A little dolly

As I was at the check-out counter to pay for my groceries, I find a young boy clasping a cute dolly which he wanted to buy. It was obviously not for him, and he showed the few coins he had to the girl at the check-out counter. ‘I’m sorry but you don’t have enough for the doll,’ she told him. I couldn’t help but kneel down and tried to help him. ‘How much do you need?’ ‘I think it’s 10 dollars, but I only have 7.50.’ As I brought out some coins from my wallet, I assured the boy that he had enough. And so I slipped a few of my coins and we counted them together, and he ended up with 14 dollars. Almost in tears, the boy told me ‘I really had to buy this dolly for my sister, so that my mother can give it to her when she meets her again.’ After inquiring about where are his mother and sister, he said sobbing and with tears splashing on his hands and the dolly’s dress, ‘my daddy told me that my mother soon will leave us to be with my sister and with Jesus, and so I wanted to make sure that my sister will get it in time for her birthday. I also wanted to buy a rose for my mother too, as she loves red roses.’ I assured him that he has enough money for a few roses too. I could not help cry in my heart as the boy left happy with two precious gifts in his hands. Later in the day I checked the newspaper and found out that there was a fatal accident when a drunk-driver killed a young girl and injured her mother who was driving.’ Two days later, I read that the mother also passed away, and I made sure to go to the Funeral home and placed a bouquet of red roses next to her coffin, who was lying holding the dolly in her arms, a few roses by her side, and rosary beads entwined in her fingers. It was a big blessing meeting that little boy who taught me a great lesson about caring, loving and being grateful.’

Our Life

Our life is like a camera – you have to focus on what’s most important when taking a photo.

Our life is like a book – it contains many stories of success and failures. May our book becomes a best-seller with a happy ending.

Our life is like a mirror - when you smile at her it smiles back at you. Avoid showing anger and the mirror will never disappoint you.

Our life is like a piano – the white keys are the happy moments, while the black ones show our saddest moments. But they need to be played together to have beautiful music.

Our life is like a theatre – it doesn’t matter if you’re in the audience or on the stage. The important thing is that you follow the vocation for which you are called.

Our life is like a garden – you harvest what you plant.

Our life is like a good teacher – lessons are repeated to us, and it’s up to us if we learn it or not.

Our life is like a mountain – when you reach the top remember that there is a valley down under, a valley of tears.

Our life is like a bicycle – to keep your balance, you have to keep pedalling.

Basilicas of Peter and 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 14^th 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 6^th century. It has a graceful cloister that was built in the 13^th 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 19^th 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 façade, 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.

On giving and receiving

A king once invited all his people for a feast inside his castle. Everyone loved him because he was very kind to his people. When his birthday arrived, he invited the people to attend and bring along a container with water. It doesn’t matter the size or quality of the container as long as it has water. When they arrived at the castle they were told to throw the water into a fountain which was completely empty at first. The day arrived and the people brought all kinds of containers, barrels, plastic bottles, jugs, small pitchers and larger ones, a simple glass or even a cup. They poured the water into the fountain, which filled up quickly, and then left their container around it, and went in to celebrate. The king thanked them for coming and of course they all sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to him. As they left, they went to pick up their container, and around the fountain there were shouts of joy and screams of anger and despair. All the containers were filled to the brim with golden coins. And everyone took home as much coins as they brought water with them. The greedy were left with very little, while the generous ones were rewarded according to their own generosity. The more you give, the more you receive back.

The chain that saved a ship

A blacksmith was working on crafting a long chain. On his anvil, banging with a hammer, he kept making spherical donuts with solid metal and connecting them to each other.  Some people passed by and made fun of him, because all he did were these donuts as the chain got bigger and bigger. A few months later, the chain was connected to a large anchor and hauled to a ship. One day the ship had developed some steering problems and faced an oncoming storm. Waves suddenly engulfed the ship and the sailors decided to drop the anchor. That chain which the blacksmith had so patiently crafted was what saved the ship from being swallowed up by the raging sea. Nothing happened to the ship and all the passengers survived, thanks to the strong chain that the blacksmith had made, and which some people had made fun of him. Lesson: never underestimate the small simple things you do in life, in spite of the criticism that annoying and unappreciative people throw at you.

