6 Nativities

Going back to my first Oregon parish, in the small town of John Day, just before Christmas of 2004, I invited some of the children to watch me create a little presepio, a nativity scene with the cave of Bethlehem, made of brown paper dipped in flour with water. They were mesmerized seeing it being built, forming a paper-mache scene of Bethlehem. Thereupon I asked them to bring along a small rectangular board, and possibly some brown paper bags so that I can help them build one for themselves. Of course they brought along the figurines of the nativity, so that I could build their project to scale. And within a few hours I made 6 of these presepios, with a few more a few days later, ending up with around 17 nativities. They were very well received by their parents, and I wonder how many of them kept up the custom of building a presepio every year for Christmas.

Christmas stamps

3 stamps of Cremona's Christmas set of 1967

Philately gives us the opportunity to share so many beautiful images from various countries sent throughout the world. Maltese stamps have been in the forefront in displaying unique designs, especially those done by Emvin Cremona in the 1960s, and 1970s. I share with you a few of them in this post, as the artist introduced some innovative formats, including an isosceles trapezoid outline.

Advent Calendars

A way to help children and adults to prepare for Christmas is the creation of the Advent calendar, which has become quite popular, with a variety of variations that have developed in different countries. The most popular is a countdown to Christmas, as children bring an item to place on each day of December, as they reflect on the meaning of each thing, object or person related to the Nativity or the Christmas season. Of course our favorite is always a nativity display, like the one displayed above.

(Click to enlarge)

In my Cathedral parish of Baker City Oregon in 2012 I made this Advent calendar for our children, and I invited them to color a section of the Nativity scene I drew for them, and day by day, the scene will become more colorful, as long as they do the chore or message they are asked to perform until the end of December. Click on the image to read the messages for each day, and you can save it and print it to use for yourself and your children.

Advent

We start a new liturgical year today as we start the Advent season. This year, let’s make it a point to really try hard to MAKE ROOM FOR JESUS in our hearts. To make room for Him, we have to get rid of all the stuff that’s been taking his place. This requires a little bit of an inventory of our hearts and lives.

So may we look at enemies and see the possibility of friendship . . .
May we look at fevered buying and see hope for simple generosity . . . . .
May we look at family tensions and see opportunities for reconciliation . . . . .
May we look at pessimism towards the future and see positive optimism . . . .
May we look at stumbling blocks and see instead stepping stones . . . . .
May we look at alleys and valleys of darkness and see instead Highways and byways of bright possibilities . . .
May we look at tragedy and misfortune and see the hope of change, growth and a new beginning. . .
May we look at discouragement and see a determined and courageous approach to a hopeful future.

Pope Leo and St. Sharbel

St. Sharbel Makhlouf (1828-1898)

Today Pope Leo XIV visits Lebanon, after spending two days in Turkey, visiting the place when in 325 the Nicean Creed was formulated by the Bishops, prelates and theologians of that period. Although the Catholics in Turkey amounted to 0.04% of the population, his visit to Lebanon will be received by a larger number of Catholics. He will also visit the tomb of St. Sharbel, the 19th-century Maronite monk and hermit who is revered for his piety and a remarkable number of reported miracles attributed to his intercession. In honoring St. Sharbel, the Pope draws attention to a growing worldwide devotion to the Maronite saint — including in the United States, where organizations dedicated to promoting his devotion report an increased interest in the saint that is not limited to members of the Maronite Church. In 1977, St. Sharbel was canonized by Pope Paul VI, becoming the first Eastern Christian to be recognized as a saint by the Catholic Church. The Maronite Church is in full Communion with the pope and the Church of Rome. Although he lived a solitary life as a hermit, Sharbel’s reputation for holiness has continued to spread, fueled in part by his reputation as a miracle-maker.

At the Monastery of St. Maron in Annaya, Lebanon, where St. Sharbel lived until his death on Christmas Eve in 1898, the monks have documented more than 30,000 miracles. St. Sharbel was born Yousef Antoun Makhlouf on May 8, 1828, in the village of Bkaakafra in North Lebanon. After joining the Lebanese Maronite Order as a young man, St. Sharbel was ordained a priest in 1959 and lived for 16 years at the Annaya monastery before becoming a hermit. For the next 23 years until his death, he lived a life of devotion to the Holy Eucharist. He is said to have celebrated Mass each day at noon and would spend eight to 10 hours praying before and after receiving Communion. His feast day is celebrated every year on July 24.

