Incredible but true

There is enough concrete in the Hoover Dam to build a two-lane highway from San Francisco to New York City.

The Library of Congress contains approximately 838 miles of bookshelves.

It would take you more than 400 years to spend a night in each of Las Vegas' hotel rooms.

Senator John McCain

I very rarely touch politics in my blog, but this is certainly not about politics, but about honoring an American hero. A six-time US senator for the state of Arizona, John McCain survived the Vietnam War as a soldier, was a prisoner-of-war for many months, suffered torture, then after entering politics, he even ran for US President twice. He would have turned 82 yesterday, and he will be buried on Saturday with full military honors. As a tribute, reflect on some of the words he wrote just before he died. What he says about America can be said about every country in the world.

I have often observed that I am the luckiest person on earth. I feel that way even now as I prepare for the end of my life. I have loved my life, all of it. I have had experiences, adventures, and friendships enough for ten satisfying lives, and I am so thankful. Like most people, I have regrets. But I would not trade a day of my life, in good or bad times, for the best day of anyone else’s. I owe that satisfaction to the love of my family. No man ever had a more loving wife or children he was prouder of than I am of mine. And I owe it to America. To be connected to America’s causes – liberty, equal justice, respect for the dignity of all people – brings happiness more sublime than life’s fleeting pleasures.
We are blessed and are a blessing to humanity when we uphold and advance those ideals at home and in the world. We have helped liberate more people from tyranny and poverty than ever before in history. We have acquired great wealth and power in the process. We weaken our greatness when we confuse our patriotism with tribal rivalries that have sown resentment and hatred and violence in all the corners of the globe. We weaken it when we hide behind walls, rather than tear them down, when we doubt the power of our ideals, rather than trust them to be the great force for change they have always been.
We have always had so much more in common with each other than in disagreement. Do not despair of our present difficulties but believe always in the promise and greatness of America, because nothing is inevitable here. Americans never quit. We never surrender. We never hide from history. We make history. Farewell, fellow Americans. God bless you, and God bless America.

The martyrdom of St John the Baptist

Caravaggio - Beheading of St John the Baptist

The commemoration of the martyrdom of St John the Baptist reminds me of the most impressive painting of this scene in the Cathedral of St John’s in Valletta, a masterpiece by Caravaggio, housed in the Oratory adjacent to the main Cathedral. It is visited by thousands of visitors and tourists daily. It was recently restored between April 1997 and June 1998 when it was sent to the Opificio delle Pietre Dure in Florence as the Comune di Firenze had offered to restore it. The painting was exhibited at the del Carmine church, Florence for an entire year, and was returned to Malta in June 1999. 

The signature of Caravaggio before and after the restoration

It is the only painting which was signed by Caravaggio, his signature seen in the trickle of blood coming from John’s decapitated head. His full name is Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio. Yet another painting, probably more graphic is that of Giovanni Battista Tiepolo. It is a shame to hear the story of the beheading of the Baptist, the result of a pretty dance by a young ballerina. What would a young girl ask for as a gift for her well-performed dance? A necklace, a diamond bracelet, pretty sandals for her feet, a silk dress....? Certainly not the head of a person she never met! But jealousy by her mother caused the death of a beloved saint, and today we honor him.

Tiepolo - Beheading of St John the Baptist

St Augustine and St Monica

The feast of St Augustine is placed just one day after that of his mother St Monica. Spending her entire life praying for his conversion, she certainly deserved to become a Saint herself. Augustine was born in the city of Tagaste, Algeria, in 354 AD to a Christian mother. He was educated in North Africa and resisted his mother's pleas to become Christian. Living as a pagan intellectual, he took a concubine and became a Manichean, even fathering a child out of wedlock. Later he converted to Christianity, being baptized by St Ambrose, and became a bishop of Hippo, a Latin Father and Doctor of the Church, and is one of the most important figures in the development of Western Christianity. Some of his writings are strictly autobiographical, even though very theological in thought. The Confessions, which is often called the first Western autobiography are still read around the world.
As a young man before his conversion, he taught in North Africa, Carthage and Rome. It was only when he arrived in Milan that his life started to change. In the summer of 386, after having read an account of the life of Saint Anthony of the Desert which greatly inspired him, Augustine underwent a profound personal crisis and decided to convert to Catholic Christianity, abandon his career in rhetoric, quit his teaching position in Milan, give up any ideas of marriage, and devote himself entirely to serving God and the practices of priesthood, which included celibacy. Key to this conversion was the voice of an unseen child he heard while in his garden in Milan telling him in a sing-song voice to tolle lege ("take up and read"). He grabbed the nearest text to him, which was Paul's Epistle to the Romans and opened it at random to 13:13-14, which read: "Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying; but put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires."

