Il Blog di Holyart.com
Contents1 Padre Pio and the Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Holy Rosary of Pompeii2 The correlation between the Madonna and the rose3 The Scent of rose of Padre Pio May 5 is the feast day of the Saint of Pietrelcina. Discover the…
Contents1 The roses: symbol of Mary2 The Madonna del Roseto: the most famous works3 Other representations of Madonna del Roseto The theme of the rose symbol of Mary is recurrent in art. Here are the most famous works depicting the Madonna del Roseto and the…
Simon, called Peter, was the head of the twelve apostles by the will of Jesus himself, designated by him as the head and founder of the Church. The preaching of the Word led him through many lands, to Rome, where he experienced martyrdom under Emperor Nero and where he was buried. The tomb of Saint Peter was from the beginning the heart of a passionate cult by the first Christians. The presence of the remains of such an important apostle in Rome has always been a source of great pride and fervour on the part of the faithful. In the same way, it was for the remains of Saint Paul, who was immediately associated with Saint Peter, and who even shares the same feast with him on 29 June. It is always fascinating to dwell on how two men so different in history and vocation are associated in the heart and spirituality of Christians, as bastions of faith and symbols of the Catholic Church itself.
As for the tomb of Saint Peter, it has over time become a spiritual point of reference for Christians all over the world, comparable to the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, the place where Jesus died and was buried. Today those who visit the Vatican Basilica can admire the imposing Canopy of Saint Peter, one of the most surprising monuments of Baroque art, which rises above the tomb of the Saint and the high altar erected by Clement VIII, above which stands the majestic dome of Michelangelo. But it wasn’t always like that.
History of Saint Peter’s Baldachin
Saint Peter’s Baldachin is one of the most spectacular monuments we can admire inside Saint Peter’s Basilica. What is it? Who made it?
Originally the remains of the Saint were placed in a tomb dug into the earth, not far from the place of his martyrdom: the circus of Nero, the sumptuous gardens where the Emperor inflicted unmentionable torments on Christians. If originally the tomb of the Saint was marked by a simple votive shrine, the so-called Trophy of Gaius, soon it was given the right honours, first with the construction around it of a monument by the will of Emperor Constantine, a parallelepiped three meters high in marble and porphyry; then, in 320, an imposing basilica intended to enclose as a casket the precious remains, designed so that the tomb of Saint Peter coincided with the high altar.
Over the centuries and the succession of Emperors and Popes, the tomb of Saint Peter has been incorporated into increasingly sumptuous altars, which only the archaeological excavations in the middle of 1900 have revealed, layer by layer. After the monument wanted by Constantine, came that of Gregory the Great, in turn, enclosed in the altar wanted by Callisto II. What we see today under the dome of Michelangelo dates back to 1594, and was built by the will of Clement VIII, but in the meantime, the entire basilica had been demolished and rebuilt by the will of Pope Julius II. This is how St Peter’s Basilica was born, which we all know and admire. The most interesting aspect for Christians is the centrality that the tomb of Saint Peter has maintained in all these architectural upheavals.
Speaking of the archaeological excavations that led to the discovery of the various evolutions of the tomb of Saint Peter, they began in 1939, following an accidental collapse that revealed under the floor of the caves next to the altar of Saint Peter an ancient Roman mortuary. The then Pope Pius XII was aware of the fact that an ancient document kept in the Vatican Library, the Book of the Popes, described the burial place of Saint Peter, and had the excavations carried out in great secrecy. They brought to light many pagan tombs, statues and finally a tomb decorated with Christian images. Continuing to discover the past, archaeologists found the aforementioned altars and finally a red-painted wall against which the funeral aedicule, the Trophy of Gaius, had been erected.
Saint Peter and Paul, why are they celebrated together?
On June 29, Saint Peter and Paul are celebrated. Two apostles, two very different men, both fundamental to the history of the Church.
At first, the researchers had no certainty that this was the tomb of Saint Peter. His name didn’t appear, and no remains were found.
Then Margherita Guarducci, epigrapher and archaeologist, managed to decipher the graffiti apparently incomprehensible on the wall that was supported by the primitive shrine erected as a funeral monument. So he discovered that the name of Saint Peter constantly recurred in those writings, and recognized in particular two inscriptions: “Near Peter” and “Peter is here“. Investigating, he learned that the workers had previously found a burial site dug into the wall and lined with marble, from which human bones had been removed. It was, as confirmed by subsequent analysis, the very relics of Saint Peter, transferred by the will of Constantine from the tomb dug into the ground to this more appropriate location.
