The Visitation

The Visitation by Emvin Cremona in Għaxaq parish church, Malta

The month of May, dedicated to the Blessed Mother ends with another feast of Mary, precisely her visitation to her cousin Elizabeth. It was also the first encounter between Jesus and John the Baptist, even though they were still in their mothers’ respective wombs. As was customary, the younger woman would visit the older one and Mary stayed with Elizabeth for three months, helping her with chores while chatting and praying over their upcoming blessed event. Who knows what they talked about....asking questions that any prospective mother would ask another mother....”What are you naming the baby? ......is he kicking yet?........is the crib ready?.....how many more weeks for the delivery?........”
This feast also encourages us to focus on the spirit of visits. People visit each other frequently, as families vacation and go on holidays while stopping at homes and places where they know they would be welcome. How hospitable are we to guests who stop by to visit us? How gracious are we when we visit friends? Do we check to see if we are imposing on them? How about visiting elderly people, like grandparents, uncles, and aunts who may be very lonely? Do we set a good example when friends visit us? Do we invite them to attend church with us on a weekend, or are we embarrassed to take them to Mass with us? You may be surprised how honored they would feel when you introduce them to the church and parish community? I can tell you that this is how most converts are made, when they visit a church and get ‘hooked’ by something special they see, a message in the homily, the music, the decorations, the statues, or any other event that may seem insignificant for you, but not for your friends and guests.

God delivers

Back in the 1980s, I was sitting in my office at Holy Spirit parish in New Hyde Park, Long Island, New York, when outside I saw a huge truck-trailer parked across the street. Obviously the name written across the side stood out – my first impression was that it said GOD, and sure enough, it was actually written as G.O.D. Next to it was the acronym for which it stands, Guaranteed Overnight Delivery. It was a clever way of advertising something so important for our modern society, that is to deliver goods as quickly as possible, without delay. But at the same time, it was clever to use a play on words to get some divine intervention. And yes, God delivers, especially when you pray with your heart when you don’t give up on disadvantages, on obstacles, on shortcomings or anything which comes against you. God answers our prayers not necessarily overnight, but in due, in His time, our prayers are answered.

Pope St Paul VI

Pope St. Paul VI with Card Karol Woytjla, the future St. John Paul II

Today we celebrate for the first time the liturgical feast of the newly-canonized Pope St Paul VI. His feast-day was transferred from September to this day, the day of his ordination to the priesthood, which happened 99 years ago today. Giovanni Battista Montini was born in Concesio, near Brescia on September 26, 1897, from a well-respected family, his father was in the Italian parliament and two other brothers were a doctor and a lawyer. He studied at the Brescia Seminary and was ordained on May 29, 1920. Montini started working at the Vatican Secretary of State office and has never worked in a parish atmosphere. He was very much admired by Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli (the future Pope Pius XII,) and was his secretary for many years.
He used to take care of much of the correspondence of the office and helped many refugees of the war by finding a place for them. Around 15,000 of them were given shelter in Castelgandolfo, besides many others that were hidden at the Vatican and around Rome. This led Mussolini to criticize Pius XII as well as Montini saying that he pokes his nose where he shouldn’t.

Don Giovanni Battista Montini on the day of ordination

In 1954 Montini was made Archbishop of Milan with 1000 parishes and 2,500 priests and 3 and a half million Catholics, possibly the largest Archdiocese in the world. He was very beloved and probably would have been elected Pope in 1958, but was not made a Cardinal yet. But Pope John XXIII elevated him to a Cardinal right away after his election and was close to him when St John XXIII started the Vatican Council in 1962. When he died, Montini was elected Pope with the name of Paul VI, and one of his main duties was to finish the work of Vatican Council II. He also did many other reforms at the Roman Curia, like eliminating many Vatican soldiers and keeping only the Swiss Guards. He traveled outside Rome and was very influential in many ecumenical projects. Among the most famous encyclicals were Populorum Progressio, Mysterium Fidei, and Humanae Vitae on birth control and procreation. Paul VI died of a heart attack on August 6, 1978. The process of canonization was started in 1993, and he was beatified in 2014, and canonized on October 14, 2018.

Difficult things to do......

