Spectacular Neapolitan Nativity

The Nativity detail (click to enlarge each photo)

This spectacular display was set up at the Cathedral of Mdina, the creation of Fr Edgar Vella and some friends who helped him set it up. This monumental Neapolitan crib has no less than 200 original and authentic presepio figurines which render the setting as the most colorful and dramatic interpretation of the Nativity of Our Lord. The most particular element in this tradition is that the Neapolitans uprooted the nativity scene from Palestine and implanted it in the core of their city bustling with activity, noise, and charm. 

The various characters present an ongoing day in the life of Naples, 200 years ago. The Holy Family is set in the ruins of a pagan temple symbolizing the new era of Christianity which takes over the ancient pagan religion. The nativity is surmounted by a glorious host of angels and cherubs cascading over the newborn Messiah.

The entire display for everyone to admire

Holy Family

Le Nain 'Holy Family'

Today the church celebrates the feast of the Holy Family. Many of the pictures shown of the Holy Family of Nazareth depict them as the perfect couple with Jesus well behaved and obedient, usually playing with a bird, holding a pomegranate, or with John the Baptist. They still had their share of problems and issues to deal with, all through their lives. To start they had to escape into Egypt for 2 years because Herod was trying to kill baby Jesus. Once they settled in Nazareth, Mary and Joseph raised their son in a very simple environment. As a baby, Jesus had to be diaper-changed, he had to be nursed, toilet-trained eventually, learn how to walk, how to talk, and many other things that babies do as they grow and mature. 

This way we can very easily connect with the Holy Family of Nazareth, because they were very much like every family raising toddlers. They had their hands full, and we don’t even know what tricks Jesus played on his parents. Because whether you’re in Malta, Oregon, New York, London, or Nazareth in the Holy Land, boys will be boys!

Esteban Murillo 'Holy Family'

PRAYER FOR ALL FAMILIES: O God, in the beginning, You brought together man and woman in holy marriage that they might share Your work of creation and bring enriching life to one another. We commend to Your constant care the homes where Your people dwell. Knit together in growing affection those who have been made one flesh so that their love may never fail. Turn the hearts of parents to their children and children to their parents. Take away the roots of bitterness, vanity, and self-seeking that bring dissension where family peace should reign. Inspire them, rather, with loyalty, faith, and sacrifice, that in all the changes and circumstances of life they may stand strongly together in mutual service and love. Bless all these families with Your boundless Love. Help all parents, whether single or sharing responsibilities with a spouse, to use wisdom, understanding, and consideration for the entire family unit when making decisions that will affect all those in their households. Open their minds and hearts so that discipline is just, effective, and kind yet firm, teaching the children in their families that there are consequences to their actions. 

Baby Jesus

It is customary in Malta that an image of baby Jesus is placed on the main altar, right in the middle, between the candlesticks, floral decorations and sometimes statuettes of the apostles. These are just a few I visited this morning at the town of Rabat. I also witnessed a spectacular Neapolitan Nativity at the Mdina cathedral, and that will be featured on Monday.

This baby Jesus was made from wax and was placed at a side-altar at Rabat church.

Holy Innocent Martyrs

William Holman Hunt - 'Escape into Egypt'

Today we honor and remember the unknown number of boys massacred by Herod at the time when Jesus was born. The Massacre of the Innocents is the biblical narrative of infanticide and gendercide by Herod. According to the Gospel of Matthew Herod ordered the execution of all young male children in the village of Bethlehem, so as to avoid the loss of his throne to a newborn King of the Jews whose birth had been announced to him by the Magi. In typical Matthean style it is understood as the fulfillment of an Old Testament prophecy: "Then was fulfilled that which was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet, saying, A voice was heard in Ramah, Weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children." The number of infants killed is not stated, however, the Holy Innocents have been claimed as the first Christian martyrs. Today we remember also the millions of babies killed through abortion, who may be considered as the modern martyrs, the modern Holy Innocents. 

