Feast of the Visitation

Today we celebrate a very special moment in the history of the church – when the Blessed Mother visits her cousin Elizabeth. You might say there is nothing particularly special about a visit that a woman makes to another woman. Most women love to visit and talk, have a cup of coffee and brag on their children, their houses, and their appearance, not to mention what they might say about their husbands. But the feast of the visitation of Mary to Elizabeth is a fairly late feast, going back only to the 13th or 14th century. It was established widely throughout the Church to pray for unity. The present date of celebration was set in 1969 by Blessed Pope Paul VI, in order to follow the Annunciation of the Lord (March 25) and precede the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist (June 24.)
Like most feasts of Mary, it is closely connected with Jesus and his saving work. The more visible actors in the visitation drama, as recorded in the Gospel of St Luke, chapter 1:39-45, are Mary and Elizabeth. However, Jesus and John the Baptist steal the scene in a hidden way. Jesus makes John leap with joy—the joy of messianic salvation. Elizabeth, in turn, is filled with the Holy Spirit and addresses words of praise to Mary—words that echo down through the ages. Then comes the Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55). Here, Mary herself traces all her greatness to God, a prayer that is recited daily in the Evening Prayers priests recite in the Breviary.

This feast gives us the opportunity to review the spirit of visits we make to each other. How welcoming are we when people visit us? How kind and gracious are we when we visit other people, whether they are family or friends? How much of an opportunity we take to speak about our faith and our values when friends visit us? And with the explosion of social media in our lives, it is good to communicate the way we used to, sitting down, face to face over a cup of coffee, recollecting past experiences and family stories. I am sure that Mary and Elizabeth had a great time talking and chatting about their lives, their unborn babies and plans they had for them, Jesus and John the Baptist respectively.

The Chapel at Hilltop Gardens

'The Risen Christ' painting by John Grima

Continuing on my overview of Hilltop Gardens and its quaint chapel, it is a modern place of worship, where I find many hours of comfort and prayer as I prepare my liturgies and celebrate Mass daily. On the sides there are 6 paintings or murals done by a Maltese-Gozitan artist John Grima, and they depict on the right side 1. Creation of the universe and planets, 2. Creation of the animals, and 3. Creation of Adam and Eve. On the left side the murals depict 1. The Nativity, 2. The miracle of the multiplication of 5 loaves and 2 fishes, and 3. The Resurrection of Jesus. The ceiling is blue with cloud formation, and the base of the altar as well as the tabernacle is made of onyx, similar to the flooring. 

The outside of the "Risen Christ" Hilltop Gardens chapel.

There is a balcony or choir loft where the extra people who show up, especially on Christmas and Easter, can stay. Visiting choirs also use the balcony as they embellish our liturgies with their music, and they enjoy looking over the congregation while singing at various parts of the Mass. Many visitors come in at various times and admire the chapel, and they all have a similar comment....”how peaceful and how serene.” The Staff had told me on various occasions that the chapel and the Masses are what mostly attract prospective residents to eventually join Hilltop Gardens. 

'The miracle of the loaves and fishes' by John Grima

I treat it as if it were a regular parish, with the Adoration, Benediction and Rosary on the first Fridays, and Stations of the Cross during Lent. I also introduced the Diocesan Rosary where we offer each Hail Mary to different parishes in Malta and Gozo, besides other Diocesan institutions like the Chancery, Cathedral, Museums, Homes for the Elderly, the handicapped, University and many others. Please do click on each photo to enlarge, especially the paintings.

1st Anniversary at Hilltop Gardens

Today is the first anniversary of my appointment as chaplain at Hilltop Gardens at Naxxar. It is a retirement home that caters for both independent living as well as a care home for the elderly. My duty is to celebrate Mass daily, twice on Saturday and twice on Sunday, (including an English Mass) plus any additional Masses that are needed for visiting groups. 

