Vatican snow

Most of Europe is under the deep freeze at the moment, and many countries experienced heavy amounts of snow, with the exception of  Malta. England, France and most of the Eastern European countries are covered with snow. What was a surprise though is the snow that fell in many parts of Italy which sees snow once a decade. 

This was the case at the Vatican where priests and nuns enjoyed snowball fights, tourists saw icicles at the two fountains in St. Peter’s square and took thousands of photos of the unusual snow-covered holy ground and cupola. Even a snow-pope was created with the snow that fell in Rome.

Three nuns posing with the snow-pope

The Crescent Moon

I want to share something with you that I have kept to myself  for many years. But it has proved true just this past month here in Malta. Like many of you I observe the natural phenomena with interest and when I was in the USA, I have always noticed that when the moon is in its crescent phase, the way it appears in the sky tells a lot about what kind of weather we will have in the following month. Most often the crescent moon appears like the second photo I am reproducing here, tilted to its side. 

But whenever the crescent moon appears lying on its back, like a bowl, (like the first photo above,) it always happens that the weather in the following 30 days or so is usually rainy and stormy. And the more it looks like a bowl, the more rain we usually get. And sure enough, towards the end of January, I was driving with my brother and his wife and the moon appeared in its crescent phase in front of us, literally like an expanded or squashed U, or a bowl. And I told him ‘we’re gonna have a lot of stormy weather this month!’ And sure enough February has been the rainiest month in many years, besides the wind, some thunder and lightning and even hail in some areas, not to mention the temperature dipping to 6 degrees Celsius which is equivalent to 43 degrees Fahrenheit. For Malta’s standards 6 degrees is very cold, even though it may feel like a heat-wave in the USA. But folks, keep in mind the crescent moon from now on. I asked an astronomer friend of mine about this, and he never noticed it, but is researching the cause of this phenomena. It always works – and when you notice it looking like a bowl, be prepared for rain in the following month.

Camel and baby

One day a young camel asked his mother, “mother can you ask you a few questions that have been on my mind lately?” “Of course” said the mother camel. And the youngster continued “so why do we camels have this hump?” The mother answered wisely “so that when can store enough water in there, and when we get thirsty and we’re in a desert, we can drink from that extra supply!” “OK, next question is: why do we have long legs and flat feet?” The mother answered quickly “Simple my dear, so that when can walk better on the sand, otherwise our legs will get stuck in the soft sand.” “I guess I’ll have to accept that too, but now why do we have these long eye-lashes – sometimes I can’t even see.” “Very simple my son, so that we can be protected from the wind and sand blowing in our eyes!”

Then the young camel stood up and in a disappointed tone of voice asked again: “So if our hump is to preserve water in dire need, and if our legs are to help us walk better on the desert sand, and the eyelashes are to protect us from blowing sand, what on earth are we doing in this city zoo, surrounded by skyscrapers?”

Now think about this: why do we have legs? ......so that we lock ourselves in our cars and get stuck in traffic instead of running among the fields covered with lush grass. Why do we have a mouth?.....so that we eat, smoke, drink, curse, or rather so that we can praise God and say words of encouragement. Why do we have hands?....so that we can push those buttons and text messages on our cell-phones, or so that we can shake hands with friends and help those in need. Why do we have eyes? ....so that we get glued to TV screens, laptops and Ipads or to enjoy the beauty that God gave us in nature. Why do we have a heart?.....so that we get attached to money and luxuries while we can do so much by sharing our wealth with those who have nothing.

Fasting and Feasting

Many people focus so much on the fasting aspect of Lent, that they overlook the feasting aspect. Yes, it's OK to avoid the negatives, but it's just as important to accentuate the positives.

