Island of Malta

Malta (click to enlarge)

If you ever wanted to see what Malta looks like from the air, from space, how big it is, and how crowded it is, this photo gives you all the answers. I did not take this photo, but was probably taken by a pilot as he is descending on the island. I should say by a co-pilot or a passenger, as the pilot should have been in control of the plane. But either way, it is a very good photo of our little island, 18 miles by 8 miles. The sister island Gozo is on the northern part, and is not clearly visible. However, to be fair, hereunder is a photo of Gozo, 7 miles by 5 miles, all on its own, just 5 miles northwest of Malta.

The island of Gozo

St John Bosco

Saint John Bosco (1815-1888)

St John Bosco was an Italian priest born on August 16, 1815 in Piedmont, Italy. He dedicated his life to the religious education of street children, and other disadvantaged children. Eventually he founded the Salesian Order, with their main focus on the education of children and producing audio-visual material as well as printed material. He died on January 31, 1888, and was canonized by Pope Pius XI in 1934. Here are some of his famous quotes:

"Be brave and try to detach your heart from worldly things. Do your utmost to banish darkness from your mind and come to understand what true, selfless piety is. Through confession, endeavor to purify your heart of anything which may still taint it. Enliven your faith, which is essential to understand and achieve piety."

"Remember, God does not pay us for results, but for effort."

"All past persecutors of the Church are now no more, but the Church still lives on. The same fate awaits modern persecutors; they, too, will pass on, but the Church of Jesus Christ will always remain, for God has pledged His Word to protect Her and be with Her forever, until the end of time."

"Believe me... nobody can be truly happy in this world unless he is at peace with God."

"Put up willingly with the faults of others if you wish others to put up with yours."

"Guard your eyes since they are the windows through which sin enters the soul."

The Brain

- The typical brain is about 2% of a body’s weight, but uses 20% of its total energy and oxygen intake.

- Your brain is 73% water. It takes only 2% dehydration to affect your attention, memory and other cognitive skills.

- Our brain contains 86 billion brain cells, and each brain on average weighs three pound.  Albert Einstein’s brain weighed 2.71 pounds – 10% smaller than the average.

- Only 5 minutes without oxygen can cause brain damage.

- Brain information moves at an impressive speed of 260 miles per hour. This is faster than a Formula 1 race car which goes at 240 mph.

- The average brain has around 50,000 thoughts per day, and 70% of them are believed to be negative.

- More than 100,000 chemical reactions take place in your brain every second.

- In general, men’s brains are 10% bigger than women’s, even after taking into account larger body size.

- Our brains are getting smaller. Over the past 10,000-20,000 years the size of the average brain has shrunk by the size of a tennis ball.

- We are not getting smarter. Since the Victorian age, average IQs have gone down 1.6 points per decade.

- Our attention span are getting shorter. In 2000, the average attention span was 12 seconds. Now it’s 8 seconds. That’s shorter than the attention span of the average goldfish, which is 9 seconds.

- Although pain is processed in your brain, your brain has no pain receptors and feels no pain. This explains how brain surgery can be performed while the patient is awake with no pain or discomfort.

The Maltese Cross

One of the most recognizable crosses is the Maltese cross. In today’s Gospel reading, we read the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount, taken from Matthew’s chapter 5, seeing Jesus preaching the Beatitudes. I thought it would be interesting to share with you that the Maltese cross relates very well to the Beatitudes. Because the Knights of Malta, when inducted and installed as knights, they take a vow to follow the 8 virtues or duties, taken precisely from the Beatitudes, and reflected in the 8 points of the Maltese cross. The knights promise:

1. To share the truth,

2. To show strong faith,

3. To repent from their sins,

4. To show humility,

5. To show mercy to everyone,

6. To love justice,

7. To be always sincere, and

8. To endure persecution.

Holy Cards

One of he most popular religious hobbies is the collection of Holy Cards. All over the world I've found people who stuff their prayer books with holy cards, which usually have appropriate prayers in the back. Some of the older ones are quite fragile, and these reproduced here today are even more delicate as they are created by paper lace, which incorporates a particular image in the middle. 