Playing the Ave Maria during one of the Masses

The chapel itself is very modern as you can see from the photos. The whole complex was opened in December 2015 and presently has close to 200 residents. My Masses are attended also by the local neighbors who enjoy the simplicity of the liturgies without the huge crowds one finds in larger parishes. An occasional meditation on my flute adds to the warmth and atmosphere of the community. The chapel holds close to 80 people and is surrounded by a moat, which gives it the impression that it is a floating chapel. Many of the residents are wheeled into the chapel in their wheel-chairs and those who cannot attend can follow the Mass on their closed-circuit TV in their rooms. After each Mass I go around with communion calls to anywhere between 15 and 25 residents who are bed-ridden. 

Foot-washing ceremony on Holy Thursday

The chapel is dedicated to the Risen Christ, and the floor is covered with onyx, a special type of marble that the owner found in a quarry, and saved it for this chapel, which he designed himself. Tomorrow I will show you more photos of the artistic aspect of the chapel. For today you can see the inside during various celebrations, including the Holy Thursday foot-washing ceremony. 

Ascension

Raffaele Caruana 'Ascension' at Lapsi church, St Julian's

Today we celebrate the feast of the Ascension, a celebration that has been transferred in many Dioceses to the 7th Sunday of Easter. This is the day that the Lord gave his final “Goodbye” to his followers, although it was more like a “So Long.” This feast has special memories for me as a child, because of a painting that was in my childhood parish, dedicated to the Ascension of Jesus. It was painted by the Maltese artist Raffaele Caruana (1820-1886.) As a child and especially as an altar-boy I frequently reflected on this painting, even connecting the faces of the apostles to men in the parish, whom they resembled. The actual church was dedicated to Saint Julian, the old parish church until 1969, but was always known as the Lapsi Church (Ascension Church.) The feast of the Ascension opens officially the swimming/summer season, and the weather usually warms up steadily from now on.

And as Jesus leaves us today, He is also empowering us to continue His work, as He did with the apostles 2 millennia ago. They have not let Him down, and neither did the many saints and holy people that have followed. Let us not let Him down, but continue this enticing relay race of Christianity, passing the proverbial baton to our children and children’s children, as our forefathers have done over the centuries. 

Some more exotic flowers

The Ballerina orchid

Here are four more really unusual flowers, which obviously remind you of other things, like a ballerina, parrots, Darth Veda and even monkeys. Most of them are from the orchid family. 

Darth Veda flower

Two monkeys in this Orchid plant

In this spring season, a variety of flowers crop up, some of them dormant after many years, especially after some dry years or even decades. Yet the seeds buried in the dark ground wait patiently for a wet winter to burst forth in beauty and splendor. Yet these flowers shown here are exotic and tropical, and are not usually seen in European or American floral displays.

The parrot flower

St Philip Neri

St Philip Neri (1515-1595)