Ambrose baptized Augustine, along with his son, Adeodatus, on Easter Vigil in 387 in Milan, and soon thereafter in 388, he returned to Africa. St Monica died as she was leaving the port of Ostia on her way back to Africa, just after her son had converted.
In 391 Augustine was ordained a priest and became a famous preacher, while 5 years later he was made the bishop of Hippo. Augustine died on August 28, 430. Among his famous quotes are these:
“You have made us for Yourself and our hearts are restless till they rest in You.”
“To sing once is to pray twice.”
“Love, and do what you will.”
“Hope has two beautiful daughters. Their names are anger and courage; anger at the way things are, and courage to see that they do not remain the way they are.”

Sixty Six

As I turn 30 years old today (after 36 years of experience), here are 66 reasons to be thankful for, and which make me happy, (in no particular order): Being born in a loving family – celebrating Mass - painting watercolors – loving strawberries – working in 7 parishes in the USA – doing calligraphy – hearing marching bands in Malta – photography – having over 1600 CDs – leading people in prayer - using fountain pens – e-mail – having 2 nephews who are now doctors – my IPad – preparing homilies – taking part in 3 NYC marathons – driving safely over a million miles in the USA – driving nervously yet cautiously for 4 miles in Malta – playing the flute – Laurel and Hardy movies – watching ‘Ben Hur’ – listening to Bach’s B Minor Mass and Berlioz’ Requiem – wearing sandals – being chaplain at Hilltop Gardens – receiving e-mails from my friends in the USA – keeping my blog going since 2012 – donating 118 pints of blood – renovating the Cathedral in Baker City – following Baseball, Football and Golf – saying the Rosary daily – helping people through counselling – presenting PowerPoint talks – visiting Maltese churches during festa season – watching Mr Bean movies – Cadbury hazelnut chocolates – cold weather – watching Giro d’Italia and Tour de France on TV – cooking lentil, chicken and vegetable beef soups – writing in Lehen is-Sewwa for over 33 years so far – collecting photos of Emvin Cremona’s paintings – riding a horse in Central Oregon – preaching – celebrating meaningful weddings and funerals – yoga and walking – the ‘save’ button on a computer – DAB Radio – old-time cassettes – walking barefoot on the sand – watching and playing table-tennis and snooker – eating a healthy salad and hobz biz-zejt – non-smokers – Adolphe Bouguereau – eating rabbit stew and octopus stew – keeping prayer journals – writing e-mails to friends with photo attachments - creating personal prayers for Mass – listening to anything by Vivaldi and Rossini – my recorder app – listening to my IPod with headphones – praying with background music – leading retreats – visiting the Vatican – hearing confessions – short sleeves – Kinnie – working on my lap-top – staying healthy.

A statue restored

The 125 year-old statue of St Julian in my hometown of St. Julian’s was recently restored to coincide with the arrival of this statue to the parish. It was crafted by Carlo Darmanin, who had crafted several other statues in various Maltese churches. It is made of paper-mache, and it represents the saint looking down at a deer who looks up to him. His ornate clothing is highlighted with golden trim, while a sword hangs from his side, and a leather belt hangs across his chest. 

The restoration took an entire year, and during that time some parts of the statue were re-enforced.  It was done by the company called Atelier del Restauro Ltd, a company specializing in restoration of statues. Various restorations were done over the past 125 years, but this was the most professional and complete overhaul of this beloved statue. The statue of St. Julian stands on an ornate pedestal gilded in gold, and will be carried in a procession through the streets of St Julian’s on Sunday evening.

Leonard Bernstein

Leonard Bernstein (August 25, 1918 - October 14, 1990)

Born 100 years ago today, August 25, 1918, one of the most beloved and well-known musicians, composer and director, Leonard Bernstein will always be remembered for his variety of compositions, in a career that spanned 50 years. His Jewish lineage frequently is hinted in many of his works, such as his Symphony No 3 ‘Kaddish’, Haskiveinu for tenor, choir and organ, Halil and Symphony No 1, ‘Jeremiah.’ Bernstein was the first conductor to give a series of television lectures on classical music, starting in 1954 and continuing until his death.

Born in Lawrence, Massachusetts of Ukrainian Jewish parents, he attended Harvard University, studying, of course, music. His fame derived from his long tenure as the music director of the New York Philharmonic, from his conducting of concerts with most of the world's leading orchestras, As a composer he wrote in many styles encompassing symphonic and orchestral music, ballet, film and theatre music, choral works, opera, chamber music and pieces for the piano. Many of his works are regularly performed around the world, although none has matched the tremendously popular and critical success of West Side Story. Among his other successful compositions, one can mention his Mass in memory of John F. Kennedy, composed in a mixture of different styles, choral, jazz, rock and sacred. Besides the classic film score for West Side Story, he also wrote On the Waterfront, On the Town, Peter Pan, Candide, Fancy Free, Dybbuk. He also wrote a Missa Brevis and the well-known Chichester Psalms, besides lots of chamber music and other orchestral works. He also wrote two operas, Trouble in Tahiti and A Quiet Place.