They are precious collectibles, and their value increases depending on the perfect condition they are in. Most of these types of holy cards come from France, and the brief prayer inscribed underneath is usually in French.

Saint Julian

Jesus and St Julian, the Redeemer and the Redeemed

Today happens to be the liturgical feast of my patron, Saint Julian. Born in Belgium, St Julian was a hunter, mostly hunting deer. One day he saw a big deer who spoke to him, and told him ‘Please do not shoot me – remember that one day you will kill your own parents.’ Fearing this terrible fate of his, Julian left home and wandered around Belgium, not informing his parents of his whereabouts. He got married to his wife Margerita and lived happily in a small town. Distraught and heart-broken, his parents started searching for him, and eventually reached the town where he was living. They found his house and his wife greeted them kindly and since they were tired, she let them sleep in her own bed. Another man, jealous of Julian and his wife, met Julian on his way back from hunting and told him that his wife was sleeping with another man. Furious and disappointed, Julian went inside his house and found the two people sleeping in his bed, and without any thought, took his sword and decapitated them. A bigger surprise greeted him when he went outside and met his wife coming towards home with a big smile to tell him of the good news that his parents were home. Realizing what he had done, Julian cried and cried and was inconsolable. 

He decided there and then to dedicate his life to help the poor and the sick, and even built a hospital to care for the sick in the area where he and his wife lived. He had to redeem himself of the sin of parricide that he had committed. He knew it wasn’t his fault, but still wanted to amend of his mistake and devoted his entire life to help the sick. One day he heard the cry of a sick man, and went out in the middle of the night to save him. He cared for him in his hospital, but all of a sudden the man’s countenance turned very bright and told Julian “your sin has been forgiven.” St Julian is known as the patron saint of hunters and hospitaliers, as well as doctors and nurses and those who care for the sick.

Crayons

- Crayola produces 3 billion crayons every year, enough to circle the world six times.

- A Crayola factory in Euston produces 650 crayons per minute.

- For most people, the color blue is the most favorite.

- On average, a child uses 720 crayons by the time he or she is 10 years old.

- A study from Yale University found out that the smell of crayons is one of the most recognizable smells. It came in the 18th place, with coffee, peanut butter and Vicks in the first three places.

- Crayons were invented in 1880 by their manufacturers Binney and Smith. The first box of 8 colors of Crayolas were distributed in 1903.

- One may think that machines always wrapped the paper around each crayon. But this is not the case, because for the first 40 years, each crayon was wrapped individually by hand.

- In 1962, Crayola changed the skin color to peach.

- The one billionth crayon was produced in 1996. It was the ‘blue ribbon’ color.

- The biggest crayon in the world is Big Blue, weighing 680 kilograms or 1,500 lbs, 15 feet long with a diameter of 16 inches. It was made from 123,000 old blue crayons collected by American children. One can color an entire football pitch with it.

Conversion of Saint Paul

Conversion of St Paul, by P. Camilleri Cauchi in Fontana church, Gozo.

This day in history is a true milestone. Personally I probably would not be a priest if I was not born in Catholic Malta. And Malta would not be Catholic if it wasn’t for St Paul being shipwrecked there in 60 AD (we’ll talk about that on February 10, the feast of the shipwreck of St. Paul,) and St Paul would not have made any of his missionary journeys if he was not converted on his way to Damascus. The dramatic painting above is one of many that are depicted in Maltese churches, although the shipwreck obviously is more of a popular scene. We honor our great Apostle of the Gentiles today on the day his life changed forever.

“Now Saul, still breathing murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord,  went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, that, if he should find any men or women who belonged to the Way, he might bring them back to Jerusalem in chains. On his journey, as he was nearing Damascus, a light from the sky suddenly flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” He said, “Who are you, sir?” The reply came, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. Now get up and go into the city and you will be told what you must do.” The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, for they heard the voice but could see no one. Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him to Damascus. For three days he was unable to see, and he neither ate nor drank.” (Acts 9: 1‑9)

St Francis de Sales

Saint Francis de Sales (1567-1622)

