MICHELE SCOTO, A GREAT SCOTSMAN AT THE COURT OF FREDERICK II IN SICILY

Posted on by Ettore Grillo

Michele Scoto (Michael Scot) was born in Scotland in the twelfth century. He studied in three of the best universities in Europe of the time: Oxford, Paris, and Bologna.

Being a man of great learning, he landed in the court of Frederick II in Palermo.

He translated the texts of the Arab philosopher, Averroè from Arabic into Latin. Those texts spread rapidly in European universities and contributed to cultural progress.

Michele Scoto was also known as a magician. He predicted the place where Frederick II would die and other events. For this reason, Dante in his book, The Divine Comedy, placed him in a circle of hell. Obviously, everyone has their own opinions!

Ettore Grillo, author of these books:

– November 2: The Day of the Dead in Sicily (English edition)

– A Hidden Sicilian History (English edition)

– The Vibrations of Words (English edition)

– Travels of the Mind (English edition)

– Una Storia Siciliana Nascosta (edizione in lingua italiana)

http://www.amazon.com/author/ettoregrillo

– Viaggi della Mente (edizione in lingua italiana)

THE BEAUTIFUL CHURCH OF SAINT THERESE IN ENNA, SICILY

Posted on by Ettore Grillo

About thirty years ago, the circumstances of life led me to Lisieux, the city in the north of France where Saint Therese had lived as a cloistered nun for nine years; in fact, she became a nun at the age of fifteen and died from consumption when she was twenty-four years old.

After she passed away, about four thousand miracles happened thanks to her intercession. These days, not only the Catholics, but also the Arabs, Orthodox, and Protestants love and worship her.

Although she never left the walls of the Carmelite convent in Lisieux, she was proclaimed ‘the patron saint of the missions’, ‘the protectress of Russia’, ‘the patron saint of France’, and ‘doctor of the church’.

In my hometown of Enna, we had sixty-four churches once. Nowadays, many of them have disappeared due to the shortage of priests and loss of faith. However, the glorious, tiny church of Saint Therese of Lisieux is still alive, although it has been closed for many years. The collapsed floor needs to be remodeled.

A few years ago, a local architect made a project for the reopening of the church. I heard that funds have been allocated for the purpose. However, work has not yet begun!

I hope this beautiful little church will reopen as a peaceful place for people to meditate and pray some day!

Ettore Grillo, author of these books:

– November 2: The Day of the Dead in Sicily (English edition)

– A Hidden Sicilian History (English edition)

– The Vibrations of Words (English edition)

– Travels of the Mind (English edition)

– Una Storia Siciliana Nascosta (edizione in lingua italiana)

– Viaggi della Mente (edizione in lingua italiana)

http://www.amazon.com/author/ettoregrillo

FERRAGOSTO (AUGUST 15) IN CALASCIBETTA, SICILY

Posted on by Ettore Grillo

Calascibetta is a charming town in the center of Sicily. Instead of going to an overcrowded beach, we opted to spend a lovely afternoon in this small city.

After enjoying a delicious ice cream at a bar overlooking the main square of Calascibetta, Piazza Umberto, we headed for the Royal Palatine Chapel. It is located in the upper town. King Peter II of Aragon built it in 1340. The colonnade shows a series of enigmatic bas-reliefs. The most mysterious is the one at the base of a column on the right. A local stonecutter made it. Of course, he had a knack for creating works of art.

On the way back to our car, we saw a sundial. It is the smallest sundial I have ever seen, and it is still working!

A short distance from there, we visited some caves. There were about one thousand caves in Calascibetta, most of them hidden by the modern buildings. Perhaps, people lived there in ancient time.

We enjoyed a very quiet, peaceful, and happy holiday. Happiness is inside, not outside! We do not need to search it outside ourselves!

Ettore Grillo, author of these books:

– November 2: The Day of the Dead in Sicily (English edition)

– A Hidden Sicilian History (English edition)

– The Vibrations of Words (English edition)

– Travels of the Mind (English edition)

– Una Storia Siciliana Nascosta (edizione in lingua italiana)

– Viaggi della Mente (edizione in lingua italiana)

http://www.amazon.com/author/ettoregrillo

MY REVIEW OF NOT FOR SELF BY JOSEPH CACIBAUDA

Posted on by Ettore Grillo

The novel, Not for Self, is set in the American state of Illinois at the time of the mass emigration from Europe to the United States, at the beginning of the last century.

A few immigrants move from Sicily to Marion, Illinois, to work in the coalmines. The work is hard, dangerous, and harmful to health, but it is better than starving. One of these Sicilian immigrants, Jack Valenti, does not like the job in the coalmine. He opens a bar where he serves soft drinks and alcoholic beverages.

Business is very good for him, but before long, he runs into the law that prohibits the sale of alcohol in the United States of America. He starts bootlegging alcohol, but has not come to terms with the Ku Klux Klan, a secret society that leaves him no way out.

Joseph Cacibauda’s novel is compelling and well written. It is also an insight into the American history of that time.

Ettore Grillo, author of these books:

– November 2: The Day of the Dead in Sicily (English edition)

– A Hidden Sicilian History (English edition)

– The Vibrations of Words (English edition)

– Travels of the Mind (English edition)

– Una Storia Siciliana Nascosta (edizione in lingua italiana)

– Viaggi della Mente (edizione in lingua italiana)

http://www.amazon.com/author/ettoregrillo