He became a well-known figure in the United States through his series of fifty-three televised Young People’s Concerts for CBS, which were well attended and followed by everyone, young and old, and undoubtedly introduced classical music to thousands of people who would otherwise have ignored such immortal music. Bernstein had a special love for Gustav Mahler’s music. A long-time heavy chain-smoker, Leonard Bernstein died aged 72 on October 14, 1990.

Saint Bartholomew

St Bartholomew holding his skinned face at Paola church, Malta

All that is known of St Bartholomew with certainty is that he is mentioned in the Gospels and Acts as one of the twelve apostles. His name means "son of Tolomai" (or Ptolemy) and scholars believe he is the same as Nathanael mentioned in John’s Gospel, who says he is from Cana and that Jesus called him an "Israelite...incapable of deceit, a person in whom there is no guile." He was a close friend of St Philip, because they are always mentioned together.

After the Ascension, Bartholomew went on a missionary tour to India. Other traditions record him as serving in Ethiopia, Mesopotamia, Persia and Egypt. Along with St Jude, Bartholomew is reputed to have brought Christianity to Armenia in the 1st century. Thus both saints are considered the patron saints of the Armenian Apostolic Church. However, it is in Greater Armenia that Bartholomew saw his end where he was flayed or skinned and beheaded by King Astyages. The famous Last Judgment painting by Michelangelo shows St Bartholomew holding the knife of his martyrdom and his flayed skin. The face of the skin is recognizable as Michelangelo's as if the artist wanted to show how much he suffered under Pope Julius, who wanted the Last Judgment finished sooner.

Of the many miracles performed by St. Bartholomew before and after his death, two very popular ones are known by the townsfolk of the small island of Lipari, off the coast of Italy. When St. Bartholomew's body was found off the shore, the Bishop ordered many men to take the body to the Cathedral. When this failed due to its extreme weight, the Bishop then sent out the children. The children easily brought the body ashore.

The people of the island of Lipari celebrate his feast day annually. The tradition of the people was to take the solid silver and gold statue from inside the Cathedral of St. Bartholomew and carry it through the town. On one occasion, when taking the statue down the hill towards the town during a procession, it suddenly got very heavy and had to be set down. They managed to lift it but had to put it down a few more times. Within seconds, walls further downhill collapsed. If the statue had been able to be lifted, all of the townspeople would have been killed.

During World War II, the Italian Fascist regime looked for ways to finance their activities. The order was given to take the silver statue of the Saint and melt it down. The statue was weighed, and it was found to be only several ounces. It was returned to its place in the Cathedral of Lipari. In reality, the statue is made from many pounds of silver and it is considered a miracle that it was not melted down.

St. Rose of Lima

St. Rose of Lima is the patroness of Latin America and the Philippines. She was born at Lima, Peru on April 20, 1586. This South American Saint's real name was Isabel, but she was such a beautiful baby that she was called Rose, and that name remained. As she grew older, she became more and more beautiful, and one day, her mother put a wreath of flowers on her head to show off her loveliness to friends. But Rose had no desire to be admired, for her heart had been given to Jesus. So she put a long pin into that wreath and it pierced her so deeply, that she had a hard time getting the wreath off afterward. Another time she became afraid that her beauty might be a temptation to someone since people could not take their eyes off her. Therefore, she rubbed her face with pepper until it was all red and blistered.

St. Rose worked hard to support her poor parents and she humbly obeyed them, except when they tried to get her to marry. That she would not do. Her love of Jesus was so great that when she talked about Him, her face glowed and her eyes sparkled. Rose had many temptations from the devil, and there were also many times when she had to suffer a feeling of terrible loneliness and sadness, for God seemed far away. Yet she cheerfully offered all these troubles to Him. In fact, in her last long, painful sickness, this heroic young woman use to pray: "Lord, increase my sufferings, and with them increase Your love in my heart."

She died in Lima on August 24, 1617, and many miracles followed her death. She was beatified by Clement IX, in 1667, and canonized in 1671 by Clement X, the first from the American continent to be so honored. She is represented wearing a crown of roses.

Hail Holy Queen

Today being the feast of the Queenship of Mary, I thought of giving you a brief reflection on one of the most popular prayers or hymns of the Catholic Church. The Salve Regina, or Hail Holy Queen was composed during the Middle Ages by German monk Hermann of Reichenau. It was always sung or recited in Latin especially among monks during Compline, the prayer that is said in the evening. It is said that St Bernard, while acting as legate Apostolic in Germany, on Christmas Eve, 1146, he entered the cathedral to the processional chanting of the anthem, and, as he genuflected three times, he uttered the words "O clemens, O pia, O dulcis Virgo Maria," and these words were added to the Salve Regina. The Salve Regina is traditionally sung at the end of a priest's funeral Mass out of reverence to Mary, the Mother of Christ, the High Priest, and all Priests. As a prayer, it is commonly said at the end of the rosary.

The hymn has been set to music by various composers, including Victoria, Palestrina, Josquin, di Lassus, Mozart, and others. Handel and Liszt composed their own settings in later years. Schubert composed no less than four versions. In 1976 the words of the first verse of the Salve Regina were used as a repeating theme in the song 'Oh What a Circus' in the musical Evita, with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice.

Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, Hail our life, our sweetness, and our hope. To thee do we cry, Poor banished children of Eve; To thee do we send forth our sighs, Mourning and weeping in this vale of tears. Turn then, most gracious advocate, Thine eyes of mercy toward us; And after this our exile, Show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary. 

Pope St Pius X

Pope St Pius X (1835-1914)

Saint Pius X was born on June 2, 1835, his name being Giuseppe Sarto, He was the first Pope since Pope Pius V to be canonized. He was one of 11 children, and though poor, his parents valued education, and Giuseppe walked 3 miles to school each day. Pius X was a fervent reformer of Church practices and regulations such as the Canon Law, his most important reform, which for the first time codified Church law in a central fashion. He was a pastoral pope, encouraging personal piety and a lifestyle reflecting Christian values.

Pope Pius X was a Marian Pope because for him there is no safer or more direct road than Mary. She is uniting all mankind in Christ. He was the only Pope in the 20th century with extensive pastoral experience at the parish level and pastoral concerns permeated his papacy. The Catechism of Pope Pius X is short and direct. His teachings were considered equally down to earth and practical. He favored the use of modern language in Catechesis. Frequent communion was a lasting innovation of Pius X, because, before his time, people could only receive communion once a month and, on special occasions, on Sunday. He was also instrumental in introducing the custom of First Holy Communion for young children. Like his predecessor, Pope Leo XIII (1878-1903) Pius opposed modernism, a school of thought, which claimed that Catholic dogma itself should be modernized and blended with 19th Century philosophies.
Personally, Pius combined within himself a strong sense of compassion, benevolence, poverty, but also a hint of stubbornness. He wanted to be pastor and was the only Pope in the 20th century who gave Sunday sermons every week. His charity was extraordinary, filling the Vatican with refugees from the 1908 Messina quake, long before the Italian government began to act on its own. He rejected any kind of favors for his family - his brother remained a postal clerk, his favorite nephew stayed on as village priest, and his three sisters lived together close to poverty in Rome. He often referred to his own humble origins, taking up the causes of poor people. “I was born poor, I have lived poor, and I wish to die poor." Considered a holy person by many, public veneration of Pope Pius X began soon after his death. He died August 20, 1914, and was canonized in 1954, after his body was exhumed and displayed under a side-altar where priests can celebrate Mass, many of which I was lucky to serve as an altar boy in 1966.

St Bernard

Saint Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153)

Born in 1090, Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, was a French abbot and the primary builder of the reforming Cistercian monastic order. After the death of his mother, Bernard sought admission into the Cistercian order. The little community of reformed Benedictines at Cîteaux, which would have so profound an influence on Western monasticism grew rapidly. Three years later, in 1115, Bernard was sent with a band of 12 monks to found a new house at Clairvaux, and the names of Bernard and Clairvaux would soon become inseparable. Bernard became a popular preacher, promoting the devotion to the Virgin Mary. In the year 1128, Bernard assisted at the Council of Troyes, at which Bernard traced the outlines of the Rule of the Knights Templar who soon became the ideal of Christian nobility.

On the death of Pope Honorius II, a schism broke out in the Church. King Louis VI convened a national council of the French bishops, and Bernard was chosen to judge between the rival popes. Bernard devoted himself with renewed vigor to the composition of the works which would win for him the title of "Doctor of the Church". In 1139, Bernard assisted at the Second Council of the Lateran. Having previously helped end the schism within the Church, Bernard was now called upon to combat heresy.

Following the Christian defeat at the Siege of Edessa, the Pope commissioned Bernard to preach the Second Crusade. The last years of Bernard's life were saddened by the failure of the crusaders, the entire responsibility for which was thrown upon him. Bernard died at age 63 on August 20, 1153, after 40 years spent in the cloister. He was the first Cistercian monk placed on the calendar of saints and was canonized by Pope Alexander III 18 January 1174, only 21 years after his death, a pretty fast canonization in those days. Pope Pius VIII bestowed on him the title of Doctor of the Church. He became remembered as the Mellifluous Doctor, the Honey-Sweet Doctor, for his eloquence. The Cistercians honor him as only the founders of orders are honored, because of the widespread activity which he gave to the order.

(Note: if you ever try to get a picture of Saint Bernard through Google, you're out of luck - all you get are pictures of the St Bernard dog, whether you type 'Saint Bernard' or 'St Bernard'.....dogs and more dogs, cute ones but not the Saint of Clairvaux)

Praying for Genoa

Archbishop Angelo Bagnasco blessing the caskets

As some of the 40 victims are laid to rest, let us pray for those who lost their lives in the tragic collapse of the massive Morandi bridge in the heart of the port city of Genoa in the northern part of the Mediterranean Sea.  We pray for their families, for their loved ones, for the injured survivors and for those who are searching for more victims and who will start the incredible job of cleaning up and re-building this bridge. Special prayers for the medical personnel, the fire-fighters and search-and-rescue teams who themselves are risking their lives in the clean-up task. Let us pause and pray....for Genoa.