These are the most difficult things one can do, and when a person can accomplish some of these herculean tasks, he or she would be the most respected person that ever lived:

 ‑ To break a bad habit,

 ‑ To love an enemy,

 ‑ To think logically,

 ‑ To admit ignorance,

 ‑ To withhold judgement,

 ‑ To grow old gracefully,

 ‑ To persevere without haste,

 ‑ To wait without impatience,

 ‑ To suffer without complaint,

 ‑ To know when to keep silent,

 ‑ To be indifferent to ridicule,

 ‑ To concentrate in the midst of strife,

 ‑ To endure hatred without resentment,

 ‑ To fraternize without losing individuality,

 ‑ To serve without compensation, commendation, and recognition.

Emvin Cremona 100 – part 2

The Nativity apse in a side chapel at Msida parish church

Today is the 100th anniversary of the birth of Emvin Cremona, my favorite artist who has left a treasure trove of artwork, especially in Maltese churches. Between 1945 and 1983, you would find him designing and painting one of the many ceilings and quadrants in local churches, which can be enjoyed for generations to come. He died in 1987 after suffering a stroke 4 years earlier. Some of his paintings were transferred into mosaic, and he also designed a few statues for local churches. 

The Visitation at Għaxaq parish church.

Some of his designs were also made into wrought-iron works. Many people have his works in their private collections, especially in pen and ink drawings, but also as smaller paintings he did when he was younger, and which he used to give as wedding gifts. His major works are in 4 parish churches, precisely Msida, Għaxaq, Hamrun, and Floriana, where he did the ceiling of each of them. Rest in peace Emvin, and thank you for the tremendous legacy you left behind!

A set of Christmas stamps, one of 62 designed by Emvin Cremona

St John Baptist de La Salle mosaic at the Cottonera school

An early work, 'Crucifixion' from a private collection.

Emvin Cremona 100 – part 1

Emvin Cremona  May 27, 1919 - January 29, 1987

Tomorrow is the 100th anniversary of the birth of Emvin Cremona, and I honor him today and tomorrow with a few of his paintings. He was born on May 27, 1919, married Lilian Gatt in 1948 and had 4 children. He was one of the most prolific artists in the 20th century, embellishing many of our parish churches with his distinctive style. He also designed 62 sets of Malta stamps, with 170 different designs, which made the period between 1957 and 1980 as ‘the golden age of Maltese philately.’

Painting of St Paul and St Publius at the Floriana parish church

I have been taking photos of his paintings for the past 15 years or so, and various of my articles about his legacy will appear these days in local newspapers. I share with you today a few of his paintings.

Mosaic of the Immaculate Conception at Ta' Pinu church, Gozo

Painting of the Last Supper at Senglea parish church.

The 4 children of Emvin Cremona: left to right: Nadia, Marco, Sylvana, and Anna.

Stay tuned for part 2 and more photos of Cremona's paintings tomorrow.

The power of forgiveness

Aldo Moro with his daughter Maria Fida and a grandchild.

Back on May 9, 1978, the whole world was shocked by the murder of Aldo Moro, an Italian statesman and a prominent member of the Christian Democracy party. He served as the38th prime Minister of Italy, from 1963 to 1968, and then from 1974 to 1976. He was one of Italy's longest-serving post-war Prime Ministers, holding power for a combined total of more than six years. He was one of the greatest and most popular leaders in the history of the Italian Republic. Moro was considered an intellectual and a patient mediator, especially in the internal life of his party. He was kidnapped on 16 March 1978 by the Red Brigades and killed after 55 days of captivity.
Six years after his assassination, his daughter Maria Fida went to the Roman prison to visit her father’s two assailants and told them that she forgave them. She said she went for 3 reasons. Firstly, because she was a Christian. Secondly, because that’s what her father would have done if he were still alive. And thirdly, because this proved to be a fundamental experience for her – a day that proved to be a meeting of reconciliation and forgiveness. The two killers realized how much heart-ache they had caused the family of Aldo Moro. And in the end, Maria Fida had rediscovered her faith after her father’s assassination. The process for his canonization is underway.

Weston Priory,Vermont

When I first arrived in New York, I used to go on retreat at the peaceful atmosphere of Weston Priory in Vermont. It was a beautiful scenic drive from New York to the heart of the New England states, and if there is ever a piece of heaven here on earth, it must be right there in the heart of Vermont. The 15 monks that lived there always invited the neighbors and visitors to join them in prayer, as early as 4 AM. 