Although in 1965 the Vatican had published the results of Guarducci’s investigations, bitter controversies continued to divide religious and scholars about the remains of Saint Peter, so much so that the bones were at some point removed from the locus in the Graffiti Wall. Only on December 5, 2013, Pope Francis made them put back in their rightful place after the careful revision wanted by Pope Benedict XVI, which confirmed what was discovered by Margherita Guarducci. That really was Saint Peter’s grave.
Contents1 History of San Giorgio2 Martyrdom of Saint George3 The dragon4 St. George’s Day The legend of Saint George and the dragon has become over time a parable of the struggle between good and evil. But who really was Saint George, the holy warrior? Saint…
Contents1 Where is the Last Supper?2 Last Supper Leonardo analysis3 The apostles at the Last Supper4 The washing of the feet The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci, in Santa Maria delle Grazie, is one of the most famous works in the world, full of…
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Perhaps not everyone knows that Easter lasts eight days – if you want to find out more about the dates of Easter and how it is calculated, we have an article about that – but everyone knows what Easter Monday is. In Italy, it is a public holiday both in the liturgical calendar and civil and often it is celebrated with barbecues, trips out of town and not only: read this article to discover many interesting facts about the Easter Monday celebrations.
How is Easter calculated?
Each year changes date but remains the most important holiday: in this article, you will find out how Easter is calculated in the Jewish…
The Monday following Easter Sunday is a feast day. Easter Sunday celebrates the resurrection of the Lord and is the most important feast of the liturgical calendar. The following Monday is dedicated to the remembrance of the episode of the Gospel in which women, after the events of the death of Christ, go to the tomb of Jesus. When they arrive, they do not find the body of the Master – who has risen – but an angel of the Lord, who awaits them in that place. From the angel, they receive the great news: “Do not be afraid, you! I know you are looking for Jesus crucified. He is not here! He has risen as he said; come and see the place where he was placed”. This episode contains the very important message of the Resurrection and the joy that comes with it. That is why it is remembered on a specific day. The name “Angel Monday” comes from this passage of the Gospel.
Sometimes we also hear about “Easter Monday“: the reason for this expression is that the feast of Easter lasts eight days – the Octave of Easter. Easter Monday is also the Monday of the Octave of Easter and every day of the Octave is an extension of Easter itself.
The term “Little Easter” instead is of popular tradition. The word Little Easter is a term of the word Easter: Little Easter is a small Easter, another day to celebrate, not as important as Easter Sunday, but extending the joy of the previous Sunday. Little Easter also entered the civil tradition as a public holiday and recreation.
Is Easter Monday compulsory to go to Mass according to ecclesiastical law? The answer is no. In fact, Easter Monday is not one of the Catholic holidays of obligation, that is, those festivities or solemnities in which the Church obliges the faithful to participate in the celebration of the Eucharist and refrain from activities that do not allow to worship God and glorify him with the feast and rest. According to the Code of Canon Law, the feasts of obligation are:
The Ascension and Corpus Christi are mobile holidays, that is, they vary from year to year, while the others are fixed holidays and always fall on the same date.
Although it is not a festival of obligation, Easter Monday is celebrated in several ways. Among the various traditions is to dedicate the day to a trip out of town, with family or friends. Some say that this tradition was also inspired by the Gospel, in particular by the episode of Jesus’ apparition to the two disciples on their way to Emmaus.
In several Italian municipalities Easter Monday is celebrated with celebrations and religious parades. At Mongiuffi Melia (ME) the meeting between the Risen Jesus and the Virgin Mary is celebrated. The statue of Jesus Risen starts from the church of San Sebastiano, that of Mary from the church of San Nicolò di Bari, covered by a black veil. The two statues meet at the “Piano degli Angeli”, the veil of Mary is replaced with a white veil and the Virgin is crowned with flowers. The meeting between the two statues is accompanied by the songs of children between 5 and 10 years, nicknamed “angels of Mary”. Parete (CE) celebrates the patron saint feast of Maria SS. della Rotonda. For the occasion of staging the “flight of angels”: statues of angels are raised with cables and precede the procession of the Virgin. In Santa Venerina (CT) are opened only for the occasion three chapels where the Eucharistic celebrations are held: Santa Venera, Madonna delle Grazie, Maria Santissima del Carmelo.
