Saint Andrew

The older brother to St. Peter, according to the New Testament, Andrew was born in the village of Bethsaida on the Sea of Galilee during the early first century. Much like his younger brother, Andrew was also a fisherman. Andrew's very name means strong and he was known for having good social skills. Jesus called them and he asked the two to become disciples and "fishers of men." Andrew was a disciple of John the Baptist. Little else is said about Andrew in the Gospels, but it is believed Andrew was one of the closer disciples to Jesus. It was he who told Jesus about the boy with the loaves and fishes, according to John 6:8. When Philip wanted to speak to Jesus about Greeks seeking him, he spoke to Andrew first. According to Christian tradition, Andrew went on to preach the Good News around the shores of the Black Sea and throughout what is now Greece and Turkey. Andrew was martyred by crucifixion in Patras. He was bound, rather than nailed, to a cross, as is described in the Acts of Andrew. He was crucified on a cross form known as "crux decussata," which is an X-shaped cross. Today this is commonly referred to as "St. Andrew's Cross." It is believed Andrew requested to be crucified this way, because he deemed himself "unworthy to be crucified on the same type of cross as Jesus." Andrew's remains were originally preserved at Patras. However, many of Andrew's relics were transferred to Constantinople by order of Roman emperor Constantius II around 357. They eventually ended up in Fife, Scotland. But in September 1964, Pope Paul VI had all of St. Andrew's relics that ended up in Vatican City sent back to Patras. Now, many of Andrew's relics and the cross on which he was martyred are kept in the Church of St. Andrew in Patras. St. Andrew is the patron saint of fishermen. He is also the patron saint to several countries and cities including: Scotland, Romania, Russia, Ukraine and Patras. A beautiful church dedicated to him is in Rome, known as San Andrea della Valle, and it is actually the scene of the first Act for Puccini's opera 'Tosca.'

Pope Francis and the poor

Pope Francis eating with the poor he invited at the Vatican.

Pope Francis announced the World Day of the Poor during the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy, and it was celebrated for the first time 10 days ago, on the 33rd Sunday. He celebrated Mass for over 4000 needy people, after which Pope Francis offered Sunday lunch in the Paul VI Hall. Speaking to guests at the luncheon, the Holy Father said, “We pray that the Lord bless us, bless this meal, bless those who have prepared it, bless us all, bless our hearts, our families, our desires, our lives and give us health and strength.” The Holy Father went on to ask God's blessing on all those eating and serving in soup kitchens throughout the city. “Rome,” he said, “is full of this charity and good will today.” The World Day of the Poor is to be marked annually, on the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time. In his homily during Mass, the Pope said “In the poor, Jesus knocks on the doors of our heart, thirsting for our love. When we overcome our indifference and, in the name of Jesus, we give of ourselves for the least of his brethren, we are his good and faithful friends, with whom he loves to dwell.”

More guests sitting at table with Pope Francis.

Pope Francis is presently visiting Myanmar and Bangladesh. Ever since he was elected Pope, his trips have been to predominantly non-Catholic countries, to show his outreach to everyone, especially the poor and the suffering. Just look at the nations he visited so far: Israel, South Korea, Albania, Turkey, Sri Lanka, Bosnia Herzegovina, Kenya, Uganda, Greece, Armenia, Egypt, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Sweden. He hasn’t even visited his native Argentina or many of the Catholic countries yet.

Johnny's kindness repaid

Kate McClure and Johnny Bobbit Jr, after they appeared together on national TV.

Yesterday's Gospel reading during Mass was about the widow who gave a penny at the temple, (all that she had) only to be pointed out by Jesus and remained as one of the most generous gestures ever recorded in the Bible and in history. And once in a while you hear of a feel-good story that goes around the world within a few days. This a modern-day replica of the widow story in the Gospel. A New Jersey woman who was helped by a homeless man after she ran out of gas/petrol on an interstate in Philadelphia has raised more than $360,000 for the good Samaritan. Kate McClure, 27, started the campaign after she said she ran out of petrol on Interstate 95 and a homeless man, Johnny Bobbitt Jr., walked a few blocks and bought her some with his last $20.