Also, I remember today the beautiful memorial I erected beside the Cathedral in Baker City, Oregon, in honor of our precious children, born and unborn. Who knows how many people pause as they walk by this Children’s Memorial and say a prayer. May each prayer said saves a baby and help a distraught mother give birth to her precious child.

Neapolitan Nativity

Among the many nativities I saw recently, there was one at the parish church in Hamrun that went over and beyond artistic. It featured a few characters from Naples, and so, as it is customarily called, a Neapolitan Nativity, complete with Angels hovering above the Holy Family, cradled by old columns, besides a few pipers and people selling groceries and poultry.

From Christmas Eve

As is customary in Malta, the Christmas Eve Mass is traditionally highlighted by a sermon delivered by a young boy or girl, or both. I was not lucky to be chosen to deliver the sermon when I was an altar boy. But then I realized why - I would spend the rest of my life preaching. But when I was ordained a priest, for the first 4 years one of my responsibilities was to write and teach a young altar boy the sermon. Back in Malta after 35 years, I started again teaching young children the traditional sermon. Once again this year, a young girl Gretha Zammit delivered the sermon, which was an interactive dialogue between me and her.

It's a boy!

It’s a boy! And his name is Jesus.

Wishing you the blessings of a joyous Christmas. I share with you a recent watercolor I did portraying the nativity of Christ. I will be praying for my family, all my relatives, and my friends as I celebrate my 6 Masses between Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Maltese Nativity paintings

Nativity detail by Manuel Farrugia in Paola church.

Last weekend, a few of my photos were displayed in a local newspaper, in which I write every two weeks. They are photos of various paintings that display the Nativity of Jesus in churches in Malta. I share them here with you to admire and reflect on during this Christmas Eve.

The Blessed Mother by Emvin Cremona at St Gregory's, Sliema

Adoration of the Magi by Stefano Erardi at Naxxar.

Nativity by Rafael Bonnici Cali at Annunciation church, Vittoriosa

Epiphany by Emvin Cremona at Għaxaq church.

Festival of lights

Among the many towns and villages that lit up, one of the most colorful is Naxxar, where I spend most of my time, serving at Hilltop Gardens and another nursing home, besides the parish. A big Christmas festival was held on this last weekend before Christmas, where music, singing, exhibitions and so much more were displayed. Not to mention of course food – Maltese love their food, especially Christmas delicacies, from mince pies to honey rings, and most families cook a turkey on Christmas. Smaller families go for a chicken. These are just a few scenes from some well-lit and colorful towns in Malta, Valletta, and Naxxar.

A Valletta Nativity

I hope you do not mind sharing another beautiful Nativity, this time with the backdrop of the capital city Valletta throughout history. It shows Castille Palace, one of the majestic palaces built by the Knights of Malta, Our Lady of Victory Church, the first ever built, and the first Maltese saint, George Preca, who now features in most nativities, because he encouraged children to build their own nativity, besides starting the Christmas Eve procession, a tradition that is still held in all parishes. 

The whole display (click to enlarge each photo)

One can see also various Maltese characters and the nativity displayed in a dilapidated house, the ruins resulted from the World War II bombings. Another destroyed building is the Malta Opera house, that was just recently restored but without a permanent roof.

Castille Palace and Our Lady of Victory Church

St George Preca with children, including the midnight sermon preacher.

The Maltese ‘Vatican’ Nativity

The Nativity at night (click to enlarge)

Two years ago, a Maltese artist was asked to create a nativity display in the Vatican square, which was displayed for an entire month, during the Christmas season. It features many Maltese characteristics, like a fishing boat, a sleeping farmer, the first Maltese saint, Fr George Preca with a few children, a typical Maltese balcony, a girna (a farmer’s hut), fishing and farming tools, besides the nativity characters. 