Disfigured hands

Our little girl Shirley was very close to her mother. They were best friends and did everything together. As Shirley grew older, she started to notice that her mother always wore gloves. As a toddler and young girl, she never bothered to ask her mother why she wore gloves, even when cooking, bathing her and playing with her. One day, Shirley had gone unnoticed in her parents’ bedroom, and she was shocked to see her mother without gloves, which she quickly tried to hide them. It was enough for Shirley to notice that her mother’s hands were severely disfigured and badly burned. Of course she cried when she saw her deformed hands and asked her mother why are they so badly disfigured. Her mother Debbie started to cry profusely and sobbingly, asked Shirley to sit next to her, and for the first time ever, she held her daughter’s hands in hers, even though she pulled them away at first. But then Debbie told Shirley her touching story. ‘When you were a little baby, 4 months old, we had a sudden big fire in our house. You were sleeping upstairs in your room, and we were all downstairs, and quickly got out of the house. Then I got some coats and other clothing, whatever I could grab, and walked amid flames of fire up the stairs and into your room, as you were screaming in a roomful of smoke. I quickly grabbed you in the coats I had and tried to go down the steps, but it was impossible. So I pushed open a window and told your dad to catch you as I had to throw you down the window, knowing for sure that he would catch you. Then I tried to manage to climb out of the window and slowly grabbed the pipes by the walls and tried to climb down. Obviously they were all terribly hot and I had no other choice than to somehow slide down and a few men with your father were able to see me down safely, but not before seeing my hands all red and scared with the fire and the red-hot pipes I had to hold on to. So as you see little Shirley, my hands are so scarred because I wanted to save you, and you were not hurt at all. But my hands were badly burned and I needed a few months in the Burn Unity of the hospital, until they healed enough for me to start touching objects, and hold you in my arms.’ Little Shirley picked her mother’s hands and started to kiss them as they hugged for a long, long time. What sacrifices mothers do for their children !

Praying

There are many people, mostly elderly who need very little sleep, yet they are never tired. The Trappist monk Thomas Merton (1915-1968) once said ‘when you cannot go to sleep, remember that there is someone in the world who needs your prayers.’ The British writer G. K. Chesterton (1874-1936) tells us ‘do you pray before meals? Good. I pray before a concert, before I open a book, before I start painting,  before I swim,  before I go for a walk, before I dance, and before I dip my pen into the ink jar.’  Whoever can kneel down in front of God, can then stand up in front of everyone. It used to be said that if you cannot get to sleep, start counting sheep. But better yet, if you can’t fall asleep, talk to the Shepherd! And remember Fr Patrick Peyton's famous quote: The family that prays together, stays together.

St Frances 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.

Almost aborted

Giorgia Meloni, Sylvester Stallone, Cristiano Ronaldo, Andrea Bocelli

Quite a few people we know were almost aborted when their mother became pregnant with them. Cristiano Ronaldo is one them, as his mother had a few children already and could not raise another child. But she was convinced to deliver the child, and the football world is forever grateful for her courageous decision for life. Giorgia Meloni, the present Prime Minister of Italy was born out of a broken marriage and her mother already had a young girl. Then her father left for the Canary Islands, and never returned. Her mother prepared herself for the procedure, fasted for a few hours, and then she had a change of heart. She left the clinic, went into a bar, bought a capuccino, and a few months later, baby Giorgia was born. Sylvester Stallone ‘Rocky’ was almost aborted as his parents weren’t married and could not afford to raise children. Another actor, Jack Nicholson was conceived when his mother was only 17, and she was forced to commit an abortion. But she resisted and the child was raised by his grandparents, and told Jack that his mother was his older sister. Andrea Bocelli was told that his mother almost aborted him because he had a disability, but she continued with her pregnancy. Franco Zeffirelli, the film producer who gave us ’Jesus of Nazareth’ was also almost a victim of abortion, as he was conceived out of wedlock, with his mother being of the higher class of the 1930s Florence. Her friends insisted that she should abort the baby, but Franco was allowed to be born. And the world is grateful for Ronaldo, Giorgia, Rocky, Jack, Andrea and Franco.

Veterans Day

Poppy fields remind us of the bloody sacrifice many did in the past.

Known also as Remembrance Day or Armistice Day, we honor today all veterans of past wars, who number in the many thousands. We also acknowledge those who were hurt and have been disabled ever since. They are the men and women who live every day in pain. Physical pain from their wounds, lost limbs, or maybe it's the shrapnel they still carry. Emotional pain from being separated from their families for long periods of time. For missing the birth of their child, or death of a parent. Mental pain for what they have seen and what they had to do. They are the ones who make life-long friends. They know how precious life is and they never forget the ones who didn't make it back. Never. That is why you will see Veterans at the cemetery on Memorial Day walking around and silently thanking the ones who are buried there. They don't have to know them personally to know the sacrifice each one made.

