Bullying

A truck driver was having his lunch at a truck stop, after driving for a few hundred miles. Three Hell’s Angels motorcyclists arrive at the restaurant, and started teasing and making fun of various customers. They settled next to this truck driver who was quietly eating his lunch. One of them drank his coffee, the second one ate his fat juicy sandwich and the third one grabbed his apple pie. Within two minutes, his lunch was gone. Without saying anything, the trucker got up and went to pay for the lunch, and left ever so quietly.  As the waitress came to clean the table, one of the three cyclists said ‘What kind of a man was that – we ate his lunch and drank his coffee, and didn’t say anything. What a weirdo !’ The waitress, realizing what had happened, smiled at them and told them ‘I don’t know what kind of a weirdo he is, but I know for sure he’s a lousy truck driver, because he just crushed and destroyed those three motor-cycles parked outside our restaurant !’Bullies get the biggest lesson sometimes, from the most humble and unpretentious people.

Arriving in Oregon

Flashback from 2003 Journals: It felt like the Indianapolis 500: With Bishop Robert Vasa driving, even with my seat-belts securely fastened, I was literally holding on to my seat. As we passed Battle Mountain, just before Ukiah, we were at a precipice that left me spellbound, not only because of the beautiful hills covered with pine trees, but also because of the immense drop on my side, and with no guard rail ! As we finished this long, swerving curve which felt like a 360 degree turn, the Bishop even had the nerve to apologize for going slow. He said, ”Father Julian, I usually I go faster, but since you’re with me today, I’m taking it a little slower.”

Nonetheless it was a breath-taking drive from Bend to the Columbia River, and then onto Route 84 along the mighty Columbia, with those awesome hills on the Washington side of the river. Then down to Pendelton, where we stayed overnight, in order for the Bishop to install the new Pastor there, a Nigerian priest. Our Indy 500 took place on Sunday afternoon during a spectacularly beautiful day. Since the Bishop had to continue on in his journey to Bend, he had another three hours to drive, so he dropped me off at my new home at St Elizabeth of Hungary in John Day, and after going around the place, inspecting the Rectory, visiting the Church and the Parish Hall, I asked for his blessing and he left me on my own, as the new Pastor of John Day. He picked up a Coca Cola from the refrigerator and simply said ‘Father Julian, you’re on your own now.’ It suddenly dawned on me that I was now on my own, as a Pastor for the first time in my life.

My new parish - The Parish boundaries are actually within the entire Grant county in the middle of Oregon, a total of 4,500 square miles of forests, hills, mountains, little towns like John Day, Canyon City, Prairie City, Dayville, Long Creek, Seneca and others sprinkled around. I calculated that in my parish I can fit 38 little Maltas. Just thinking about that fact can be truly overwhelming and mind-boggling. Just thinking about the fact that to say Mass in one of my mission Churches every Sunday, which is between Dale and Long Creek, I have to travel the equivalent of the distance between Malta and Sicily. Every Sunday! Rain, shine or snow! And once a month I have an extra 50 miles to another Mission in Monument. When you talk about distances, we’re talking about lots of miles to cover, through beautiful and spectacular scenery, mountain passes, winding roads, along rivers and creeks, through little towns whose population ranges from 25 to 2,500. But I know the Lord will be with me through my new adventure in Oregon, where I would spend 13 glorious years. This was one of the happiest periods of my life, as I was on my own, re-organizing a dying parish, and giving it my flavor, my personal touch, even though after 2 and a half years the bishop gave me a huge promotion, sending me to the Cathedral in Baker City.