If one had to choose one saint who showed the humorous side of holiness that would be St. Philip Neri, whose feast we celebrate today. Born in 1515 in Florence, he showed the impulsiveness and spontaneity of his character from the time he was a boy. His father was not successful financially and at eighteen Philip was sent to work with an older cousin who was a successful businessman. During this time, Philip found a favorite place to pray up in cave on a mountain that had been turned into a chapel. He then went to Rome in 1533 where he studied philosophy and theology until he thought his studies were interfering with his prayer life. He then stopped his studies, threw away his books, and lived as a kind of hermit.
Night was his special time of prayer. After dark he would go out in the streets, sometimes to churches, but most often into the catacombs of St. Sebastiano to pray. He felt so filled with energy to serve God that he went out to work at the hospital of the incurables and starting speaking to others about God, everyone from beggars to bankers.
In 1548 Philip formed a confraternity with other laymen to minister to pilgrims who came to Rome without food or shelter. The spiritual director of the confraternity convinced Philip that he could do even more work as a priest. After receiving instruction from this priest, Philip was ordained in 1551.
At his new home, the church of San Girolamo, he learned to love to hear confessions. Young men especially found in him the wisdom and direction they needed to grow spiritually. But Philip began to realize that these young men needed something more than absolution; they needed guidance during their daily lives. So Philip began to ask the young men to come by in the early afternoon when they would discuss spiritual readings and then stay for prayer in the evening. The numbers of the men who attended these meetings grew rapidly. In order to handle the growth, Philip and a fellow priest built a room called the Oratory to hold them in.
Philip understood that it wasn't enough to tell young people not to do something ‑‑ you had to give them something to do in its place. So at Carnival time, when the worst excesses were encouraged, Philip organized a pilgrimage to the Seven Churches with a picnic accompanied by instrumental music for the mid‑day break. After walking twelve miles in one day everyone was too tired to be tempted!
In 1555, the Pope's Vicar accused Philip of "introducing novelties" and ordered him to stop the meetings of the Oratory. Philip was brokenhearted but obeyed immediately. The Pope only let him start up the Oratory again after the sudden death of his accuser. Eventually Philip decided it would be best for the group to have their own church. They became officially known as the Congregation of the Oratory, made up of secular priests and clerics. Philip was known to be spontaneous and unpredictable, charming and humorous. One of his men was Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina who wrote beautiful harmonic choral music and Masses.
Humility was the most important virtue he tried to teach others and to learn himself. Philip died in 1595 after a long illness at the age of eighty years. This prayer is a fitting conclusion to this brief biography of this happy joy‑filled saint: Saint Philip Neri, we take ourselves far too seriously most of the time. Help us to add humor to our perspective ‑ remembering always that humor is a gift from God.

Unusual Flowers

White Egret Orchid

Here are some really weird and unusual flowers you may not come across while walking in the countryside. It’s truly fascinating how nature presents us with some bizarre animals, trees, birds, fish and in this case, flowers. (a few more in the coming posts)

Hookers Lips flower

Flying Ducks orchid

Roger Moore (1927-2017)

We bid goodbye today to one of the most prominent actors of the last half of last century. Roger Moore passed away yesterday in Switzerland after a brief battle with cancer. He was 89. Born on October 14, 1927 he is probably best known for his 7 magnificent James Bond movies, issued between 1973 and 1985, playing the British secret agent, following the footsteps of his predecessor Sean Connery. He also played Simon Templar in the television series ‘The Saint’ between 1962 and 1969. 

Roger Moore in his role as Ivanhoe

But my childhood recollection of him goes back even further as he played the role of Ivanhoe between 1958 and 1959, a show which was one of my favorites on black-and-white TV. He also played TV roles in ‘The Alaskans,’ ‘The Maverick,’ and ‘The Persuaders,’ before starting his classic role as 007. Sir Roger Moore was involved with UNICEF, helping children all around the world. He died on May 23, 2017.

Interesting Trivia

There are more chicken than people in the world.

Tigers have striped skin, not just striped fur.

In England, the Speaker of the House is not allowed to speak.

There are 293 ways to make change for a dollar.

The longest one syllable word in the English language is screeched.

On the Canadian two-dollar bill, the flag flying over the Monument is an American flag.

The Name for the Wizard of Oz was thought up when the creator, Frank Baum looked at a filing cabinet and saw the files categories in two batches A-N and O-Z, hence Oz.

The microwave was invented when a researched walked by a radar tube, and a

chocolate bar melted in his pocket.

The average person falls asleep in 7 minutes.

Stewardesses is the longest word you can type with the left hand.

How come “abbreviated” is a such a long word ?

Why doesn’t glue stick to the inside of a bottle ?

Rubber bands last longer when refrigerated.

Peanuts are one of the ingredients of dynamite.

A shark is the only fish that can blink with both eyes.

No word in the English language rhymes with month, orange, silver or purple.

Winston Churchill was born in a ladies' room during a dance.

