St Agnes

One of the early and young martyrs of the church is the beloved Saint Agnes. According to tradition, Saint Agnes was a member of the Roman nobility born around 291 AD and raised in a Christian family. She suffered martyrdom at the age of twelve or thirteen during the reign of the Roman Emperor Diocletian, on 21 January 304. The Prefect Sempronius wished Agnes to marry his son, and on Agnes' refusal he condemned her to death. As Roman law did not permit the execution of virgins, Sempronius had a naked Agnes dragged through the streets to a brothel. Various versions of the legend give different methods of escape from this predicament. In one, as she prayed, her hair grew and covered her body. It was also said that all of the men who attempted to rape her were immediately struck blind.  When eventually she was led out to die she was tied to a stake, but the bundle of wood would not burn, or the flames parted away from her, whereupon the officer in charge of the troops drew his sword and beheaded her. It is also said that the blood of Agnes poured to the stadium floor where other Christians soaked up the blood with cloths. A few days after Agnes' death, her foster-sister, Saint Emerentiana was found praying by her tomb; she claimed to be the daughter of Agnes' wet nurse, and was stoned to death after refusing to leave the place and reprimanding the pagans for killing her foster sister. Emerentiana was also later canonized. Agnes' name may have derived from the Latin 'agnus', meaning lamb, and she is always represented with a lamb near her. 

A New Year

Every New Year brings along certain mystery, promises, as well as fear of the unknown future.  A new year is a gift from God, in fact every day is a gift from God. A new year is an open book, and throughout the days we fill its pages with our actions, our work, our accomplishments and our prayers. We should always remember that He who accompanies us every day of our lives, did the same yesterday, will do the same tomorrow and every day as long as we live. At the start of this new year, we try to forget any difficulties we have encountered along the way in the past year, and regret we didn’t do better in the given circumstances. We also make our promises, and as Christians we should always prioritize church attendance, reception of sacraments and other duties we are bound to observe. Let us also keep in mind a sense of volunteerism we should be ready to do, in various areas that need help, and remember that there are various organizations and  projects that always need a helping hand.

Fyodor Dostoyevsky

The Russian author Fyodor Dostoyevsky (1821-1881) was caught when he got involved with a plan against his government. They arrested him and almost killed him, but the Emperor saved his life in the last minute, and instead condemned him to 4 years in prison in Siberia. As he entered the prison someone handed him a book. It was a bible. When he started browsing through it, he found some money which he needed so much as he was also a gambler. But instead he found something better than money. He found God. And all the good books that he wrote were sprinkled with messages about the Good News. All his literary writings, explore the human condition in the troubled political, social and spiritual atmospheres of 19th-century Russia, and engage with a variety of philosophical and religious themes. He mentions many spiritual and Christian values, like compassion, forgiveness, sin and the search for God.

Hail Storm spectacular

A hail storm hit Malta overnight, and the following morning was a spectacle that every child dreams of with streets covered in ice that really looked like snow. But unfortunately it never snows in Malta as the temperature has never gone below Zero. It was a localized storm that hit especially the area around Rabat and Dingli. We had our share of hail here in Naxxar as the pellets banging on the glass of course woke me up at 3 AM, but it was nothing like what happened on a higher elevation. These photos show a little bit of fun that children had jumping on the ice that melted by mid morning. It was coincidental that this was Saturday morning when the children had no school. So God was kind and helpful to the Maltese children. Please click on each photo to enlarge.