Rainbow at Tor Vergata

While more than a million young people eagerly awaited Pope Leo XIV’s arrival at Tor Vergata, close to Rome, an unexpected sign appeared in the sky: a rainbow formed across a completely clear sky, with no rain in sight. On August 3, the Pope arrived at the vast, over-230-acre field to celebrate the closing Mass of the Jubilee of Youth—a gathering that brought together pilgrims from more than 140 countries in a celebration of faith, prayer, and joy. At that moment, as the Pontiff reached the venue, a striking symbol floated overhead. Under a bright sky, a rainbow emerged. It didn’t rain, the sun was blazing, but there the rainbow appeared when the Pope arrived—it was recorded. Then it disappeared. More than a million young people witnessed this sign, which, for many, was a visible reminder of God's faithful love in the midst of the Jubilee. 

Praying for Minnesota

The Catholic school at Annunciation parish in Minneapolis.

I place myself instead of that priest celebrating Mass surrounded by happy children, just starting another scholastic year. I’ve done that in my US parishes hundreds of times, and at the end, I always end up hugged by little children, after being complimented for doing a great job in reading the prayers of the faithful, bringing up the offertory gifts, helping as altar-servers, and being so reverent around the altar. That scene replayed itself in hundreds of Catholic school in America yesterday, but in one parish in Minnesota, the Annunciation church and school the unthinkable happened as 2 children were killed and another 17 injured, most of them children as they were praying in church. A deranged ex-student, armed with a rifle, shotgun and pistol, emptied his ammunition on innocent children, causing irreparable damage also to other students who witnessed their friends die next to them. This was the 44th school shooting this year in the USA. We’ve heard it before, we’ve seen it happen before our very eyes, and yet, as parents grieve their children, criminals can still buy guns and revolvers as if they’re buying candy, popcorn or baseball cards. Please pray for Minnesota and those grieving parents.

Always on the go

Live Mass on Malta TV in 2022 from my chapel

Celebrating another milestone year, I look back at some photos that characterized my life from a young toddler, to a seminarian, a priest for 48 years, and always on the go, even as I hit 73, when most people at that age are happily retired. Between Malta, New York and Oregon, my thousands of photos, articles, homilies and many unforgettable events will always be engraved in my heart and memory. Forever grateful for those who have played an important part in my upbringing and splendid journey.

Click on each set of photos to get a larger image.

 

My childhood church

This is the week when my childhood parish church in St. Julian’s will be dressed up in its finest outfit, thanks to some young enthusiasts who dedicate a lot of precious time in decorating every corner of this old church. It is used to be the old parish until 1968, when a larger new one was built. But in this church my parents were married,  there I was baptized, received all my sacraments, served as an altar-boy for many years and celebrated many Masses since my ordination. The original church was built in 1730, but was expanded over the years as the population continued to grow. The main painting behind the main altar was restored 2 years ago, and various other artefacts are still visible in the sacristy and used at side-altars. By 1847, the population was 1000 with 50 families in this little fishing village which was also used as a summer resort for many people. The parish itself was established in 1891, and the population exploded in the 1950s into the 1990s, becoming almost a cosmopolitan town with hotels, restaurants, high rise apartments, etc. With the mecca of entertainment known as Paceville close by, St. Julian’s has become too overcrowded. But my childhood church is quite an attraction as many outsiders come to check it out especially on the day of the feast of St. Julian, which is celebrated this coming Sunday with religious festivities held all week long, culminating with a popular procession on Sunday evening.

Finding Peace

Venerable Bruno Lanteri

Venerable Bruno Lanteri was a priest from Turin, Italy, in the early 18th century, during a time of great stress and turmoil, including the war and the French Revolution. Lanteri worked to support many troubled individuals in his community. He wrote various books about spirituality, including ‘If you want peace in this life,’ a series of letters, giving advice about how any person could find peace. He highlights these 7 points:

1. Be not troubled by temptations. We must bear temptations, learn to move on despite our failings, and vow to God never to do any act that will displease him.

2. Prioritize meditation and spiritual reading. When feeling discouraged, the direct pathway to peace of mind is faithfulness to God’s sacraments and the spiritual life. These can eliminate anxiety.

3. Follow God, and he will set you free. What is God asking you to do? The pathway to peace also involves conforming one’s will to God’s will.