Fast on criticism, feast on praise
Fast on resentment, feast on contentment
Fast on self-pity, feast on happiness
Fast from hatred, feast on peace
Fast from jealousy, feast on love
Fast from pride, feast on humility
Fast from selfishness, feast on service
Fast on apathy, feast on faith
Fast from complaining, feast on appreciation
Fast from carelessness, feast on commitment
Fast from egoism, feast on altruism
Fast from gossiping, feast on concern
Fast from laziness, feast on prayer
Fast from anger, feast on joy
Fast from dishonesty, feast on sincerity
Fast from frowning, feast on smiling
Fast from pessimism, feast on optimism
Fast from revenge, feast on forgiveness
Fast from anxiety, feast on hope
Fast from sensual temptation, feast on purity
Fast from taking, feast on giving
Fast from fear, feast on courage
Fast from impatience, feast on tolerance
Fast from cheating, feast on honesty
Fast from fighting, feast on reconciling 
Fast from the TV, feast on some spiritual reading
Fast from the newspaper, feast on the bible
Fast from competition, feast on teamwork
Fast from passive indifference, feast on positive action
Fast from yourself, feast on Jesus & others.

Judas and the Good Shepherd

Pope Francis recently in one of his homilies mentioned how we can never judge Judas for what he did. Then he refers to a particular medieval capital of a column in the Basilica of St. Mary Magdalen in Vézelay, Burgundy, France. The Successor of Peter describes how people in the Middle Ages taught the Gospel through sculptures and paintings. “On that capital, on one side there is Judas, hanged; but on the other is the Good Shepherd who is carrying him on his shoulders and is carrying him away,” Pope Francis said. 

He also revealed that he has a photograph of that two-part capital behind his desk, because it helps him meditate. “There is a smile on the lips of the Good Shepherd, which I wouldn’t say is ironic, but a little bit complicit,” he describes. “There are many ways of reacting to shame; one is to despair, but we must try to help despairing people to find the true path of shame, so they don’t go down the path that put an end to Judas’ life.”

Rev. Billy Graham

Rev. Billy Graham (1918-2018)

Even though he is not Catholic, I felt I had to acknowledge the Rev. Billy Graham who died two days ago at the age of 99. Born Nov. 7, 1918, he was known as "America's Pastor" and wanted to be a baseball player early in life, but after attending a Christian revival at age 16, his life was forever changed. Over the course of his life, he preached the saving gospel of Jesus Christ to hundreds of millions in 185 countries, and his message, broadcast via radio, TV, Decision magazine, newspaper columns, the Internet and 29 books, touched many millions more. The Billy Graham Crusades ran from the 1940s until his last New York City crusade in 2005, by which time Parkinson's Disease had rendered him too weak to keep up the crusade pace. Graham consulted and prayed with every American president from Harry Truman forward, and even presided at the graveside service for Lyndon Johnson and gave a eulogy at the funeral of Richard Nixon.
In 1996, on the occasion of being presented the Congressional Gold Medal, Graham offered these observations about our nation: “America has gone a long way down the wrong road. We must turn around and go back and change roads. If ever we needed God's help, it is now. ... If ever we needed spiritual renewal, it is now. And it can begin today in each one of our lives, as we repent before God and yield ourselves to Him and His Word. We have confused liberty with license — and we are paying the awful price. We are a society poised on the brink of self-destruction. What is the problem? The real problem is within ourselves. ... I believe the fundamental crisis of our time is a crisis of the spirit. We have lost sight of the moral and spiritual principles on which this nation was established — principles drawn largely from the Judeo-Christian tradition as found in the Bible... What must be done? Let me briefly suggest three things. First, we must repent. In the depths of the American Civil War, Abraham Lincoln called for special days of public repentance and prayer. Our need for repentance is no less today. Repentance means to change our thinking and our way of living. It means to turn from our sins and to commit ourselves to God and His will. Second, we must commit our lives to God, and to the moral and spiritual truths that have made this nation great. Think how different our nation would be if we sought to follow the simple and yet profound injunctions of the Ten Commandments and the Sermon on the Mount. But we must respond to God, Who is offering us forgiveness, mercy, supernatural help, and the power to change. Third, our commitment must be translated into action — in our homes, in our neighborhoods, and in our society. Jesus taught there are only two roads in life. One is the broad road that is easy and well-traveled, but which leads to destruction. The other is the narrow road of truth and faith that at times is hard and lonely, but which leads to life and salvation.”