Born in 1567, the eldest in a large family, Francis was ear‑marked by his father to become a lawyer. He was more interested though in Canon Law and with the support of his mother and his prestigious appointment as provost of the Cathedral Chapter, his father eventually gave his consent to Francis’ desire for service in the church. He studied in Paris, France and Padua, Italy and was ordained a priest in 1593. As a priest he set out to offer clear and solid teaching, even slipping articles on Catholic doctrine under the doors of people’s homes, for which he was later named Patron of Journalists. He also was very instrumental in implementing the decrees of the Council of Trent which was completed 30 years earlier.
In 1602, he was made Bishop of Geneva, and here he strove to educate the clergy as well as support and enrich religious life. He preached zealously, always focusing on the Scripture, while trying to reform lax abbeys and monasteries. He gave spiritual direction to many, as well as through his letters. He gave special attention to women, to the poor and to the disadvantaged. His famous book 'The Introduction to the Spiritual Life' was a result of his letters written as spiritual direction. 'The Treatise on the Love of God' came about in response to the Visitation Sisters, whom he helped found with the help of St Jane Frances de Chantal, with whom he became a spiritual pen‑friend, their letters also published in a book. He died in 1622 and was canonized 33 years later in 1655.
A famous quote from St Francis de Sales: “The everlasting God has, in His wisdom, foreseen from eternity the cross that He now presents to you as a gift from His inmost heart. This cross He now sends you He has considered with His all‑knowing eyes, understood with His loving mind, tested with His wise justice, warmed with His loving arms, and weighed with His own hands, to see that it be not one inch too large and not one ounce too heavy for you. He has blessed it with His holy name, anointed it with His grace, perfumed it with His consolation, taken one last glance at you and your courage, and then sent it to you from heaven, a special greeting from God to you, an alms of all‑merciful love of God.”

Three more firsts

First Mercedes Benz from 1888

Here are three more first photos of historic events. The first one shows the first Mercedes Benz from 1888. It was actually a large tricycle, with a speed of probably 1 mph. The second photo shows the first four-wheel car, a quadricycle built by Ford, the forerunner of the Ford cars which amount to millions nowadays. Henry Ford himself is riding his invention, which would revolutionize transportation over the next few decades.

Henry Ford on his quadricycle in 1896

The last photo is the first ever photograph taken with a camera. It was taken in France in 1827 with a system called daguerreotype. In  the past 190 years, photography has developed by leaps and bounds and now digital photography has made paper photos almost obsolete. However, old photos are nonetheless quite historic and priceless, as these three samples show. And thankfully we can now scan them and share them with millions around the world, as I'm doing right now.

View from a window at Le Gras, France in 1827, the earliest surviving camera photograph

Wash your windows

Often we judge others and events taking place from just one perspective – our own. But there are other perspectives that you should consider when passing a judgment. I shared this story in my homily today, and people liked it – they actually chuckled and smiled, something unusual for congregations in Maltese churches. It has a good message on how we should not criticize others until we had checked all facts and other perspectives.

There was a woman who lived in a block of apartments. She was pretty elderly and did not move much, but she had all the time in the world to sit behind her window and criticize her neighbors. She would tell her husband “I can’t believe how dirty those clothes are hanging on the line. They don’t know how to wash them. Or maybe they ran out of detergent.....” This went on for months, every day, “Why can’t some people wash their clothes properly – they’re always filthy, grey and dirty! I can’t stand them anymore!” Finally one day, she was surprised to see all the clothes sparkling white. And she told her husband “Honey, they finally washed them properly!” And her husband calmed her down by saying, “Darling, there was absolutely nothing wrong with their clothes – they were always white and clean. What happened is that I finally washed our windows – they were dirty, dusty and full of cobwebs!” So, it’s always a matter of perspective – and next time before you judge your neighbours, make sure you wash your windows.

Saint 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 January 21, 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. Then there is another beautiful tradition......

Pope Francis blessings the lambs before being sheared for the palliums.

On this day, the feast of St Agnes, the Pope traditionally blesses two lambs raised by Trappist monks near Rome. The lambs are sheared and the wool is given to the cloistered Benedictine nuns at Rome’s Basilica of St. Cecilia. The nuns use the wool to make palliums, which are bands that the heads of archdioceses wear around their shoulders during liturgical functions. Every year on the June 29 feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, the Pope gives the palliums to the archbishops who have taken office in the past year. Today, after blessing the animals, the pope also asked God to “bless the pastors who will receive the palliums made from the wool of these lambs.”