4. Cultivate this remedy for sadness. Venerable Bruno says that humility is how God wants people to undergo trials. Humility is God’s way of erasing one’s pride, and so to live in God’s presence.

5. Find peace in this life. First, accept the present circumstances. Remember that God’s presence, and be dedicated to the joys of heaven. Do not be troubled. God is with you, and he is helping you.

6. Attend Mass regularly.  Mass is a prime way to venerate Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary and from which we can draw the greatest fruit. Preferably daily Mass.

7. Find daily energy. Wake up feeling exhausted? Do not to be surprised by fatigue that can be caused by age or physical problems. Instead, one should begin every day with patience and be faithful with spiritual practices.

T.H.I.N.K.

                           
What we say to others and about others could be detrimental to our friendships and relationships. Many of these were shattered and broken because we did not keep a secret, or because we spread rumors or gossiped about things, news and information that was not correct or true. So I always suggest this method to my parishioners, and invariably they always come back to ask me for a copy or what the five words are. It is so true, we can hurt so many people by what we say without first thinking. So, never say anything about others unless it is True, Helpful, Inspiring (or Important,) Necessary and Kind - a perfect acronym for the word THINK. That’s right, think about it, before you say it!

Pope Leo’s likes

Left to right: Pope Leo, John, Louis Prevost

From an interview on NBC TV with John Prevost, the older brother of Pope Leo XIV, some interesting facts came out, which are worth mentioning.  They talk each day on the phone, and even play Wordle together on line.  He enjoyed his few days at Castelgandolfo, where he used the swimming pool and played some tennis. Pope Leo misses driving, just through a country road, towards the mountains, etc. It’s just not the same having a chauffer all the time. He recently stepped off his pope mobile to receive a gift of a pizza from Aurelio’s, one of his favorite Chicago pizzerias, and he ate the whole thing. His bodyguards took it from him to make sure it was safe. He did reheat it. He did eat every bit of it. Pepperoni is his favorite. His favorite candy is Peeps. Leo was very close to his predecessor, very close to Francis. When they had some domestic problem at home, they always waited for Bob, because he always took care of it. Before becoming Pope, he always enjoyed a John Grisham novel and also liked legal thrillers. He also enjoyed entertaining movies that have a positive outcome. Asked if he’ll ever get to the USA, John responded that he’s going to be there for his funeral, emphasizing that they may have to keep the body on ice for a while, but he’ll get there. We all know by now that his favorite baseball team is the Chicago White Sox.

Queen of Heaven

'Coronation' from St Francis de Sales Cathedral, Baker City, Oregon.

We honor the Blessed Mother today as Queen of Heaven and Earth, a feast introduced into the liturgical calendar by Pope Pius XII on October 11, 1954. It was celebrated on May 31, the last day of the Marian month, but Pope Paul VI moved it to August 22, a week after the feast of the Assumption of Mary. One of the most beautiful Coronation stained-glass windows is in the Cathedral of Baker City in Oregon, where I served for 8 glorious years. This window was crafted by the Rambusch brothers of New York in 1958, and shows the coronation of Mary, surrounded by God the Father, God the Son and the Holy Spirit, besides a group of angels, two of whom are placing the crown on Mary's head.

May Mary Queen of Heaven and Earth protect us all and keep her eyes on the suffering people, especially those in Ukraine, Gaza, Palestine and in the Middle East region, and may she change the heart of their leaders who have no respect for human life.  May she protect all fire-fighters who are battling some huge fires right now, as well all the young people heading for college and children preparing for another scholastic year. May she also keep all families united in love, and strive to sacrifice their relationship, instead of giving up any time there is a minor confrontation.