Amid all the world travel, Billy Graham was, first and foremost, a family man. He met his wife of 64 years, Ruth Bell Graham, at Wheaton College in the early '40s, and the two had five children, 19 grandchildren and many great-grandchildren. Mrs. Graham died in 2007. Their eldest son, Franklin, officially took the helm of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association in 2000, and many of his other children and grandchildren are involved in ministry.

Chair of St Peter

The Chair of St Peter in the center of the picture, during an Ordination.

Today we celebrate the feast of St Peter, and precisely the authority of St Peter in a feast called “The Chair of Saint Peter.” Of course we do not venerate chairs as such, but the ‘chair’ or ‘cathedra’ of St Peter is very symbolic, to such an extent that his chair has been immortalized in a magnificent sculpture by Gian Lorenzo Bernini behind the main altar at St Peter’s basilica. It is actually a part of the colonnade above the main altar, the massive chocolate-colored baldacchino that dominates the interior of the basilica. Next to the chair are the 4 Fathers of the early church, St Ambrose, St John Chrysostom, St Augustine and St Athanasius. Above the chair is a stained-glass window of the Holy Spirit in yellow texture. The bronze sculpture was crafted between 1647 and 1653 by Bernini. The original chair of Peter is preserved, although in a very worn-out state. It was transferred from the church of Santa Prisca to the Vatican, and was exposed to the public once a year. However it was encased within the Bernini masterpiece, where it still is, protected mostly because of its fragile structure. For 200 years it was kept hidden and protected, but in 1867 it was exposed to the faithful to commemorate the anniversary of the martyrdom of Saints Peter and Paul.

Does it really matter ?

Whether we wear a $500 watch or a $50 watch, they both show the same time.

Whether we use a $300 leather wallet or a $10 one, the amount of money in each could still be the same.

Whether you drink a $300 bottle of wine, or whether it’s worth $10, within a few hours you are still going to feel drowsy.

Whether you live in a million dollar mansion or a simple hut, joy and happiness does not come from how rich your surroundings are, but how much of a safe neighborhood you live in.

Whether you travel in ‘first class’ or ‘economy class,’ if the plane crashes you’re all going to die, and if it arrives safely, everyone will arrive on time.

Whether you have the latest Samsung or IPhone or a simple home phone, you can still talk to anywhere in the world.

And remember that as long as you have friends you can relate to, you can consider yourself the happiest person on earth.

Shadow of the Cross

A semi-professional college diver was training for a spot on the Olympics team, and he usually dives at least 40 to 50 times when he is practicing. One day towards the evening he went into the diving area in the swimming pool and since there was enough light coming from the outside, besides the light coming from the full moon, he did not turn the lights on. There was no one else in the swimming pool and it was quiet and peaceful. When he went on the platform ready for his first dive, he opened his arms and noticed a shadow of a cross from his body on the ground. He was so moved that instead of diving head first, as he usually does, he knelt down in prayer. At that moment a life-guard came in and turned the lights on. To his surprise, the diver noticed that the pool was empty of water, as it was drained for some maintenance. Thereupon he remained on his knees thanking God and the life-guard for saving his life. Because if the lights were not turned on, he would not have noticed that there was no water in the pool, thus preventing a tragic accident which could have proved fatal, since divers always dive head first. Yet another story of the power of the Cross.

Heavenly Sunrise

Sometimes, no words are necessary to accompany a photo given from heaven. When most of the population in Malta was still sleeping, God presented me with a spectacular sunrise last Saturday February 17, as I went to Mdina and Rabat for a short photo journey through history. At times you have to be at the right spot at the right time, and within a few minutes that memory is gone, but thanks to digital photography, the memory will last for ever. Only God can paint such a beautiful painting, without brush, without palette, and without a canvas. May we appreciate those special moments that come down from heaven.