McClure said she didn't have any money to repay him at the time but returned to the road several times to give him cash, clothes and food. Kate said: "I wish that I could do more for this selfless man, who went out of his way just to help me that day." Donations have poured in, and the fundraiser has shattered its goal of raising $10,000 for Bobbitt, who was a veteran and a paramedic. About 3,000 people, mostly veterans, had contributed and more money kept coming in. Johnny said he wants to give back some of these donations to people who may need them more than he does. He is planning to get an apartment, get a truck and hopefully get re-certified as a paramedic. Yes, there are many good people in this world, and they may be poor, homeless and alone, but generous, altruistic and kind. May there be more people like Johnny and Kate.

Worry

We all worry, about our future, our children, our homes, our safety, our health and many other concerns. Some people worry about many trivial things that also cause friction and division among families. We know that God can help us in many of these situations, only if we let Him help us. Unfortunately many people shut Him out of their lives, and then expect Him to show up like Superman to save them from some catastrophe. So, let go and let God....handle your pressures, your worries, your problems, your troubles. After listening to so many people over the years through counselling and spiritual direction, I came to the conclusion that the most useful and pleasant people are those who leave some of their problems for God to worry about. We have to realize that we don’t have all the answers for all the questions of this world. We worry too much, about petty and insignificant things. It’s amazing how much time we spend worrying about the things we shouldn’t worry about, and how little time we dedicate to other more important things in our lives. Surrender to what is. Let go of what was. And have faith in what will be. And in conclusion, try to remember this quote which is a tongue twister, but makes a lot of sense when you reflect on it: DON’T TROUBLE TROUBLE TILL TROUBLE TROUBLES YOU. YOU’LL ONLY DOUBLE TROUBLE AND TROUBLE OTHERS TOO.

Christ the King

If you were to google ‘Christ the King,’ searching for images, you will come up with a large number of images of Jesus on a glittering throne, usually sitting with a soft embroidered cushion, surrounded with angels, wearing a sparkling jewel-embedded crown, with a shiny scepter in his hand. In reality, Jesus never aspired to present this image. His throne was the rugged cross, the scepter was the nails driven through his hands, his crown was made of sharp thorns, and his robe was a simple robe, for which the soldiers threw lots after he was crucified.

Christ never spread a message of hatred and then taught us how to love. He never waged war and then preached peace and justice. He wasn’t rich and told us to be poor. He never escaped from anything or from anyone - except for once, when they wanted to give Him a promotion and make Him King. The feast of Christ the King was introduced by the Catholic Church in 1925, mainly to bring Jesus at the center of the universe, after he had been replaced by the start of Communism, which started in 1917 with the Bolshevik revolution. Christus Vincit, Christus Regnat, Christus Imperat. Christ Victorious, Christ Reigning, Christ Ruling. 

A red rose

A man went into a florist shop to buy some roses for his mother. He meant to order them and have them delivered on her birthday. As he was leaving the store, he noticed a young girl looking at the flowers inside the window, crying and looking a little disheveled. He felt pity for her, and asked her what was the matter. She told him she wanted to buy a rose for her mother, but she had no money. The man felt pity for her and bought her a red rose. He asked her further if she wanted a ride home, and accepted. He followed her directions and she led him to the cemetery and stopped at the main gate. Quietly she stepped out of the car and walked inside among the tombstones. The man stopped the car and followed her inside, and waited at a distance while she knelt next to a grave and placed the flower on top of the gravestone, still sobbing and sad. The man was moved to tears himself and waited for the girl to give her a ride home. Then he went back to the florist, cancelled his order and instead bought a large bouquet of roses and took them himself personally to his mother, hugging her and kissing her.

Love does not wait for tomorrow. If you love someone and want to send a clear message of compassion, love, forgiveness or empathy, do it now, because tomorrow......it may be too late.