They are not the ones who are loud and boisterous. They are the ones who are quiet.
They are the ones who shivered in the foxhole, trying to keep the enemy at bay.
They are the ones who crawled through sand when the temperature was 126 degrees.
They are the ones who carried their buddy to safety.
They are the ones who sometimes drink too much, trying to keep the memories from haunting them.
They are the ones who carry the flag with the honor and respect it deserves.
They are the ones who wear their military uniform with pride and still have it in their closet 30 some years later.

They are the ones who don't ask you to go out of your way for them.
They are the ones who have gone out of their way for you.
They are the ones who spent many nights awake on guard duty so you didn't have to.
They are the ones who helped keep our shores safe while you played video games.
They are the ones who missed their birthdays, anniversaries, and other important dates.
They are the ones who got shot and got sent home, but felt guilty because their buddies were still there.
They are the ones who followed orders even when they didn't want to.
They are the ones who had enough love and pride in their country to do a job many others couldn't do.
They are the ones who cried when they were alone in their tent.
They are the ones who flew planes, drove tanks, worked a ship, and armed the missiles.
They are the ones who had moms at homes praying for them every minute of every day.
They are the ones who made it safe for you so you could go to school or work.
They are the ones who missed ordering pizza, the movies, the shopping trips, and all that you take for granted.
They are the ones who asked to take a friend's deployment because that friend had a family.
They are the ones who gave their girlfriends a lock of their hair to keep as a promise of their return.
They are the ones who wanted to come home.
They are the ones who didn't return.
They are the ones who waited months for a letter.
Let us pray and remember them, and never forget what they did for our country.

Janina Jandulska

Janina lived with her mother in the Ukrainian town of Wierzboviec. The Soviets, in the name of their atheist Communist ideology, had set about shutting down seminaries and arresting priests, so many people under Communist rule began to participate in Catholic groups organized by lay people to teach catechism and offer spiritual and moral support to the community. Under these circumstances, Janina joined the Living Rosary. Although she was aware of the risks, Janina agreed to host a meeting of the Living Rosary at her home. Unfortunately, the Communist authorities got wind of it, and Janina was arrested. She was taken away and shot as she sat in her wheelchair. Shortly afterwards, her mother was informed that her daughter had died of a “liver infection.” Eventually, however, the truth surfaced. Today, Janina’s picture hangs in a Catholic church in her hometown, where she is honored as a martyr of the faith. It’s amazing what people would do to persevere in their faith. Janina simply wanted to say the rosary. Still today, there are people who refuse to pray, to say the Rosary and attend Mass, as millions of others cannot even attend their churches, because they are oppressed by regimes who are anti-Christian.

The speech never delivered

Armstrong, Collins and Aldrin

When the three astronauts Neil Armstrong, Edwin Aldrin and Michael Collins landed on the moon on July 20, 1969, it ended a historic race between Russia and  the USA as to who was going to reach the moon first.  There was some uneasiness as to their return home, and the government wanted to be prepared in case they would not have made it back home. And so the President at that time, Richard Nixon prepared this touching speech, which thankfully was never delivered: ‘Faith has ordained that the men who went to the moon to explore in peace will stay on the moon to rest in peace. These brave men, Neil Armstrong, Edwin Aldrin and Michael Collins know that there is no hope for their recovery. But they also know that there is hope for mankind in their sacrifice. These three men are laying down their lives in mankind’s most noble goal: the search for truth and understanding. They will be mourned by their families and friends; they will be mourned by their nation; they will be mourned by the people of the world; they will be mourned by a Mother earth that dared to send three of her sons into the unknown. In their exploration, they stirred the people of the world to feel as one; in their sacrifice, they bind more tightly the brotherhood of man. In ancient days, men looked at the stars and saw their heroes in the constellations. In modern times, we do much the same, but our heroes are epic men of flesh and blood. Others will follow, and surely find their way home. Man’s search will not be denied. But these men were the first, and they will remain the foremost in our hearts. For every human being who looks up at the moon in the nights to come will know that there is some corner of another world that is forever mankind.’