Conversion in Dachau

Blessed Titus Brandsma

One of the most horrible places during World War II was the concentration camp in Dachau where thousands, possibly millions were killed. Among them was Fr Titus Brandsma, a Carmelite priest from Holland. He was the first journalist killed by the Nazis. Pope St John Paul II beatified him in November 1983. During the cause of his beatification, one of the witnesses who spoke in his favor was the nurse who gave him the lethal injection. She recalled how on July 26, 1942, while she was giving him the injection, Fr Titus offered her his Rosary beads. He told her ‘Take these Rosary beads...and use it to pray.’ She refused them claiming that she does not pray. But he insisted ‘take them anyway, and just say Pray for us sinners.’ These were the last words of Fr Titus Brandsma. That nurse, who now still lives under a different name said that she converted to the Catholic faith just because of the Rosary beads. In 1955, this nurse presented herself at the cause of beatification and related her story, while telling the details of the last 10 days of Fr Titus. She gave him poison to die, while he gave her Rosary beads, which led to her conversion.

Chocolates with Jesus

A young boy had just finished his catechism classes and what he heard that day stuck with him as he was walking home. He heard the story of Jesus separating the sheep from the goats at the end of times and the message of whatever we do to others, we are doing to Jesus himself. So as he walked towards home, he passed by a park and noticed an elderly woman sitting on a bench by herself. As he approached her, he remembered the story and gave her a piece of his Snickers chocolate bar. She took it and smiled at him. He liked her smile so much that he gave her another piece of chocolate. She smiled even more and he too smiled at her, as he started to continue his walk home.  But he turned around again and ran towards her and this time gave her a big hug, for which she gave him a much bigger smile. He smiled back and ran home. As he arrived home, his mother noticed his unusual happiness and asked him what made him so happy. He told her: ‘Because I shared a piece of my chocolate with Jesus and she smiled at me.’ In the meantime, the elderly woman arrived at her home and was greeted by her sister who asked her, ‘you seem very happy today, sis, what happened to you?’ And she answered ‘because today I was in the garden eating chocolate with Jesus. And I was so surprised that he was so young and sweet.’ Yes, whatever you do with the least of my brothers and sisters, you do it to me,’ says Jesus. And he certainly loves chocolate, eating it and sharing it.

Why I hate cell-phones

Some people call them the biggest invention ever. Many others cannot survive without them. Most people spend hours handling them, looking at them, texting on them, searching for them, or simply hugging them and even sleeping with them. But the reason why I hate cell-phones is because of the lack of courtesy that some people have in handling them, or rather misusing them. It happened twice this week that some of the residents at the Retirement Home bring their cell-phone with them when they attend Mass. I have been constantly telling them to leave it in their room while attending Mass at the chapel. But they refuse to do that, and all through the Mass you here the annoying whistling, beeping and ringing, even those little bleeps which tells me that people are checking their phones during Mass.

Well last Sunday, exactly as I’m starting the consecration of the Eucharist, the most solemn and important part of the Mass, a phone rings. As I have become accustomed to do, I stop and pause, until the ringing stops. Well the ringing did stop, but the person starts talking, loud enough for everyone to hear the family conversation. When I started the words of consecration, that phone rings again, and I had to stop again. Now one has to understand that most of the elderly residents do not know how to silence this gadget, or stop it, or make it inaudible. This time there was no conversation, but the phone stopped. Waiting a few more seconds I started the words of consecration and after I had raised the host, guess what? For a third time, the same phone rings again, at which time I had no choice but to grab the phone and take it to the sacristy, and even though we could still hear it ring periodically in the background, I could at least continue with the Mass. To add insult to injury, just yesterday, the Mass of the Assumption of Mary, the same exact thing happened at exactly the same time. It was a different phone this time, and no conversation took place, but after it stopped once, it rang again, to the exasperation of everyone present. All the congregants were also upset, and while trying to compose myself, and continue with the Mass, as soon as I picked up the chalice, the phone rang a third time. At this time a person did stand up and left. And I could continue with the Mass until the very end. 

And just before my final blessing, I made a simple announcement to please remember to turn their phones off or leave them at home. And at that moment another phone rang, and everybody smiled. As people were leaving, most of them came over to congratulate me for being so patient. One of them waited till the end of the line and told me...’Father it’s the devil at work here, knowing what a great job you’re doing.....don’t let him triumph.’ Now you know why I hate cell-phones and prefer to communicate with e-mail. 

Mary and the EU flag

We have seen many times the European Union flag with 12 stars on a blue background. But many people don’t know the connection this flag has with the Blessed Mother. It was in 1949 that the Council of Europe was organized, which eventually became the European Union. Various artists sent in designs for the official flag, and the one chosen was by Arsene Heitz, a young painter who was devoted to the Blessed Mother. He recalls how when the competition for the EU flag was launched, he happened to be reading the story of St Catherine Laboure, to whom the Blessed Mother revealed the Miraculous Medal. 