How are you behaving ?

Golden rules on how we should behave as Christians......

At home............with patience.

In business...........with honesty.

At work................with fidelity.

In society..................with courtesy.

In church.........................with reverence.

Towards your superiors...........with trust.

Towards your subjects............with kindness.

Towards all the people...............with a good example.

To the winners..........................with congratulations.

To the losers.................with respect.

To those in need.................with generosity.

To the heart-broken...............with sympathy.

Towards the weak...............with mercy.

Towards the hard-workers...........with gratitude.

Towards those who are lazy..........with encouragement.

Towards the fragile....................with understanding.

Towards the sinners..............with forgiveness.

In every circumstance...............with humility.

Towards God.................................with praise and admiration.

Being Thankful

I am thankful for my life, my family, my health, my priesthood, my country and my friends. 
I am thankful that every day I can bring Jesus alive on the altar and share Him with my people.
I am thankful that I can practice what I preach with all honesty.
I am thankful for the talents God gave me, which I use to share my gifts with everyone.
I am thankful for the opportunity to help many families over the years.
I am thankful for the 35 years I spent ministering in the USA.
I am thankful for the honor to share my thoughts and reflections in my daily homilies.
I am thankful for being able to share this Blog for close to 6 years so far.
I am thankful when God answers my prayers, sometimes in a surprising way.
I am thankful for bringing a smile on people’s face, and inspire peace in their hearts.
I am thankful for photography, calligraphy, watercolors, my flute, classical music, IPads and IPods, strawberries and sandals.
I am thankful for Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, Vivaldi, Mike Oldfield, Philip Glass, ABBA, oldies and Maltese marching bands.
I am thankful for all those close to my heart and in my life.

Saint Cecilia

Back in 1974, while I was still in the Seminary, we had an archaeological trip to Rome, where we visited the catacombs. In one of them I remember seeing a marble statue of St Cecilia, with folded eyes and one of her hands outstretched with three fingers, symbolizing the Holy Trinity. That was her burial place. Cecilia is one of the few martyrs whose name we know, along with St. Agnes, St. Agatha, St. Sebastian, St. George, and St. Lucy, among others. She was martyred by the Emperor Marcus Aurelius between the years 176 and 180 AD. Cecilia was arrested and condemned to be suffocated in the baths. She was shut in for one night and one day, as fires were heaped up and stoked to a terrifying heat - but Cecilia did not even sweat. When the Emperor heard this, he sent an executioner to cut off her head in the baths. The executioner struck her three times but was unable to decapitate her so he left her bleeding and she lived for three days. Crowds came to her and collected her blood while she preached to them or prayed. On the third day she died and was buried by Pope Urban and his deacons. St. Cecilia is regarded as the patroness of music, because she heard heavenly music in her heart when she was married, and is represented in art with an organ or organ-pipes in her hand. Officials exhumed her body in 1599 and found her to be incorrupt, the first of all incorrupt saints. She was draped in a silk veil and wore a gold embroidered dress. Officials only looked through the veil in an act of holy reverence and made no further examinations. They also reported a "mysterious and delightful flower-like odor which proceeded from the coffin." That year, Cardinal Paolo Sfondrati built a church to honor her, and that’s when the marble statue in the catacombs was crafted. A few musical compositions were written in her honor. Among them are the ‘Ode to St. Cecilia’ by Henry Purcell, a cantata by Georg Frederic Handel and ‘Hymn to St. Cecilia’ by Benjamin Britten. Paul Simon also wrote a song in her honor, entitled ‘Cecilia.’

The Presentation of Mary

While the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary was not generally celebrated in the West until the 11th century, it appears in most of the earliest calendars of the Eastern Churches. The feast seems first to have appeared in Syria, but later rose to prominence in Jerusalem. A basilica was built near the ruins of the Temple in Jerusalem, and the Gospel of James and other apocryphal works (not included in the Bible) told the story of Mary's presentation at the Temple at the age of three. In gratitude for being granted a child after years of infertility, Mary's parents, Saints Joachim and St Anne had vowed to dedicate Mary to the service of God at the Temple. When they presented her at the Temple at the age of three, she stayed willingly, showing her dedication to God even at that young age, attending the temple regularly, similar to what children do attending their Religious Education classes. 