Often this day comes alive with popular traditions and games, not necessarily related to religious significance. In Tredozio (FC) the Festival and the Palio of the egg are celebrated, and Easter Monday is dedicated to the boiled egg eaters. At Fiorenzula d’Ardua (PC) a traditional game is that of Pont al’ov, in which two challengers hold an egg in their hands and must try to break the opponent’s egg with the tip of their own. In Figline Valdarno (FI) the Palio is held, not the one famous among the districts – which takes place on Easter Sunday – but that of children!
Also abroad, Easter Monday is celebrated: in Poland, the tradition wants men to chase women trying to bathe them with water; in the United States is famous the egg hunt in the garden of the White House.
In 2021 Easter Monday may not be the day of group trips and crowded barbecues, but it will still be a day of celebration that prolongs the joy of Easter!
Contents1 The lamb in Easter2 Easter Bunnies3 Lion (Lion of Judah)4 European Goldfinch5 Dove6 Easter Chick Doves, rabbits, lambs: as animals and other elements of the natural world become symbols of Easter Men have always reflected themselves in the world around them. How can it…
Contents1 The Veil of Veronica: to whom did it belong?2 The healing of the bleeding woman3 Saint Veronica4 The Holy Face of Manoppello The Veil of Veronica is one of the most mysterious and fascinating relics in the history of Christianity. Where does the legend…
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Telling the story of Jesus may seem, at first glance, easy, even banal. Anyone born and raised in a Catholic family has been accustomed since childhood to the tradition of the Nativity scene, at Christmas, depiction of the Nativity of Jesus. If we then had the opportunity to attend the Catechism, we soon learned about the history of this man who was not only a man, and who took into His hands the salvation of all. We listened as if they were fairy tales to His parables, the miracles of which He was the protagonist and creator. His words of love and wisdom have accompanied us all our lives.
But regardless of our religious profession, the history of Jesus is closely linked to the history of humanity and deserves to be known and understood in its many, precious facets. To reconstruct His life it is not enough to follow the facts narrated in the four Canonical Gospels, written by the evangelists Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Although they represent the only recognized ancient textual sources, they leave too many gaps. There are only rare references to what has been defined as the lost years of the life of Jesus, the years between his birth and the beginning of his preaching. In the same stories it is then difficult to separate the historical component from the mythical one, inevitably connected to the real facts. They also have significant differences: if in Matthew, Mark and Luke, the so-called Synoptic Gospels, are narrated more or less the same episodes, albeit with variations, In the Gospel of John there are ‘unpublished’ stories and several events reported by the other three evangelists are missing.
The Easter Nativity scene, an ancient tradition to be rediscovered
Easter Nativity? Of course!
The apocryphal Gospels, subsequently written and not recognized by scholars, contain other valuable information, but difficult to verify, as well as the numerous medieval documents and devotional works, for which it is often impossible to trace back to a documented and plausible historical source.
Easter is approaching and with it the occasion to set up the Easter Crib, a tradition that prepares us for His death, and offers us an opportunity for reflection on His life and His work. What are the most important events in the life of Jesus? What is really significant from the moment of the Annunciation to the Nativity, until death and Resurrection?
Both the Gospel of Matthew and that of Luke begin with an Annunciation. In fact, first in both Gospels is listed the Genealogy of Jesus, which starts from Abraham in Matthew and from Adam in Luke, and where Joseph is presented as an adoptive father. The Annunciation narrated in the Gospel of Matthew (Matthew 1:18-25) is the one that sees as the protagonist Joseph, who in the process of repudiating Mary, after discovering her interesting state, was visited in a dream by an angel who informed him of the true identity of the Child who was to be born and of Mary’s role in God’s plan. The Annunciation of Luke (Luke 1,26-38) tells how the Archangel Gabriel appeared to Mary to announce the conception of the Son of God.
As for the birth of Jesus, it is still Matthew and Luke who mention their Gospels. The first (Matthew 1,25) is limited to mentioning the news: “Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, at the time of King Herod”, while the second (Luke 2,1-20) tells the whole episode in great detail, by the enactment of the decree of Caesar Augustus by which Joseph had to return from Nazareth and Bethlehem for the census, at the birth of Jesus in a stable, because there was no room in the hotel, at the adoration of the shepherds, invited by an angelic multitude to reach the place of the Nativity.