Fortunately there was no need to use this speech as the three astronauts returned home safely.

The Mission Rosary

In February of 1951, Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen (national director of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith from 1950 to 1966), in a radio address inaugurated a World Mission Rosary. “We must pray, and not for ourselves, but for the world. To this end, I have designed the World Mission Rosary. Each of the five decades is of a different color to represent the continents.” Each decade of that World Mission Rosary has a different color, and they call to mind an area where the Church continues her evangelizing mission: GREEN for the forests and grasslands of AFRICA; BLUE for the ocean surrounding the ISLANDS OF THE PACIFIC; WHITE symbolizing EUROPE, the seat of the Holy Father, shepherd of the world; RED calling to mind the fire of faith that brought missionaries to the AMERICAS, and YELLOW, the morning light of the East, for ASIA. So, when yo use the Mission Rosary beads, you are praying for, and thinking of the billions living in these countries.

A nice gift from God

When God created you, it’s as if he said to you: ‘I am now giving you a new car. It’s a beautiful and strong car, that can climb hills, make turns, slow down and go very fast according to your driving. The stearing is in your hands. She will listen to you when you step on the break, and go faster when you step on the gas. This is your life. Here are the keys. Just be careful you don’t get hurt or hurt other people. I am always with you. If you want your voyage to be a pleasant one, remember that your journey started from Me, and will end with Me. That is why I sent you my Son. He is your Way. If you have any bad habits, you have to get rid of them yourself. I can help you, but you have to help yourself first. I won’t lead you on the right road – you have to find it yourself. I will show it to you, but you have to follow it. I won’t be there to help you if you search for trouble – you have to make the correct decisions. I won’t let you into Heaven or send you into hell. You have to choose where to end up. Have a safe trip!’

The Claddagh Ring

Many of the weddings I celebrated, especially in New York were between Irish couples, and very often the ring they exchanged is the Claddagh ring which has an interesting story how it was created. The legend takes us back to the 17th century in the fishing town of Claddagh in Galway. A silversmith in town loved a particular girl, and planned to marry her, but was caught by pirates and was taken as a slave. But he prayed to God that he will be saved. While waiting for his return, he designed the ring he was planning to give her. As time went by, this ring became very popular for couples. It has two hands facing each other and hold a heart, while on top there is a crown.  The symbolism is very appropriate. The hands stand for friendship, as well as the compassion and  help Jesus offers to all of humanity.  The heart stands for the love we should share with each other, as well as the infinite love God has for each of us. And the crown stands for loyalty and fidelity between couples, and our commitment to God who watches over us.

33 photos from the US Presidency

On this election day, while you wait for the winner to be announced, browse through these 33 milestone photos from the past 180 years of US President’s history. This is an article published on Saturday in UK’s newspaper on line ‘The Guardian.’ Just a little history of elections in the USA....the winner needs to get 270 votes from the 50 US states. Each state has a number of votes, depending on how big the state is. So Texas and California have more votes, while Rhode Island and Hawaii have a few votes. Moreover, each town and village in the USA have to vote also for a number of senators, 2 in each state, 100 in all; and a number of congressmen, 435 in total. Senators are elected for 6 years and congressmen for 2 years. Each town also votes for school boards, firehouse boards, Governors, Mayors, abortion or  other controversial issues, and many other positions. But every 4 years the election includes the President, which is happening today, between Trump and Harris. But enjoy these 33 photos and the story behind them......click on this link......

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/nov/02/33-pivotal-us-presidential-moments-captured-on-camera