The Strength of a Man

The strength of a man isn't seen in the width of his shoulders....... It's seen in the width of his arms that circle you.
The strength of a man isn't in the deep tone of his voice. It is in the gentle words he whispers.
The strength of a man isn't how many buddies he has. It's how good a buddy he is with his kids.
The strength of a man isn't in how respected he is at work. It's in how respected he is at home.
The strength of a man isn't in how hard he hits. It's in how tenderly he touches.
The strength of a man isn't in the hair on his chest. It's in his Heart...that lies within his chest.
The strength of a man isn't how many women he's loved. It's in his loyalty to one woman.
The strength of a man isn't in the weight he can lift. It is in the burdens he can carry.

No matter what happens

I remember a time when each day was long, 

when the world was a playground and my life a song,
and I fluttered through years with barely a care,
Ignoring the future and what waited there.

School was intriguing and filled with delights.
I played away day-times and dreamed away nights.
My parents assured me I had nothing to fear,
And that no matter what happened, they'd always be there.

Little I knew of a world outside home,
Where tragedy, sorrow and murder could roam.
All I saw were blue skies, rainbows and stars.
I looked past destruction of buildings and cars.

As a child, my biggest concern was just me;
I had to be happy, I had to be free.
And if I was content, I would not shed a tear,
And no matter what happened, I still would be here.

But as I grow up, darkness starts to set in;
My bright world has turned into concrete and tin.
I now see the violence I looked past before;
My friends start to die and my heart hits the floor.

Deadly diseases claim people I love,
There are landfills below me, pollution above.
I often think back to when life was a game.
But no matter what happens, it can't be the same.

There are days when I just want to break down and howl,
To give up completely, to throw in the towel,
But I hold my head high and I push my way through.
I have too much to give and so much to do.

And I make a vow that, though it'll be hard,
I'll go on with a smile and play every card.
I'll give all I can, help others and love.
And the strength I don't have will come from above.

So come, take my hand, and through darkness we will sail,
If we all join together, we never can fail.
We'll remember to care, remember to feel,
And no matter what happens, our world we will heal.

Buddhists 10 Commandments

We are used to our own 10 Commandments, given to Moses by God on Mount Sinai. But it’s interesting to see what the Buddhist 10 Commandments say. Some of them would be very appropriate to apply them in our own lives. So here they are:

1. Do not destroy life.
2. Do not take what is not given to you.
3. Do not commit adultery.
4. Tell no lies and deceive no one.
5. Do not become intoxicated.
6. Eat temperately and not at all in the afternoon.
7. Do not watch dancing, nor listen to singing or plays.
8. Wear no garlands, perfumes or any other adornments.
9. Sleep not in luxurious beds.
10. Accept no gold or silver.

A Malta scene - in watercolors

A Malta scene - click to enlarge

It took almost a year for me to get re-started with my watercoloring hobby, but I present to you my first official Maltese project, and obviously I had to put a Maltese touch into it. After producing a few similar paintings while in Oregon, with the main features highlighted with a black fine liner, I thought this would be my signature style now, especially after a few of my Oregonian friends have requested these type of paintings and have them hanging in their living rooms, framed beautifully. So I will explain how I worked on this first project.
                    
The outline of the entire was made in pencil with various typical Maltese structures, like a palace, churches, houses, a windmill, a Neolithic temple, rubble huts known as ‘girna’ and the occasional rubble wall, besides the colorful fishing boats.
                    
Then I started painting the colorful fields, alternating between green and brown or tan, adding a few trees in the process, besides shrubs and tiny plants in different shades of green.
                
Then it was time to color the buildings with different hues that alternate from brown to grey to light yellow, the color of limestone, the predominant stones used for most buildings. The boats were also colored and the final touch was the outline of each structure with a fine liner, as well as the rubble walls and trees.
And there is the finished painting, placed on top of this post. I am planning a few similar projects with a variety of buildings and historical structures interspersed throughout the countryside, frequently dominated with the Baroque churches on the skyline, although nowadays the high risers are taking their place. But at least my paintings will highlight the traditional landscapes we all remember nostalgically.