White Friday

As the entire globe seems to dedicate today to shopping and getting the better deals from stores, Black Friday has become some kind of a holiday, as customers are still chewing on the turkey and pies. In Malta they’re even advertising Black November ! As if one day of Sales is not enough, some retailers since mid-October have been putting ads in the papers, online and on billboards encouraging people to shop for bargains all through November. We have not started December and Christmas lights are everywhere in squares, streets, private homes and stores. May I suggest a White Friday for today as we imagine Jesus walking with us towards the light, holding our hands as we feel His protective presence. The Light will be enhanced as we approach Christmas Day, and then we will welcome the Light of the World, the newborn child who will transform the human race with love, compassion, respect and tolerance. We hope He will also bring light in the darkness of Ukraine, in the destroyed homes of Gaza, in the lives of the Hong Kong residents displaced by massive fires, in the people facing floods and excessive droughts. Let’s walk with Jesus towards the hope of a better year as we start the season of Advent, starting a new liturgical year.

Thanksliving

What we should all be grateful for...(click to enlarge)

With the biggest family celebration of the year upon us, may I suggest a few prayers you can say with your families, relatives, friends and loved ones, as you gather around the table for Thanksgiving this year. As GK Chesterton used to say,  ‘I’m amazed at how people celebrate Thanksgiving on one day and then spend the rest of the year complaining. Shouldn’t it be the other way round?’ May I also suggest the concept of Thanksliving – thereby combining being grateful for blessings received and living in the best possible way - politely, gracefully, respectfully, mercifully and lovingly – Living Thankfully !

For bright lights and warm fire, we thank You, o Lord

For good food and the clothes we wear, we thank You, o Lord

For the love and care of mother and father, we thank You, o Lord

For friends who come to be our guests, we thank You, o Lord

For all things You have given us to enjoy, we thank You, o Lord

For true Happiness which comes when we share, we thank You, o Lord

For daily bread, for all things good,

For life and health, for this our food,

For each good gift your grace imparts,

We thank You, Lord, with humble hearts.

For each new morning with its light.

For rest and shelter of the night.

Give us also Your Peace, Lord, especially in troubled areas in our world.

Birds and Fish

For those of you visitors to this Blog who told me how much they enjoyed the Bird-feeders a week ago, I am sharing with you today another bird-feeder from Nashville, Tennessee with a spectacular show by all kinds of birds. In particular, you’ll see plenty of cardinals, red for males, and greyish-greenish for female, besides flickers, mourning doves, Blue Jays, black birds, finches, and a few others that show up fighting for a little space to nibble on some seeds. For those of you who may prefer fish, I include here a Live Aquarium with a variety of colorful fish moving around in groups, and spreading an aura of peace and tranquillity. Enjoy ! And a Blessed Thanksgiving to all my American friends and former parishioners.

St Catherine of Alexandria

St Catherine in a painting by Giuseppe Cali in Zurrieq parish, Malta

Catherine was born of a noble family in Alexandria, her father being the pagan king Costus and her mother queen Sabinella, who both ruled over Alexandria. She was a very intelligent girl who studied the arts, the sciences and philosophy. She had decided at a very young age that she will remain a virgin, and would marry only if she found someone who was more intelligent than her, and was more handsome and was more wealthy than her. This was her way of saying she would be married to Christ because she said: “His beauty is better than the sun, His wisdom governs creation, and His riches are spread all around the universe.” She had converted to Christianity after she had a vision from heaven, at the same time when she started to criticize the emperor Maxentius who used to persecute the Christians. As a sort of revenge, the emperor chose 50 of her friends who had also converted and burned them alive. He even promised Catherine a royal wedding of she accepted to abandon Christianity, but of course, she refused him and ended up in prison. While in prison, Catherine was able to convert the wife of Maxentius and 200 of his soldiers. They were martyred along with Catherine herself, who was tied to a large wheel. When the wheel broke, she was then beheaded. 1100 years after her death, St Joan of Arc recalls seeing her in a vision, who helped her and encouraged her in her own martyrdom. In sacred art, Catherine is shown as the bride of Christ, with the account of the mystical marriage of St Catherine. In paintings, she is always shown dressed as a princess, with the broken wheel and a palm in her hands, as well as the sword which eventually ended her life as a martyr. 