St Anthony Abbot

Saint Antony is also known as St. Anthony of the Desert or St. Anthony of Egypt. Along with St Francis of Assisi, he is invoked as the patron saint of the animal kingdom, and special Masses take place on the Sunday closest to his feast day of January 17th, with the blessing of animals and pets held afterwards. St Anthony was a hermit who lived in Northern Egypt. He was a staunch defender of the faith against Arianism. During his travels he met many animals, some helpful and some not, but they all befriended him and were kind to him, just as he was kind to them. Anthony died when he was 105 years old. A life of solitude, fasting, and manual labor in the service of God had left him a healthy, vigorous man until very late in life. And he never stopped challenging himself to go one step beyond in his faith. Saint Athanasius, who knew Anthony and wrote his biography, said, "Anthony was not known for his writings nor for his worldly wisdom, nor for any art, but simply for his reverence toward God." We may wonder nowadays at what we can learn from someone who lived in the desert, wore skins, ate bread, and slept on the ground. We may wonder how we can become him. We can become Anthony by living his life of radical faith and complete commitment to God.  And while St. Anthony of Padua is very popular today for helping us to find our car keys, St. Anthony the Abbot is equally popular for helping us to find God. He is often pictured in paintings, iconography and sculptures with a pig.

Pope Leo’s mosaic

The Vatican Mosaic Studio of the Fabric of Saint Peter has completed the mosaic medallion dedicated to Pope Leo XIV. According to an ancient tradition that accompanies the election of every Pope, just over eight months after the election of Pope Leo XIV, the studio has completed the mosaic portrait destined for the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls. The mosaic medallion, with a diameter of 137 centimeters, was created using glass enamels and gold on a metal structure at the studio of the Fabric of Saint Peter. The tesserae (individual pieces of glass or tile) were produced using the ancient cut-mosaic technique and were set with the traditional oil-based mastic of the Vatican tradition. The execution of the work was based on a painted preparatory sketch by Master Rodolfo Papa. 

The work will be installed in the space next to the portrait of Pope Francis, in the right nave of the Basilica, at a height of approximately 13 meters. All the Popes have their own medallion around the Basilica starting from St Peter, and now ending with Pope Leo. They start inside the Basilica and continue all around, even outside, all at the same height. The Basilica of San Paolo fuori le Mura is also know for its ornate cloister constructed between 1220 and 1241.

Blood and Ink

This is a story of a person who spread his blood and his writing in ink, truly a living martyr of our times.  Cardinal Jan Korec (1924-2015) was a Jesuit priest who was born in Czechoslovakia under a communist regime. He could not preach in public, was arrested and accused of betrayal and was condemned to 12 years in prison with hard labor. After he was released from prison, he could only do manual work. In spite of his suffering he ordained 120 priests without getting caught. In 1969 he met Pope St Paul VI in Rome, and the beloved Pope gave him his ring, his own pectoral cross, his mitre and crosier which he was given when he was made Archbishop of Milan years earlier. Cardinal Korec was able to create a  network of groups of  students in Bratislava, led by lay Catholics. He also became a prolific writer of underground literature, and in spite of being blocked, he was able to write 70 books. When he visited Rome for the Jubilee 2000, he went to the catacombs and lit candles for those who had persecuted him, and prayed for them. He was made a Cardinal in 1991, and died on October 21, 2015, aged 91. His whole life was characterized by the blood he shed and the ink he used to write messages of hope and love.

More from Spencer

After my well-attended and much-appreciated talk yesterday, I share 3 more photos from St. Joseph’s Abbey in Spencer, Massachusetts. The first photo shows the outside of the church, built by the monks themselves with fieldstone they found in the area when they decided to build their monastery there, after a devastating fire destroyed their former Abbey in Rhode Island. The whole complex included a cloister, chapter house, Scriptorium (Library), Refectory , the private cells to house over 100 monks, an Infirmary for the elderly and sick monks, an Energy centre, large warehouses for the Trappist preserves factory, another section for the Holy Rood Guild, a gift shop, and other buildings for all kinds of equipment, offices and storage space.

The second photo shows the stained-glass windows in the chapel, dominated by the Salve Regina window, behind the main altar. This is lit from the outside at 8 PM every day when the monks sing the Salve Regina in Latin, as they pass in front of the Abbot to be blessed with holy water, then heading to sleep. The stained glass of Mary was crafted by Nicolas Joep in the 1950s.