Art in the sky

It's amazing what one can see in the skies, if we only observe and behold the magnificent display of clouds, lightning and other cloud formation during twisters and hurricanes. Of course most of us are hurrying for shelter when a thunderstorm is approaching, but some daring photographers risk their lives by taking incredible photos. Here are some of them which can be really described as true art in the sky.

Tomorrow: My first watercolor painting from Malta....don't miss it.

More Inspirational Quotes

Take rest – a field that has rested gives a bountiful harvest. – Ovid.

To render evil for good – that is to resemble a devil. To render evil for evil – that is to resemble animals. To render good for good – that is to resemble man. To render good for evil – that is to resemble God.

A sorrow that’s shared is but half a trouble. But a joy that’s shared is a joy made double. Friendship doubles our joy, and divides our griefs.

When it comes time to die, let’s not discover that we never lived. – Thoreau

Adapt the pace of nature – her secret is PATIENCE.

We judge ourselves by what we feel capable of doing; others judge us by what we have accomplished. – Longfellow.

The career of every person on earth began in a diaper, even though today he may be wearing the uniform of a military general or the ribbons of an ambassador. And his career will probably come to an end again in a diaper, except perhaps a slightly larger one. – Pope St John Paul II

Fame is a vapor, popularity an accident, riches take wings. Only one thing endures: character. - Horace Greeley.

Beatitudes for the Aged

Blessed are you who listen to me, even though I do not speak clearly, because you remind me that if I keep trying, at the end, you will understand my feelings.

Blessed are you when you don’t tell me to ‘hurry up,’ or do everything for me, because very often what I need is not help, but enough time.

Blessed are you who stay by me when I try to do something new, because my failures are nothing compared to the moments when I surprise myself with what I can actually accomplish on my own.

Blessed are you when you ask for my help, because my biggest need is to see myself useful.

Blessed are you when you recognize how difficult it is for me to express myself verbally and clearly.

Blessed are you when with a simple smile you encourage me never to give up but keep trying.

Blessed are you when you don’t keep reminding me that I already asked you the same question twice today.

Blessed are you who respect me and love me as I am, and not how you want me to be.

Blessed are you when you are with me in public, and you’re not embarrassed with me and don’t care what other people say, because in your company I find solace and peace.

Blessed are you because your reward will be great in heaven, and remember that the consolation and comfort you bring to me can never be explained by words, because you behave exactly in the way God would behave with his people.

Six from Cicero

These are six priceless facts proclaimed by Cicero, who lived between 106 BC and 43 BC, and was a Roman politician and lawyer, who served as consul in the year 63 BC. He came from a wealthy municipal family of the Roman equestrian order, and is considered one of Rome's greatest orators and prose stylists. These facts are true today as they were over 2000 years ago:
1. The delusion that individual advancement is made by crushing others.
2. The tendency to worry about things that cannot be changed or corrected.
3. Insisting that a thing is impossible because we ourselves cannot do it.
4. Refusing to set aside trivial differences.
5. Neglecting development and refinement of the mind, and not acquiring the habit of reading and studying.
6. Attempting to compel others to believe and live as we do.

Remembering Mothers

My mother Mary Cassar in a photo back in 1988

As we remember and celebrate Mothers Day, I look back to remember my own mother and two grandmothers. My paternal grandmother Maria Cassar died in 1950, aged 66, before I was born, and so I don’t remember her at all, but I do have a picture of her from the 1920s. My maternal grandmother Rosina Scicluna I remember pretty well as she died aged 89 in 1996 and spent a lot of time at her house, which was like my second home as a child. My own mother Mary passed away in 2010, just a day before her 81st birthday. May God give them all eternal rest in heaven.

Paternal grandmother Maria Cassar

I share a prayer I wrote and used at my Masses this weekend:

On this beautiful day when we remember all mothers, we pray for those still among us, that You Lord, may give them the strength and courage to continue the noble work of creating worthy citizens for our world and our church. May they find collaboration from their husbands, respect from their children and admiration from those who know them and work with them.