Temptations

On this first Sunday of Lent, we see Jesus being tempted by the devil in the desert, and then we see him in prayer, while encouraging the people to “repent and believe in the gospel.” This was the same message of John the Baptist in Advent as it was last Wednesday on Ash Wednesday.  Temptations are a part of our lives, and we cannot avoid them, but we can always conquer them. All the saints faced them and overcame them in due time. Jesus faced temptation by prayer. And certainly our prayer life will help us throughout our Lenten journey.

May I suggest this guideline to help you throughout this special penitential time of the year:
Repent - admit of your weaknesses and ask for forgiveness.
Return - come back to church where you can find comfort and consolation.
Reorient yourself - make the adjustments you need.
Resolve to change - ask God to help you make the changes you need for a better life.
Rejoice - be happy with the person that is your NEW YOU.
Remember - the blessings you received, so that you don’t start taking God for granted.

Prayer before Christ Crucified

All you who are crying, come to Him, because He is crying too.
All you who are suffering, come to Him, because he can heal you.
All you who are afraid, come to Him, because He always has a smile waiting for you.
All you who are hungry, come to Him, because He’ll feed you the Living Bread.
All you who are in darkness, come to Him, because He will guide you with His Light.
All you who are lost, search for His guiding hand, and you will never get lost from now on.
All you who feel persecuted, come to Him because He had his share of persecution too.
All you who are lonely, come close to Him, because He too was very lonely on the Cross.
All you who feel being punished unfairly, just look at Him. He died for you, unfairly.
All you who are dying, come to Him, and you will live forever.

Heart Leaves

I did not write anything on Valentine’s Day, because it happened to be also Ash Wednesday. But as if God wanted me to appreciate also the gift of love He gives us, he presented me with an unusual plant as I was walking to a meeting yesterday. It’s some kind of an ivy vine, which climbs along walls and spreads profusely without any care, just rain water, of which we had an abundance over the last few days. Here are two photos of these unusual leaves in the shape of a heart. Truly, love is in the air, and climbing walls too.

Lenten Prayer

Unto You, my Lord, I pledge my feeble body. 

Not to be healed but to be forgiven.
Not to be recreated in my own image, but to be created in your own image.
Not to grieve but to have hope.
Not to have questions but to have answers.
Not to have anger but to have understanding.
Not to have fear but to have commitment.
Not to have ideals but to have concrete ideas.
Not to be ruled but to rule myself.

Not to have love, but to be love and give love to others.

Not to take but to share.
Not to critique but to know.

Not to complain but to be thankful for each day You give me.
For this and all things I say thank you.

Ash Wednesday

At the start of this Lenten season, we reflect on three important phrases which the priest will say while marking our foreheads with ashes:

“Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return”

“Turn away from sin, and believe in the Gospel”

“Repent and believe in the Good News of Jesus Christ.”

It is interesting to note that in European countries, including Italy and Malta, the ashes are placed or dropped on top of the head, instead of marked on the forehead as is done in the USA. After the Carnival celebrations which dominated our lives this past week, people are now ready to turn their lives around and focus a little more on the spiritual aspect of their lives. The Alleluias will cease for the next 40 days, as will the color white in our vestments, to be replaced by purple. Stations of the Cross will be prayed during the Fridays of Lent, as churches start to adorn themselves with their penitential outfits, some of which even have black tapestries hanging on the walls. Penitential services and pilgrimages are held in most parishes, people flock to confession, as they also listen to sermons addressed to different groups. So I invite you to journey with me as I share with you during the next 40 days, reflections and meditations that will help you get closer to the crucified Jesus.

We adore you o Christ, and we praise You, because by Your Holy Cross, You have redeemed the world.