The Gospel or Protoevangelium of James is the source of many details of Mary's life that became universally accepted by the Church, including the names of her parents, the story of her birth, her age at her betrothal to Saint Joseph, and Saint Joseph's advanced age and his status as a widower with children by his first wife. It also played a large role among Christians, both Eastern and Western, in recognizing Mary as the new Temple, the true Holy of Holies. When Mary left the Temple at the age of 12 after her betrothal to Joseph, she remained pure and chaste, and at the Annunciation, God came to dwell in her.
The Feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary first made its way to the West through monasteries in Southern Italy in the ninth century; by the 11th century, it had spread to other locales, but was by no means universally celebrated. Under the influence of a French nobleman, Philippe de Mazières, Pope Gregory XI began celebrating the feast during the time the Pope was living in Avignon, France. Pope Sixtus IV first placed the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary on the universal calendar in 1472, but in the Tridentine reform of the calendar in 1568, Pope Pius V removed the feast. It was restored 17 years later by Pope Sixtus V, and remains in the Roman calendar today as a memorial.
Today's Feast emphasizes our response to God's gifts. We remember the response of Mary's mother and father in their decision to present her in the temple for dedication to the Lord. All parents are called to imitate their response by presenting their children for Baptism. We reflect on the mystery of Mary's own continuing response from her very earliest days to the Lord's invitations of grace. Mary was called to continually give her "Yes" to God's invitations of love. In that continual "Yes" or “Fiat” she shows us the way we are all called to respond to the invitations of grace in our own lives as we grow in holiness.

The Kxy Pxrson

We all know that the Church is not just the Pope, Bishops and priests, but all of us working together. This interesting story shows how intrinsic our role is, and even if I’m one in a billion Catholics, my contribution is just as important and just as necessary.

XvXn though our typxwritxr is an old modxl, it works quitx wxll xxcxpt for onx of thx kxys. Wx havx wishxd many timxs that it workxd pxrfxctly. It is trux that thxrx arx forty-two kxys that function wxll xnough, but just onx kxy not working makxs thx diffxrxncxs somxtimxs. It sxxms to us that our Church is somxwhat likx our typxwritxr. Not all thx pxoplx arx working propxrly. You may say to yoursxlf, “Wxll, I am only onx pxrson; I won’t makx or brxak thx Church.” But it doxs makx a diffxrxncx. Bxcausx thx church, to bx xffxctivx, nxxds somx of you, thx mxmbxrs, to sxt thx xxamplx, to lxnd a hand, to prxach thx Gospxl by your dxdicatxd livxs. Thx church nxxds thx sxrvicx only you can givx. So thx nxxt timx you think you arx not nxxdxd, rxmxmbxr our typxwritxr and say to yoursxlf, “I am a kxy pxrson in thx Church – thx Chuch just might nxxd mx.”

Wisdom in 4 words

It's amazing how much wisdom can be crammed into just 4 simple words.

In God we trust.

This too, shall pass.

Live and let die.

Stand tall and proud.

Still waters run deep.

Bad news travels fast.

Love laughs at locksmiths.

Nothing succeeds like success.

Charity begins at home.

Man proposes, God disposes.

Let sleeping dogs lie.

The more the merrier.

Make love, not war.

Better late than never.

Pain doesn't last forever.

Focus on the positive

Don't drink and drive.

Find beauty in everything.

Be kind to animals.

Persist Until Something Happens. (PUSH)

Love more, worry less.

You are not alone.

Listen to your mother.

Evaluate, Adapt and Overcome.

Be still and know.

Today is the day.

Every thing is possible.

We’re gonna make it.
Talk less, listen more.