Three historic firsts

US President James Buchanan's Inauguration in 1857

I share with you today three historic photos, with a few more coming in a few days. Yes, they say there is a first for everything. 8 years ago we had America's first black President, and today we'll have the first President with absolutely no Government background. Best wishes to him and his Cabinet. And the first photo shows the very first time photography was used to capture a Presidential Inauguration, back in 1857 for President James Buchanan. Obviously the quality of the photo is very faint and blurry, but this was the early years of primitive photography, as we knew it until digital photography took over.

First ever computer, the ENIAC, assembled in 1940.

The second photo is just as historic and unbelievable as you see the first ever computer assembled, the ENIAC, which needed a pretty large room to contain all the wires, cabinets and connections. Today a person carries a computer in his or her pocket, and which is a billion times more powerful, more convenient, more practical, and with so much more information - all this in the size of a cell-phone or even a watch!

First McDonald's at San Bernardino, CA opened in 1940

The last photo for today is the first ever McDonald's, built in San Bernardino, California, and opened on May 15, 1940. Today there are 36, 615 outlets world wide, with a net income of $4.5 billion and total assets of $40 billion. There are 420,000 employees working for McDonald's all around the world.

What God is like. . . . .

God is like a Zoom Lens....He helps me focus on the essential and eliminates the unnecessary.

God is like a Sign‑Post.....He gives me a sense of direction as to where I'm going in my life.

God is like a Metronome.....He helps me keep the rhythm and correct pace.

God is like a Band‑Aid Dispensor....He helps the healing of any wounds I may be suffering from.

God is like a Lawn Mower....He trims off the unnecessary weeds in my life.

God is like the Stearing Wheel.....He makes sure that I keep straight on my destination.

God is like a Tele‑Prompter.....He says the right word for me when I'm speechless.

God is like a Submarine.....you don't see Him, but He is there, checking everything out.

God is like a Telescope.....He helps me in seeing things up close even from a distance.

God is like a power outlet......He provides the charge and power to enlighten our lives.

God is like a Computer Database.....He puts our lives, worries and concerns in perfect order.

God is like a Deodorant and After Shave........He refreshes us if we use Him regularly.

God is like a stethoscope......He monitors our hearts, and heals them when hurt or broken.

There's always.......

There’s always some truth behind “just kidding.”

There’s always some knowledge behind “I don’t know.”

There’s always some emotions behind “I don’t care.”

There’s always some need behind “Leave me alone.”

There’s always some deep concern behind “I am sorry.”

There’s always some pain behind “I’m OK.”

St Anthony, Abbott

Born in 215 AD in Egypt from a devout Christian family, St Anthony was left orphan with his younger sister at a very young age. He was responsible of taking care of his parents’ properties and fields. Yet he decided later on to distribute much of his wealth to the poor, after making sure he kept some of the money for his sister and himself. At the age of 35, he crossed the Nile and went to live in the mountains as a hermit. He lived like this for 20 years, eating only bread and water, and fasting most of the days. The only luxury was adding some salt to his diet and later in life adding a little oil.

He had many temptations in the desert, especially in the early years in his hermitage. Very few people visited him, but one person who became close to him was St Athanasius, who eventually wrote Anthony’s biography, and that is why we know many details of his austere life. A few men wanted to live like him and he built two monasteries for them. Many animals also befriended him, and they used to visit him regularly. In fact in many churches the blessing of animals is held today, as is done on the feast of St Francis of Assisi. St Anthony died at the age of 105, and many others lived as hermits after him, known as the Desert Fathers. We learn from him to spend time in prayer, away from this world’s distractions, not necessarily as hermits, but close to God in our own private space or churches.

The changing face of Malta

I share with you today two photos which I personally took, 45 years apart. You can see how much the scenery has changed and how many buildings and houses have overtaken the few country fields we had in the past. These photos were taken a few blocks away from where we live, overlooking Swieqi. In the 1972 black and white photo, one can see two blocks of apartments dominating the skyline, while in the recent one, the foreground fields in the first one are completely gone, and instead, a series of villas and apartments and houses have been built, besides a very busy road, known as the Regional Road. (click on each to enlarge)

There is obviously no more room for more houses to be built in this area, but just a few yards away, tower cranes are dominating the skyline building more apartments and high risers, which for us Maltese look like skyscrapers. Thankfully there are some areas on the other side of Malta which are still green with meandering fields, terraced rubble walls and little huts that are used for hunting or to store farming equipment.