Pope St Pius X

Saint Pius X was born on June 2, 1835, his name being Giuseppe Sarto. He was the first Pope since Pope Pius V to be canonized. He was one of 11 children, and though poor, his parents valued education, and Giuseppe walked 3 miles to school each day. Pius X was a fervent reformer of Church practices and regulations such as the Canon Law, his most important reform, which for the first time codified Church law in a central fashion. He was a pastoral pope, encouraging personal piety and a life-style reflecting Christian values. He was the only Pope in the 20th century with extensive pastoral experience at the Parish level and pastoral concerns permeated his papacy. The Catechism of Pope Pius X is short and direct. His teachings were considered equally down to earth and practical. He favored the use of modern language in Catechesis. Frequent communion was a lasting innovation of Pius X, because before his time, people could only receive communion once a month and, on special occasions, on Sunday. He was also instrumental in introducing the custom of First Holy Communion for young children.

Personally Pius combined within himself a strong sense of compassion, benevolence, poverty, but also stubbornness. He wanted to be pastor and was the only Pope in the 20th century who gave Sunday sermons every week. His charity was extraordinary, filling the Vatican with refugees from the 1908 Messina quake, long before the Italian government began to act on its own. He rejected any kind of favors for his family, his brother remained a postal clerk, his favorite nephew stayed on as village priest, and his three sisters lived together close to poverty in Rome.  He often referred to his own humble origins, taking up the causes of poor people. "I was born poor, I have lived poor, and I wish to die poor." Considered a holy person by many, public veneration of Pope Pius X began soon after his death. He died August 20, 1914 and was canonized in 1954, after his body was exhumed and displayed under a side-altar where priests can celebrate Mass, many of which I was lucky to serve as an altar boy in 1966.

St Bernard and the Blessed Mother

Juan de las Roelas - Vision of St Bernard 1611

We celebrate today the feast of Saint Bernard, (1090-1153) the primary builder of the Cistercian Monastic order. He was also very devoted to the Blessed Mother having written various prayers in her honor. The above painting seems strange for some people, but it reflects the nurturing instinct that Mary had on St Bernard. Mary is seen squeezing her breast to feed Bernard with her maternal milk, showing herself as a spiritual provider of food as any mother would see that her children are fed, physically and spiritually.

This is one of the prayers written by St Bernard.
O you, whoever you are, who feel in the tidal wave of this world you are nearer to being tossed about among the squalls and gales than treading on dry land, if you do not want to fall apart in the tempest, do not avert your eyes from the brightness of the star, Mary, Your Mother.
When the wind of temptation blows up within you, when you strike upon the rock of tribulation, gaze up at the Star, call out to Mary, Your Mother.
When you are being tossed about by the waves of pride, or ambition, slander or jealousy, gaze up at the Star, Mary, Your Mother. When rage or greed or fleshly desires are battering against the protective shield of your soul, gaze up at Mary, Your Mother. When the immensity of your sins weighs you down and you are bewildered by your heavy conscience, when the terrifying thought of judgement appals you, and you begin to lose heart in the gulf of sadness and despair, think of Mary, Your Mother.
Keep her name on your lips, Keep her in your heart. Follow the example of her life and you will obtain the favor of her prayer. Following in her footsteps, you will not go astray. Asking for help, you will not fall into despair: thinking of her you will not err. While she keeps hold of your hand, you will not fall or stumble. With her protecting you, you will not be afraid. With her leading you, you will not tire. Enjoying her protection, you will reach the goal. Her kindness will see you through the end.

More precious quotes

These quotes that I’ve been sharing with you over the past few months have attracted a lot of attention and many clicks from my Blog visitors. So here are a few more to reflect on and ponder. Take your time to think about each quote, pausing after each one.

Two things define you in life. Your patience when you have nothing and your attitude when you have everything.

Each moment in a day has its own value – Morning brings hope, Afternoon brings faith, Evening brings love and Night brings rest.  I wish you can find them all today.

Every day God thinks of you. Every hour God looks after you. Every minute God cares for you. Because every second, He loves you.

God will give you strength when you think you can’t go on. He will give you joy when you get discouraged. He will make a way when it looks impossible. Trust Him !