St Charles Borromeo

St Charles Borromeo helping the poor in Rome

Today's saint would have been a great Pope if he was elected, but the other cardinals did not want a relative the previous Pope. St. Charles Borromeo was the son of Count Gilbert Borromeo and Margaret Medici, sister of Pope Pius IV. He was born at the family castle of Arona on Lake Maggiore, Italy on October 2, 1538. He received the clerical tonsure when he was twelve and was sent to a Benedictine abbey at Arona for his education. In 1559 his uncle was elected Pope Pius IV and the following year, named Charles his Secretary of State and created him a cardinal and administrator of the see of Milan. He served as Pius' legate on numerous diplomatic missions and in 1562, was instrumental in having Pius reconvene the Council of Trent, which had been suspended in 1552. Charles played a leading role in guiding and in fashioning the decrees of the third and last group of sessions. He was ordained a priest in 1563, and was consecrated bishop of Milan the same year. Before being allowed to take possession of his see, he oversaw the catechism, missal, and breviary called for by the Council of Trent. When he finally did arrive at Trent (which had been without a resident bishop for eighty years) in 1556, he instituted radical reforms despite great opposition, with such effectiveness that it became a model see. He put into effect, measures to improve the morals and manners of the clergy and laity, raised the effectiveness of the diocese, established seminaries for the education of the clergy, founded a Confraternity of Christian Doctrine for the religious instruction of children and encouraged the Jesuits to be more visible and active. He founded a society of secular priests, Oblates of St. Ambrose (now Oblates of St. Charles) in 1578, and was active in preaching, resisting the inroads of Protestantism, and bringing back lapsed Catholics to the Church. He encountered opposition from many sources in his efforts to reform people and institutions. He died at Milan on the night of November 3-4, 1584 and was canonized in 1610. He was one of the towering figures of the Catholic Reformation, a patron of learning and the arts, and though he achieved a position of great power, he used it with humility, personal sanctity, and unselfishness to reform the Church, of the evils and abuses so prevalent among the clergy and the nobles of the times.

The Bible at Ground Zero

A professional photographer, Joel Meyerowitz spent nine months at Ground Zero in New York City after the terrorist attacks in 2001 to document the wreckage. As he was sifting through debris one day, a firefighter handed him something that would have a deep impact on anyone who sees it. Meyerowitz received a page of the Bible melted onto a piece of “heart-shaped steel.” What is most significant about the find, superseding the fact that fragile pieces of paper could survive such a disaster, is the passage of Scripture the Bible was open to. The page was open on Matthew 5:38-39 where Jesus says, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.” Out of all the pages of the Bible that it would be open to, that was remarkable. That day the Bible was found, Meyerowitz wrapped it in a scarf and put it in his bag. He kept it safe for years in his studio, until he found the right institution to give it to. He gave the Bible to the 9/11 Memorial Museum in 2010, right where he found it at Ground Zero.

Remembering our loved ones

The commemoration of All Souls is being observed today around the world, as people visit cemeteries to pay respect to their loved ones, place some flowers, light a candle, and say a prayer. Even though in the USA, such an event is observed on Memorial Day, still in most Christians countries, November is always cherished as the month when we remember our loved ones, who have entered eternal life before us.  We often look at death as a medical occasion, connected with hospitals, doctors, nurses, tests, pills, and other emotions that are heart-breaking for the immediate family. Instead, we should start to look at death as a spiritual experience which will see us reach heaven. So, instead of disappointment, we should feel a sense of reassurance, instead of sadness, contentment, instead of the end of everything, the beginning of a new life. "For those whom we love and lose are no longer where they were before, but they are now wherever we are, in our hearts, in our minds, in our souls." Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and may the perpetual light shine upon them. May our loved ones rest in peace.

Scary, Saints and Souls

I see three Triduums in our liturgical year. The most obvious one is the Holy Week Triduum of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter. Then there is the Christmas, New Year and Epiphany Triduum, which all come within two weeks of each other. Then there is the Triduum of All Hallows’ Eve, All Saints and All Souls, which come back-to-back-to back, Oct 31, Nov 1 and 2. Halloween is a time for reflecting on our mortal state, for acknowledging our natural fear of mortality, but also to look at this in a jovial albeit a scary way. It’s cute to see children dress up in their favorite characters’ costumes and beg for candy with no harm at all. However the grown-ups are giving this festivity a scary and spooky trait, even adding some mischief as I remember in my years in the USA, by spraying shaving cream at each other and wearing hideous masks. But today we get more serious as we commemorate All the Saints that have been canonized by the church, and those that are canonized in our hearts, like our parents and relatives we knew lived a truly holy life. Tomorrow we remember those who may still be waiting in purgatory to enter into heaven. And for this to happen, our prayers, sacrifices and Masses we offer will speed up their entrance into heaven’s Hall of Fame. In these three days we see 3 categories of Christians, the Church Militant, the Church Triumphant and the Church Suffering. The Militant church is all of us still struggling through our life. The Triumphant church comprises all the saints who have already received their reward. And the Suffering church are the souls in purgatory, still waiting to receive their ultimate reward.