The Jesuits at Hiroshima

The Jesuit mission in Hiroshima, (in red circle)

80 years ago, on August 6 and 9, two nuclear bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan. Estimated death tolls range from 100,000 to 200,000 fatalities. Many of these death were instantaneous, yet others died over successive years as a result of the radiation. Just about everything standing was flattened. Yet in the midst of this horrific destruction, 8 Jesuit missionaries who were in their mission rectory, miraculously survived and did not suffer any bad effects from the hurtful radiation. Doctors who eventually cared for the Jesuits feared that they would suffer serious lesions, illness and even death. Nevertheless, 200 medical exams over the years showed no adverse effects, confusing the doctors who had foreseen grim after-effects. Moreover, the Jesuits’ church, Our Lady of the Assumption lost its stained glass windows, but did not collapse. Among the Jesuits was Pedro Aruppe, who would become Superior General of the Jesuits for several years. Years later, in August of 1976, during the International Eucharistic Congress held in Philadelphia, all 8 priests were still alive and, and one of them Fr Hubert Schiffer recounted his experience of that day, and how they miraculously all survived. When he was asked why they survived, he answered ‘because we lived the message of Fatima. We said the Rosary daily in our home.’

Christ the King

The Solemnity of Christ the King is celebrated on this last Sunday of the Liturgical Year. It’s a day to honor our Savior as King, who leads us with love, kindness and compassion, unlike many other ruthless Kings and Emperors who lead with tyranny, oppression and cruelty, many of whom were deposed by their own people. The image of Christ the King has always been presented to us as if sitting on a glittering throne, with a sceptre in hand and golden crown on his head. In actual fact, his throne was the cross on which he was crucified, the sceptre were the nails driven through his hands and feet, and the crown was made of sharp thorns that were pushed on his head. The feast of Christ the King as we know it now was introduced precisely 100 years ago, in 1925, to counteract the start of Communism in the world. The Bolshevik Revolution of 1917 had taken the presence of Christ from the hearts of people, and the Church wanted to bring Him back into the center of their lives. At the same time the Mexican people were undergoing a ruthless persecution by their leaders, seeing many priests and lay people killed as they defended their churches. This feast was celebrated on the last Sunday in October until 1969, when Pope Paul VI shifted this feast to the last Sunday of the Liturgical Year, usually towards the end of November.

The bronze statue you see in this post was created by Maltese sculptor Antonio Sciortino, and was installed in 1917 to commemorate the 1913 International Eucharistic Congress held in Malta. Below the statue of Christ the King, there is a woman symbolizing Malta, adoring her Creator in all humility. People still congregate around this iconic statue to pray for protection, especially this year, for deliverance from wars and conflict that are still so prevalent in so many countries.

Popes and Music

The last 4 Popes and their photo as young priests

On this feast of St Cecilia, the patron saint of music, I am sharing with you the last 4 Popes’ favorite kind of music. Like everyone else they had their childhood, their teenage years, their youth and their adult life as priests and bishops and of course they enjoyed music too. Pope Leo XIV recently mentioned his favorite movies, which include The Sound of Music, It’s a Wonderful Life, and Life is Beautiful. But he also mentioned the Italian singer Laura Pausini, when he said he had followed her music for decades. In fact in the presence of the Holy Father, Pausini received Billboard Italy’s “ Global Icon” award for women in music on November 12 and then presented Pope Leo with an unreleased song, Brother Sun, Sister Moon, inspired by St. Francis of Assisi’s Canticle of the Creatures.