In Happy moments, praise God. In Difficult moments, seek God. In Quiet moments, worship God. In Painful moments, trust God. In Lonely moments, search God. In Every moment, thank God.

The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, worry about the future, or anticipate trouble, but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly.

Always remember – some days are better, some days are worse. Look for the blessing instead of the curse. Be positive, stay strong and get enough rest. You can’t do it all, but you can always do your best.

When you pray God listens. When you listen God talks. When you believe God works.

A truth is still the truth, even if no one believes it. A lie is still a lie, even if everyone believes it.

If it comes, welcome it. If it stays, keep it. If it goes, let it. Be grateful for every page of every chapter of your life. They are written for a reason.

Don't you wish this was engraved on your tombstone? Remember always: Your life was a blessing, Your memory a treasure. You are loved beyond words. And missed beyond measure.

From Priests to Popes

This is a truly a historical picture featuring two priests who would one day both become Popes. Most probably this photo was taken in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where Archbishop Jorge Bergoglio was leading that archdiocese. Apparently Fr Robert Prevost, the Superior General of the Augustinian Order was visiting the friars and monks of his order to do the required ‘inspection’ every few years. On this occasion they were concelebrating the Mass with Jorge Bergoglio being the main celebrant. Who would have told them back then that one day they would become successive Vicars of Christ? The photographer who took this photo could never have guessed how historic that photo was to become. May Francis rest in peace, and may Leo XIV continue to inspire the Catholic world with his charisma and words of comfort to the suffering world.

Ave Maria Grotto

A hunchbacked, poor man, Brother Joseph Zoettl lived a hard life – due to his living conditions and of course, his physical limitations. At the age of 14, he signed up with St. Bernard Abbey in Cullman, Alabama, in the hopes of escaping his tough life. Nothing much changed for Brother Joseph. He spent 17 hours every day for almost 30 years working at the Abbey’s pump house. Consequently, the same routine became boring but he didn’t have a choice, so he started his own private amusement project – he began constructing miniature grottoes. Soon, tens became hundreds and hundreds became thousands. Brother Joseph kept the larger models at the Abbey and sold the miniature ones to others. 

Watch the 12 minute Ave Maria Grotto video here

And, soon, it became the Ave Maria Grotto also known as a Jerusalem in Miniature – a four-acre mini-town that was filled with almost 125 famous and religious locations, including a replica of St. Peter’s Basilica, and many churches in Jerusalem where Jesus lived. His last creation, the Basilica in Lourdes, was built in 1958 when Brother Joseph was 80. This video gives you an excellent tour of the whole shrine with grottoes and other monuments, little chapels, etc.  The video, though amateur in production, is very clear and gives an overall panoramic view of the Grotto. It's worth a visit - to see what a spiritual journey you can experience, without having to go in person to Alabama.

What is Love?

A group of professional people posed this question to a group of 4 to 8 year-olds, 'What does love mean?' The answers they got were broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined See what you think:

Phyllis, age 7: 'When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love.'

Rebecca - age 8: 'When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth.'

Billy - age 4: 'Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other.'

Terri - age 4: 'Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK.'

Danny - age 7: 'Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more. My Mommy and Daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss.

Emily - age 8: 'Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen.'

Bobby - age 7: (Wow!) 'If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate,'

Nikka - age 6: (we need a few million more Nikka's on this planet) 'Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday.'

Clare - age 6: 'Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken.'

Elaine-age 5: 'Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford.'

Chris - age 7: 'Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day.'

And the winner was Peter age 4: This was told by his mother. Their next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there. When his Mother asked her son what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said, 'Nothing, I just helped him cry.’