They sang beautiful melodies, most of them composed by Brother Gregory Norbet, and issued on records. Many of these hymns and songs made their way to the liturgical life on most American parishes. In fact, I also use many of their songs during communion in my chapel and always have used them in my Masses. These 3 photos symbolize the peaceful and spiritual ambiance that one can find there.

More balconies

I am fascinated by the variety of balconies all over Malta. These three are located in the village of Naxxar. As I walk around to get to my Masses, I come across more of these peculiar balconies. Everyone prides themselves in the way they are decorated, and often people place flowers in them hanging over for passersby to admire them.

Another common feature in our streets are niches and statues, set up high, and placed in front of the house, at corners and sometimes in the middle of squares and piazzas.

Saint Rita

St Rita of Cascia (1381-1457)

Are you faced with a difficult problem? Does it seem insurmountable? The prayer to St. Rita of Cascia (1381-1457) shown below might help. After all, St. Rita is known as the “Saint of the Impossible,” and we honor her today, her liturgical feast day. Early in life, she had a strong desire to be a nun but got married instead, following her parents’ wishes. By all accounts, her husband was Mr. Wrong, an abusive man with whom she bore two sons of similar temperament. Apparently, she had the patience of a saint because she prayed for them all and tried to be a dutiful wife and mother! After 18 years of marriage, her husband was murdered and her sons vowed revenge. But St Rita prayed that they would die rather than commit another murder. They both died of natural causes the following year. After that, St. Rita finally got her wish and was admitted to the convent of Augustinian nuns at Cascia. Tradition has it that the nuns there initially refused to let St. Rita join because she was a widow. One night Saint John the Baptist, St. Augustine and St. Nicholas of Tolentino opened gates that had been bolted shut and left her in the chapel of the convent. When the nuns found St. Rita there the next morning they understood God’s designs for her and accepted her unanimously. Talk about prayer opening doors! Many other miracles were attributed to St. Rita, both during her life and after her death. As an example, her devotion to Jesus in His Passion was such that a thorn from the crucifix in her room pierced her forehead one day while she was praying! The prayer to St. Rita also touches on that miracle:
Oh glorious St. Rita, who did miraculously participate in the sorrowful Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, obtain for us the grace to suffer with resignation the troubles of this life and protect us in all our needs. St. Rita, model wife, and widow, you yourself suffered in a long illness showing patience out of love for God. Teach us to pray as you did. Many invoke you for help, full of confidence in your intercession. Come now to our aid for the relief and cure of (mention your request). To God all things are possible; may this healing give glory to the Lord. Through the prayers of St. Rita, may we learn to bear our crosses in life in the same spirit in which she bore hers. Amen.

A Prayer for Today

Heavenly Father, walk with me today, and grant that I may hear your footsteps and see your footprints, and gladly follow where they may lead me. Talk with me today, and grant that I may hear Your tender voice, and listen to Your advice.

Help me to feel Your presence in all the projects that I accomplish, in all the words that I say and in all the thoughts that cross my mind. Be my strength when I seem to weaken, and my courage when I start to be afraid.

Help me to know that it is Your hand holding mine throughout all the minutes of all the hours of this day. And when night falls, grant that I may know that I am gathered to Your Sacred Heart to sleep in love and peace. AMEN.

St Bernardino of Siena

St Bernardino of Siena (1380-1444)

So many saints have suffered throughout their lives, and many of them died as martyrs, but St Bernardino of Siena, though not an official martyr, he suffered a lot to convince the people to turn to God. Born in 1380, he traveled all over Italy, preaching and calming people from tensions that were prevalent in many villages and cities. He preached to as many as 30,000 people. The Pope compared him to Saint Paul, and even though he had a weak voice and was often hoarse, yet he had extraordinary energy to spread the message of Jesus. When he was only 20, the plague hit his city of Siena, and many people died, as many as 20 a day in local hospitals. Still, he was never afflicted, even though he suffered for a while from high fever, but recovered. At the age of 22, he entered with the Franciscans and was ordained 2 years later. He lived in solitude for 12 years, but his superiors recognized his gift of preaching and spent the rest of his life trekking throughout Italy preaching for up to an hour at every place – no wonder he was hoarse and often lost his voice – of course at a time when they had no microphones. St Bernardino developed a special devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus with the acronym IHS, the first three letters of the name of Jesus in Greek. He also encouraged young people to become priests, and at his time there were 300 students, and when he died there were 4,000 students. He died on May 20, 1444, during one of his many preaching journeys.