Pope Francis held a deep love for music that reflected his Argentine roots especially the tango as “a melody that evokes nostalgia and hope,” adding that it “comes from deep within me.” He also liked  classical compositions, such as works by Beethoven, Bach, and Mozart, whose work he called “matchless” in Et incarnatus est from his Mass in C Minor. Pope Benedict XVI maintained a lifelong love for classical music, particularly the works of Mozart, which he often played on the piano. He also cherished Bach, including his Mass in B Minor and the St. Matthew Passion, which left a lasting impression on his spiritual imagination. Benedict’s musical tastes reveal a reflective pontiff attuned to beauty, harmony, and the transcendent power of art to move the soul. Pope John Paul II often turned to the traditional music of his native Poland, classical compositions, and Gregorian chant, which he called “a unique and universal spiritual heritage.” A favorite song of John Paul II was  Lord, You Have Come to the Seashore, an original 1974 Spanish song known also as  Pescador de Hombres, written by  Spanish priest Cesareo Gabarain.

Presentation of Mary

While the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary was not generally celebrated in the West until the 11th century, it appears in most of the earliest calendars of the Eastern Churches. A basilica was built near the ruins of the Temple in Jerusalem, and the Gospel of James and other apocryphal works (not included in the Bible) told the story of Mary's presentation at the Temple at the age of three. In gratitude for being granted a child after years of infertility, Mary's parents, Saints Joachim and St Anne had vowed to dedicate Mary to the service of God at the Temple. When they presented her at the Temple at the age of three, she stayed willingly, showing her dedication to God even at that young age, attending the temple regularly, similar to what children do attending their Religious Education classes. The Gospel or Protoevangelium of James is the source of many details of Mary's life that became universally accepted by the Church, including the names of her parents, the story of her birth, her age at her betrothal to Saint Joseph, and Saint Joseph's advanced age and his status as a widower with children by his first wife. 

When Mary left the Temple at the age of 12 after her betrothal to Joseph, she remained pure and chaste, and at the Annunciation God came to dwell in her. Under the influence of a French nobleman, Philippe de Mazières, Pope Gregory XI began celebrating the feast during the time the Pope was living in Avignon, France. Pope Sixtus IV first placed the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary on the universal calendar in 1472, but in the Tridentine reform of the calendar in 1568, Pope Pius V removed the feast. It was restored 17 years later by Pope Sixtus V, and remains in the Roman calendar today as a memorial. Today's Feast emphasizes our response to God's gifts. All parents are called to imitate the Holy Family by presenting their children for Baptism. Mary was called to continually give her "Yes" to God's invitations of love. In that continual "Yes" she shows us the way we are all called to respond to the invitations of grace in our own lives as we grow in holiness. 

Vintage photo from 1990

This is a vintage Malta photo I took back in the summer of 1990. It represents the entrance to the capital city Valletta looking towards Floriana. The main square has the Triton Fountain in the middle, still in its place although it had been renovated around 8 years ago. The entire square around it was also restored, transforming it into a wide open space for people to walk around with no vehicles allowed. Back in 1990, you can see the buses, all in  light green color, which used the square as a bus terminus. On this particular day, the Armed Forces Band was doing a display, entering the city for some special occasion, playing a variety of festive marches. One can see in the distance the parish church of Floriana, dedicated to St. Publius, which was partially destroyed during World War II. Behind it is a smaller dome which is the church of Sarria dedicated to the Immaculate Conception, built in the 16th century by the Knights of Malta. The larger building on the top left hand is the Catholic Institute built in 1960, and the obelisk in front of it is the monument dedicated to the victims of the two World Wars.

Bird Feeders LIVE

I'd like to introduce you today to a few webcams that I discovered with plenty of colorful birds feeding on seeds and whatever the owners throw in the receptacle. These two displayed here are from Nashville, USA and Germany. Obviously at night there isn't much activity, but I even noticed a small mouse grabbing whatever he could while the birds were sleeping. In the first webcam from Nashville you can see the beautiful red cardinals dominating the scene. The red ones are male while the brownish-greenish ones are the female. You'll see also many mourning doves, as well as flickers, black and white birds with a tiny red spot on the back of their necks, Blue Jays, finches and other smaller birds. 