Matthew also mentions the visit of the Magi from the East (Matthew 2,1), and is the only one among the evangelists to do so. All the other traditions related to these three figures, their names, and the gifts they bore, derive from the subsequent Christian tradition.
Likewise, only the Gospel of Matthew (Matthew 2,13-23) recounts the episode of the flight to Egypt and the slaughter of the innocent, when an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph warning him of King Herod’s intention to kill Jesus, and he took Mary and the newborn Child and set out, while Herod’s soldiers slaughtered all the children of Bethlehem. The Holy Family would remain in Egypt until Herod’s death.
As we have mentioned, little is known about the lost years of Jesus, but the Gospel of Luke mentions the episode of the visit to the Temple (Luke 2,41-50), when Jesus was twelve years old and Mary and Joseph took him with them to Jerusalem for the feast of Easter. Departing for Nazareth, they discovered that Jesus was not in the caravan and returned, desperately searching for him for three days, only to find him in the temple, sitting among the doctors, listening to them and questioning them.
Matthew, Mark and Luke tell of the baptism received by Jesus, now a man, by John the Baptist. In the Gospel according to Mark (Mark 1,9-13) and in the Gospel according to Matthew (Matthew 3,13-4,11) it is told how Jesus, who came from Nazareth to the banks of the Jordan, met John the Baptist and was baptized by him. As he came out of the river the heavens opened wide, the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove descended upon Him and a deputy said, “You are my beloved Son, I am pleased in you.”
Matthew also makes John the Baptist speak who, at first, refuses to baptize Jesus, as he should be the one to be baptized.
In the Gospel according to Luke (Luke 3,21-22;4,1-13), Jesus is baptized together with all the people, and the dove and the voice from heaven reach Him while he is gathered in prayer.
Matthew and Luke also dwell on the next forty days, which Jesus will spend in the desert tormented by the temptations of the Devil, while Mark barely mentions them.
John does not speak of the baptism of Jesus, but only of the descent of the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove.
All the evangelists speak of the public life of Jesus, or rather of his Ministry, the period of three years from Baptism on the banks of the Jordan to death in Jerusalem. At that time Jesus was about thirty years old, and after forty days in the desert, He began His wanderings in Galilee, where He gathered around Himself the first disciples. This is the so-called First Ministry, which also includes the call of the apostles to the Lake of Tiberias, as recounted in the Synoptic Gospels, while in the Gospel of John Jesus’ first encounter with Andrew, Peter and John took place in Bethany shortly after Baptism.
Jesus then set out on a journey through Judea and into Jerusalem, where he began his final ministry, the Week of Passion, the last week of his life.
In the course of His ministry, Jesus also performs many miracles, ranging from prodigious healings to exorcisms, to the resurrection from the dead.
All the Canonical Gospels recount Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, greeted by a festive crowd who acclaim him and wave the branches of Palma. Hence the tradition of Palm Sunday, which marks the beginning of Easter Holy Week.
The four Gospels also tell of the Last Supper of Jesus and His disciples, gathered in the Upper Room to celebrate the Jewish Passover, when the institution of the Eucharist took place. On that occasion, Jesus also washed the feet of his apostles, although this episode is recounted only in the Gospel according to John (John 13,1-15), and revealed that one of the apostles would betray him.
The four Canonical Gospels recount the arrest of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, outside Jerusalem, of his interrogation and trial first before the Sanhedrin, the supreme Jewish council in Roman times, then by the Roman governor Pontius Pilate. The arrest traditionally takes place on Thursday evening, Pilate’s sentence is issued on Friday. In the Gospel according to Luke, Pilate sends Jesus to Herod Antipas, who sends him back without pronouncing himself. Although during a first private conversation with Jesus, Pilate came to the conclusion that he was mentally ill and had judged him innocent, he is later forced to condemn him. For the accusations of blasphemy, sedition and offence of treason, Pontius Pilate sentenced him to death by crucifixion. In the process, Barabbas is freed, and chosen by the people to be pardoned instead of Jesus.