The third photo shows the monks in the choir stalls during one of their Vespers for which they meet daily, besides 6 other times when they congregate for prayer. The midday prayers are prayed even at their place of work, that is None, Sext and Terce.  Most of the singing is Gregorian Chant, and all the Psalms are sung alternating by the Schola Cantorum ( a group of 6-8 best singing voices) and the rest of the community in their stalls.

Trappist Abbey at Spencer MA

St Joseph's Abbey, Spencer Massachusetts

Since I am presenting an interesting talk today about my 6-month sabbatical in 2002  in a Trappist Monastery in Spencer Massachusetts, I thought of sharing with you just 2 photos of this impressive place which was built by the monks themselves. Their original monastery was called Lily of the Valley in Rhode Island, but a fire destroyed the bigger part of the home of 120 priests, monks and novices. Finding a property in Spencer in the Worcester area of Massachusetts, in 1950-51 they were able to build the entire monastery with the fieldstone they found right there. Many of the monks and novices were crafty and at times professional in various careers before joining the order, and so they used their expertise to help built this massive structure. Among them were a first-class plumber, who was able to devise the whole plumbing system of the entire complex, and a Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduate in electrical engineering, who was able to create the blueprints for the entire monastery, an incredible undertaking which is still being admired for the foresight  Brother Leonard had to foresee the future change in electrical usage. 

The Trappist monks at prayer in their chapel.

The monks are vegetarians, and they have two main areas to support them. They produce jams and preserves in various flavors, and they create liturgical vestments of the best quality, known respectively as https://trappistpreserves.com/ and https://holyroodguild.com/ Presently there are between 50 and 70 monks, priests, brothers and novices. They meet 7 times a day for prayer, as early as 3:30 AM and ending with Compline at 7:40 PM, as the great Silence starts at 8 PM. (click to enlarge the photos)

More gems to reflect on

                      

When you touch someone’s life, it is a privilege. When you touch someone’s heart, it is a blessing. When you touch someone’s mind, it is an honor. When you touch someone’s soul, it is a triumph. When you touch someone’s spirit, it is a miracle.

Don’t stress over things you cannot change. Live simply. Love generously. Speak truthfully. Work diligently. And even if you fall short, keep going, keep growing.

Be honest when in trouble and simple when in wealth. Be polite when in authority and be silent when in anger. This is called life management.

In life two things define you. Your patience when you have nothing. And your attitude when you have everything.

Life can be happier and stress-free if we remember one simple thought: we can’t have all that we desire, but God will give us all we deserve.

People will forget what you said. People will forget what you did. But people will never forget how you made them feel.

10 things money can’t buy: 1.Manners, 2.Morals, 3. Respect, 4. Character, 5. Common Sense, 6. Trust, 7. Patience, 8. Class, 9. Integrity, 10. Love.

You are strong when you know your weaknesses. You are beautiful when you appreciate your faults. You are wise when you learn from your mistakes.

When I woke up this morning, I asked myself ‘what is life really about?’ I found the answer in my room. The fan said ‘Be Cool!’ The window said ‘See the World’ ’ The ceiling said ‘Aim High!’ The clock said ‘Every minute is Precious!’ The mirror said ‘Reflect before you act!’ The calendar said  ‘Be up to date!’ The door said ‘Push hard for your Goals!’ The floor said ‘Kneel down and Pray!’ The phone said ‘Reach out and connect with others!’

Silence and Smile are two powerful tools. Smile to solve problems. And Silence to avoid problems.

Baptism of Jesus

Perugino - Baptism of Jesus

As we celebrate Jesus’ Baptism today, may we look back at our own baptism and see how faithful we have been to the commitment our parents made for us. I ask 3 simple questions today for your consideration:

1. How proud are you of the decision your parents took when they introduced you to the Catholic faith by baptizing you?
2. Do you know the names of your godparents, the name of the priest who baptized you, the church in which you were baptized, maybe even the date of your baptism?
3. If you were chosen as a godparent for a child, do you keep in contact with that child, who may now be a teenager, an adult, a parent, and do you make sure they attend church regularly? Remember that this was one of the promises you made when you stood as a godparent on the baptism day.