You will see, especially in the second webcam from Germany a variety of birds, small and large, all helping themselves from the abundance of seeds in the receptacle. Don't forget that the US East coast is 6 hours behind Europe - But flip from one webcam to the other to get a variety of birds entertaining you, while oblivious of the camera which transmits their every move world-wide, and now, for the first time on Dun Giljan's Blog.

The Basilicas of St Peter and St Paul

                        

Barely a week ago, we commemorated the dedication of the Mother Church of the Catholic Church, St John Lateran. Today we commemorate the dedication of two other major basilicas combined together, St Paul outside the walls and St Peter’s basilica, known as the Vatican. These dedications are important because they symbolize in a way the birth and baptism of each edifice. When the early persecutions ended in 313 AD by King Constantine, he later built a basilica over the tomb where St Peter was buried. It lasted almost a thousand years, and the reconstruction of the original building started in the 14th century. The present Basilica, an ingenious structure built with the collaboration of Michelangelo, Bramante, Carlo Moderno, Giovanni Pannini and Bernini was officially consecrated on November 18 1626 by Pope Urban VIII. It is by far the most imposing and impressive church in all of Christendom, where major celebrations, elections of Popes, funerals, Canonizations etc, are held.

The Basilica of St Paul was started by Valentinian II on the Via Ostiense in 386, on the place where St Paul was buried. It was subsequently modified by Pope Gregory the Great in the 6th century. It has a graceful cloister that was built in the 13th century. Of all the churches of Rome, it had preserved its primitive character for 1435 years. However a negligent fire destroyed it in 1823 and the new and present Basilica was built in the 19th century and consecrated on December 10, 1854 by Pope Pius IX. The whole world contributed to its reconstruction. The Viceroy of Egypt sent pillars of alabaster, the Emperor of Russia the precious malachite and lapis lazuli of the tabernacle. The work on the principal facade, looking toward the Tiber, was completed by the Italian Government, which declared the church a national monument. Pope Pius IX ruled that both Basilicas will have their dedication celebration together, on November 18. Both churches are majestic in appearance, but also very imposing in their stature as two of the 4 major basilicas in Rome.

St Elizabeth of Hungary

Esteban Murillo - St Elizabeth of Hungary

Since my first parish in Oregon was dedicated to this beloved saint, I developed a special affection towards her and her touching life-story, a replica of what Mother Teresa would do 7 centuries later. St. Elizabeth was born in Bratislava, a Kingdom of Hungary in 1207, the daughter of Alexander II, King of Hungary. At the age of four she was sent for education to the court of the Landgrave of Thuringia, and within a few years she was betrothed to his son, Ludwig. As she grew in age, her piety also increased by leaps and bounds. In 1221, aged 14, she married Ludwig of Thuringia, the same year that he was crowned Ludwig IV, and the marriage appears to have been happy. In 1223, Franciscan monks arrived, and the teenage Elizabeth not only learned about the ideals of Francis of Assisi, but started to live these ideals. Ludwig was not upset by his wife's charitable efforts, believing that the distribution of his wealth to the poor would bring eternal reward; he is venerated in Thuringia as a saint, though not canonized by the church as his wife is. In spite of Elizabeth’s position at court she began to lead an austerely simple life, practiced penance, and devoted herself to works of charity. Her husband was himself much inclined to religion and highly esteemed her virtue, encouraging her in her exemplary life. They had three children, Hermann, Sophia and Gertrude. Then tragedy struck - Ludwig was killed while fighting with the Crusaders. After his death, Elizabeth left the court, made arrangements for the care of her children, and in 1228, renounced the world, becoming a tertiary of St. Francis. Her family wanted her to re-marry, but she made a vow of celibacy and never married. Elizabeth even built a small house next to hers so that she could let the homeless and hungry sleep in there, after she would feed them. She also built the Franciscan hospital at Marburg, Germany and devoted herself to the care of the sick until her death at the young age of 24 in 1231. St. Elizabeth is frequently pictured distributing bread to the needy in her community, and thus is the patron saint of bakers, countesses, the homeless, nursing services, widows, and young brides. She was canonized in 1235, just 4 years after her death.