The 5 colors of Pope Francis

I came across this picture, a combination of photos of Pope Francis dressed in the 5 different colors of the chausables or vestments that we use. After reflecting on it, I realize that the 5 colors represent something special for our beloved Pope. The white represents his enthusiasm to help the poor and destitute, an example he selflessly gives us all the time. The red symbolizes the suffering he endures by the criticism he receives, a form of martyrdom in this day and age. The green represents his vision of the church in Africa and the Far East, where he has dedicated most of his foreign trips so far, reaching out to the ends of the world. The purple symbolized the penance and sacrifice we are asked to endure in our journey of faith, and which he himself preaches by his own example. The rose color, which we use only twice during the entire year proclaims the joy of the Gospel message, a value which we are encouraged to spread around our families, our neighborhoods, our country, our entire world.

Mass on TV

Last Sunday the Maltese television station broadcasted a live Mass from my chapel at Hilltop Gardens. A nice crowd, as usual, attended the Mass, even though it was scheduled at an earlier time-slot. The producers of Sunday Mass like our chapel and this is the 4th time they contacted me about transmitting the Mass Live on public TV.

2 Balconies

Balconies are very popular in Malta. Most houses have a balcony, usually on the second floor, just above the main door. The most common type of balcony is the one enclosed in a wooden frame, but I share with you today two unusual ones. The first is a very decorative sculpted balcony, part of a huge Augustinian convent in the town of Rabat. It actually incorporates the front door with the balcony, a Baroque-style structure. One can see two angels and a coat-of-arms of one of the Maltese Grand Master, Manoel de Fonseca. The decorative columns or balustrades are clearly visible as are parts of the adjacent windows.

The second balcony is an open balcony with vertical rods, which happens to have a large flower basket hanging down over the main door. A few other smaller baskets are also visible inside the balcony, as the main door shows the name of the house, a common practice here, besides the number. The name 'Dar San Gorg' means St. George's House.

God knows

When you are tired and discouraged from fruitless efforts........God knows how hard you have tried.
When you’ve cried so long and your heart is in anguish......... God has counted your tears.
If you feel that your life is on hold and time has passed you by..........God is waiting for you.
When you’re lonely and your friends are too busy even for a phone call........God is by your side.
When you think you’ve tried everything and don’t know where to turn.........God has a solution.
When nothing makes sense and you are confused and frustrated......God has the answer.
If suddenly your outlook is brighter and you find traces of hope.......God has whispered to you.
When things are going well and you have much to be thankful for.......God has blessed you.
When something joyful happens and you are filled with awe.......God has smiled upon you.
When you have a purpose to fulfill and a dream to follow.........God has opened your eyes and called you by name.
Remember that wherever you are and whatever you are facing......GOD KNOWS !

Oregon houses

A few days ago I showed you a few Maltese houses with their beautiful architecture. Today I share two photos of houses that are popular in Oregon. The first one is a teepee, which is mostly ornamental, but I’m sure still habitable among the native Indians. The second one was being built out of juniper trees and other types of wood from locally grown trees. 

They are known as log-houses and are very much in demand. This particular house was built in a construction zone, then disassembled, and taken piece by piece to its final destination and re-assembled once again. They are quite popular in Oregon and other western states.

2 that are no more

I post today two historic photos of landmarks that are no more. Both of them were on Manhattan, NewYork City and were seen by tens of thousands of visitors, photographed by possibly millions. The first one is the famous globe at the base of the Twin Towers that collapsed on September 11, 2001. The photo shows my parents with a friend when they had visited me in 1982. One can also see the base, maybe the first 5 floors of one of the skyscrapers.

The other photo shows the entrance to a famous toy store, which had closed down a few years ago. The famous FAO Schwarz was well known by all the children of New York growing up in the 70s, 80s, and 90s. Expensive and well-crafted toys were always on sale there, although many people just browsed through the store as if visiting a Museum of toys. Among the various items on display was that walk-on piano, used by Tom Hanks in the movie 'Big.' And like many other landmarks, they are no more.