The Miraculous Medal, front and back.

He acquired a medal and instantly noticed the 12 stars surrounding the symbols in the back of the medal of Mary, and he used the same stars as the basis of his design, which was eventually adopted as the official European Union flag. And it was on December 8, 1955, that the flag was officially adopted as the EU flag, and still is displayed in Brussels, and in all the 27 EU nations, including Malta. The Miraculous Medal was designed by Adrien Vachette right after the apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary to St Catherine in 1830. The 12 stars represent the 12 apostles, and also the reference to Mary in the Book of Revelation, where Mary is described as a woman clothed with the sun, a moon under her feet, and with a crown of 12 stars around her head. The 12 stars are on each Euro coin circulating in Europe, as well as the flag being printed on every 5, 10, 20, 50 Euro bank note. So a connection to Mary is on every coin and note in our pockets, banks and business transactions.

St Maximilian Kolbe

St Maximilian Kolbe (1894-1941)

Maximilian was born in January 1894 in Poland and was one of 5 sons to his devout parents. He contracted tuberculosis and, though he recovered, he remained frail all his life. In 1907 Kolbe and his elder brother Francis decided to join the Conventual Franciscans. During his time as a student, he witnessed vehement demonstrations against Popes St. Pius X and Benedict XV in Rome and was inspired to organize the Militia Immaculata, or Army of Mary, to work for the conversion of sinners and the enemies of the Catholic Church through the intercession of the Virgin Mary. The Immaculata friars utilized the most modern printing and administrative techniques in publishing catechetical and devotional leaflets, a daily newspaper with a circulation of 230,000 and a monthly magazine with a circulation of over one million. After receiving a doctorate in theology, he spread the Movement through a magazine entitled "The Knight of the Immaculata" and helped form a community of 800 men, the largest in the world. Maximilian went to Japan where he built a monastery and then on to India where he furthered the Movement. In 1936 he returned home because of ill health. After the Nazi invasion in 1939, he was imprisoned and released for a time. He provided shelter to refugees from Greater Poland, including 2,000 Jews whom he hid from Nazi persecution in his friary in Niepokalanów. He was also active as a radio amateur, with Polish call letters SP3RN, vilifying Nazi activities through his reports.

Franciszek Gajowniczek with Pope John Paul after the canonization

On February 17, 1941, he was arrested again by the German Gestapo and imprisoned in the Pawiak prison, and on May 25 was transferred to Auschwitz as prisoner #16670. In July 1941 a man from Kolbe's barracks vanished, prompting the deputy camp commander to pick 10 men from the same barracks to be starved to death in Block 13 (notorious for torture), in order to deter further escape attempts. One of the selected men, Franciszek Gajowniczek, cried out, lamenting his family, and Kolbe volunteered to take his place. The guards accepted this move, and Francizek was spared and eventually lived until the late 1990s. During the time in the cell, St Maximilian led the men in songs and prayer. After three weeks of dehydration and starvation, only Kolbe and three others were still alive. Finally, he was murdered with an injection of carbolic acid. Father Kolbe was beatified as a confessor by Pope Paul VI in 1971 and was canonized by Pope John Paul II on October 10, 1982 in the presence of Franciszek Gajowniczek and his family.

Sacred Love

A beautiful painting done by John Grima hangs at the Resurrection chapel in Hilltop Gardens, Naxxar, the chapel where I say Mass daily and where I serve as chaplain. There are 5 other paintings in the chapel, two relating to the creation of the planets and the animals, and the other three relate to the Nativity, the Eucharist, and the Resurrection. But this particular painting portrays Adam and Eve as they are intertwined in an allegory of love. Then there are the hands of God who just created them, and his hands are cradling the first couple in a protective, loving embrace. This painting speaks to me about intimacy and a spiritual communion that is the prerogative of married couples. With so many issues surrounding marriage nowadays, may this painting puts the emphasis where it should, and that marriage created by God between a man and a woman is intended for the eventual procreation and education of the offspring. ‘That is why a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, and they are now one flesh.’

Our Beautiful World

Eternal Father, creator of every planet and star, of  the wind and the seas and the rain,

give us today, we pray, the mind and heart to rejoice in your creation.

Forbid that we should walk through your beautiful world with unseeing eyes.

Forbid that the lure and comforts of technology should ever entirely steal our hearts away from the love of open acres and the green trees.

Forbid that under the low roof of house and workshop, office or study, we should ever forget your great marvelous sky.

Forbid that when all your creatures are greeting the morning with songs and shouts of joy, we alone should wear a dull and sullen face.

Let the energy and vigor which you have infused into every living thing stir within our being. May your life and joy pulse through us.

And above all, give us grace to use these beauties of the earth without us, this eager stirring of life within us, as a means by which we respond to you, our Creator and our God.