The Passion of Christ includes the last terrible moments of His life, after the process, when He is led to Mount Golgotha and crucified. The trial ends at noon, and Jesus’ death takes place around three o’clock in the afternoon (ninth hour) on Good Friday. The Passion is remembered by Christians in Holy Week followed by Easter, which celebrates the Resurrection of Christ three days after his death.
Sadly famous episodes of the Passion are the Flagellation of Christ, reported in all the Gospels, the coronation with the crown of thorns, the ascent to Calvary, where according to Matthew, Mark and Luke Jesus was helped by Simon of Cyrene to carry the cross. On Golgotha Jesus is crucified between two thieves. According to Matthew and Mark at His death, the veil of the temple in Jerusalem is torn by a supernatural wind. The Deposition of the body of Jesus in the tomb follows.
The Resurrection of Jesus from the dead is told with some differences in the various Gospels. In Matthew after the Sabbath at dawn Mary Magdalene and Mary of Cleophas go to the tomb and find it empty. In Mark are Mary Magdalene, Mary of James and Mary Salome, in Luke Mary Magdalene, Joan the Mirofore and Mary of Cleophas and resurrects others, while John the Evangelist mentions only Mary Magdalene and other unnamed women and moves the action to the “first day of the week when it was still dark”. The story continues, with the stone of the tomb being removed, by an angel or two angels, or by an earthquake, depending on the stories, and the fear of the soldiers on guard or the women. The angel announces to the women the Resurrection of Jesus and orders them to report the news to the disciples. To the women who flee from the tomb Jesus appears (for Mark only to Mary Magdalene) and depending on the versions they go to give the announcement or silence.
The Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles (Luke 24,51 and Acts 1,9-11) also recount the Ascension of Jesus, the last episode of His earthly parable. Jesus goes up to heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father, and from there he will return only to the End Times to judge the living and the dead.
Contents1 Maria Maddalena2 Martha and Mary sisters of Lazarus3 Samaritan at the well4 The bleeding woman What was the role of women in the history of Salvation? Let us discover the relationship of Jesus with the disciples of the Gospel A more incisive female presence…
Contents1 Saint Paul of Tarsus2 Saint Camillus de Lellis3 Saint Matthew4 Saint Disma5 Saint Augustine6 Saint Pelagia7 Saint Mary of Egypt Holy sinners. A contradiction in terms? Not always. Here are the saints who converted after a life of sin Is one born or becomes…
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It’s understandable: when we buy items we care about, we want to touch and see them. However, choosing to buy religious items online has numerous advantages. Online stores offer a much wider range than physical ones, the purchase process is more immediate and you have more guarantees on the purchase. Let’s see five good reasons for your online religious shopping.
5 valid reasons to inquire and read the Holyart Blog!
Catholic blogs provide information, stories and curiosities about the Christian world.
Let’s start from the beginning. You are looking for a crucifix or a nativity scene. But what is the best product for your needs? Just open a search engine and query “online crucifix sale” or “online nativity scene sale” you will have taken the first step. Online shopping allows you to compare different products, gather a lot of information – not least, the price! – and evaluate which product best suits your needs. On Holyart.it, you can see the dimensions, the estimated delivery times and decide which is the perfect item for you.
Unlike a bricks & mortar store, where space and the number of accessible products are limited, an online religious goods store can offer a very wide range. Online stores often have warehouses that house tens of thousands of products – as in the case of Holyart – and among them, you will find something that is right for you.
Your online shopping has a big advantage: no stress. To buy online, there is no need to wait in line, move through crowds, face heat or cold depending on the season. You can make your purchases in complete tranquillity, from the sofa at home. You can save travel time and pay more attention to your purchases, without distractions and without the rush of having to go home. There are no timetables online: you can do your shopping on the internet whenever and wherever you want!
Another thing you can avoid online is overly pushy sellers. No embarrassing or stressful experiences: customer service will respond to your requests promptly via email, chat or phone. The customer service staff take care of the person and are available for any clarification you need on orders and products. If you are not satisfied with the purchase, do not worry: the right of withdrawal is guaranteed (and free on Holyart)!
Last, but not least, among the five benefits of buying online is that the product arrives directly at your door. You will not have any transport problems because it will take care of the whole online store. In particular, for bulky or difficult to transport objects, you will not have to organise a crossing by car or van: just wait for the package to arrive at your address.