Be humble and kind.
Pray always and wait. 

Beatitudes for Married Couples

I share with you today these Beatitudes for all married couples. This world would be a beautiful place if every couple follow these blessed rules. Dedicated to a special couple:

Blessed are couples who comfort each other. They provide refuge from the chill winds of the world. They create peace, harmony and warmth of spirit.

Blessed are couples who listen to each other. They heed not only words, but body language, the language of tone, mood, expression. They listen to understand rather than to argue.

Blessed are couples who caress. They warm each other’s bodies with soothing touch. They remember that as babies can die from lack of touch, so too can marriages wither from lack of closeness and affection.

Blessed are couples who respect each other’s rights. They remember that each is an individual entitled to make choices and mistakes from which they learn.

Blessed are couples who can be friends and partners. They remember that friendship can be a peaceful island in a world of turmoil. They can reflect upon the tranquillity of future years shared with a true friend. They are not battling enemies under the same roof.

Blessed are couples who allow each other to be individuals. They seek not to recreate each other into a new mold. They accept one another as God made them.

Blessed are couples who are open with each other. They avoid secretiveness that causes suspicion and doubt. They trust and reveal themselves to each other even as a budding rose opens to reveal its fragrance and beauty.

Blessed are couples who cherish their union. They let no one separate their togetherness, not child, friend, nor worldly goods. They maintain enough separateness to allow a unique oneness.

Blessed are couples who give each other approval. They know that compliments encourage confidence, while criticism divides. They do not point out the other’s mistake which all too soon each will discover anyway.

Blessed are couples who love one another. Love is the river of life, an eternal source of recreating oneself.

St Elizabeth of Hungary

St Elizabeth of Hungary (1207-1231)

St. Elizabeth was born in Bratislava, a Kingdom of Hungary in 1207, the daughter of Alexander II, King of Hungary. At the age of four she was sent for education to the court of the Landgrave of Thuringia, and within a few years she was betrothed to his son, Ludwig. As she grew in age, her piety also increased by leaps and bounds. In 1221, aged 14, she married Ludwig of Thuringia, the same year that he was crowned Ludwig IV, and the marriage appears to have been happy. In 1223, Franciscan monks arrived, and the teenage Elizabeth not only learned about the ideals of Francis of Assisi, but started to live these ideals. Ludwig was not upset by his wife's charitable efforts, believing that the distribution of his wealth to the poor would bring eternal reward; he is venerated in Thuringia as a saint, though not canonized by the church as his wife is. One day he saw her distributing something to the poor people and he confronted her. She was distributing bread and hid them in her apron. When Ludwig forced her to show him what was in her apron, she opened it and there were red roses instead, a miracle. In spite of Elizabeth’s position at court she began to lead an austerely simple life, practiced penance, and devoted herself to works of charity.
Her husband was himself much inclined to religion and highly esteemed her virtue, encouraging her in her exemplary life. They had three children, Hermann, Sophia and Gertrude. Then tragedy struck ‑ Ludwig was killed while fighting with the Crusaders. After his death, Elizabeth left the court, made arrangements for the care of her children, and in 1228, renounced the world, becoming a tertiary of St. Francis. She even imitated her patron St Francis by stripping naked in her church while putting on the Franciscan robes. Her family wanted her to re‑marry, but she made a vow of celibacy and never married. She built the Franciscan hospital at Marburg, Germany and devoted herself to the care of the sick until her death at the young age of 24 in 1231. St. Elizabeth is frequently pictured distributing bread to the needy in her community, and thus is the patron saint of bakers, countesses, the homeless, nursing services, widows, and young brides. She was canonized in 1235, just 4 years after her death.

