Oldest Frescoes of St. Benedict Rediscovered in the Ruins of Norcia Monastery

Newly Discovered Frescoes, St. Benedict of Nursia

(Rome) The heavy earthquakes that shook the birthplace of Benedict of Nursia in the late summer and early autumn of 2016 also brought down the consecrated basilica in Norcia's city center. In the rubble, the oldest fresco of the ba

silica was discovered last month.

It is a representation of the saint who founded the Benedictine order in the 6th century. "Due to the collapse caused by the earthquakes, the image came to light," said the Director of the Heritage Office of Umbria, Marica Mercalli. "At present, the collapse-endangered parts of the wall are being cleared away in the transept."

"A precious sign" from the rubble.

"The fresco is of great importance. It was discovered last March by the prior of the Benedictine monastery of Nursia, who also bears the significant name of Benedict. Now we were able to document it in all its beauty," says Mercalli.

The Benedictines knew nothing of this fresco before the earthquake. It only shone from the rubble of the church. "The discovery is a valuable sign for us," said the Prior.

After Napoleon had expelled the Benedictines from the birthplace of their founding father, the first return of monks took place in Holy Year 2000. It is an Old Rite convent that revives the Benedictine tradition in Norcia.

The monastic community lost everything in the earthquake, the monastery and the church. The basilica had been given to them by the local bishop of Spoleto for pastoral care, but also as convent church. In recent years, the monks gradually took the necessary steps for the celebration in the traditional form of the Roman Rite of restoration, as the basilica was up to the liturgical reform of 1969.

With the reconstruction of the basilica after the earthquake, however, the church was deprived of them again by the new local bishop, because he wants to rebuild the ruined church as "modern." This would be make its further use by the monks impossible anyway. The monks accepted the decision in humility and did not say a word about it. Others speak of an "unfriendly" act of the bishop, especially since the funds for the reconstruction were promised by the Italian Prime Minister.

The monks lived in tents after the earthquake. Meanwhile, they were able to build an emergency monastery and an emergency church made of wood, which were consecrated on the Feast of the Holy Cross.

Text: Gi useppe Nardi 
Image: Nebbie del Tempo (screenshot)
Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com
AMDG 

Hungary's Foreign Minister: "How Many Churches Celebrate Ad Orientem?"

The Church of the Sacred Heart Surrounded by Scaffolding

(Rome) On March 8, Hungary's Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto visited the earthquake-hit city of Tolentino. The minister was personally informed about the efforts of Hungarian aid. At the same time, he also inspected the progress of the reconstruction work of art goods and the work on the masonry of the severely damaged Church of the Sacred Heart. The security work on the church is financed by the Hungarian government. The contacts were brought about by Prior Andrea Corradori with the Brotherhood of the Sacred Heart of Jesus which is based at the parish.

Hungary's Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto (center) in Tolentino

"It was touching to see the young minister who entered the church which was closed because of the danger of collapse and genuflected to the Blessed Sacrament which was in the tabernacle, as was the case on the days of the earthquakes from the 26th to the 30th of August," Corradori said.

The minister asked the Prior of the Brotherhood of the Sacred Heart: "How many churches in Italy celebrate ad orientem?"

After the church visit,  the minister said in a local TV-interview:

"Hungary can face the challenges of the future if it is not removed from its Christian roots. For this reason, we are particularly responsible for helping the Christian communities in the world. So we did not think twice when the request came from Tolentino: We had to help!"

The Bishop of Macerata, Monsignor Nazzareno Marconi, also attended the meeting with the minister.

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
Photo: Youtube (Screenshot)
Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com
Link to Katholishes..
AMDG

Pope Leads 11,000 Pilgrims in Praying the Rosary for Italian Earthquake Victims

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Hearing the mayor of Amatrice in central Italy say his town no longer exists and knowing there were children who died Aug. 24 in the earthquakes that struck the region, Pope Francis turned his weekly general audience into a prayer service.

Beginning the audience in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Francis said he had prepared a normal audience talk on how the merciful Jesus is close to people, but given the devastation in central Italy, he decided to lead the recitation of the sorrowful mysteries of the rosary.

Later in the day, the Vatican press office said that as a concrete sign of Pope Francis’ concern for the earthquake victims, six Vatican firefighters had been sent to Amatrice. They will work under the direction of the Italian government emergency services in searching for victims and offering them assistance.

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Earthquake in Japan, Again

Ora pro Nobis

Edit: will the genius of the mighty Yamoto People prevail? May Our Lady watch over them.

TOKYO — Northeastern Japan was jolted Sunday morning by a 7.0 magnitude aftershock, the largest to hit here in more than three months, triggering a tsunami warning for coastal areas trying to recover from the March 11 mega-disaster.

Initial reports indicated no damage as a result of this tremor, but residents — including workers at the stricken Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant — were urged to evacuate. Tsunami waves between 10 and 20 centimeters high were reported in Miyagi and Iwate Prefecture.

Gallery

Japan: After the quake and three months after the quake: A comparative look at Japan’s topography.

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• 7.0 aftershock hits off Japan coast

The earthquake struck at 9:57 a.m., centered some 131 miles off the east coast of Sendai.

Read further...here.

Photo taken from, here...