The best melody

The Jewish King Ruben once asked his subjects to present him with the most beautiful melody every created. Many went to visit him with various instruments, the flute, guitar, the mandolin, the harp and others. There were also some vocalists, sopranos and tenors especially. There were also some tribal drumming and a few choruses, but  none of them made the King happy. At the end, a woman showed up with just two candles, and placed them on the window as she opened the window. And she said ‘whoever has ears, let him hear....’ Yet the King heard nothing and objected to the woman’s presence and her unusual melody.  When he almost threw her out, she told him, ‘Your Highness, can’t you hear the beautiful sound of silence?’ After a few minutes, the king heard a few birds chirping, a river with gurgling water, the hustle of some leaves and even faint tolling of church bells in a distance. The King then complimented the woman for opening his eyes and ears to the music of nature, and the stillness of silence.  Truly, how often we ignore silence, and always are surrounded by noise, chatter and annoying distractions that cause confusion, chaos and disturbing cacophony. Now open this spectacular video and enjoy 90 minutes of heavenly scenes, soft music and the sounds of nature.

Families and children

These two composite photos are indicative of our present society and how it has evolved over the past 50 years. We all remember the days when we played games together, those board games at home, Snakes and Ladders, Scrabble, Chess, Monopoly and so many others, until Atari arrived on the scene. Then video-games took over our lives, as Pacman, Super Mario and Pokémon became household names. I remember my nephews waiting for my luggage coming from New York to find their Game-Boy cartridges to show off to their friends, mostly to tease them as they were the only ones who had them now that Uncle Julian arrived for a few days rest. And as the new millennium came along, people started to become more solitary, heads down clicking on the cell-phones and mobile phones. 

Evolution of children

And as young children were given their own cell-phone, communication between children and their parents became a major problem. As accessible and as convenient lap-tops, IPads and cell phones are, they are also creating divisions within families as the universal call has now been issued to deny children younger than 16 to own a cell-phone. We will wait and see how things will continue to develop. Just like climate change, social media has become as lethally dangerous just as the Cold War and nuclear threat have been in the past 60 years. May God help us as we pray for a solution to this ever-growing concern.

Autumn in Spencer

The North-East states of the United States are presently enveloped in a blazing display of spectacular foliage with maples trees being the main protagonist as they show off their leaves in all shades of orange, yellows, red and brown. The 6 months sabbatical I spent in St Joseph’s Abbey in Spencer, Massachusetts in 2002 gave me the opportunity to enjoy this special time of the year, as the Fall season (Autumn in Europe) gives way to winter. And that was one tough winter, with everything encased in ice and one snowstorm after another. Which meant I had to shovel tons of snow, while watching  a plethora of icicles forming around the cloister, as Trappist monks huddled to keep warm.

These two photos represent some of the awesome scenes one can witness anywhere from Canada to Vermont, to Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, New York and Pennsylvania. Besides taking some great photos, one of my duties was to rake and collect zillions of leaves that fell on the property. And with so many trees, believe me when I say that zillions is not an overstatement.

St Francis Xavier Cabrini

St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, was born in Lombardia, Italy in 1850, the youngest of thirteen children. Two months premature, she remained in delicate health throughout her 67 years. As a young girl, Francesca was taken care of by her older sister Rosa, because her mother was 52 when Maria Francesca was born. At 13, she was sent to Arluno to study under the Daughters of the Sacred Heart at the Normal School, and in 1868, at 18 she was certified as a teacher. Four years later she contracted smallpox. When she tried to enter into the Daughters of the Sacred Heart, Mother Superior refused admission, even though she saw potential in her, because of her frail health. She helped her parents until their death, and then worked on a farm with her siblings. One day a priest asked her to teach in a girls' school and she stayed for six years. At the request of her Bishop, she founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart to care for poor children in schools and hospitals. Although her lifelong dream was to be a missionary in China, Pope Leo XIII sent her to New York City on March 31, 1889 with six other nuns. There, she obtained the permission of Archbishop Michael Corrigan to found an orphanage, which is located in West Park, Ulster County, NY today known as Saint Cabrini Home, the first of 67 institutions she founded in New York, Chicago, Seattle, New Orleans, Denver, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and in countries throughout South America and Europe, especially Italy, England, France, Spain. Filled with a deep trust in God and endowed with a wonderful administrative ability, this remarkable woman soon founded schools, hospitals, and orphanages in this strange land and saw them flourish in the aid of Italian immigrants and children. She died in Chicago, Illinois on December 22, 1917. In 1946, she became the first American citizen to be canonized by Pope Pius XII. St. Frances Xavier Cabrini is the patroness of immigrants. Her beatification miracle involved the restoration of sight to a child who had been blinded by excess silver nitrate in the eyes. Her canonization miracle involved the healing of a terminally ill nun. She is buried in Washington Heights where a shrine is also dedicated to her.