Reflections on Old Age

Cardinal Scola and Pope Francis

In a preface to a book by Cardinal Angelo Scola, Pope Francis writes: ‘we should never fear old age. We should not worry because life is what it is – and when we try to cover reality with sweetness, we would be betraying the truth of many things in our life.’ The Pope says that the problem is not the fact that people get older, but how they age.  Old age should be a time when we reap the fruits and gifts that goodness radiates all around us. We should live old age with grace not resentment. We should accept it with a dose of gratitude, in spite of any suffering endured in the process. When you call a person ‘old’, you should not discard him, as if his time limit on earth has expired. Old age means experience, knowledge and wisdom. Death is not the end of everything, but the beginning of many new things. It is in a way,  a new beginning, because those whom we love, thanks to their gifts and talents, they are already experiencing eternal life.  It is a new beginning because we are actually living through something we never experienced before – eternal life.

1 Pope - 170 Cardinals

The Cardinals gathered with Pope Leo

Pope Leo XIV on Thursday called on Cardinals gathered with him at the Vatican to experience the extraordinary consistory as a time of spiritual discernment in unity and warned against the temptation to put personal interests ahead of the common good. He told them ‘We gather not to promote personal or group ‘agendas’ but to entrust our plans and inspirations to a discernment that comes only from the Lord.’ This meeting defines the very meaning of the consistory, recalling that the word consistorium in Latin refers to the idea of ​​“pausing.” The meeting took place across three sessions of more than three hours each. The Pope further said “Indeed, all of us have ‘paused’ in order to be here. We have set aside our activities for a time, and even cancelled important commitments, so as to discern together what the Lord is asking of us for the good of his people. This gathering is not about a “mere group of experts” but “a community of faith. Only when the gifts that each person brings are offered to the Lord and returned by him, will they bear the greatest fruit according to his providence.” The Pontiff also recalled the words of St. Leo the Great to emphasize the communal dimension of ecclesial service: “In this way,” he said, “‘the hungry are fed, the naked clothed, the sick visited, and no one seeks his or her own interests, but those of others.’” He offered the 170 Cardinals present (out of 245 alive) his “heartfelt thanks” for their service and reminding them that, even if they don’t always manage to find solutions to the problems they face, they can still collaborate. “We may not always be able to find immediate solutions to the problems we face. Yet in every place and circumstance, we will be able to help one another — and in particular, to help the Pope.” They will meet again for another consistory between June 27 and 28, and from then on, they will meet annually.

Twilight, Dawn and Shadow

Hubert Humphrey (1911-1978) was an American Vice-President between 1965 and 1969. He once said that all governments should be judged in the way they treat those who are at the dawn of their life (children,) those who are at the twilight of their life (the elderly) and those who are in the shadow of their life (the sick, the handicapped, and those in need.)

Our Lady of Palestine

The feast of Our Lady of Palestine was instituted in 1927 by the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem. After World War II the United Kingdom used to govern this region of Palestine. The feast honoring Mary was at first celebrated on August 15, but later moved to October 25. The church and the statue above it are just between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv in the valley of Soreq. Under the statue, Queen of Palestine, 6 meters high is the inscription Reginae Palaestinae, and the statue faces the Holy Land. In 2023, the Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa consecrated the Holy Land  to the Immaculate Heart of Mary when he prayed ‘Mary we knock on the door of your heart. We are your beloved children. We trust in you during this  turbulent period of our history. We ask that you listen to our prayers and come to help us.’

From Passau, Germany

A visitor to Austria and Germany recently sent me some photos of Christmas decorations in St. Stephen's Cathedral in Passau, Germany. Obviously most churches would be dressed up in their best outfits during the Christmas season, and all Christmas artefacts and memorabilia are displayed for parishioners and visitors to admire.