St Margaret of Scotland

St. Margaret of Scotland, was an English princess born in Hungary to Princess Agatha of Hungary and English Prince Edward around 1045. Her siblings, Cristina and Edgar the Atheling were also born in Hungary around this time. Margaret and her family returned to England when she was 10 years old when her father was called back as a potential successor to the throne. However, Edward died immediately after the family arrived, but Margaret and Edgar continued to reside at the English court. Agatha set out to take her children north to Northumbria. She later decided to leave Northumbria and return to the continent, but her family's ship got caught in a storm. The storm drove their ship even more north to Scotland, where they were shipwrecked in 1068. The spot they landed on is now known as "St. Margaret's Hope."
Malcolm Canmore III, the king of Scotland, welcomed Margaret and her family and put them under his protection. He soon fell deeply in love with the beautiful and kind princess. Margaret and Malcolm married in 1070 at the castle of Dunfermline. Together, they had eight children, six sons and two daughters. All of whom were raised with deep Catholic faith. They lived as a holy family, a domestic church. Margaret's kind-nature and good heart was a strong influence on Malcolm's reign. She softened his temper and helped him become a virtuous King of Scotland. Together they prayed, fed the hungry, and offered a powerful example of living faith in action. Margaret was placed in charge of all domestic affairs and was often consulted with state matters, as well. She promoted the arts and education in Scotland, encouraged Church synods and was involved in efforts to correct the religious abuses involving Bishops, priests and laypeople.
Her impact in Scotland led her to being referred to as "The Pearl of Scotland." She constantly worked to aid the poor Scotland, and encouraged people to live a devout life, grow in prayer and in holiness. She helped to build churches, including the Abbey of Dunfermline, where a relic of the true Cross is kept. She was well-known for her deep life of prayer and piety. She set aside specific times for prayer and to read Scripture. She didn't eat often and slept very little so she would have more time for her devotions. She lived holiness of life as a wife, mother and lay woman; truly in love with Jesus Christ.
Malcolm supported Margaret in all her endeavors and admired her religious devotion so much he had her books decorated in jewels, gold and silver. In 1093, Malcolm and their oldest son were killed during the Battle of Alnwick. Already ill and worn from a life full of austerity and fasting, Margaret passed away four days after her husband, on November 16, 1093. Her body was buried before the high altar at Dunfermline. She was canonized in 1250 by Pope Innocent IV.

Just a Teacher

Norman Rockwell 'Happy Birthday Miss Jones'

Today I’d like to honor all teachers, including parents and guardians who teach their children right from wrong. Let’s remember the hard work and sacrifice that teachers go through to form a character and personality in the minds and lives of our future leaders of the world. This quote shows how special teachers are, even though some people may claim that they are....just teachers. 

Today I was a Nurse binding a hurt with the white bandage of compassion.
Today I was a Doctor healing a small, broken world, just before it fell apart.
Today I was a Surgeon suturing a friendship together that had almost disintegrated.
Today I was an Alchemist seeking gold in base metals.
Today I was a Scientist answering endless whys and wheres and whats.
Today I was a Philosopher pondering elusive truths about life.
Today I was an Entertainer, refreshing young minds with jokes and laughter.
Today I was a Fisherman dangling learning and knowledge as a bait for my young ones to devour.
Today I was a Pilot guiding youth away from ignorance and laziness and sloth. 

Norman Rockwell 'Teacher in a country school.'

Today I was a General campaigning against intolerance, and masterminding a plan of action.
Today I was a Lawyer speaking out for brotherhood and sisterhood.
Today I was a Juror, weighing right and wrong and helping make a good decision.
Today I was a Philanthropist sharing the might of the past and sharing more of my talents.
Today I was a Priest, guiding my children towards God and inspiring them with love and faith.
Today I was a Referee, stopping a fight and giving rewards and punishments. 

Today I was a Mother, giving love, wiping tears and at time, even scolding and disciplining. 

Today I was a Humble Follower of Truth.
Today I am just....a Teacher.

Saints speak on the family

Fathers and mothers owe four things to their children: maintenance, instruction, correction and good example. - St John Baptist de la Salle.

Do not forget daily prayers; keep holy the Sundays and Holy days, and receive frequently the Sacraments, being well prepared. When it is possible, say in common the morning and night prayers, and grace before meals. - St John Vianney.