Our Lady of Fatima

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

But very much like Lourdes and Guadalupe, the quietness of these small little villages was turned upside down when the Blessed Mother appeared to 3 young children, Francisco and his sister Jacinta Marto, and Lucia dos Santos. Nobody would believe them at first and were almost imprisoned for fabricating lies. But eventually, religious leaders, priests, and bishops in Fatima, Portugal investigated the whole story and found it to be true, with the Vatican officially proclaiming that the apparitions were believable. Francisco and Jacinta died shortly afterwards, but Lucia became a nun and lived into the third millennium in a monastery in Portugal, being visited by 2 Popes.
A huge basilica was built on the spot where the Blessed Mother appeared to the children, encouraging them to pray the Rosary, and pray for the conversion of souls. She even gave the children some well-kept secrets, which were only shown to the reigning Popes, but we know now that they spoke about the conversion of Russia and other tragic events that took place over the years, and other historic events which were predicted, like the end of World War I. Thousands of pilgrims visit Fatima every year and the devotion to the Blessed Mother and the Rosary spread far and wide. The prayer that is said between each decade of the Rosary was devised after the Fatima apparition: O my Jesus forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to heaven, especially those who have most need of thy mercy. Both Francisco and Jacinta Marto were canonized recently, and apart from the early martyrs, they are the youngest persons to be elevated to sainthood.

The Good Shepherd

At a gathering of poets, writers, actors, and artists as well as some prominent religious figures, the Master of Ceremonies invited a famous actor to read Psalm 23 from the podium. He was of course very dramatic in his interpretation...”The Lord is my Shepherd, there is nothing I shall want. He makes me walk in fertile pastures.....” Everyone was impressed by what they just heard and the actor returned to his place getting praises from those around him. Then the MC noticed an elderly priest in the crowd and invited him to read the same passage. The elderly priest walked to the podium with his cane and with a soft but emotional voice started: “The Lord is my Shepherd, there is nothing I shall want. He makes me walk in fertile pastures, He refreshes my soul...”
When he had finished, there wasn’t one dry eye in the hall. He went back to his place while the Master of Ceremonies came up, himself with tears in his eyes. Then with a broken voice, he told the crowd, “Ladies and gentlemen, we witnessed something very special today. We heard the actor and the priest read the same passage of Psalm 23. As you could see the actor knew drama, he knew acting, he knew performance...but the priest knew the Shepherd himself!” Let us stay in touch with our Good Shepherd, stay close to Him and follow closely in His footsteps. Let us stay tuned to what He is trying to tell us in those moments of anxiety and fear – He has the right word we need, the perfect suggestion when we are searching for direction. And may the Good Shepherd bless all mothers on their special day today.

Maltese houses

A vintage house in the town of Mosta

With the overwhelming building boom going on in Malta right now, with tower cranes replacing the domes and steeples of baroque churches on the Maltese skyline, it's worth remembering that we have many vintage Maltese houses that are still visible and inhabited. It is, however, a shame that many of them are being destroyed to be replaced with apartments and high-risers, that is turning Malta into a mini-Manhattan.

Another house in the town of Birkirkara

What is even more heinous and atrocious is that that they are selling these beautiful houses, and leaving the facade visible, they build a 12 story apartment behind it. So, admire these two beautiful houses, with their quaint architecture, balconies, sculpted windows and so much more, and which unfortunately are slowly disappearing.

A message for my child

I can give you life, but I can’t live it for you.

I can give you instructions, but I can’t tell you where to go.

I can give you liberty, but I can’t help you protect it.

I can teach you the difference between good and bad, but I can’t make the decision for you.

I can give you advice, but I can’t accept it for you.

I can give you love, but I can’t force you to receive it.

I can teach you to share, but I can’t stop you from being selfish.

I can teach you to respect, but I can’t make you be respected.

I can counsel you about your friends, but I can’t choose them for you.

I can teach you everything you need to know about sex, but I can’t make you act responsibly.

I can talk to you about drinking, but I can’t say ‘no’ or ‘just one’ for you.

I can warn you about drugs, but I can’t stop you from using them.

I can talk to you about having important goals, but I can’t achieve them for you.

I can teach you about charity, but I can’t make you be generous.

I can pray for you, but I can’t make you walk with God.

I can talk to you about how to live, but I can’t give you eternal life.