Saint Clare

St Clare washing the feet of her sisters, following Jesus' order.

Clare was a beautiful Italian noblewoman who became the foundress of an order of nuns now called "Poor Clares." When she heard St. Francis of Assisi preach, her heart burned with a great desire to imitate Francis and to live a poor humble life for Jesus. So one evening, she ran away from home, and in a little chapel outside Assisi, gave herself to God. St. Francis cut off her hair and gave her a rough brown habit to wear, tied with a plain cord around her waist. Her parents tried in every way to make her return home, but Clare would not. Soon her sister Agnes joined her, as well as other young women who wanted to be brides of Jesus and live without any money. St. Clare and her sisters wore no shoes, ate no meat, lived in a poor house, and kept silent most of the time. Yet they were very happy because Our Lord was close to them all the time. Once, He saved them from a great danger in answer to St. Clare's prayer. An army of rough soldiers came to attack Assisi and they planned to raid the convent first. Although very sick, St. Clare had herself carried to the wall and right there, where the enemies could see it, she had the Blessed Sacrament placed. Then on her knees, she begged God to save the Sisters. "O Lord, protect these Sisters whom I cannot protect now," she prayed. A voice seemed to answer: "I will keep them always in My care."
At the same time, a sudden fright struck the attackers and they fled as fast as they could. St. Clare was sick and suffered great pains for many years, but she said that no pain could trouble her. So great was her joy in serving the Lord that she once exclaimed: "They say that we are too poor, but can a heart which possesses the infinite God be truly called poor?"
Many stories and allegorical tales have been created with St Francis and St Clare, including the popular movie and phrase “Brother Sun, Sister Moon.” But the fact is that both St Clare and St Francis laid a foundation for what to become one of the most influential orders of priests, friars, and sisters, the Franciscans. Many other Orders splintered from the original Franciscans, but the foundation of each group remained always a life of poverty and good Christian example, a life detached from the materialism of this world.

St Lawrence

'St. Lawrence helping the poor' by Fra Angelico at the Vatican Museums.

Saint Lawrence was one of seven deacons in Rome who were in charge of giving help to the poor and the needy. Priests were responsible for praying and preaching and the role of helping orphans, widows, the poor and the sick was entrusted to the deacons back then. When a persecution broke out, Pope St. Sixtus was condemned to death. As he was led to execution, Lawrence followed him weeping, "Father, where are you going without your deacon?" he said. "I am not leaving you, my son," answered the Pope. "in three days you will follow me." Full of joy, Lawrence gave to the poor the rest of the money he had on hand and even sold expensive vessels, chalices and candlesticks to have more to give away. The Prefect of Rome, a greedy pagan, thought the Church had a great fortune hidden away. So he ordered Lawrence to bring the Church's treasure to him. The Saint said he would, in three days. Then he went through the city and gathered together all the poor and sick people supported by the Church and lined them all up. When he showed them to the Prefect, he said: "This is the Church's treasure!"
In great anger, the Prefect condemned Lawrence to a slow, cruel death. The Saint was tied on top of an iron grill over a slow fire that roasted his flesh little by little, but Lawrence was burning with so much love of God that he almost did not feel the flames. In fact, he even joked, "Turn me over," he said to the judge. "I'm done on this side!" And just before he died, he said, "It's cooked enough now." Then he prayed that the city of Rome might be converted to Jesus and that the Catholic faith might spread all over the world. After that, he went to receive the martyr's reward.
St Lawrence is one of the thousands of martyrs who were mercilessly killed by the ruthless Emperors in the first 300 years of Christianity. Others were crucified, sent to the lions, beheaded, burned, tied to a tree and arrows shot at them, others were skinned or had parts of their body taken out or cut off. With St Stephen, he is the patron saint of deacons.

St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross

St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (1891-1942)

St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross was a German-Jewish philosopher, nun, a martyr and a highly unusual saint of the Catholic Church. Born into an observant Jewish family in Breslau, a German province of Prussia on October 12, 1891, she was named Edith and her family name was Stein. Edith was a very gifted child who enjoyed learning. She greatly admired her mother's strong faith; however, by her teenage years Stein had become an atheist. In 1916, she received a doctorate of philosophy from the University of Göttingen, and soon afterwards became a member of the faculty in Freiburg.
While Stein had earlier contacts with Catholicism, it was her reading of the autobiography of the mystic St. Teresa of Ávila on a holiday in Göttingen in 1921 that caused her conversion. She was eventually baptized on January 1, 1922, gave up her job at Freiburg and started to teach at a Dominican girls' school in Speyer from 1922 to 1932.
In a letter to Pope Pius XI, she denounced the Nazi regime and asked the Pope to openly denounce the regime "to put a stop to this abuse of Christ's name.” Although she never received an answer, in 1937, Pope Pius XI issued an encyclical written in German, "Mit Brennender Sorge," in which he criticized Nazism, and condemned anti-semitism. I’m sure her letter had some influence on this.