Our Lord needs from us neither great deeds nor profound thoughts. Neither intelligence nor talents. He cherishes simplicity - St Therese of Lisieux.

He who wants something other than Christ, does not know what he wants; he who seeks something other than Christ, does not know what he wishes; and he who works but not for Christ, does not know what he is doing - St Philip Neri.

For recreation, choose the games which are approved and which also help to make you strong in body. Do not cheat or upset others, by showing bad temper. Raise your mind sometimes to God, or our Blessed Lady, by means of a little prayer; thus following the advice of St Paul “Do all for the glory of God” - St John Bosco.

St Frances Xavier Cabrini

St Frances Xavier Cabrini (1850-1917)

 St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, was born Maria Francesca 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, she 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 and 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. Special celebrations will be held this year on the centennial of her death in December.

Coat of Arms

Coat of arms of Pope Leo XIII

One of my friends residing at Hilltop Gardens in Naxxar, where I serve as chaplain, is a humble artist that specializes in the research and drawings of coat-of-arms. He has 7 diaries filled with drawings, sketches and intricate paintings of various coat-of-arms he notices as he travels and visits churches, palaces, monuments and other places. He is Adrian Strickland and these are just two of his many creations. 

More to come in future posts, including some drawings of buildings which Adrian does in pen and ink. These diaries are frequently annotated with notes that he does on the spot.

Knights of Malta at West Point

Back in the 1980s, when I visited West Point Military Academy on the Hudson River in New York, I was surprised to find out that one of the stained-glass windows in the West Point chapel, was of a Knight of Malta. There were various Knights and soldiers represented in the side windows, and next to a Knight of the Holy Sepulchre, was a fully armored Knight of Malta, holding a sword in one hand and a cross in the other. He also has the Maltese cross imprinted on his chest.

Below the image it was mentioned that the window was probably paid for by the Munificent Benefactors of the Knights of Malta, an organization that is still going strong. They do a lot of fund-raising all around the world, and especially in the New York area.

Are the children really to blame?

We read in the papers and hear on the air,

Of killing and stealing and crime everywhere.

We sigh and we say, as we notice this trend,

“This young generation...where will it all end?”

But can we be sure that it’s their fault alone,

That maybe a part of it isn’t our own?

Are we less guilty, who place in their way

Too many things that lead them astray?

Too much money, too much idle time;

Too many books not fit to be read,

Too much evil in what they hear said;

Too many children encouraged to roam,

Too many parents who won’t stay at home.

Kids don’t make the movies, they don’t write the books,

They don’t paint bad pictures of gangsters and crooks;

They don’t make the liquor, they don’t run the bars.

They don’t make the laws and they don’t sell the cars;

They don’t peddle drugs that mess up their brain –

That’s all done by older folks, greedy for gain.

Delinquent teenagers, oh how we condemn

The sins of the nation and blame it on them:

By the laws of the blameless the Savior made known,

Who is there among us to cast the first stone?

For in so many cases – it’s sad – but it’s true,
The title ‘Delinquent’ fits older folks too!

St John Lateran

We commemorate today the dedication of one of the 4 major basilicas of Rome, that of St John the Lateran. This majestic basilica was the first church to be built in Christendom.

At the top of the center of the façade stands the Risen Christ, demonstrating that to enter the Church, we must enter into Christ’s body. That is why we as Church are called the “Body of Christ.”

Underneath this statue is the Papal balcony, from which the pope addresses his faithful – this is to mean that the Pope is literally under Christ as his Vicar on earth.

Directly above the pillars and columns on the façade are 12 bishops of the early Church (known as Doctors) to symbolize that the visible face of the Church is found in the Bishops throughout the east and west.

Then each of the foundational pillars of the basilica’s interior contains an enormous marble statue of the 12 Apostles, to symbolize literally that the Church is built on the foundation of the Apostles. They are all similar in style and size, but done by different sculptors.