Still not convinced? To check the reliability of an online store, rely on the reviews of those who have bought before you. Direct customer experience will give you an idea of what awaits you. Also find out by reading the history and values of the site you are referring to: Holyart, for example, is made up of people with 15 years of experience in selling religious articles online and is a leader in Europe in this sector.
Holyart is even more accessible and close to you with the Holyart Religious Articles app! You can enjoy all the advantages of purchasing via the app: a space dedicated to you, at your fingertips, always available and optimized for your shopping experience. With just a few clicks, you can scroll through the items you like, add them to your wish list and create custom lists to literally carry in your pocket. Your wishlists can be both private and public! Choose this shopping experience by downloading the app from the App Store or Google Play Store.
By inquiring, you will discover the value behind items sold online. Holyart supports Made in Italy: most of the products have artisanal origins, are created by experts and have a unique history behind them. You will find lots of information on monastery products, Neapolitan nativity scenes, resin and PVC statues and their history on our site and among the articles on our blog!
Contents1 The hierarchy of angels2 Saints and angels3 St. Francis of Assisi4 Saint Theresa of Avila5 Saint Aloysius Gonzaga6 Saint Philip Neri7 Saint Dominic Savio8 Saint Angela of Foligno What are angels and how do they intervene in human life? The lives of the saints…
Contents1 Anti-wrinkle cream2 Natural anti-ageing cream3 Rejuvenating face cream4 Cleansing milk5 Argan oil Taking care of your facial skin every day is the surest way to keep it young and fresh. Let’s find out the ideal skincare routine together. We live in a society where…
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The feast of Saint Agatha in Catania is one of the largest religious events in Italy. The Saint is remembered with processions accompanied by traditional costumes and elements. Consider that on the days of the feast of Saint Agatha, from 3 to 5 February, more than a million people gather among tourists, citizens and faithful. Although this year may not be so, the fame and special history of this tradition remain.
Saint Agatha lived in the third century AD when Christianity – along with persecution – spread within the Roman Empire. Agatha’s family, to protect their faith, sought refuge in Palermo but governor Quinziano found them. When he saw Agatha, back in Catania, he fell in love with her.
He tried to make her abjure her faith but the Saint refused, remaining faithful to his choice. Quinziano tried to dissuade her in several ways: seeing that the young woman did not give in, he subjected her to torture and atrocious torments and then died a martyr.
Her fame spread quickly after her death, and she is now venerated as the Holy Martyr of the Catholic Church.
Saint Agatha is the patron saint of many cities and places in Italy and the world. We know her above all as the patron saint of the city and the archdiocese of Catania. She is also remembered for being the protector of women with breast diseases, bell smelters and firefighters.
The annual procession of Saint’Agatha in Catania takes place on 3, 4 and 5 February. The first day is dedicated to the offering of candles: the procession takes place from the furnace to the cathedral. This is the day dedicated to the collection of wax: candles are offered to ask for the protection of the Saint.
The popular custom is that the offered candle must be the same height or weight as the person offering it.
On the second day, the procession gathers in the morning and the procession lasts the whole day. Devotees wear the traditional “sack” – a white tunic – along with a black velvet cap, white gloves and a white handkerchief.
The bust of Saint Agatha is hoisted on a silver fercolo and, together with the casket containing the relics of the Saint, is carried around the outside of the city between the cheers and the festivities. The fercolo, with bust, casket and candles, can weigh up to 30 quintals. The Saint is always preceded by traditional candles, big candles representing the citizens.
On the third day, the procession passes from the centre of Catania and the devotees accompany the Saint until she returns to the room of the cathedral from which she left.
One of the characteristic elements of the feast of Saint Agatha is the famous candelore.
La Candlemas: history and curiosities
La Candlemas, the story of a party with great suggestions that has its roots in pre-Christian rites linked to the triumph of light.
These are large candles, enriched with sculptures and decorations, which always accompany the Saint, preceding the fercolo. Each “cereo” is linked to a group of citizens, which often coincides with a group of workers: from Cereo Fiorai to Cereo Pescivendoli, to Cereo Macellai.
The candles of Saint’Agatha are carried in procession strictly “on the shoulder” – the weight of the candles goes from 200 to 860 kilos – and each cereo has a fixed position in the procession.