Carnival

The last day of Carnival celebrations is held today around the world, on a day called Mardi Gras, or Martedi Grasso, or simply Fat Tuesday. The idea behind this day is so that people can overindulge and overeat today, in order to start a long fast tomorrow, Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent. Carnival in Malta was disrupted for the most part this year, and some of the festivities and dancing competitions will be held this coming weekend instead. The people preparing the floats and organizing the dancing routines and crafting the elaborate outfits were very disappointed when rain dominated the entire Carnival week. 

The only day when a window of sunshine appeared was Sunday afternoon, and that’s when I had a few hours free to venture to the capital city and take some photos of some of the colorful floats that paraded throughout the main streets of Valletta. One feels bad for these dedicated people who spend most of their free time preparing these floats, and it’s a passion they have, passed on from one generation to another. So enjoy these few photos I was able to take, while fighting the large crowds that thronged to the city to get a glimpse of a shortened Carnival for this year.

They never gave up

Elvis Presley, who was told to keep on driving trucks as a career.

There are many stories of determination and perseverance in the history of mankind, and so many people matured late in life and became the success they enjoyed simply because they never gave up, instead of being turned down and pushed aside for being told they had no talent. Elvis Presley tried out at the Grand Ole Opry one day in the early 1950s, and the Promoter of the Show, after hearing him sing a song, asked him what he did for a living. Elvis told him that he was a truck driver. And the promoter responded, “Well, I suggest you keep on trucking, and forget about singing!” Thank God Elvis did not listen. The same happened to Enrico Caruso who started singing in bars, but was soon dismissed because his singing was awful. At least that was the opinion of the bar owner. Thank God again Caruso was not offended. So many other people had hidden capabilities and potentials, only to find objection, rejection, ridicule, before eventually tasting success. 

Beethoven, who was too slow with no apparent talent at first.

Franz Joseph Haydn gave up on making a musician out of a young Ludwig van Beethoven who seemed too slow with no apparent talent. Albert Einstein was 4 years old before he could speak a single word, and 7 before he could read. A newspaper editor fired Walt Disney because he was told he had no good ideas. Werner von Braun, the brain behind the Apollo lunar landings failed algebra in Grade 9, and was doomed for failure.  There is a lesson in such stories: different people develop at different rates, and the best motivators are always on the lookout for hidden capacities.

Lourdes

In 2002 I was able to visit Lourdes with a group of Maltese pilgrims. I celebrated Mass for them and visited many landmarks, both in Lourdes itself and in the outskirts. But the thing that impressed me the most is the holiness and sacredness of the entire place. Yes, there were of course hotels and restaurants, but every shop and souvenir stand sold only religious articles, and absolutely nothing else. And once you enter the territory of Lourdes, you feel like you really entered a sanctuary, and you have the feeling that you were in a church, even with thousands of other pilgrims around. It was a very special time for me and one really felt the presence of the Blessed Mother with you wherever you went. Of course we participated in the aux flambeaux procession in the evening and I even led a decade of the Rosary. Today we commemorate the first apparition of Our Lady at Lourdes to the young girl Bernadette Soubirous in 1854. It took the church a few years to declare the apparitions as truly authentic, and since then over 70 miracles have taken place to people visiting Lourdes, the tiny place nestled between Spain and France at the base of the Pyrenees Mountains.

National feast of Malta

Statue of Saint Paul, sculpted out of wood by Melchiore Gafa

February 10 has always and will always be a special day for me and for all Maltese Catholics - the day we celebrate the shipwreck of Saint Paul on the island of Malta, as it is recorded in chapter 28 of the Acts of the Apostles: “Once we had reached safety we learned that the island was called Malta. The natives showed us extraordinary hospitality; they lit a fire and welcomed all of us because it had begun to rain and was cold. Paul had gathered a bundle of brushwood and was putting it on the fire when a viper, escaping from the heat, fastened on his hand. When the natives saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “This man must certainly be a murderer; though he escaped the sea, Justice has not let him remain alive.” But he shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no harm.........the rest of the sick on the island came to Paul and were cured. They paid us great honor and when we eventually set sail they brought us the provisions we needed.” This is the best tribute Malta could have ever received, seeing its name in the Bible, and the Maltese being described as hospitable, kind and generous. They probably provided Paul and the 276 sailors with him an entire ship to continue their journey to Sicily and Rome, as the ship they were on was destroyed in the shipwreck.

