today she is a Saint, canonized May 2, 1940, giving comfort and spiritual light to all the poor creatures that look at, and appeal to her. St. Gemma, the daughter of Aurelia Landi and Enrico Galgani, was born on the 12th of March, 1878, at Camigliano, a small village near Lucca, Italy. A very happy childhood ended at the age of seven with the death of her mother. Thereafter, she suffered every kind of family grief and domestic misfortune. In the midst of dire poverty Gemma endured a long and terrible illness from which she was miraculously delivered through the intercession of the Passionist, St. Gabriel. *** Gemma died in 1903 at the age of 25, and although she ardently desired to enter the cloister among the Passionist Nuns, our Lord had chosen for her another way of life, and she has been rightly regarded as a spiritual daughter of the Congregation of the Passionists. On the occasion of the publication of the decree concerning Gemma's sanctity and miracles, the Holy Father emphasized certain lessons of her life. A life lived in such humble conditions, he said, in poverty, obscurity and suffering, and yet achieving such sublime heights of holiness is a proof that no age, no condition, no state of life or state of society can be a bar to the divine command: "Be ye holy, because I the Lord your God am holy".
 The Passion of our Lord was the secret of Gemma's sanctity. The inspiration of her life of suffering and sacrifice. It appeared outwardly in her virginal body when she bore the Wounds of the Lord Jesus in her hands, feet and side. In this union with Jesus Crucified she was a victim of love and sorrow tormented with a burning zeal for the conversation of sinners and the salvation of souls. This life of St. Gemma is a lesson to this age which is so unwilling to face the hard doctrine of the Cross. She died on HolySaturday, the 11th of April, 1903. ***
 St. Gemma Galgani
 B orn, March 12, 1878 
Died, April 11, 1903 Canonized, May 2, 1940 
Feast Day, May 16
 ***
 MONASTERO-SANTUARIO "SANTA GEMMA" Claustrali Passioniste-Fuori Porta Elisa
 55100 LUCCA Tel. 0583/91724
 *** In Chicago, Illinois the FEAST OF SANTA GEMMA is sponsored by the Santa Gemma Society (Lucca). It features a 3.30 p.m. Mass at San Francis Borgia in Chicago, followed by a 5.30 p.m.dinner at Elmcrest Banquets in Elmwood Park. (Bruno Iscra, 847-9651508). *** In San Francisco, California through the efforts of the "Associazione Lucchesi Nel Mondo" (415-621-5873) and the Santa Gemma Society an annual mass has been held at theSt. Peter and Paul Church (the Italian Cathedral of the West, 666, Filbert St. - 415421-0809) for over 50 years and a beautiful statue of Santa PAGE  23 Gemma of Lucca resides inside the church. *** The Bergoglios, parents of the future Pope, immigrated to Argentina from the Piedmont region of Italy and had five children. Tis said by the gossipy Globe, that a brokenhearted 12year-old Jorge Mario Bergoglio (born 1936) told pretty Amalia Diamonte when she rejected him, "If I can't marry you, I'll become a priest!" and eventually he did. He also earned a master's degree in chemistry and chemical engineering and was the Archbishop of Buenos Aires prior to his election, signaled on March 13th, by the white smoke from the chimney atop the Sistine Chapel, that he had become the 266th successor of St. Peter and taken the name Pope Francis. Viva il Papa! *** Columbus Day Bill Defeated....AB55. The assembly bill drafted by Roger Hernandez, to change Columbus Day to Native American Day and write out any mention of Columbus has been defeated. Columbus Day will remain as is, celebrated on the second Monday of October. The antiColumbus rhetoric has been with us for 30 years and no doubt will show up in the future. It is the duty of all Italian Americans to raise their voice in protest against those who want to eliminate any references to Columbus or his contribution to history. "Grazie" to the North Bay Italian Cultural Foundation, (64 Brookwood Ave, Santa Rosa, CA. Tel. 707591-9696) for this bit of Good News. *** Casanova, no Saint, is the focus of Seductive Venice...In Casanova's Footsteps, a unique travel guide by Kathleen Ann Gonzalez. The author recently brought Casanova's Venice to life as the member of the (I.A.F.H.) Italian American Heritage Foundation and their guests filed into their San Jose, California Hall (425No. 4th Street, San Jose, CA 95112, Tel. 408-923-7122) in order to take a quiz that they hadn't studied for. The guest speaker that night, a local author and high school teacher who apparently loves to give tests, teased the audience with fifteen questions about Giacomo Casanova, the famous Venetian lover. Kathleen Ann Gonzalez entertained the group for the next hour with stories about the places in Venice that Casanova lived and loved, seduced and spied, prayed and paraded. The audience had to stay on its toes to listen for the answer to their quiz questions, such as "What was Casanova's favorite morn- Kathleen Ann Gonzalez ing drink?" or "Why Casanova was thrown out of a seminary after only two weeks?" Audience members who correctly answered the most questions received Baci - the chocolate kind from Perugina, not a real kiss.
 Gonzalez's new book, Seductive Venice: In Casanova's Footsteps, presents seven walks around Venice to over ninety locations relating to Casanova's life. Her self-published book was for sale that night, and many in the audience lined up to purchase it and trade stories with Gonzalez about their own sojourns in Venice. Additionally, she shared stories from her first book,Free Gondola Ride, about the gondoliers in Venice.
 Seductive Venice is not only a guidebook; it also tells story of what Casanova did at each location, peppered with his witty remarks and memories, which Gonzalez sprinkled throughout her presentation. In his memoirs, for example, before meeting a new lover, Casanova wrote, "To keep the day from seeming long, I gambled until nightfall and I did not find Fortune different from my love."
 This book is one great read not only as a guidebook but also as an exciting vicarious visit to Venice for readers who don't get around as much anymore.
 Seductive Venice is available from local bookstores in San Jose, online at Amazon or the author's website. If you'd like to hear the full presentation, Gonzalez will be appearing in July at the Museo Italo Americano inSan Francisco, in September at the Sacramento Italian Cultural Society, and in October at Bookshop Santa Cruz. Visit her website for dates at www.seductivevenice.com.

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