Mass for the Feast of St. Lucy

A mass for the feast of St Lucy in the private chapel of St. Febronia in Hoboken, New Jersey….

The Santa Febronia Chapel was founded in 1927 by immigrants from Patti, Sicily to honor their patroness the Virgin Martyr Saint Febronia and the Madonna of Tindari. The chapel, still the private property of a society of these immigrants, is one of the most important Sicilian American as well as Catholic heritage sites in the country. The chapel both in its interior and exterior has been unchanged from its founding and its faux marble niched altar is a brilliant work of immigrant folk craftsmanship.

This was the first Traditional Mass held at the chapel since the Second Vatican Council. The schola from Saint Anthony of Padua Latin Mass community, Jersey City (formerly of Holy Rosary, Jersey City)sang the Mass. Father Michael Barone was the celebrant.

The chapel is an amazing example of Catholic folk art in this country. The statue of St. Lucy, whose feast was commemorated today.

Our Lady of Tindari – a “Black Madonna.” Her sanctuary is in Patti, Sicily.

Prayer to Our Lady of Tindari in Sicilian – recited by the congregation after the mass:

Bedda ‘n terra
Bedda ‘n cielu
Bedda siti ‘n paradisu
Bedda assai, e’ lu Vostru visu.

(Bello sulla terra, Bello nel cielo, Bello Lei e in paradiso; Molto bello e la Sua faccia.)

(Beautiful on earth, beautiful in the sky, beautiful are you in paradise; most beautiful is your face)

St. Febronia of Nisibis. An early Christian nun martyred in Northern Mesopotamia under Diocletian, her cult spread over Constantinople in the 7th century to Sicily (an Eastern Roman possession ground around 530 to 840). She is venerated in Patti, among other places. The statue really should reside in the central niche of the altar, but had been removed for a procession.

The Madonna of Tindari – with the banner of the Society. it is hoped that this mass will be an important step towards the restoration and preservation of the chapel.