Miracles News
April-June, 2010
Beato
Italians have an inexhaustible ability to forgive and let it go. If you do it right, it’s blessed and godly. If you do it wrong, it’s just for lack of applying yourself and you let it slide.
“Beato” is the word for blessing or blessed in Italian and is used colloquially to refer to someone who is fortunate or “happy go lucky.” “Beato Te” (“te” is pronounced as in the first letters “tenacious”) and means “lucky you” or “care free you.” For example, if you’re going on vacation or are just sitting in the sun, relaxed and happy, the Italians would say “beato te” meaning “aren’t you blessed/lucky.”
“Peccato” (pronounced Pe-KAT-toe) means sin, and is used to refer to the situation, not a person. You say “che peccato,” meaning “what a pity” or “oh well” to respond to a missed opportunity or lack of some kind outside your control. For example, if it rains when you want to have a picnic, or if you pull out a bottle of balsamic vinegar for a special salad dressing and see it has expired. “Peccato” is rarely used for something you yourself were responsible for. Rather, it’s a way of saying “it’s over,” “it happened,” “just let it go.”
When you do something right, it’s because you are blessed or “beato.” When you do it wrong, it’s because of unfortunate circumstances around you, and you’re encouraged to “let it slide,” and “put it behind you.”
Rev. Elizabeth Griffin is an Ordained Minister with Pathways of Light and a writer who lives with her husband and two sons in Trieste, Italy. This summer, her book A TASTE OF GRACE, Meditations and Recipes for a Fulfilling life — a small group meditation and discussion guide will be available with Fearless Books, edited by D. Patrick Miller. www,tasteofgracebook.com
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