The first photo shows an old baby Jesus surrounded by 6 angels, the second one an altar piece showing a painting of the Conversion of St. Paul on the road to Damascus, and the third one a relic flanked by two golden angels. Passau is on the border of Austria and Germany, close to the river Danube in lower Bavaria. It has a population of 50,000 of whom 12,000 are students at the University of Passau. Adolf Hitler lived here with his family as a young child between 1892 and 1894.

100 year old baby Jesus

Situated between Taranto and Gallipoli in the southern part of Italy, precisely at the heel of the peninsula that looks like a leg and shoe, Lecce is a quaint town that is known for its cartapesta and paper mache.  And over the decades plenty of statues of baby Jesus was created by the talented craftsmen. Lecce has an unmistakable style, famous for its elaborate Baroque art, which often feature Baby Jesus figures used in intricate presepi,  (Nativity scenes) during Christmas, with artisans creating detailed scenes in churches and the Roman Amphitheatre, showcasing figures with expressive faces and flowing drapery. 

You'll find these handcrafted Baby Jesus figures and full scenes in churches, local workshops, and dedicated Christmas displays around the historic centre, reflecting Lecce's deep tradition of religious artistry. The baby Jesus seen here is 100 years old this year, and is the one used in the parish of Naxxar, where I also serve regularly, besides the retirement home. 

Epiphany

Looking at some paintings of the Three Kings, there are various notes that I noticed. All Kings are presented with elaborate outfits and costumes, accompanied by a large retinue of attendants, servants and others caring for their animals.  All are kneeling down, a posture of humility and respect, and some even prostrated, as the Gospels relate.- Most are accompanied by camels, but some have horses, as well as other animals like sheep and domestic dogs accompanying them. Since they are referred to as Kings, most of them have crowns, but the majority of the paintings show them in turbans, a popular headwear in the Middle East and Far East countries.  Even though the gifts were for Jesus, the baby is always shown being held by Mary, as if she wants to remain connected with him, as any mother would after giving birth - thus showing respect to mother and child.  One of the magi is frequently depicted as black, the others dark skinned. Most artists would place the face of friends to the Magi, people who were wealthy or good to the community, as a recognition to their benevolence and generosity.  Beggars are also frequently included in the painting, as if to take advantage of the wealthy Kings, begging for something, for anything.  Other gifts are also in the paintings, of lesser importance, like fruit, animals, jewellery, clothing.  The Star which the Kings followed led them to the cave of Bethlehem, and even though it was not an astronomical phenomena, it was a divine intervention, like the appearance of angels, which were sent by God.  The Three are referred to as Wise Men, Astrologers, Kings or Magi (derivation of magicians) and their names are interesting to discuss too……Melchior, a Persian scholar, Caspar (also Gaspar, Jaspar,) an Indian scholar, and Balthazar (also Balthasar, an Arabian scholar.) In the East however, different names appear – for example the Christian community in Syria, they are known as Larvandad, Gushnasaph u Hormisdas, in Ethiopia they are known Hor, Karsudan u Basanater, while the Armenian Christian call them Kagpha, Badadakharida u Badalilma. - The gifts are also very symbolic. All three gifts are ordinary offerings and gifts given to a king. Myrrh being commonly used as an anointing oil, frankincense as a perfume, and gold as a valuable element. The three gifts had a spiritual meaning: gold as a symbol of kingship on earth, frankincense, as a symbol of deity, and myrrh (an embalming oil) as a symbol of death. Sometimes this is described more generally as gold symbolizing virtue, frankincense symbolizing holiness, and myrrh symbolizing suffering.