Personal Anecdotes

Over the years, I've experienced many situations that are inspirational, humorous or sometimes unpredictable, especially where children are concerned. Here are a few of them:

I remember a memorable moment in one parish in New York when I visited an elderly parishioner Bessie, who had a canary next to her chair. Every time I took out the consecrated host to give her communion, the canary would start singing the most beautiful melody, and would not stop until Bessie had received Communion. Then he would quiet down again ! This went on for months, every time I was there. He definitely sensed the presence of Someone Special.

I remember after one of my many Wedding rehearsals, giving directions where everyone should stand and walk, a young 4-year old boy, who was the ring bearer came over to me and asked me innocently, “are you a policeman?”

I remember a mom telling me about her son who saw me in Church during Communion and described me in this way: “Did you see Father Julian standing on that kerb ! He was giving out potato chips to everyone, but didn’t give me any!”

The Mango Tree

There was a king who wanted to discourage his four sons from making rash judgments.  At his command, the eldest son made a winter journey to see a mango tree across the valley. When spring came, the next oldest was sent on the same journey. Summer followed, and the king sent his third son.  After the youngest made his visit to the mango tree in the autumn, the king called them together and asked each son to describe the tree.

The first son said it looked like an ugly, old stump.  The second disagreed, describing it as lovely ‑ large and green.  The third son declared its blossoms were as beautiful as roses. The fourth son said that they were all wrong.  To him it was a tree filled with fruit ‑ luscious, juicy fruit.  "Well, each of you is right," the old king said.

Seeing the puzzled look in their eyes, the king went on to explain. "You see, each of you saw the mango tree in a different season; thus you all correctly described what you saw.  The lesson," said the king, "is to withhold your judgment until you have seen the tree in all its seasons."

Like the mango tree, our lives go through seasons.  Some seasons seem barren and unfruitful.  During these times of unproductiveness and obscurity we may be tempted to judge our lives as failures.  Family and job responsibilities may frustrate us from reaching career and education goals.

But we must withhold judgment until we have passed through all of life's seasons.  All four seasons of a tree are necessary.  The lonely months of winter prepare it for the fruitfulness of summer.  So do not lose heart. The season of fruitfulness will come to us just as it comes to the tree. The Scripture says, "To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to reap; ... a time to gain and a time to lose."   (Ecclesiastes 3:1-6) 

Steven McDonald RIP

Steven McDonald with son Connor and wife Patti

Officer Steven McDonald passed away at North Shore University Hospital on Long Island after suffering a heart attack. He was paralyzed in Central Park, New York City on July 12, 1986. McDonald and his supervisor encountered three suspected bike robbers. In an instant, a gun shot changed Officer Steven McDonald’s life. While the injury paralyzed McDonald, it never immobilized his commitment to serve others. McDonald was married less than a year, with a child on the way, when tragedy struck. Connor was born 6 months later and is now a police officer with the NYPD. “My wife’s love and my son’s affection keep me going every day of my life,” McDonald said frequently in many of his motivational speeches he gave over the past 30 years. Shot three times, Steven was left quadriplegic and still breathes on a ventilator. Shavod Jones, a 15-year-old, was convicted. Instead of revenge, McDonald offered forgiveness.

The funeral mass will be held at St. Patrick's Cathedral later on today Friday, and will be celebrated by Cardinal Timothy Dolan, who calls McDonald "an icon of mercy and forgiveness." Steven became well-known for his charity work in the decades after the shooting, preaching the power of forgiveness. "He was a gift to the city. He's no longer with us but his spirit still survives and I think that will get us through along with all of our members," said NYPD Deputy Commissioner Benjamin Tucker. McDonald had continued as an active member of the police department despite the fact that he used a wheelchair and was only able to breathe with help from a respirator.