As Edith Stein, before she entered the Carmelite Monastery

She entered the Discalced Carmelite monastery Our Lady of Peace at Cologne in 1933 and took the name Teresa Benedicta of the Cross. Although she moved from Germany to the Netherlands to avoid Nazi persecution, in 1942 she was not safe there. The Dutch Bishops had a public statement read in all the churches of the country in July 1942, condemning Nazi racism. In a retaliatory response a few weeks later, the Reichskomissar ordered the arrest of all Jewish converts, who had previously been spared. Sr. Teresa Benedicta and her sister Rosa, also a convert, were captured and shipped to the Auschwitz concentration camp, where they were gassed on August 9, 1942 when Edith was only 50. Edith Stein was canonized as Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross by Pope John Paul II in 1998; however, she is also often referred to as "Saint Edith Stein".

Saint Dominic

St Dominic with Jesus and Mary by Giuseppe Cali, St Dominic church, Valletta.

Along with the Franciscans and the Jesuits, the Dominicans are probably the most popular religious order, both for men and women, priests, brothers, and nuns. The son of Felix Guzman and Bl. Joan of Aza, Dominic was born at Calaruega, Spain. The story is told that before his birth his mother dreamed that a dog leapt from her womb carrying a torch in its mouth, and "seemed to set the earth on fire". That is why in many of the statues of St Dominic, a dog carrying a torch is placed near his feet. His eloquence is known to have set the world on fire. He studied at the University at Palencia , was probably ordained there while pursuing his studies and was appointed canon at Osma in 1199. There he became prior superior of the chapter, which was noted for its strict adherence to the rule of St. Benedict. In 1203 he accompanied Bishop Diego de Avezedo to Languedoc where Dominic preached against the Albigensian heresy and helped reform the Cistercians. Dominic preached to the heretics but with no great success. In 1214 he was given a castle at Casseneuil and Dominic with six followers founded an order devoted to the conversion of the Albigensians; the order was canonically approved by the bishop of Toulouse the following year. He failed to gain approval for his order of preachers at the fourth General Council of the Lateran in 1215 but received Pope Honorius III's approval in the following year, and the Order of Preachers (the Dominicans) was founded.
Dominic spent the last years of this life organizing the order, traveling all over Italy, Spain and France preaching and attracting new members and establishing new houses and monasteries. The new order was phenomenally successful in conversion work as it applied Dominic's concept of harmonizing the intellectual life with popular needs. He convoked the first general council of the order at Bologna in 1220 and died there the following year on August 6, after being forced by illness to return from a preaching tour in Hungary. He was canonized in 1234. Dominicans today number 6,500, not counting many nuns who work as teachers, in social work, and in hospitals.

Religion and Sport

Mark Bavaro blessing himself after scoring a touchdown in 1987 Superbowl.

You may notice from time to time various athletes and football and baseball players blessing themselves before a race or after scoring a goal or a touchdown or a home-run. It is a natural reaction thanking God for yet another accomplishment. I’ve seen it many times before a track race in the Olympics, before a baseball player comes to bat, everytime a cyclist crosses the finishing line as a winner, and when a football player scores a touchdown. Jennifer Bryson who is the director of the Religious Freedom Institute’s Islam and Religious Freedom Action Team said that “Sport is so relevant to religious freedom because it offers a shared civic space where people from diverse traditions come together and compete towards a common goal." 

Between social media and worldwide television broadcasts, faith has been widely on display in this year’s World Cup in Russia. The Tunisian soccer team recited the Quran together in the team room, and Mexico’s soccer team celebrated Mass before their unexpected victory against Germany. A Nigerian athlete celebrated a win by waving his Rosary. Egypt’s Mohamed Salah prostrated himself in prayer after scoring against Russia. A Catholic and an evangelical from opposing teams knelt down next to each other to pray after the Belgium-Panama match. And who can forget the Panama players kneeling down in prayer after scoring a lonely goal towards the end of their match against England, even though they lost 6-1. Even the 2018 World Cup logo was inspired by the Russian tradition of icon painting, according to the FIFA website. My most memorable memory of a player blessing himself was in 1987 when Mark Bavaro, a devout player with the New York Giants caught a touch-down and knelt down and blessed himself in the end-zone, a scene that was shown many times in replay. Mark has since become a spokesperson for the Pro-Life cause.

'Listen to Him.'

Statue of the Transfiguration in Lija parish, by Carlo Darmanin.

Jesus took Peter, James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no fuller on earth could bleach them. Then Elijah appeared to them along with Moses, and they were conversing with Jesus. Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them; from the cloud came a voice: "This is my beloved Son. Listen to Him." Are we listening to Him? He still talks to us through Scripture, through miracles that still happen daily, through the Eucharist, through recommendations we receive from the Pope, our Bishops, and priests. Are we listening to them? Because if we don't listen to them, we're not listening to Him! And to listen attentively to them and Him, we have to learn to be silent. And notice also that the same letters that are in LISTEN are found in the word SILENT.