italian language in italy : Little Italy's prayers answered
Hours before the crucifixion of the holy messiah, the bells of St. Anthony's church, the spiritual and religious heart of Little Italy, ring out across the Sunday morning languor. Men and women, young and old, are coming out of the cool, dim sanctuary into the warm summer sunlight.
Holding their bibles and rosaries, they gather on the steep steps for praying of another kind, not fearing the secularism of its nature for in the earlier service Father Dominic Fiore broke from scripture to cry out "Forza Azzurri" with applause from the congregation, and no one was struck dead.
"Italy, 2-0," says Vincenzo Caminiti. He's 66, a retired painter. The plastic tag on the breast of his grey suit says "usher." He's standing with his friend, Mario Smilovich, also an usher. He's 72, a retired maintenance worker. "France is rougher than Italy, but we have a better defence."
"France is tough, I agree," says Smilovich, "but if we play the way we did against Germany, we will win. Italy will win today 1-0 in overtime."
"Zidane's the one we have to worry about most," says Sam Pecora. He's 34, works for the government. "I still think we'll win 2-0 in regular time if we play flawless like the last game."
"Zidane's good," says Smilovich, "but have you seen the size of our goalkeeper's hands?" Smilovich spreads his fingers. "One of his hands is the size of two hands."
"What we don't want is it decided by penalty kicks," says Caminiti, morosely. "France has a better record than us in penalty kicks. We need to control Zidane."
Father Louis Labbe, having wrapped up the second morning service in the Italian language, is in a small, hushed, room at the back of the church, removing his green and gold clerical robe. He's French-Canadian. His congregation is Italian.
"Father, where does your loyalty lie in the big game, with France or Italy?"
"Don't play politics with me," he snaps.
"Did you refer at all to the game in your service this morning?"
A woman standing at the door intervenes: "He did say 'Vive.' And when he did, the congregation clapped and shouted 'Italia.' " Father Labbe is asked what his sermon was about. Bible readings, he says. Jesus. Where the Messiah said, "Only in his own home town, among his own relatives, and in his own house is a prophet without honour."
By EARL MCRAE
Holding their bibles and rosaries, they gather on the steep steps for praying of another kind, not fearing the secularism of its nature for in the earlier service Father Dominic Fiore broke from scripture to cry out "Forza Azzurri" with applause from the congregation, and no one was struck dead.
"Italy, 2-0," says Vincenzo Caminiti. He's 66, a retired painter. The plastic tag on the breast of his grey suit says "usher." He's standing with his friend, Mario Smilovich, also an usher. He's 72, a retired maintenance worker. "France is rougher than Italy, but we have a better defence."
"France is tough, I agree," says Smilovich, "but if we play the way we did against Germany, we will win. Italy will win today 1-0 in overtime."
"Zidane's the one we have to worry about most," says Sam Pecora. He's 34, works for the government. "I still think we'll win 2-0 in regular time if we play flawless like the last game."
"Zidane's good," says Smilovich, "but have you seen the size of our goalkeeper's hands?" Smilovich spreads his fingers. "One of his hands is the size of two hands."
"What we don't want is it decided by penalty kicks," says Caminiti, morosely. "France has a better record than us in penalty kicks. We need to control Zidane."
Father Louis Labbe, having wrapped up the second morning service in the Italian language, is in a small, hushed, room at the back of the church, removing his green and gold clerical robe. He's French-Canadian. His congregation is Italian.
"Father, where does your loyalty lie in the big game, with France or Italy?"
"Don't play politics with me," he snaps.
"Did you refer at all to the game in your service this morning?"
A woman standing at the door intervenes: "He did say 'Vive.' And when he did, the congregation clapped and shouted 'Italia.' " Father Labbe is asked what his sermon was about. Bible readings, he says. Jesus. Where the Messiah said, "Only in his own home town, among his own relatives, and in his own house is a prophet without honour."
By EARL MCRAE
posted by awesome at 12:39 AM
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