We pray also today for those mothers who have left us into eternal life, and are reaping the fruits of their labors and suffering they endured while still among us. Give them the eternal rest they deserve and may we remember them and what they created during their lifetime, and reward them for the many sacrifices they accomplished for all of us. And on their example may the mothers of today be role models for their children, as we ask your blessing on all mothers present, in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

Maternal grandmother Rosina Scicluna 

Fatima - 100 years ago

Jacinta, Francisco and Lucia

Along with Lourdes and Guadalupe, Fatima is the most visited country as far as religious pilgrimages are concerned. And as if to further accentuate its importance in history, May 13, 1917 was replicated in 1981 for a moment of importance, although in a negative way. On that day Pope John Paul II was shot inside the Vatican Square and almost died. But he recovered enough to make a pilgrimage a year later on May 13, 1982, to thank the Blessed Mother for her intervention in saving his life.

But very much like Lourdes and Guadalupe, the quietness of these small little villages was turned upside down when the Blessed Mother appeared to 3 young children, Francisco and his sister Jacinta Marto, and Lucia dos Santos. Nobody would believe them at first, and were almost imprisoned for fabricating lies. But eventually, religious leaders, priests and bishops in Fatima, Portugal investigated the whole story and found it to be true, with the Vatican officially proclaiming that the apparitions were believable. Francisco and Jacinta died shortly afterwards, but Lucia became a nun and lived into the third millennium in a monastery in Portugal, being visited by 2 Popes.

The apparitions were officially approved by the Catholic Church in 1930. A huge basilica was built on the spot where the Blessed Mother appeared to the children, encouraging them to pray the Rosary, and pray for the conversion of souls. She even gave the children some well-kept secrets, which were only shown to the reigning Popes, but we know now that they spoke about the conversion of Russia and other tragic events that took place over the years, and other historic events which were predicted, like the end of World War I. Millions of pilgrims visit Fatima every year, and the devotion to the Blessed Mother and the Rosary spread far and wide. Today, the 100th anniversary of the first apparition, Pope Francis will canonize Jacinta and Francisco at Fatima itself where thousands of pilgrims will flock to celebrate a historic and very special centennial.

Inspirational Quotes

Heavenly sunrise at Waldport, Oregon

When you defile the pleasant streams, and the wild bird’s abiding place. You massacre a million dreams, and cast your spittle in God’s face. – John Drinkwater.

If all the trees were pens, and there were seven oceans full of ink, they would not suffice to describe the wonders of the Almighty. – Mohammed.

Peace is the serenity of the soul, the tranquility of the mind, the simplicity of the heart, the bond of love and the union of charity. – St Augustine.

There is nothing in the world so much admired as a man who knows how to bear unhappiness with courage. – Seneca.

Money is an article which may be used as a universal passport to everywhere except heaven, and as a universal provider of everything except happiness.

The region north of the ears is the greatest unemployed and unexplored area in the world.

Talent knows WHAT to do. Tact knows HOW to do it. Talent makes a man respectable. Tact makes him respected.

A sharp tongue, a dull mind, haughty eyes and inattentive ears are usually found in the same head.

Taking Risks

If you laugh, you risk that others may make fun of you.
If you cry, you risk to appear too sentimental.
If you try to help others, you risk being told that you’re intruding.
If you show your feelings, you risk to show who you really are.
If you share your dreams and projects in front of others, you risk that others make fun of you.
If you love, you risk not being loved in return.
If you live, you risk the fact you may die.
If you hope, you risk to despair.
If you try, you risk to fail.
But you need to risk. Because the biggest danger in life is never having to risk. 

Whoever does not risk in life, does nothing, has nothing, and is nothing.

Marian Apparitions

The Shrine at La Salette, France

As we approach the centennial of the apparition of the Blessed Mother at Fatima, here is a list of all the apparitions approved by the church. The first date refers to the actual apparition, and the second date refers to the year when the apparition was approved by the Catholic Church.