Steven and Patti with Connor, still a young toddler

"To have to struggle for each and every breath for 30 years and to do the work that Steven had done for 30 years, to have that message of peace and forgiveness and faith, he's an absolutely tremendous human being and he'll be sorely missed by everyone in this department," NYPD Commissioner James O'Neill said. "He would be so overwhelmed by the love everyone is showing to his family," said his widow Patti McDonald. "The most important thing we can take away from my father is his mission of love and compassion and forgiveness," said the detective's son Connor. "That cannot die, that has to keep going and transcend."

Praise and exalt Him

 Frost all over Baker City, Oregon, on January 15, 2009

Every shower and dew, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.

All you winds, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.

Fire and heat, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.

Cold and chill, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.

Dew and rain, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.

Frost and chill, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.

 Frost on branches in Bend, Oregon on January 24, 2014

Hoarfrost and snow, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.

Nights and days, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.

Light and darkness, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.

Lightnings and clouds, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.

Let the earth bless the Lord, praise and exalt him above all forever.

(From the Book of Daniel, 3: 64-74)

Two Wolves

One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, "My son, the battle is between two "wolves" inside us all. One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego. The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith."The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: "Which wolf wins?"The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."

The Pretzel

One of the most popular snacks in every household is definitely the pretzel. A carefully prepared dough of specially selected ingredients is formed into pretzels with a real twist, salted and slowly baked for extra crunchiness. The popular pretzel of today was developed long ago by a monk in about 610 AD at one of the monasteries in the mountains between Southern France and Northern Italy. After baking bread, this imaginative monk took leftover dough and rolled it into a strip and formed it to represent a child’s arms folded in prayer. He called it “pretiola”, which is Latin for “little reward”, and gave it to the little children for learning their prayers. The Church prospered and this precious “pretiola” found its way over the Alps into Austria and Germany where it became affectionately known as “Bretzel” and the “Pretzel” as we know it today.

As you enjoy the delicious satisfaction of a pretzel snack, or a pretzel’s  accompaniment to drinks, salads or other fond food items, remember that pretzels are baked not fried. So, have a clear conscience because ounce for ounce Pretzels have less fat and calories than many other snacks, including nuts, potato chips, cookies and cakes. They are a source of energy while still being low in fat, yet crisp, crunchy and plain good tasting.

The Pretzel in the Frieburg Munster Church stained glass window

Pretzels hold an honored place in the marriage ceremony. Frequently the pretzel is used in stained-glass windows in churches, especially in Germany. A wood cut dating 1614 and copied from a stained-glass window in a Cathedral in Berne Switzerland depicts the pretzel used as a nuptial knot in a royal marriage. After a while, wishing on a pretzel became common, particularly at weddings when the bride held one side of a pretzel and the groom held the other side. They pulled on a pretzel, and each got a piece in their hand, very much similar to what we do with a wishbone from a chicken after it’s been dried and washed clean. So, other than a tasty snack, the pretzel remind us that it is a symbol for excellence in many accomplishments, especially towards children when they pray, and also as a symbol of love, when used as a nuptial knot between couples. 

Baptism of Jesus

Francesco Alban - Baptism of Christ

Today the church celebrates the feast of the Baptism of Jesus. He was of course 30 years old when he was baptized by John the Baptist, and had a good recollection of this important event in his life, which was the launching-pad of his 3 year mission. Many of us do not have any recollection of our Baptism, unlike our First Holy Communion, Confirmation and Marriage or Ordination. Most probably we all have photos of when we received these important sacraments, but unless it was done recently, the day we were received into the church will go down as something that happened in the dark ages. Maybe that is why we do not truly appreciate the solemnity and uniqueness of that event. But it was nonetheless a meaningful moment in our journey of faith. It is also unfortunate that, from my experience, many parents consider the baptism of their children as just a cosmetic event, an opportunity to show up in church and invite family and friends for a party. More emphasis should be given to the role of the godparents, and the follow-up of the choice parents have made for their new creations. If I were to ask 3 simple questions to a person, I doubt if he or she can answer at least one of them: 1. What date you were baptized, 2. In which church and 3. Who was the priest who baptized you? May this feast today remind us to appreciate our own baptism even more and treasure its memory in our hearts.