LUCE – the Jubilee mascot

Instead of the cartoon characters that are often associated with Halloween, I want to introduce you today to the new mascot of the Silver Jubilee, which the church is celebrating in 2025, as the cheerful face of the Catholic Church’s upcoming holy year. The mascot, named Luce — which means “light” in Italian — is intended to engage a younger audience and guide visitors through the holy year, as well as engage with the pop culture so beloved by our young people. The mascot will debut this week at the Lucca Comics and Games, Italy’s celebrated convention for all things comics, video games, and fantasy, where the Vatican’s Dicastery for Evangelization will host a space dedicated to “Luce and Friends.” This will allow us to speak to younger generations about the theme of hope, which is more central than ever in the evangelical message. Clad in a yellow raincoat, mud-stained boots, and a pilgrim’s cross, Luce’s mission is to guide young pilgrims toward hope and faith with her trusty dog Santino at her side. Shells glimmer in her eyes, recalling the scallop shell of the Camino de Santiago, an emblem of the pilgrimage journey. 

Simone Legno, the Italian co-founder of the pop culture brand tokidoki, designed Luce and her “pilgrim friends” — Fe, Xin, and Sky, each outfitted in brightly colored jackets (seen in the second photo.) Luce’s yellow sailor’s raincoat is a nod to both the Vatican flag and to journeying through life’s storms. The mascot’s muddy boots represent a long and difficult journey, while her staff symbolizes the pilgrimage toward eternity. The jubilee year itself will begin with the opening of the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica on Christmas Eve 2024, welcoming an anticipated 30 million pilgrims into Rome by the time the Holy Year ends on Jan. 6, 2026.

Anthem by Philip Glass

My post today is a favorite piece of music that has fascinated me ever since I heard it back in the early 1990s. It’s actually a selection from the soundtrack of a film called ‘Powaqqatsi’ with music by the American composer Philip Glass. Just listen to the whole piece which lasts 8 minutes and I hope you feel exhilarated as I did the first time, and every time I hear it. Powaqqatsi means "life in transformation," and it is a sequel to the first film called Koyaanisqatsi which focused on modern life in industrial countries. There is no dialogue in either film and this movie Powaqqatsi, focuses more on the conflict in Third World countries between traditional ways of life and the new ways of life introduced with industrialization. This film came out in 1988 directed by Godfrey Reggio, a sequel to  Koyaanisqatsi, which came out in 1982, and which was followed by a third in the Qatsi trilogy called Naqoyqatsi of 2002. All three have the mesmerizing soundtrack by Philip Glass, and the entire movie is a selection of clips from news, and various scenes from around the world.

Tiryng ot raed trhoguh......

We read thousands of words each day, in books, newspapers, letters and emails we receive, and some people have a habit of reading through a whole paragraph just by getting the entire gist of the topic. Then when you encounter something like the following paragraph, half of the people cannot read it, but the other half can breeze through it without any problem, as I just did. If you are patient enough, it’s easier than you may think.....The message is in the entire paragraph.....read on slowly.....

fi yuo cna raed tihs, yuo hvae a sgtrane mnid too. Cna yuo raed tihs? Olny 55% fo the  plepoe can. i cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno't mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt!

The Fighting Colors

One day the colors of the rainbow were arguing about who was the best, the strongest, the people’s favorite. The Green claimed that he was the most important, as the sign of life and hope. I was chosen as the color of the grass, trees and leaves. Without me, all animals will die. Look at nature and tell me that I am wrong  ! The Blue was next and chastised the Green because he thinks only of the earth. Look at the sky and the sea.  Water is so basic for life, and the sky gives us space, peace and serenity. Yellow was next and claimed that he brings heat and warmth into the earth. The sun is yellow, so are the moon and most of the stars. And when you look at the sunflowers, everyone smiles and rejoices. The color Orange was next and proclaimed ‘I am the color of Force and Health.’ My role is precious because I carry many vitamins in many fruits and vegetables, carrots, oranges, mango, papaya. Then who can beat the beauty I create at every sunrise and sunset? The Red could not take it anymore. ‘I am better than all of you, as I am the Blood that gives us life itself. I represent courage and danger. I also represent passion and martyrdom, as well as the poinsettias and poppies. Purple was next in line. ‘I am the symbol of royalty and power. Kings and bishops always choose me  as a symbol of authority and wisdom. Everyone listens to me and bows at my presence. Finally Indigo spoke up and begged everyone to think of him as he felt like he was the color of silence. ‘I represent thought and reflection, balance and contrast, prayer and internal peace. The colors continued their show-off, each one claiming to be the best. All of a sudden thunder struck and flashes of lightning lit up the sky. All the colors were afraid and they huddled together to find comfort. Finally the rain came down in buckets and spoke to them....’you fools, why are you arguing? Don’t you know that every color is special? Instead of fighting and quarrelling why don’t you unite together and beautify all of creation? So from now on, when I am raining, and the sun is also shining, you should all come together and fill the sky from one horizon to the other. And instead of blue or red or orange or green or violet or yellow, you will be called the Rainbow!

Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs with my favorite gadget, the IPad

This is the incredible story of the genius who gave us the IPad, the IPod, the IPhone and so much more – Steve Jobs. Let’s let him tell us his own story...’ My natural mother was a young unwed woman who got pregnant with me. She didn’t want to keep me, but accepted to give birth to me and gave me up for adoption. She requested only that whoever adopts me must be a graduate. A couple who were lawyers agreed to adopt me, but they wanted a girl! Another couple finally adopted me, even though my natural mother discovered later that they didn’t even finish High School. At 17 I entered the University even though my parents could not afford the full tuition. After 6 months I got bored and abandoned the course I was assigned to and started to attend the lectures that I enjoyed. I had no money for lodging, so I often slept on the floor of some of my friends’ apartments. Once a week I walked 7 miles to get to a Hare Krishna temple who feed the poor and homeless people. I took a course in calligraphy, which would prove beneficial in my future work, even though at that time, some friends were telling me it was useless for any career. The spacing of letters, etc was a blessing when we created Macintosh, which was later copied by Microsoft.’

Steve Jobs around 1985

Steve Jobs recalls ‘I started working on the Apple Computer when I was 20, with a friend of mine, Steve Wozniak, in the garage of our home, as well as in my kitchen. After 10 years our company grew to 4000 employees with a capital of 2 billion dollars. However, because of a disagreement, I was expelled from the company which I had founded. I was 30 years old, and you can imagine how distraught I felt, being taken away from something I had created. Yet, I was still in love with the work I did, and I was determined to start form scratch. And this turned out to be a big blessing for me. I started a company that does films using computers, also with the help of a woman I loved. The company was called PIXAR, and from it came such films as Toy Story, Finding Nemo, A Bug’s Life and many more animations which won Oscars over the last years. Then Apple bought my new company and I ended up in the same place where I started, with income of many billions of dollars.’ Steve Jobs was the mind behind the innovations that invaded our lives over the past 20 years, IPods, ITunes, IPhones, IMacs, IPads. He died from pancreatic cancer in 2011.

I missed you!

Author and film director Michael Hargrove was at the airport one day, and at the arrival terminal while waiting for his own ride, was a man who had just arrived on the same flight. This man was welcomed by his family who were hugging each other and it was obvious that they haven’t seen each other in a while. He overheard the man say ‘I missed you little Tiffany’ to his 5 year-old daughter, and ‘I love you Timmy’, as he picked up his 3-year old toddler. Then turning to his 9-year old son Gavin, ‘and you’re becoming a man, Gavin!’ Finally he turned to his wife as he said to her ‘and of course I have to save the best for last,’ as he gave her a big kiss on her lips. Michael couldn’t resist asking the man ‘how long you’ve been married?’ ‘12 years,’ came the quick answer. ‘And how long you’ve been away from home?’ The family man looked Michael in his eyes and said simply ‘2 days!’ Hargrove recalled saying to himself ‘how I wish my marriage is as happy and strong after 12 years!’

Sacred Heart Encyclical

‘Our world that has become "heartless" and indifferent to greed and war, and the Catholic Church is in need of revitalizing its missionary joy to open itself  up to Christ's infinite love,’ Pope Francis writes in his new Encyclical Dilexit Nos (He loved us.) The Vatican released the 28,000-word text yesterday, October 24. While it is the Pope’s fourth Encyclical, it works in tandem with his previous two encyclicals, Laudato Si', "on Care for Our Common Home" and Fratelli Tutti, "on Fraternity and Social Friendship." By contemplating Jesus' Sacred Heart, the faithful can be filled with the "living water that can heal the hurt we have caused, strengthen our ability to love and serve others, and inspire us to journey together toward a just and fraternal world, built on solidarity" the Pope wrote in his encyclical, which focuses on the Human and Divine Love of the Heart of Jesus Christ. Further on he writes ‘when we witness the outbreak of new wars, with the complicity, tolerance or indifference of other countries, or petty power struggles over partisan interests, we may be tempted to conclude that our world is losing its heart. It is heart-breaking to see elderly women, who should be enjoying their golden years, experiencing the anguish, fear and outrage of war. This is a sign of a world that has grown heartless. In union with Christ, amid the ruins we have left in this world by our sins, we are called to build a new civilization of love.’ Pope Francis is inviting Catholics to rediscover or strengthen their devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the practices connected with it, particularly Eucharistic adoration and receiving the Eucharist on the first Friday of each month.