Guadalupe, Mexico – 1531 – approved 1895.

Aparecida, Brazil – 1717 – 1726.

Vision to Alphonse Ratisbonne in Rome – 1842 – 1842.

La Salette, France – 1846 – 1851.

Lourdes, France – 1858 – 1862.

Pontmain, France – 1871 – 1920.

Gietrzwald, Poland – 1877 – 1977.

Fatima, Portugal – 1917 – 1930.

Beauraing, Belgium – 1932 – 1938.

Banneaux, Belgium – 1933 – 1949.

Amsterdam, Holland – 1945 – 2002.

Betania, Venezuela – 1976 – 1987.

Akita,  Japan – 1973 – 1984.

Kibeho, Rwanda – 1981 – 2000.

St George Preca - Malta's first saint

St Gorg Preca (1880-1962)

Born in Valletta on 12 February 1880, Gorg was the seventh child in a middle-class family of nine. His father, Vincenzo Preca, was first a merchant and then a sanitary inspector. His mother, Natalina Ceravolo was a teacher. He was baptized 5 days later. In 1888, the Preca family moved to Hamrun, then a fast-growing town. Gorg received his Confirmation and his first Holy Communion at the parish church of St Cajetan. One day when he was 17 years old, Gorg was walking along the Mall Gardens in Floriana where he met one of his lyceum professors, Fr Ercole Mompalao, who told him: “Preca, you will grow up and will be befriended by people who respect God. You will be blessed because of them, and they because of you...”

Feeling that he was being called to join the priesthood, he moved from the lyceum to the seminary where as a young student, he distinguished himself in his studies, especially in Latin. His ordination seemed in jeopardy as Gorg, who had been sickly throughout his childhood, was diagnosed as suffering from lung failure and his father was told that Gorg would probably not have a long life ahead of him. However, the young cleric was to live to celebrate his first Mass on 22 December 1906 and to die at the venerable age of 82 years. Dun Gorg would joke about the incident, saying “My father died, the professor has died and I, with just one lung, am still alive to teach people!”
Dun Gorg started gathering young people in a room to read the Bible and reflect on it. He set his eye on their leader, Eugenio Borg, He used to take him out for walks in the countryside and explain the Gospel of John to him. Eventually, he would become the first Superior General of the Societas Doctrinae Christianae.

St Gorg blessing the new St Michael School, run by MUSEUM members.

Soon the group of youths who met in the vicinity of the St Cajetan parish church grew so much that premises had to be rented where their meetings could be held. Since it was an old house, they called it Muzew (Museum,) and this led to Dun Gorg to create an acronym for his new organization, called MUSEUM meaning Magister Utinam, Sequatur Evangelium Universus Mundus (Teacher, O that the whole world would follow the Gospel!). In 1910, Dun Gorg also opened a female section, which was placed under the responsibility of Giannina Cutajar. However in 1909, Dun Gorg was ordered to close his MUSEUM centres, which he duly did without hesitation. But parish priests themselves protested with the ecclesiastical authorities and the ban was revoked.

Between 1914 and 1915, a number of daily newspapers carried articles and letters denigrating the new society. Dun Gorg ordered his members to take a vow of meekness, gladly forgiving anybody who poked fun at them. Eventually, the inquest resulted in a glowing report for the young society and Bishop Dom Mauro Caruana canonically erected the Society of Christian Doctrine on 12 April 1932.
On Christmas Eve of 1921, in Hamrun was held the first procession with a statue of the baby Jesus, which he dubbed as “a demonstration in honor of the Baby Jesus.” The practice spread fairly quickly and has become a regular fixture in Christmas festivities in Malta. He also wished that no family would remain without a crib and a statue of the Holy Child, so he encouraged MUSEUM members to give every child attending their centres a crib with a baby Jesus to take home.

The day St Gorg Preca was canonized on June 3, 2007.