The feast is commemorated with a solemn procession in the streets of the capital city of Valletta, where the church of the Shipwreck of Saint Paul is situated. The beloved statue of Saint Paul was carved out of wood by Melchiore Gafa and is carried in procession on his feastday. Since this is Carnival weekend, this year the procession was held on January 27.

A matter of perspective

A friend of mine had a large house with a beautiful garden. One day he invited me to his house and I told him how much I admired his garden filled with fruit trees and flowers. He told me how much hard work it was to plant those tree and how many gardeners he had commissioned to make sure everything is perfect. It had cost him a lot of money, and yet he looked very sad, and somewhat pessimistic.
Then when I went to a mission country and saw the poor conditions in which some people were living, and when I met an elderly man in front of his poor and dirty shack, he appeared very happy to show me around. He proceeded to tell me “do you see this house? I lived in it with my family without a roof for 7 years. Now I finally got enough money to add a simple roof!”
Sincere joy does not depend on how much money you have, but by how much you can appreciate life, especially the simple things in life.

St Josephine Bakhita

St Josephine Bakhita (1869-1947)

Most people may not have heard of this saint, but please, read on - her story is truly remarkable. Early details about Bakhita are not fully known. She was born about 1869 in the western Sudanese region of Darfur. Her prosperous father was brother of the village chief and she was surrounded by a loving family of three brothers and three sisters. But aged 9, she was kidnapped by Arab slave traders, and was cruelly forced to walk about 600 miles in her bare feet. Over the course of twelve years (1877–1889) she was resold again three more times and then given away. The trauma of her abduction caused her to forget her own name; she took one given to her by the slavers, bakhita, Arabic for lucky. She was also forcibly converted to Islam. In 1883 Bakhita was bought by the Italian Vice Consul Callisto Legnani, who was a very kind man. For the first time since her captivity she was able to enjoy some peace and tranquility. Two years later, when Legnani himself had to return to Italy, Bakhita begged to go with him. In April 1885 they arrived at the Italian port of Genoa, and she was greeted by Augusto Michieli, who took her to the family villa near Venice. She lived there for three years and became nanny to the Michieli's daughter Alice. The Michaelis bought some property in Sudan and wanted to move back there, but Josephine refused.

St Josephine Bakhita, standing in the center, with other Canossian sisters

On 9 January 1890 Bakhita was baptized with the names of Giuseppina Margherita. On the same day she was also confirmed and received communion from the Cardinal patriarch of Venice himself. On December 7, 1893 she entered the novitiate of the Canossian Sisters and on December 8, 1896 she took her vows, welcomed by the future Pope Pius X. In 1902 she was assigned to the Canossian convent at Schio, in the northern Italian province of Vicenza, where she spent the rest of her life. During her 42 years in Schio, Bakhita was employed as the cook, sacristan and door keeper and was in frequent contact with the local community. Her gentleness, calming voice, and ever-present smile became well known. People still refer to her as Sor Moretta ("little brown sister") or Madre Moretta ("black mother.") Her last years were marked by pain and sickness. She used a wheelchair, but she retained her cheerfulness. Bakhita died on February 8, 1947. For three days her body lay on display while thousands of people arrived to pay their respects. On May 17, 1992, she was declared Blessed and given February 8 as her feast day. On October 1, 2000, she was canonized and became Saint Josephine Bakhita, a modern African saint, and as a statement against the brutal history of slavery, becoming the patron saint of Sudan.

Blessed Pope Pius IX

Pope Pius IX with some prelates at the Vatican.