Focus on Gratitude

I started a custom just yesterday of writing on a small slip of paper something positive that happened to me, a short prayer to God, a happy experience, a compliment I received, cheering someone, helping a person in need, etc. I will place these gratitude slips in a jar and when I feel down or sad, I will browse through them, and undoubtedly I will cheer myself up. In a few months, I will let you know how this experiment has helped me in my daily life. Incidentally a week ago, the local food store was distributing free plastic containers, and picked one hoping to use it for my pens or brushes. But after deciding on this project, it will now serves for a more positive and uplifting purpose. May I suggest you may try it too? You can call it the Gratitude Jar, as this picture suggests.

Leo from Chicago

I share with you today an interesting documentary done by the Vatican News Service about Pope Leo XIV and his connection with his native state of Chicago. There are various interviews and comments from his two brothers, various Augustinian priests who knew him and many personal friends who have kept contact with him over the years. We’ll meet some former classmates from Villanova University, Chicago White Sox baseball players and even childhood friends and past teachers who recollect his younger years. This documentary does not deal with his many years in Peru or other connections with the Vatican, just purely Robert Prevost and his Chicago affinity and native connection. There are many never-seen before photos from his years growing up, as his friends search their photo albums to share with us a slice of Pope Leo's younger years.

Best 50 Breads

Maltese bread just coming out of the oven.

The Maltese bread just classified as one of the best 50 breads from around the world. According to this CNN list, all in alphabetical order, the Maltese bread was regarded as one of the best, as many tourists claim. The Maltese people are also very fond of this staple which is eaten profusely with any meal. Bread is basically what your culture says it is, and it doesn’t need to be made with any particular kind of flour. Instead, it turns staple grains such as wheat, rye or corn into durable foods that can be carried into the fields, used to feed an army or stored for winter. Even before the first agricultural societies formed around 10,000 BC, hunter-gatherers in Jordan’s Black desert made bread with tubers and domesticated grain. In the rugged mountains of Germany’s Westphalia region, bakers steam loaves of dense rye for up to 24 hours, while a round of Armenian lavash made from wheat turns blistered and brown after 30 seconds inside a tandoor oven.  Ethiopian cooks ferment injera’s batter into a tart, bubbling brew, while the corn dough for Venezuelan arepas is patted straight onto a sizzling griddle. This list reflects that diversity. Along with memorable flavor, these breads are chosen for their unique ingredients, iconic status and the sheer, homey pleasure of eating them. From the rich layers of Malaysian roti canai to Turkey’s seed-crusted simit, they’re a journey through the essence of global comfort food – and a reminder that creativity, like bread, is a human inheritance. See here the 50 favorite breads:

https://edition.cnn.com/travel/best-breads-world

The tawny crust of Malta’s sourdough gives way to a pillow-soft interior, ideal for rubbing with a fresh tomato or soaking up the islands’ prized olive oils. Classic versions take more than a day to prepare, and were traditionally baked in shared, wood-fired ovens that served as community gathering places. Even now that few Maltese bake their own bread, Ħobż tal-Malti has a powerful symbolism for our beloved Mediterranean island nation.

