Maria SS. della Lavina 2025

by Rev. Cav. William Rock, FSSP, SMOCSG

As long-time readers of the Missive may know, for the past several years I have been working with the Italian Apostolate of the Archdiocese of Newark to revive devotion to Our Lady of the Torrent (Madonna della Lavina) at St. Aloysius Church in Caldwell, New Jersey.  This year’s celebration, the third of this revival, occurred on Saturday, September 6th, with a Solemn High Mass followed by a procession of the painting of the Madonna around the grounds of the church and a light reception with a display of memorabilia.  The Reverend Father John Audino, FSSP served as Deacon and the Reverend Canon Adrian Sequeira, ICKSP as Subdeacon.  As was done last year, the Mass was that of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Grace (B. Mariae Virg. Matris Gratiae), taken from the Masses for particular places (Missae pro aliquibus locis), as the image classified as a Lady-of-Grace type.  Giovanni Croce’s (born near Venice, d. 1609) polyphonic Missa Prima Sexti Toni was used for the ordinary which was augmented by Dell’aurora tu sorgi più bella as the processional hymn, O Sanctissima (traditionally identified as a Sicilian hymn) at the offertory, Croce’s O gloriosa (based on the Marian hymn O gloriosa Virginum which is commonly sung at Lauds for the Blessed Virgin) and Sancta et immaculata during the distribution of Communion, the simple Salve at the end of Mass, and a Toccata on O Sanctissima as the recessional.

After thanking those who made this year’s celebration possible, I began the sermon by discussing the titles given to the nursing Madonna: Virgo Lactans in Latin, Madonna del Latte in Italian, and Madonna Lactans which seems to be a mix of Latin and Italian.  I then went on to state that, according to the old Catholic Encyclopedia, “the earliest picture of Mary is that found in the cemetery [or catacomb] of Priscilla [in Rome]; it represents the Virgin as if about to nurse the Infant Jesus, and near her is the image of a prophet.”¹  After giving the origin of the Madonna Lactans of Cerami, Sicily (Maria SS. della Lavina or Madonna della Lavina) and her immigration to New Jersey, which histories are recounted in my previous articles on this topic (here and here), I explained the yearly ’A festa d’ ’a Lavina (translation of the Sicilian: the Feast of the Torrent) in Cerami held yearly on September 7th and 8th.

In the morning of September 7th, a procession forms at the chapel outside of the town near where the icon was miraculously discovered to take the new painting located there to visit the original icon, which now resides at the Benedictine monastery within the town.²  There are young women wearing red tunics with yellow sashes, harkening back to the time the island was Greek, and young men wearing blue shirts and black pants.  Many of the faithful walk barefoot in the procession, while a band plays accompanying marches.  Shouts of “Evviva! / Hooray!” and “Viva ’a Madinnuzza d’ ’a Lavina / Long-live the Little Madonna of the Torrent!” can be heard (n.b. the use of “little” in the translation should be understood as expressing the affectionate diminutive suffix present in the Sicilian).  There were also, historically, penitents who wore rough clothing, called drappu, made of coarse fabric.  During the procession, these penitents would cry, “ ’A Madinnuzza, ’a Madinnuzza! / The Little Madonna, the Little Madonna!”  This penitential practice was expressed by the phrase jiri cu ’i carni nn’ ’a lana (to go with the body covered in wool).

Leading the procession are those called launiati, who would each carry ’na ranni bannera di lauru, a huge laurel “banner.”  A bannera di lauru, which rests on the head and shoulders, is some two to three times the height of its carrier.  Choice fruits of the season, sheep, hares, rabbits, foxes, tortoises, handkerchiefs with an image of the Madonna, and other such things were traditionally hung from the laurel, but nowadays only images of the Madonna.  Some of the faithful make vows/promises to carry a bannera di lauru in the yearly procession if the Blessed Virgin obtain, by her intercession, the intention of the one making the vow, while some others may carry one simply out of devotion or as a motivation for the Virgin to grant their petitions.  The making of such a vow is expressed by the phrase prumettiri ’u lauru (to make a vow with the offering of the laurel banner).  The entrance of these laurel banners into Cerami is called the entrata d’ addauru, “the entrance of fragrance,” no doubt due to the pleasant and distinctive smell of the laurel.  Laurel itself is an important and widespread plant in Sicily and is commonly used in religious celebrations throughout the island.  In addition to the Madonna della Lavina celebration, the Ceramesi also use laurel during the “celebrations in honour of St. Anthony Abbot, St. Sebastian and St. Blaise.”³