The Assumption of Mary

A mid-summer solemnity is the one we celebrate today - that of the Assumption of the Blessed Mother, a dogma of faith that was proclaimed by Pope Pius XII on November 1st 1950, 75 years ago. In his encyclical “Munificentissimus Deus” the Pope solemnly declared “we pronounce, declare and define it to be a divinely revealed dogma, that the Immaculate Mother of God, the ever Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory.” The Assumption of Mary is not to be confused with the Ascension of Jesus. Jesus ascends of his own power and will because he is divine. On the other hand, Mary does not raise herself. God raises her; she is taken up to heaven. The first evidence of belief in the Assumption of Mary can be found in "Transitus Mariae," Latin for "The Crossing Over of Mary," an apocryphal account that dates back to the second and third centuries. For a while people also celebrated the Dormition, the 'sleeping of Mary,' a tradition which recalls the apostles finding her tomb empty, concluding that she was taken up into heaven. By the 14th century, belief in the assumption was widespread, and when Pope Pius XII declared it a dogma of faith in 1950, it was a truth almost universally accepted and professed by the Christian community in every corner of the world.

Blessing a Blessing

Blessing the sonogram machine on March 16, 2014

This title may sound strange, but read on, and you’ll understand what it means. Following on yesterday’s post about Right to Life issues, and protecting the unborn, I have personally witnessed and prayed and marched for the Pro-Life issue over the 35 years I spent serving in US parishes. I know up close and personal how devoted people were for the rights of the unborn, and this is certainly a response to their never-ending prayers, vigils and appeals. Back in 2014 I blessed a sonogram machine in my parish of St. Francis of Assisi in Bend, Oregon. This was bought with money raised by the Knights of Columbus to encourage young women to reconsider a decision they had made to abort their unborn child. The Pregnancy Resource Center was set up to encourage pregnant women to monitor their unborn child, and when they saw the movement of the foetus, and hearing the baby’s heart-beat, the majority of the pregnant women decided to continue with their pregnancy, instead of heading to an abortion clinic. Who knows how many babies were saved because of this machine which was bought with $26,000 by the K of C members. Yes, it was such a blessing for me, blessing the sonogram machine, a true blessing for many babies.

Respecting the unborn

Praying at the Children's Memorial I erected in 2007

This is a flashback from my Journal, written in 2007. As you can see, I am writing in frustration for the lack of support for the right-to-life issue, which I always supported through prayers, and Holy Hours I organized over the years....

Remembering the unborn - I feel very frustrated when special holy days in the American Catholic calendar see a minimum of people attending Mass. This happens every time there is a holiday, which happens to be a special day to remember, whether it’s work, veterans, peace, our loved ones deceased and more. It’s a perfect opportunity for people to show they care, but only a handful do, at least by attending the Mass. The 22nd of January is always a sad day for American Catholics as we remember the day when abortion was legalized on that day in 1973 For the 6 AM Mass morning I had 3 people, and for the 9 AM Mass I had 6, one of whom came for both. So, out of a big parish like this, (Baker City Cathedral, Oregon) only 8 people felt the need to pray for the millions aborted, or not being given a chance to be born and live. Of course I know there are people who have to work and there were another 8 for the Holy Hour at 2:30 PM which ended with Benediction. And the people who usually criticize me for not doing enough for the Respect for Life group, which I’ve been calling Family Life Group, were nowhere to be seen, as usual. They talk the talk but never, not once have they walked the walk. On the other hand, I continue to preach by my own example, sacrificing my life for them. I led the Rosary with reflections on life, and the people who came certainly appreciated my thoughts and meditations. I found a note that someone from one of my parishes in New York had given me after one of the Holy Hours I led. It brought back very fond memories of the Holy Hours I used to organize in all my parishes in New York. This woman wrote in the card:

“Dear Father Julian, I am writing to thank you for the letters, thoughts and reflections that you read during the Holy Hour for Respect for Life. As you read the thoughts of the baby that was aborted, my heart was breaking. I wish I had heard a priest speak as you did when I was in my 20s. Now I‘m Pro-Life - too late for my 3 babies that I aborted who would have been in their 40s now. I wish every teenager could hear you speak. God bless you.”