Three Kings - Three Gifts

Stefan Lochner - 'Epiphany'

As we celebrate the feast of the Epiphany today, I looked at some of the many paintings that artists have produced over the centuries, and made these observations:

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.

Joseph von Molk - Adoration of the Kings

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 Balthassar, an Arabian scholar.)

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 for the dead, 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 praise, and myrrh symbolizing suffering. 

Mary’s Joys – Mary’s Tears

The 7 sorrows that Mary had to experience in her life are already underway. Innocent boys have been slaughtered by Herod, Simeon predicted her sorrows at the presentation of the baby at the temple. And even the three Kings had to escape the wrath of Herod and go a different route back home. Mary shed many a tear through her life, but kept everything in her heart. She had every right to be upset and angry, but in her humility, she suffered in her own home, comforted by St Joseph, and undoubtedly by her Son Jesus. Her joys were overpowered by her tears, her happiness was tarnished by her sadness, her smiles were replaced by her disappointments that were to follow. But Mary knew that this was the plan prepared for her by the Almighty. A tear flows at the enormity of the realization that she has been chosen to be the Mother of God. He is the power that created the galaxies, the promised Deliverer. Mary’s Baby and Mary’s God are one. Actually it is He who holds her. Truly it is He who holds each and every one of us.

Epiphany

Franz von Rohden - Nativity

It is a tradition that Latin countries put more emphasis on the feast of the Epiphany than on Christmas Day. The Feast of Epiphany is traditionally Italy’s and Spain's main festive holiday, when children receive their presents brought not by Santa Claus, but by the Three Kings. On "El Día de los Reyes" Spain and Latin American countries celebrate the biblical adoration of baby Jesus by the three Kings, also known as the three Wise Men or Magi. In a 2015 survey, Spanish children overwhelmingly chose the Three Kings as their favorite gift giver (67 percent) over Santa Claus (27 percent). 

In Spain ‘Los Reyes Magos’ - Melchior, Caspar and Balthazar - play a similar role to Santa Claus in many other parts of the world. Spanish children write letters to the Three Kings, or Three Wise Men, who then bring the children gifts the night before, or on the morning of the Epiphany. In some houses children leave their shoes outside the door so that the Three Kings will fill them with gifts, often leaving bigger presents alonsgide. Live processions are held in many cities, with live camels and three men dressed elaborately as Kings.

An Epiphany procession which frequently includes live camels

On January 6th, Spaniards typically tuck into a Roscón de Reyes, a Three Kings cake baked in a ring and decorated with candied fruit and hiding a, sometimes lucrative, surprise. A small figurine of the baby Jesus, or a little toy for children, is typically hidden inside the dough, as is a dry fava bean. Whoever finds the toy is crowned king or queen of the celebration, while the one who finds the bean has to buy the Roscón next year.

Another tradition involves men leaping into freezing water to retrieve a crucifix thrown by a priest. The winner becomes an instant hero, and probably spends a week in bed recovering from pneumonia, as do all the other swimmers. 

My Baby Jesus

You have seen this Baby Jesus before in a few posts over the past two weeks. This is the Baby Jesus I grew up with, and so my imagination of what Baby Jesus looked liked was always the image of this face, a statue made from paper-mache which is placed every year at the main altar of my childhood church of St. Julian’s. 

A week ago, the baby was lying on his side, but now he has been placed standing on a rock, which gives a much better visibility, as you can see from these photos. The cross below him is a part of the tabernacle, and it gives a perspective of what was to come to dear Jesus within 33 years of his birth.

The main altar at the St Julian's Old Lapsi church, Malta

5^th anniversary of my Blog – this is the fifth anniversary since I started my blog in the USA. With over 1500 posts on my first blog, which is still accessible at: www.fatherjulian.blogspot.com and over 250 so far in this Blog, one can find many inspirational stories, quotes, reflections, lives of saints and of course plenty of great photos. Please share the address with your friends, and tell them simply to put the address in their Favorites and check it for 2 minutes a day. Anyone who ever visited it, came back for more. My purpose for this Blog is to give something uplifting each day, in the midst of many other negative and destructive blogs that cause so much heartache and hurt. Thank you for visiting here.