Happiness

‘Who is the happiest person on this planet?’ asked a British newspaper to its readers. Among those which were chosen were these 1. A craftsman after just finishing a sculpture he just created, admiring his work of art.  2. A mother washing her child after a hard day’s work.  3. A boy and a girl building a sandcastle at the beach.  4. A doctor shaking hands with a patient on whom he just performed a serious operation. 5. A priest who has just spent three hours hearing confessions and healing people’s hurts. So, as you can see, among these responses there are no millionaires, no artists, film stars or football players, or politicians. Happiness is often found among those who do simple things in life, much more than those who live a sophisticated lifestyle.

A Housewife’s Prayer

Dear Lord, I really cannot be the saint who kneels down with you, meditating and praying.
I need to become a saint also by the household chores I have to tackle in my house.
Help me to please you even when I turn on the oven, when I cook the food and when I do the dishes.
If I have the hands of Martha, give me also the heart of her sister Mary.
When I’m on my knees washing the floor, I remember of your hands which healed and forgave sick and sinful people.
When I’m polishing shoes, I remember of your feet wearing sandals.
Forgive me for not having much free time to pray.
Give your blessing to our humble home.
Do not abandon me when I feel sad or lonely.
If I tend to complain occasionally be patient with me.
And when I serve the food I had prepared for my family, I invite you to come and join us.
Because when I’m serving my family, I am also serving You.

Pope St John Paul II

We celebrate today the liturgical feast of one whom we can easily call as the Man of the 20th century, Pope Saint John Paul II. He was born Karol Wojtyla on May 18th, 1920 in Poland and became the first non-Italian Pope in almost 400 years. Also known as John Paul the Great, he reigned from October 16th, 1978 until his death on April 2nd, 2005. He was the second longest-serving Pope in modern history after Pope Pius IX who served for nearly 32 years from 1846 to 1878. As a young boy, he lost his mother at the age of 8 and his father when he was 21. He even had to work at a limestone quarry, but then started his studies at the underground seminary run by Cardinal Sapieha in Krakow. He was ordained a priest on November 1, 1946, and after further studies, he ended up teaching at the Jagiellonian University. He was made a bishop on July 4, 1958 and later became Archbishop of Krakow on June 26, 1967. He remained very staunch to his faith in Poland, even when he became a Cardinal 3 years later. His election as Pope was a big surprise as Pope John Paul I died suddenly after 33 days, and the trend was to elect Italian Popes, but the white smoke showed that a new Pope was chosen on October 16, 1978, aged 58, relatively young for a Pope. 

At the balcony he waved to the thousands gathered in the Piazza and said “the cardinals have called for a new bishop of Rome. They called him from a faraway land — far and yet always close because of our communion in faith and Christian traditions. I was afraid to accept that responsibility, yet I do so in a spirit of obedience to the Lord and total faithfulness to Mary, our most Holy Mother.” John Paul II is recognized as helping to end Communist rule in his native Poland and eventually all of Europe. John Paul II significantly improved the Catholic Church's relations with Judaism, Islam, the Eastern Orthodox Church, and the Anglican Communion. He was one of the most travelled world leaders in history, visiting 129 countries during his pontificate. He beatified 1,340 people and canonized 483 saints, more than the combined tally of his predecessors during the preceding five centuries. He was very much devoted to the Blessed Mother, well respected in his native Poland, especially with the famous Black Madonna, and he even chose his motto as Totus Tuus, “Totally Yours,” even with the letter M on his coat-of-arms. John Paul II's cause for canonization commenced in 2005 one month after his death, and his successor Pope Benedict XVI beatified him on May 1st 2011 after the Congregation for the Causes of Saints attributed one miracle to him, the healing of a French nun from Parkinson's disease. A second miracle was approved and confirmed by Pope Francis two days later. John Paul II was canonized on 27 April 2014, alongside Pope John XXIII.