Drowning countries

The Filipino Archbishop Ryan Jimenez, the chief of the Pacific Episcopal Conference recently met Pope Leo XVI and alerted him about the changes taking place in the Pacific because of climate change. A few days before meeting the Pope, a friend of his sent the Archbishop a message: ’Tell the Pope that we are drowning.’  Since there are many small islands in this area, many people are opting to leave their islands and move to Australia as they feel that they are really drowning. The Pope sent the people a message: ‘I understand that in your archdiocese you have many challenges, but remember that God is always close to you.’ The Pacific Episcopal Conference (CEPAC) includes Cook islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, New Caledonia, Northern Mariana Islands,  Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Wallis and Futuna.

Saint Clare

Clare was a beautiful Italian noblewoman who became the Foundress of an order of nuns now called "Poor Clares." When she heard St. Francis of Assisi preach, her heart burned with a great desire to imitate Francis and to live a poor humble life for Jesus. So one evening, she ran away from home, and in a little chapel outside Assisi, gave herself to God. St. Francis cut off her hair and gave her a rough brown habit to wear, tied with a plain cord around her waist. Her parents tried in every way to make her return home, but Clare would not.
Soon her sister Agnes joined her, as well as other young women who wanted to be brides of Jesus, and live without any money. St. Clare and her sisters wore no shoes, ate no meat, lived in a poor house, and kept silent most of the time. Yet they were very happy, because Our Lord was close to them all the time. Once, He saved them from a great danger in answer to St. Clare's prayer. An army of rough soldiers came to attack Assisi and they planned to raid the convent first. Although very sick, St. Clare had herself carried to the wall and right there, where the enemies could see it, she had the Blessed Sacrament placed. Then on her knees, she begged God to save the Sisters. "O Lord, protect these Sisters whom I cannot protect now," she prayed. A voice seemed to answer: "I will keep them always in My care." At the same time a sudden fright struck the attackers and they fled as fast as they could. St. Clare was sick and suffered great pains for many years, but she said that no pain could trouble her. So great was her joy in serving the Lord that she once exclaimed: "They say that we are too poor, but can a heart which possesses the infinite God be truly called poor?"   Many stories and allegorical tales have been created with St Francis and St Clare, including the popular movie and phrase “Brother Sun, Sister Moon.” But the fact is that both St Clare and St Francis laid a foundation for what to become one of the most influential orders of priests, friars and sisters, the Franciscans. Many other Orders splintered from the original Franciscans, but the foundation of each group remained always a life of poverty and good Christian example, a life detached from the materialism of this world. 

The children of Gaza

                 

We’ve seen them on TV, children and teenagers, and even adults extending their empty pots and pans with the hope of getting a bowl of food, whatever that food is. It looks like some kind of yellow soup, certainly doesn’t look appetizing at all.  I wonder how nutritious and tasty it is. These hundreds of children have been without food for weeks. And they lack many other things....water, love, attention, a big hug, shelter, a home, a future, a family, some toys, something to entertain them, friends to play with, a good night rest on a comfortable bed, a shower, some decent clothes, and so much more !All around them they see debris everywhere, collapsed and destroyed buildings, dust everywhere, bombs falling, parachutes opening up with food coming down on them, as other stronger boys get to the packed food before them. And yet they hope, they suffer, they cry, they yearn for peace. As we watch and wonder, we pray for peace and ask: when will it all end?