There are 17 life-size statues, all made from fiber-glass to protect them from inclement weather. The artist is Manwel Grech, originally from Gozo, our sister island, and it took over a week to set the whole nativity which was created over 10 months. Last year it was displayed in Bethlehem, Jesus’ birthplace, and this year it is displayed in the capital city, Valletta. The life-size figures are quite realistic, and I share with you these 5 photos to picture this precious nativity. 

Incredible lights displays

In my years in the USA, I’ve seen plenty of houses decorated as beautifully as they can be. But some families go over and beyond stringing a box of lights, and they turn their house into a masterpiece, part spectacle, part musical showpiece. Click on this link to see one such house, and enjoy the mesmerizing display. It’s the tune of Wizards in Winter by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, created 7 years ago, but still, one of the best ever produced. The second one is just as spectacular.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJrY3p9nzVY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h25F8BYdb54      

Oregon Christmas decorations

A house in Baker City, Oregon, nicely lit-up for everyone to see.

Sharing with you some scenes from my years in Oregon, with snow-covered streets, plenty of lights around houses, inflated characters, lit-up nativities and even billboards on highways encouraging people to Keep Christ in Christmas.

Christmas Flowers

Baby Jesus surrounded by poinsettias

Three Christmas Flowers are very popular at this time of the year, and this is a little information on each of them:
The Poinsettia - (Euphorbia pulcherrima) is a culturally and commercially important plant species of the diverse family that is indigenous to Mexico and Central America. It is particularly well known for its red and green foliage and is widely used in Christmas floral displays. It derives its common English name from Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first United States Minister to Mexico, who introduced the plant into the United States in 1825.

The Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera)

The Christmas Cactus - (Schlumbergera) is a small genus of cacti with six species found in the coastal mountains of south-eastern Brazil. Plants grow on trees or rocks in habitats which are generally shady with high humidity and can be quite different in appearance from their desert-dwelling cousins. In Brazil, the genus is referred to as Flor de Maio (May flower), reflecting the period in which they flower in the Southern Hemisphere. This genus contains the popular houseplants known by a variety of names including Christmas Cactus, Thanksgiving Cactus, Crab Cactus, and Holiday Cactus. In Europe, these plants are largely produced for sale in the period before Christmas, and are called: Weihnachtskaktus in German, Cactus de Noël in French, and Cacto de Navidad in Spanish.

The Star of Bethlehem (Ornithogalum)

Star of Bethlehem - (Ornithogalum) is a genus of perennial plants mostly native to southern Europe and southern Africa belonging to the family Asparagaceae. There are some species native to other areas such as the Caucasus. Growing from a bulb, species have linear basal leaves and a slender stalk, up to 30 cm or more tall, bearing clusters of typically white star-shaped flowers, often striped with green. The common name of the genus, Star-of-Bethlehem, is based on its star-shaped flowers, after the Star of Bethlehem that appeared in the Biblical account of the birth of Jesus.

The Story of Silent Night

Franz Gruber, composer, Fr Joseph Mohr, lyricist of Silent Night

The story goes that one of the most popular Christmas carols was written in an emergency situation. In the town of Oberndorf, Austria, a mouse had been chewing on the leather of the bellows that makes the organ work. And so coming to the Christmas midnight Mass, the priest Fr Joseph Mohr, and the organist Franz Gruber, discovered that they could not use the organ at all. So quickly, they sat down and Mohr wrote the words of a carol that became popular all over the world “Stille Nacht – Silent Night.” Gruber wrote the melody, which he then played on his guitar. It was Christmas of 1818, 200 years ago.  

St Nicholas church, in Oberndorf, Austria.

Another story says that Mohr wrote the words in 1816, and then two years later Gruber set the words to the immortal music he composed. It was declared an intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO in 2011. The official manuscript of the music was published in 1833. The song has been recorded by a large number of singers from every music genre, as well s instrumentalists and choirs. The version sung by Bing Crosby is the third best-selling single of all time.