Dun Gorg proved to be a man ahead of his time in a number of ways. Besides preceding teachings of the Vatican Council II by over 50 years, in 1957 (almost 50 years prior to Pope John Paul II) he suggested the use of five “Mysteries of Light” for the private recitation of the Rosary, exactly as the Pope implemented them. Dun Gorg passed away on 26 July 1962 at about 7.45pm. Some 20,000 people attended his funeral in Hamrun.

Today, there are over 100 MUSEUM centres and it has 1,100 members who teach around 20,000 boys and girls in Malta, Gozo, Australia, Peru, the Sudan, the United Kingdom, Kenya and Albania. St Gorg Preca was canonized on June 3, 2007 at St Peter’s Square during a rainstorm that left everyone drenched. Incidentally on June 3, this year, general elections will be held in Malta, and we pray that St Gorg will intervene for the Maltese people on that day, as he has done with his teachings, writings and saintly presence.

Our Lady of Pompeii

Our Lady of Pompeii

Unlike so many of Our Lady’s titles, which go back centuries for their origin, this one is quite recent. By the last half of the nineteenth century the Valley of Pompeii, near Naples, was practically deserted. Of the comparatively few people who still lived there, most had lost their ancient Catholic faith; ignorance and superstition prevailed. Only a handful of people bothered to attend the services in the little parish chapel.

In October 1872, a man named Bartolo Longo came to the valley. He was the husband of the Countess of Fusco, who had some property there; and Bartolo came to see what condition it was in. He had been reared a Catholic and was probably still one in name, although it seems he was not very devout.

On October 9th, a few days after his arrival, he was walking along a rather desolate road when suddenly a voice seemed to speak to him. It told him that if he wished to be saved, he should spread devotion to the Rosary. His early efforts to interest people in the Rosary devotion did not seem to have been successful at first, but he persisted and within 2 years, he had gathered quite a group of people to pray in the little chapel.

The Bishop visited the valley in 1875 and complimented Bartolo on the good work he had done. He suggested that a church be built there in honor of Our Lady of Pompeii. As the number of devotees grew, it was decided to obtain a picture of the Blessed Virgin to help the people meditate as they prayed. On October 13, 1875, Bartolo Longo went to Naples, and after searching for a good picture, he found nothing less than 400 francs, and he had nothing close to that amount to spend.

But not wanting to go back empty handed, he reluctantly accepted a second-hand painting from a junk store for 5 lire. The painting shows the Blessed Mother with baby Jesus and St. Dominic and St. Catherine of Siena near her, as they are handed Rosary beads by Mary and Jesus. The painting arrived safely on a truck and the people accepted it willingly, and enshrined it in their chapel. Almost immediately, several miracles took place through Mary’s intercession as Our Lady of Pompeii. A bigger church was built on the initiative of Bartolo Longo between 1876 and 1891, and a bigger basilica was ordered by Pope Pius XII and opened in 1939. But we acknowledge today Bartolo Longo for pursuing his dream to build  a beautiful church and spread the Marian devotion.

The Good Shepherd

The 4th Sunday of Easter is known as the Good Shepherd Sunday as the readings always deal with seeing Jesus leading us as a faithful shepherd. The sacrifice, toil and pain any shepherd goes through to keep his sheep together are well known by anyone familiar with the countryside, ranching, herding and farming. And Jesus goes through the same emotions as He cares for each and every one of us. As we see the shepherd bending in the midst of thorns to pull out the lost sheep, so does Jesus retrieve any person who gets entangled in the filth and dangers of this life. 

We celebrate this weekend also the World Day of Prayers for Vocations. As I see many priests, religious and sisters minister in Malta, I thank God that I too can share my ministry with fellow Maltese people who appreciate my service to them. And even though I was never a fisher of fish, I am honored to be fisher of men and women, helping them get closer to God and to each other. I ask God to help me always be a good shepherd to my people, especially to those searching for guidance and direction.