Contents1 1. Values and Mission Holyart2 2. Stories of Saints3 3. Handcrafted nativity scenes4 4. Liturgical Times and Calendars5 5. Made in Italy craftsmanship Catholic blogs provide information, stories and curiosities about the Christian world. This is what drives us at Holyart to give you…
Contents1 Why is Saint Anthony Abbot represented with a fire and a pig?2 Prayer to Saint Anthony Abbot3 Temptations of Saint Anthony4 Saint Anthony the Abbot and Saint Francis: what do the two saints have in common? Saint Anthony the Abbot is remembered as the…
Argan oil excels among the products of the monasteries whose qualities we will never tire of praising. Berber women call it liquid gold and have used it since ancient times to protect their skin and hair from the desert wind. It is from their land that the spiny Argania comes, the plant from which this miraculous oil is obtained, also called, and not surprisingly, the ‘tree of life’. A very resistant plant, which has grown only since prehistoric times in the semi-desert plain of the Souss, in Morocco, and nowhere else in the world. Yet in this windswept land worn down by millennia of sandstorms, Argania thrives, cloaking an otherwise barren landscape with forest, with trees over 10 metres high, to which are added the roots that sink into the ground up to to 30 metres, and which can live up to 200 years. Argania produces fleshy fruits similar to olives, and these fruits have a very tough core inside which in turn holds, just like a treasure chest, the Argan almonds.
In these lands are the women who, for millennia, have been harvesting the fruits of Argania and squeezing them to obtain the precious oil, which they call liquid gold, or even gold of the desert because of its colour, but also of its always recognised value. They use the cold pressing technique, in some cases still using a stone grinder, the arzeg, and their hands. But even where machines have taken over, the processing of this precious substance is always very careful not to damage its precious properties.
What is so special about Argan oil?
Few natural substances nourish and moisturise the skin like this oil, and this means that in addition to being used pure, it is the basis of countless cosmetic preparations, including industrial ones. Its richness derives from its composition: unsaturated fatty acids, in particular oleic and linoleic acids, saturated fatty acids, triglycerides, but also omega-3, omega-6, vitamin A and E, in addition to other substances famous for their power in fighting free radicals and ageing.
This rich composition explains the exceptional properties of Argan oil especially as a nourishing and elasticising agent for the skin, its ability to moisturise without greasing even the deepest layers of the epidermis, making it luminous and toned. What’s more, the polyphenols within it help the production of collagen, and thus counteract the formation of wrinkles, erasing existing ones, as well as small scars and signs of ageing.
Speaking of the composition of Argan oil, we mentioned the presence of vitamin E, which is particularly valuable for stimulating hair growth. It stimulates the scalp, keeping it healthy, hydrated and free of dandruff, and helping it to give birth to healthy and strong hair. On the length, Argan oil fights split ends, dryness and in general all the damage caused by dyes, bleaching and chemical agents. The hair will appear shiny and soft to the touch, easy to comb and very fragrant!
Always talking about hair, if during pregnancy they tend to appear thicker and more luxuriant, it is common for them to be weakened and brittle immediately after childbirth. It depends on the changes in estrogen production. Argan oil can prove to be a precious ally during pregnancy, to keep hair healthy without using chemicals that would only weaken it further in the next phase, and later to nourish and hydrate it, also limiting its fall and helping its production of new hair.
But during pregnancy and after childbirth Argan oil can also prove to be a very precious ally for the skin and nails. First of all because, being completely natural, it does not contain substances that are harmful to the mother and the child who is growing inside her. The use of Argan oil on the skin prevents stretch marks, so common among pregnant women, and helps the skin to maintain its balance despite the changes that the unusual production of hormones causes. Used on the hands it will not only keep them hydrated and soft, but it will also help the nails not to become too brittle and not to flake.
Argan oil, thanks to its composition, is an authentic elixir of eternal youth for the skin of the face. A few drops of the pure product used for a small massage illuminate the face, giving the skin elasticity, youth, restoring tone and freshness. Protected and revitalised, our skin will face fatigue, atmospheric agents, make-up without being impoverished and damaged. Furthermore, the wrinkles already present will be reduced, and the formation of new wrinkles will be prevented, for a lasting and natural youth.
The soothing and regenerating properties of Argan oil also help the skin of all ages fight acne. The precious components of this wonderful tonic also help oily skin to regain its proper balance and hydration, and the antioxidants reduce the marks left by acne on the face and body.