Today the church celebrates the feast of Blessed Pope Pius IX, the longest reigning Pope in history. Born in Senigallia, Italy, on May 13 1792 as Giovanni Maria Mastai-Ferretti, he was head of the Catholic Church from June 16, 1846 to his death on February 7, 1878, exactly 140 years ago today. During his pontificate, Pius IX convened the First Vatican Council (1869–70), which decreed papal infallibility. One interesting fact that many people don’t know is that he was ordained a priest by a Maltese Cardinal. It was Fabrizio Sceberras Testaferrata (1 April 1757 - 3 August 1843) who ordained Giovanni Maria Mastai-Ferretti a priest on April 10, 1819. The Maltese prelate served as Bishop of Senigallia from 1818 until his death in 1843. In his younger years, Pope Pius IX was Archbishop of Spoleto between 1827 and 1832. He was a Marian Pope, who in his encyclical Ubi Primum described Mary as a Mediatrix of salvation. In 1854, he promulgated the dogma of the Immaculate Conception, articulating a long-held Catholic belief that Mary, the Mother of God, was conceived without original sin. Pius IX will always be remembered for the many concordats agreed and signed, and helping many developing nations. 

Blessed Pope Pius IX (1792-1878)

On another note Pope Pius IX was instrumental in erecting the Diocese of Gozo as a separate Diocese from mainland Malta. After a long-winded correspondence and various meetings, on July 14, 1864, the Holy See initiated the proceedings for the eventual establishment of the diocese. On 16 September, Pope Pius IX approved the decision through the Bull ‘Singulari Amore’  (With Remarkable Love) establishing Gozo and Comino a separate Diocese directly subjected to the Holy See. On September 22, Bishop Michele Francesco Buttigieg was elected first bishop of Gozo. On October 23, he made his joyous entry into the new Cathedral amidst the deafening cheers and enthusiastic applause of his devoted flock. 
Pius IX celebrated his silver jubilee in 1871, going on to have the longest reign in the history of the Papacy, 31 years, 7 months and 23 days. Together with Pope St. John XXIII, he was beatified on September 3, 2000 after the recognition of a miracle. Pius IX was assigned the liturgical feast of February 7, the date of his death. 

St Paul Miki and companions

We celebrate today the feast of Saint Paul Miki and his companions, martyrs who were killed over 400 years ago. Everybody remembers the nuclear bomb that was dropped on Nagasaki and Hiroshima during World War II. 37,000 people were killed in Nagasaki alone, but three and a half centuries earlier, 26 Catholic martyrs lost their lives to protect their faith, crucified on a hill overlooking the same city. Among them were priests, lay people, catechists, doctors, children, as well as Franciscan and Jesuit priests and brothers. Paul Miki was the son of a Japanese military leader, educated by the Jesuits at Anziquiama in 1580, and was well-known for his eloquence and dynamic preaching. He was crucified on the 5th of February during the persecution of Taiko, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, a Japanese leader. With him were also crucified Francis  and Leo, two carpenters, a Franciscan cook named Joachim and others named Gabriel, Peter, Cosmas and Ventura. When other missionaries returned to Japan in 1860, they at first found no trace of Christianity, but after they settled in Nagasaki, they discovered thousands of people who had kept the faith alive for three hundred years. These Japanese martyrs were beatified in 1627 and canonized in 1862.

Live Mass on Malta TV

Yesterday, my morning Mass from the Resurrection Chapel at Hilltop Gardens was transmitted Live on Malta TV. This is the second time they chose our chapel for a live transmission of a Sunday Mass. Many people who are in homes, hospitals and Nursing Homes are therefore able to assist and follow this Mass every Sunday, and it is a blessing for them who may not be able to attend at their parish churches. 

These are some photos of the Mass, taken by a friend of mine Colleen Clark, all the way from the heart of Oregon, who watched the Mass at midnight in Oregon time, while it was live at 9 AM Sunday morning in Malta.