Bill Murray’s kindness

It’s amazing how some people keep their kindness and generous spirit hidden from the public eye. This was the case with film actor and comedian Bill Murray. In 1979, Bill Murray’s comedy partner from the improv days, Danny, had a psychotic break on stage. Danny’s family abandoned him, friends disappeared and his career ended overnight. Bill Murray visited Danny for 35 years every single week while he was in psychiatric hospitals. Yet Danny didn’t always recognize Bill Murray who would sit next to him in silence, often for hours. In 2014, Danny died, never recovering. At the funeral, Danny’s doctor revealed that Bill had been paying for Danny’s private care all 35 years....a total of $2.1 million. Bill’s only comment was ‘He made me funny. I owed him sanity.’ Then Bill Murray disappeared from the funeral before anyone could thank him. It is so true that your true best friends are those who stay with you, when everyone else has left you.

Monastery

One of the nuns monasteries in Malta goes back 450 years and from the 100 nuns it once housed, there are now 3 elderly nuns living in it. St Catherine's Monastery in Valletta was founded in 1575 as a safe haven for female orphans. At the heart of the monastery lies a rare, enclosed garden, a space of light and colour sheltered from the city's noise. Once a quarry that provided stone for the monastery's construction, it now sustains fruit trees, herbs and vines rooted around three freshwater wells. Oranges, lemons, tomatoes and medicinal herbs nourished the nuns for centuries, making the garden the monastery's backbone. Today, cats roam freely among the plants, enjoying the same tranquillity that once sustained generations of cloistered women. The bedrooms reflect the austere nature of monastic life. One room belonged to the Mother Superior, distinguished only by a bed with curtains, with the other representing a typical nun's quarters. Furnishings were sparse: a chair, a bedside table, a wash basin, a kneeler for prayer, and a small desk used for reading or meals. The crucifix, however, always stood at the centre of every room. 

Poverty was a vow, not a hardship, and their only luxury was spirituality. Community prayer and personal devotion filled these spaces with sanctified silence. Food preparation areas speak to the monastery's connection with the wider community, as meals were prepared not just for the nuns, but also for people in need. Work began early, after prayers, and continued throughout the day. Even sackcloth used to transport wheat was recycled into kitchen aprons, and nothing went to waste. The nuns’ living quarters now is above ground, while the underground complex stands as testimony to centuries of devotion, labour and resilience.

A New Year – new beginnings

Madonna by Sassoferrato

We start this year with a special feast in honor of Mary, Mother of Jesus, Mother of God, and Mother of us all. January 1st, since 1968 has also been considered as the World Day of Peace, and I dedicate this year to the Blessed Mother as she blesses us with her protection and love. May she always protect our families, those still hurting with recent tragedies, those who lost loved ones, and those who seem lost or disoriented in life. As she knows the pain and anguish of losing a child, may we look towards her for direction, for motivation, and consolation. May Mary, the Queen of Peace and her Son, the Prince of Peace bless the world with peace and harmony, the poor with care and prosperity, the despairing with hope and confidence, the grieving with comfort and gladness, the oppressed with freedom and deliverance, the suffering with solace and relief.

 As we start another year, we see ahead of us 12 months, 52 weeks, 365 days, 8,760 hours, 525,600 minutes, 31,536,000 seconds. And all of it is a gift from God. We have done nothing to deserve it, earn it, or purchase it. Like the air we breathe, time comes to us as a part of life. The gift of time is not ours alone. It is given equally to each person. Rich and poor, educated and ignorant, strong and weak—every man, woman and child has the same twenty-four hours every day. Another important thing about time is that you cannot stop it. There is no way to slow it down, turn it off, or adjust it. Time marches on. And you cannot bring back time. Once it is gone, it is gone. Yesterday is lost forever. If yesterday is lost, tomorrow is uncertain. We may look ahead at a full year’s block of time, but we really have no guarantee that we will experience any of it. Obviously, time is one of our most precious possessions. We can waste it. We can worry over it. We can spend it on ourselves. Or, as good stewards, we can invest it in the kingdom of God. As the seconds tick away, will you be tossing time out the window, or will you make every minute count? Make this simple resolution this year - make every minute count!

I wish all visitors to this blog a healthy, peace-filled, joyous and harmonious New Year!