I don't believe for a second that a Roman Catholic priest is promoting essentially what is best and most commonly known as Italian folk healing/magic. I watched both these videos many times and what I see and hear is a... for lack of a better word, spin.

I take umbrage to the notion that Benedicaria and its practitioners are the "Holiest of Holies". Divination is a huge part of Benedicaria and last I heard the Catholic Church wasn't endorsing fortune-telling. I was taught to know "la luce ed il buio" (the light and the darkness) and when we practiced divination it was something we did while at the same time apologizing to God and praying that He not be offended and punish us -because our mothers, in hushed voices, told us to. We even made emergency trips to the chapel of L'Oratoire St. Joseph to light candles to pray for forgiveness and to protect us from demons! (Really, there is a spot in the chapel to light candles for this intention.) I also observed how men especially, outwardly dismissed the practices of the über-devout (Catholic) women in my neighbourhood as scary silly superstition. These same men wore their corno on their gold chains right beside their crucifixes and never made eye contact with them -just in case.

In case of what?

I had never heard the term Benedicaria until I read it online. Solitario, creator and webmaster of The Stregoneria Italiana Project posted it up on his forum asking his readership if we knew this term. The lady who taught me the ways, said to me "Ora tu sei sempre Benedetta." and she always called me Benedetta Carusa (Blessed Dear One). So although I use the term Benedicaria on my site to describe the practices in our collective ways that are indeed in tune with Catholicism, I cannot speak to the usage of the term Benedicaria outside of Vito's writing because I've never seen it. However, I like it and I do believe that if Vito chose this word to describe the "things he does", then he should own it.

The theme in both of Vito's videos is one of a desperate appeal to authority. He wants the good +Father to endorse his practices and thereby authenticating and legitimizing them. The good +Father does state that Benedicaria is liturgically sound and has absolutely no ties to stregoneria (witchcraft/folk magic/sorcery) in any way -but, it is very contrived. I guess what I'm saying is that Vito's questions are very leading and he repeats what +Father Jason says to the camera to fit his agenda. Seems like a lot of putting the priest on the spot if you ask me.

Notice how in the video in this entry, Vito expresses his... for lack of a better word, dismay, at the inclusion or rather association of Benedicaria to stregoneria on The Stregoneria Italiana Project. Vito's Benedicaria, with it's elements of Traditional Catholicism, Mexican Curanderismo and Cuban Santería is actually quite charming, but in my humble opinion it is not purely Sicilian nor Italian and it is definitely not purely Catholic.

Vito talks with Father Jason Spadafore about the Sicilian spiritual craft of Benedicaria.

The Time Of The Lilacs ~Sophie Gengembre Anderson

The mere sight of them makes me sigh and their sweet, creamy, herbal fragrance breaks my heart.

I have moved many times, and am currently far from where I originally come from however, the moment I smell the scent of lilacs in bloom upon a warm breeze, I am home.

This guy... he's my kinda guy.

My meeting went well. Now, I wait.

My cousin Ange used to have this single on 45 and we used to play it over and over. I was 8, he was 19. He and his buddies used to practice their dance moves with yours truly before heading out to the discothèque.

When they weren't around, I wore my leotard and tons of glitter and lip gloss and sang this tune into a hairbrush over and over and over again.

It never ceases to lift my spirits.

Cake's remake is pretty cool too.

I have a really important meeting tomorrow afternoon and, as luck would have it I have a doozy of a head cold. I love this tune. This is one of those timeless tunes that never fails to pick me up when I'm feeling down. Might be the combination of poignant music and nostalgia.

April 16th was the 7th anniversary of my father's passing. I still miss him terribly.

Here's Vito's tribute to his dad.

I love blue eyeshadow.

1973 was the year that everything changed... for me.

I remember what 1973 looked like, smelled like, felt like and sounded like and Life On Mars has got it down.

"When and what are we eating?" -words uttered by all Italians upon arriving anywhere. ~Rue

I'd like to start today by posting my late father's recipe. My father was Abruzzese. There are certain regions in Italy that take food to another level, above and beyond the rustic beauty found in all parts of Italy:

Emilia-Romagna, Abruzzo, Molise, and Campania. The mainstays of the best Italian restaurants always feature dishes from these regions.