The Power of Candles

Two days ago, we spoke about candles on the feast of the Presentation of Jesus, and we can never underestimate the power of candles. I shared this story today in my homily, and I thought that those who did not hear it, should appreciate it too. It’s a story about an Irish priest, Father Duffy who was greeting the people after Mass one day. He noticed a couple whom he had married a few years earlier... “Mr and Mrs Donohue, how are you....I remember marrying you at St. Patrick’s church 5 years ago....did you have any children?” “No Father, we don’t have any children....we tried many many times, but no children yet, and we’re living in Wales now,” answered a disappointed Mrs Donohue. Father Duffy felt bad and told them “Don’t you worry at all, next week I’m going to the Vatican and I will light a candle for you at St Peter’s majestic basilica.”

Around 6 years later, Mrs Donohue shows up again at Fr Duffy’s Mass with 7 children, all toddlers. He was surprised to see her and greeted her enthusiastically “Oh my goodness, Mrs Donahue, how are you....it’s so good to see you again.....are these all your children?” “Yes Father, since we last saw you, we had triplets, twins and two other babies.” And Father Duffy noticed that Mr Donohue was not with his wife, and asked her “And where is Mr Donohue may I ask?” And she answered him with a stern look on her face “he’s been a Rome for a few weeks, searching for that candle you lit, and trying to extinguish it once and for all!”

When you weren’t looking

We tend to take our children for granted, especially when adults are talking among themselves with children around. But children are very perceptive and they notice much more than we think. Here is an 10 year old girl who wrote this to her mother:

Mother dear, when you weren’t looking.....

• I saw you hanging my first painting on the refrigerator door, and at that moment I wished I could paint a masterpiece for you......
• I saw you feed that stray cat that came by our house yesterday, and you taught me that we should always be kind to animals.......
• I saw you bake a delicious cake for me, and I learned how special nice compliments can be......
• I saw you prepare a meal for your sick friend down the road, and I learned to always help those in need......
• I saw you meticulously clean our house, and I also learned that I should take care of everything that I have in my possession......
• I saw you play with and hang out with us even though you did not feel well, and I realized how important it is for me to be responsible when I grow up......
• I saw those tears trickling down your cheeks, and I learned that sometimes in life we have to face situations that upset us and hurt us.....
• I heard you praying while you were dusting the furniture, and so I learned that we can talk to God whenever we like it....
• Thank you, dearest mother for what I saw you do when you weren’t looking, and when I thought I did not notice the small things you do for me.

Presentation of Jesus

Stained glass of the Presentation at the Baker City Cathedral, Oregon.

Today happens to be the feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple. It was a custom that any woman who had a brush with birth or death was considered impure for 40 days, and so the purification of that woman had to be done on the 40th day, so that she would be allowed to enter the temple once again, on a regular basis. So was the case with Mary who also presented Jesus at the temple, both for his circumcision and to be consecrated to the Lord. The feasts of the Circumcision of Jesus and the Purification of Mary were held until 1969, when Pope Blessed Paul VI removed them from the liturgical calendar. The parents had to present a pair of turtle doves if they were poor, or lambs or sheep if they happen to be wealthy. The mother frequently presented a candle also to the High Priest. And so on this day, which is also called Candlemas Day, candles to be used during the year are blessed.

Candles for burning, candles for praying,

The Paschal Candle representing the Risen Christ.

Votive candles offered by people in memory of a loved one.

Candles placed in front of statues, images and paintings of Saints.

Candles used to break the darkness, especially when a power failure kills all electricity.

Candles used aux flambeaux during the daily procession in Lourdes.

Candles used to create ambience at dinner tables.

Candles carried by altar-servers during Mass.

Candles on the altar, to emphasize the present of the Body and Blood of Jesus.

Blood Moon

As anticipated and expected, the full moon was quite impressive yesterday evening, and I was ready with my camera as it appeared over the horizon of trees and buildings. So enjoy these three photos of the Blood Moon, or Blue Moon from yesterday. Here at Naxxar, where I was, it was more like an Orange Moon. In some areas, there was even a total lunar eclipse, which made the phenomena even more rare, as the last time this happened was over 150 years ago.