St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross

Edith Stein at the time of her conversion

Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (born as Edith Stein) was born in 1891 in Breslau, Poland, and was the youngest child of a large Jewish family. She was an outstanding student and was well versed in philosophy. She received the doctorate in 1916 from the University of Gottingen and started to teach at the University of Freiburg. She was an atheist as a young person, but one day, she started to read the autobiography of St Teresa of Avila, and eventually became interested in the Catholic Faith, and in 1922, she was baptized at the Cathedral Church in Cologne, Germany. Edith left the University of Freiburg and started to teach a Catholic girls school in Speyer, run by the Dominicans. Eleven years later, in 1933 Edith entered the Cologne Carmelite convent. Because of the ramifications of politics in Germany, Edith, whose name in religion was Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, was sent to the Carmel at Echt, Holland. She wrote a letter to Pope Pius XI condemning Nazism, and even though her letter received no answer, and it is not known for certain whether the Pope ever read it. However, in 1937 the Pope issued an encyclical written in German, Mit Brennender Sorge (With Burning Anxiety), in which he criticized Nazism, listed violations of the Concordat between Germany and the Church of 1933, and condemned anti-Semitism. When the Nazis conquered Holland, Teresa was arrested, and sister Rosa with her, and was sent to the concentration camp at Auschwitz. One day, they asked all the girls in that camp to strip naked, promising them a cleansing shower, but instead Teresa, aged 51, and all the other women died in the gas chambers of Auschwitz on August 9, 1942. In 1987, she was beatified in the large outdoor soccer stadium in Cologne by Pope John Paul II. Out of the unspeakable human suffering caused by the Nazis in Western Europe in the 1930's and 1940's, there blossomed the beautiful life of dedication, consecration, prayer, fasting, and penance of Saint Teresa. Even though her life was snuffed out by the satanic evil of genocide, her memory stands as a light undimmed in the midst of evil, darkness, and suffering. She was canonized on October 11, 1998.

Saint Dominic

Being the feast of St Dominic today, I thought you would appreciate this reflection on the physical characteristics of the beloved saint. After World War II, Pope Pius XII authorized the Dominicans of Bologna to have the relics of the founder examined. … After the war, with the Pope’s permission, the Provincial of Lombardy had the relics examined by X-ray. He was not permitted to open the casket, but photographs from many angles were taken. Almost all the bones are still there after more than seven hundred years. Doctors and anthropologists were able to study them and give an accurate description of the skeleton and physical characteristics of St. Dominic. A certain Sister Cecilia's description is proved reliable by the scientific examination. She said he was of medium height — the measurements show that he was five feet six inches tall. She said, “his figure was supple; his face handsome and somewhat ruddy; his hair and beard blond with a reddish tinge. He was not a bit bald [apart from the shaven tonsure], though here and there in his hair there was a touch of gray.” At the bottom of the reliquary, the examiners found some shreds of St. Dominic’s hair. It was exactly the color that Cecilia had said it was. “From his brow and eyes,” she continued, “there came a radiant splendor which won the respect and admiration of all; his eyes were large and beautiful.” St. Dominic’s remains show large eye-sockets that are widely placed, confirming the physical description of Cecilia. With the scientific measurements and Cecilia’s description an artist has reconstructed an image of St. Dominic. At least in size, shape, and proportion it conforms to life. “His hands were long and handsome and his voice powerful and sonorous, and he was always joyous and smiling, except when moved with compassion at the affliction of his neighbors.” There are very few saints of so long ago whose personal appearance is so well described. The statue reproduced above is the image reconstructed from these descriptions. It was sculpted by Carlo Pini in 1946 and is in the Basilica of San Domenico, Bologna, Italy. That is also where St. Dominic’s remains are entombed.

Houses in strange places

We are so used to houses being built along streets, besides other mansions, in apartment buildings, beautiful villas and cottages, etc. But some people have truly inventive ideas where they end up building their homes. Just check these four houses constructed in strange places. At the moment our little island of Malta is going through a frenetic period with skyscrapers going up with no control. Wherever you look you see tower cranes, scaffolding, planks and beams, besides noise from jack hammers and just about every imaginable construction equipment blocking streets adding dust and debris everywhere, not to mention a lot of inconvenience. 

Since we only have 122 square miles, real estate is very limited, so the buildings are going up, and up, and up into the skies. The problem is that various contractors are being given the go-ahead by the government to continue to build, leaving very little space for gardens, open spaces where people can relax and enjoy a walk in the limited countryside. Please pray for us!