Following the launiati in the procession are groups of women and then the new painting, historically adorned with rings, earrings, necklaces, and other small, precious items.  At present, in such devotions, it is more common to give paper currency in place of precious jewelry and the like.  The painting is carried using a device called a bajalardu.  As was said above, the procession makes it way to the Benedictine monastery inside Cerami and visits the icon.  A few hours after arriving, there is a second procession to return the painting to the chapel outside of the town, but this time led by the clergy and the various confraternities of Cerami.  In the evening, there is a celebration with all sorts of foods and games.

While this year’s procession in Caldwell did not have anyone carrying a bannera di lauru, cuttings of laurels were provided for the faithful to carry.  Also provided were feast neckerchiefs which are common at such celebrations in Sicily.  They seem to be the Catholic response to political neckerchiefs.  The della Lavina neckerchiefs were made in Sicily and, while they feel like silk, are 100% polyester.  The design was inspired, in the first place, by the festive attire mentioned above.  The women’s version is red with a yellow stripe and the men’s is blue with a black stripe.  The design of the image and text imitate the design found on the old society banner. These neckerchiefs can also be seen as being reminiscent of the handkerchiefs hung from the laurel.  During the procession, the image was escorted by a Knights of Columbus honor guard and a seven-piece feast band.

The reception which followed had some notable additions this year as well.  The first being cavatieddi atturrati di Cerami.  These cookies, exclusive to Cerami and one of its identity dishes, are the comune’s typical dessert.  The origin of their ancient recipe is lost to history, but it reflects the humble and agricultural roots of the community.  Atturratu denotes a mixture of roasted and ground almonds, sugar, and cinnamon by which the cookies are coated after being baked and dipped in sugar water.  A short video on these cookies, prepared for the Milano Expo 2015, can be found here.  Next there were the pears and figs.  When I was young, the yearly Maria SS. della Lavina procession would stop at my grandparents’ house in Caldwell.  A pear tree grew behind their house, and the fruit would ripen around that time of year.  Because of this, I formed an association between the yearly feast and pears.  Some of those in the procession would even pick and eat them.  As it turns out, pears, specifically prickly pears (fichidindia), are consumed during the Madonna della Lavina celebration in Cerami.  “Frischi e gruossi! / Fresh and large!” is the cry of the pear vendors during the feast.  The selling of figs, accompanied by the shouting of “Beddi ficu, picciuotti! / Beautiful figs, boys!,” also takes place.

Next year’s celebration is scheduled for Saturday, September 19th, 2026, with Mass starting at 11 am, again at St. Aloysius church in Caldwell, New Jersey.  All are graciously invited to attend.

To conclude, I present to you, dear reader, the following photographs of the 2025 event.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sub tuum praesidium confugimus, Mater Lavinæ!

Rev. Cav. William Rock, FSSP, SMOCSG was ordained in the fall of 2019 and was invested as an Ecclesiastical Knight of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George in the summer of 2025.  He currently resides at the FSSP Canonical House of St. Casimir in Nashua, NH, and ministers at St. Stanislaus parish.

In support of the causes of Blessed Maria Cristina, Queen, and Servant of God Francesco II, King 

1. The old Catholic Encyclopedia, s.v. “The Blessed Virgin Mary.”
2. The majority of the information which follows about the feast in Cerami comes from Pitrè, Giuseppe. Feste Patronali in Sicilia (vol. 1). (Torino-Palermo: Carlo Clausen, 1900), pp. xli, 241-244.
3. Buttitta, Ignazio E. Plants in Sicilian holy simbology. (Bocconea 28: 41-46: 22 November 2019), p. 45.