In the back of the Church in the apse is a huge mosaic of Christ the Savior hovering over his Cross. In fact the original name of the Church was “Christ the Savior,” named so by Pope Sylvester, just after it was built by King Constantine, who legalized Christianity.

In 313 AD, King Constantine stopped the persecutions and the killing of many innocent martyrs, and he built a Church on a plot of land owned by the Laterani family. It was pillaged and attacked and desecrated over the years, but it survived. However in the 9th century it was destroyed by an earthquake, and Pope Sergius III rebuilt it and dedicated it to St John the Baptist. Later it was also dedicated to St John the Evangelist, and that’s why it is known as the basilica of St John Lateran.

Now until the 13th century, this Church was the seat of the Pope, his headquarters and his Church government, but then moved to the Vatican, where he still resides, and from where all Church business is conducted. The present facade was completed in 1735, and was done after a competition among Rome’s best architects, the prize and winning design going to Alessandro Galilei.

Your House

The walls of a house are not built of wood, brick or stone, but of truth and loyalty, faith, hope and love. Unpleasant sounds of grumbling, the friction of living, the clash of personalities, are not deadened by Persian rugs of polished floors, but by reconciliation and forgiveness. The house is not a structure where bodies meet, but a hearthstone upon which flames mingle, separate flames of souls, which, the more perfectly they unite, the more clearly they shine and the straighter they rise to heaven. Your house is a fortress in a troubled world, where a woman’s hand buckles on your armor in the early morning dew, and soothes ever so gently your fatigue and wounds in the starry, moonlit nights.

The beauty of a house is harmony.

The security if the house is loyalty.

The joy of a house is love.

The plenty of a house is in children.

The rule of a house is order.

The comfort of a house is in contented spirits.

The strength of a house is cooperation.
The maker of a house is God himself.

A Prayer from Padre Pio

St Pio was born on May 25, 1887 and died on September 23, 1968. He was canonized in June 2002, and his feast-day is on September 23. This is a short but very helpful prayer which he used to recite:

My dear Jesus, release from my mind and heart,

-     Any troubles from the past.

-     Any worries about the present.

-     Any anxieties about the future. So that I can desire always and in everything just one thing: to go against myself in favor of Your Love. I entrust my reckless and troubled past to Your Bountiful Mercy, o Lord. I also entrust to Your Infinite Love my confused and undecided present. And I entrust to Your Holy Providence my mysterious future.

Murder in a country church

The sign outside the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas.

A drama by T.S. Eliot, first performed in 1935, portrayed the assassination of Archbishop Thomas Becket in Canterbury Cathedral in 1170. It was entitled ‘Murder in the Cathedral.’ Yet in a small country church in the heart of Texas, another multiple murder took place yesterday. In what people believe to be the safest place to be, worshiping in a church, 26 people were gunned down by another insane killer. After recent attacks in Las Vegas, New York City and even in our tiny island of Malta, this time it was the small town of Sutherland Springs, a community of 400 people. As parishioners of the First Baptist Church were attending the 11AM service, the senseless slaughter was carried out with a military-style rifle by a 26-year-old who had been discharged from the Air Force for bad conduct.

An aerial view of the church property in Sutherland Springs, Texas.

 People attend churches all over the world, especially on a Sunday, the Lord’s Day. While Catholic churches are the largest in size and in the size of the congregation, yet there are thousands of little community churches belonging to a variety of denominations. Ordinary folks, families with children, elderly couples and individuals gather for Sunday services, to pray, sing, share stories, listen to God’s Word, and frequently socialize afterwards. It’s a scene that is repeated all over the world in parishes, and it’s a joy to see people flock to their churches. It’s what we as priests pray for daily. Yet today we have to pause and pray for the 26 victims of this terrible tragedy, for their families, for the 20 injured, and for the entire community of Sutherland Springs, many of whom were gathered in that church. Lord grant them eternal rest, and welcome them into Your home, which is now their new home for ever.