St John Lateran

We commemorate today the dedication of one of the 4 major basilicas of Rome, that of St John the Lateran. This majestic basilica was the first church to be built in Christendom. At the top of the center of the façade stands the Risen Christ, demonstrating that to enter the Church, we must enter into Christ’s body. That is why we as Church are called the “Body of Christ.” Underneath this statue is the Papal balcony, from which the Pope addresses his faithful – this is to mean that the Pope is literally under Christ as his Vicar on earth. Directly above the pillars and columns on the façade are 12 bishops of the early Church (known as Doctors) to symbolize that the visible face of the Church is found in the Bishops throughout the east and west. Then each of the foundational pillars of the basilica’s interior contains an enormous marble statue of the 12 Apostles, to symbolize literally that the Church is built on the foundation of the Apostles. They are all similar in style and size, but done by different sculptors. In the back of the Church in the apse is a huge mosaic of Christ the Savior hovering over his Cross. 

  

Three of the magnificent marble statues of the Apostles, Andrew, Paul and Peter

In fact the original name of the Church was “Christ the Savior,” named so by Pope Sylvester, just after it was built by King Constantine, who legalized Christianity. In 313 AD, King Constantine stopped the persecutions and the killing of many innocent martyrs, and he built a Church on a plot of land owned by the Laterani family. It was pillaged and attacked and desecrated over the years, but it survived. However in the 9th century it was destroyed by an earthquake and Pope Sergius III rebuilt it and dedicated it to St John the Baptist. Later it was also dedicated to St John the Evangelist, and that’s why it is known as the basilica of St John Lateran. Now until the 13th century, this Church was the seat of the Pope, his headquarters and his Church government, but then moved to the Vatican, where he still resides, and from where all Church business is conducted. The present façade was completed in 1735, and was done after a competition among Rome’s best architects, the prize and winning design going to Alessandro Galilei.

4 Marquee quotes

I share with you 4 other quotes I used to place on my Marquee at my former parish of St. Anthony of Padua in Rocky Point, New York. Some visitors to this blog told me they enjoyed this particular post, and so here are 4 more to ponder on. You can read them and reflect on them without worrying if you have tail-gators behind you, or beeping the horn or trying to read the quote, while driving through the heavy traffic on that busy road.

The Mirror

A woman went to an antique store and noticed a beautiful mirror marked $1000. She asked the owner why was it so expensive. He told her that the mirror had some magic attributes about it, particularly revealing 3 truths when a person places their hand on it. The woman was intrigued and bought it right away, especially after she placed the palm of her hand on the mirror, and it quickly revealed these facts:....you are 50 years old....you are jealous of Stephanie because she has a bigger house, and Joanne because she is prettier....and you recently stole a pair of gloves from the store. She took the mirror home and invited many of her friends to come check it out. And when they placed their hands on it they were stunned and mystified by what they saw being revealed about them.....: you always take off 7 years of your age......you complain and criticize constantly.....you buy too many clothes and never wear them..... Even their spouses were intrigued and ashamed of what it revealed about their lives: you leave work early to go to the pub.....you flirt with other women at work......you marked overtime for work you did not do. And this woman was left alone as no one wanted to visit her anymore. The message of this story is that TRUTH OFTEN HURTS. But it’s good to be sincere and honest, because even without the magic mirror, God sees everything.

St Leonard

Scenes from St Leonard's life in the Kirkop church's ceiling.

The feast of St Leonard is celebrated in St Leonard-de-Noblat in France, where he lived, and the small parish at Kirkop, Malta, where I preached on the saint on November 6, 2020 during the celebration of his life.  Two years later I was asked to lead a Parish Mission in Kirkop, which in Malta are called Spiritual Excercises during 5 weekdays during Lent. So I developed a certain fondness for this saint with whom I wasn’t very familiar with before 2020.  St Leonard lived in the 6th century, son of nobles but wanted no honors and wanted to serve only his Lord Jesus Christ. He spent much of his life in the forests among wild animals, attracting many people towards Christianity by his example of humility and austerity. The people were very anti-Christian, but he changed many people’s lives as many men joined him in the convent he created. One of the miracles attributed to him was the healing of Queen Misigarda who was able to deliver a healthy baby thanks to his prayers. As a result, King Teodoberto offered him part of the forest and built for him a church and a convent. St Leonard tended to many of the local prisoners and prayed that they will be released, as many of them became monks, following him and living a very religious life thereafter. Various people who were sick, blind, deaf, and mute came to him and were often healed of their infirmities. He died on November 6, 569, and a bigger church in his honor was built in St Leonard-de-Noblat in Central France.