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St. Secundus was a military officer of Imperial Rome. He was a citizen of the town of Asti, in the Piedmont region of Italy. He was a patrician, meaning either that he belonged to a branch of one of the ancient citizen families of Rome itself, or that his family had attained corresponding high position through service to the Empire. At the time of his baptism in Milan, St.Secundus was an officer of lower rank, which implies that he was a young man. He encountered persecution for the Faith when he dared to bury the body of the martyred St. Marcianus of Tortona. St. Marianus was the first bishop of Piedmont, and is said to have been a disciple of St. Barnabas (the companion of the Apostle Paul). After performing that work of mercy, St Secundus fled to Asti, but he was arrested and after cruel tortures, beheaded. His martyrdom took place at Asti in the year of Our Lord 119, under the reign of the Emperor Hadrian. The Roman Martyrology gives the date as March 29th. St. Secundus is the principal patron of the city of Asti, where his relics lie in the cathedral. There only, his feast is celebrated on the first Tuesday of May (formerly, as a double of the first class with octave). This transference of the date probably occurred because Asti wished to celebrate its patron—but March 29th usually comes in Lent, and in early times, feasts of saints could not be observed then. March 29th also falls frequently in Holy Week or Easter Week, when saint’s feasts are not celebrated even now. St. Secundus is commemorated throughout the dioceses of Piedmont on march 29th, but had no place in the universal Roman calendar either before or after Vatican II. There is (at Asti) a separate feast on June 1st for the translation of the relics of St. Secundus. The east window of San Secondo d”Asti Church shows the saint in Roman military garb, including an officer’s cloak like the one contemptuously placed upon Jesus after His scourging. St. Secundus holds in one arm some miniature buildings representing the city of Asti. An angel presents him with the crown and palm of martyrdom. The whole scene on the window, with St. Secundus’s horse seeming to walk on water, may refer to some miracle in the saint’s life. In these days of developing world government, it is good to have as our heavenly patron a brave man of the Faith from those days “when Caesar ruled the world, and thought he could stamp out the Church.”
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It is interesting that St. Secundus came from the foothills of the Alps (“Piedmont” is, literally, “foot of the mountains”), just as Guasti is situated in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. Our patron’s native place, Asti, is known throughout the world for its sparkling wines—and San Secondo d”Asti Church was once (before the building of the Ontario Airport) parish church to the workers of the world’s largest vineyard. This is recalled by the figures in the church’s west garden, of a friar assisting an Indian in the pressing of grapes. The garden’s many roses coincidentally symbolize St. Barnabas, to whose line of Apostolic Tradition St.Secundus may have owed his Faith. The heraldic emblem of St. Barnabas is multiple roses of different colors |
| The town of Guasti, California, was founded by Secondo Guasti, who came from Asti in Italy. His features may be seen in the memorial bust on the church’s façade. Signor Guasti planned that the California church be built as a replica of one in his hometown. |
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| The focal point of the church is the tabernacle, where the Eucharistic Lord is present (body, blood, soul, and divinity). Here “Emmanuel” “(God is with us”) dwells (“pitches His tent”—John 1:14) among us. The tabernacle of the ancient Hebrews was indeed a tent, as a tabernacle veil indicating the divine presence may emphatically remind us. Recognizing His continual presence, the Church offers her Lord the homage of a continually burning sanctuary lamp. |  |
That in San Secondo is a hanging lamp of Mediterranean style. But as well, Jesus Christ Himself, the light of the world, is the central flame of the seven-branched lamp (Hebrew “menorah”) in Christian worship. This is presented to the human eye by the tabernacle and crucifix in the center of six altar candles. |
| The main figures o the sanctuary are Our Lord with His Sacred Heart on the south and Our Lady crowned with twelve stars on the north. Our Lord’s image teaches of His Incarnation. The tri-radiant nimbus behind His head (used only for the deity) expresses His divinity, while the heart of flesh shows His sacred humanity (as well as His love for mankind). As true God and true man, Jesus Christ raises His hand in blessing. |
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The statue crowned with twelve stars represents Our Lady as Queen of heaven and earth. Her downcast eyes show her humility, and suggest her loving attention to the Church (of which she is the purest image). Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary is also shown in this church by the copy of the miraculous image of Guadalupe on the south wall near the priest’s chair. Our Lady of Guadalupe is Queen of the Americas and of Mexico in particular. Several figures of the Blessed Mother may be found outside, as well, in San Secondo d'Asti’s gardens. Inside again, north of the ambo, is a portrait of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. |
| The Lady of Carmel—the sacred mountain retreat in the Holy Land—invites one to prayer either at the altar or in the baptistery “Chapel of All Saints.” This tiny space contains many small statues given by parishioners over the years. These may be replaced by the Christmas Crib in season, or covered during the last two weeks before Easter in sorrowful remembrance of the Lord’s Passion. The intended us of this area is indicated by the shell-like baptismal font on the east wall. |
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The only large statue of a saint in the church is that of Saint Anthony of Padua, standing with his back to the south wall. St. Anthony is quite popular in Italy; he may well stand in the same place at Asti. Here he looks north toward the mountain, which bore his name—Mount San Antonio—in Spanish California. This usually snow-capped peak is now called Mount Baldy. One can only wonder whether the English name speaks affection or derision for St. Anthony’s tonsure |
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At the east end of the nave are two signed papal photographs—mementos of the Apostolic Blessing bestowed upon the Guasti family. The placement of these in the church probably means that the Guastis regarded the parish as their extended family—in the Catholic Church, the family of God. That on the south wall was presented to Secondo Guasti by Pope Benedict XV in 1921; that on the north, to Luisa Guasti by Pope Pius XI in 1923. |  |
| The window above the choir loft depicts the apparition of Our Lady of Fatima in 1917. This event was a very recent one when the church was built. At that time, Our Lady’s messages were only partly known, and her requests unfulfilled—as they mostly remain today. Is the window a pledge, on the part of San Secondo d’Asti Church, to do our part in bringing about the reign of Our Blessed Mother’s Immaculate Heart? |  |
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