St George Preca

Saint George Preca (1880-1962)

Today happens to be the liturgical feast of Saint George Preca, the first and only Saint from Malta who has been canonized back in 2007 on June 3rd. We are all proud of his presence in our lives and even more special is the fact that many people who are still in their 50s and over remember him alive.
St George was born on February 12, 1880, and he founded in the early years of the 20th century the Society of Christian Doctrine, a society of lay catechists. In Malta, he is affectionately known as "Dun Ġorġ" and is popularly referred to as the "Second Apostle of Malta", after St Paul, who brought the Christian faith to the shores of Malta when he was shipwrecked in 60 AD.
Preca first came to the attention of the Congregation of the Causes of Saints which examined the scientifically unexplainable healing of Charles Zammit Endrich in 1964. Zammit Endrich had suffered from a detached retina of the left eye. The healing was declared as miraculous and was attributed to the intercession of Dun Gorg Preca after Zammit Endrich prayed to him and placed one of the priest's belongings under his pillow. The healing took place outside of a hospital, overseen by the personal doctor of Zammit Endrich, the ophthalmologist Censu Tabone, who was later to be appointed President of Malta.
On 24 June 1975, Archbishop Michael Gonzi issued a decree initiating the process of Preca's canonization. He was declared "venerable" on 28 June 1999, and on January 27, 2000, Pope John Paul II signed the decree which officially confirmed the Zammit Endrich healing. In a ceremony in Floriana, Malta on 9 May 2001, Dun Gorg was beatified by the same Pope along with two other Maltese blesseds, Nazju Falzon, a cleric, and Adeodata Pisani, a nun.
In its early years, the Society of Christian Doctrine was silenced for a while, but its identity was recognized as Dun Gorg continued to teach students and form young unmarried men (and eventually women) so that they will eventually teach others. Today, almost every parish in Malta has a group of dedicated young men teaching catechism to the children, in preparation for their First Holy Communion, Confirmation and beyond. The Society of Christian Doctrine is commonly referred to by the acronym "MUSEUM", which stands for the Latin "Magister Utinam Sequatur Evangelium Universus Mundus!", translating to "Master, that the whole world would follow the Gospel! St. George died on July 26, 1962, and thousands attended his funeral. His body was recently exhumed and re-buried in the headquarters of the MUSEUM society. The work he started continues on, even in foreign countries like London, Kenya, Peru, Poland, Albania, Cuba, and Australia.

Our Lady of Pompeii

A special devotion to the Blessed Mother of Pompeii is celebrated today in various churches. One of the persons who spread the devotion towards Our Lady of Pompeii is an Italian man who was beatified in 1980 by Pope St. John Paul II. His name was Bartolo Longo who built a huge Basilica in 1883 in Pompeii in Mary’s honor.

Pompeii, along with Herculaneum was destroyed by a volcanic eruption of Mt Vesuvius in the first century AD. By the last half of the nineteenth century the Valley of Pompeii, near Naples, was practically deserted. Of the comparatively few people who still lived there, most had lost their ancient Catholic faith; ignorance and superstition prevailed. Only a handful of people bothered to attend the services in the little parish chapel. In October 1872, a man named Bartolo Longo came to the valley. He had been reared a Catholic and was probably still one in name, although it seems he was not very devout. On October 9th, a few days after his arrival, he was walking along a rather desolate road when suddenly a voice seemed to speak to him. It told him that if he wished to be saved, he should spread devotion to the Rosary. Bartolo fell on his knees and replied that if the Virgin had truly so promised then he would be saved; he would not leave the valley until he had popularized the Rosary. His early efforts to interest the people in the Rosary devotion do not seem to have been very successful, but he persisted, and in two or three years he had gathered quite a group around him for the daily recitation of the prayers in the little chapel. The Bishop visited the valley in 1875 and complimented Bartolo on the good work he had done. He suggested that a church be built there in honor of Our Lady of Pompeii, and then, turning prophet, the Bishop pointed to a field near the chapel and declared that someday a basilica would stand on that spot. 

Bartolo Longo with some of the children in Pompeii

As the number of people taking part in the daily recitation of the Rosary grew, it was decided to obtain a picture of the Blessed Virgin, to help the faithful meditate as they prayed. On October 13, 1875, Bartolo went to Naples to see if he could find a suitable picture, but after searching for several days, to his great disappointment, he found that any really good picture would cost around four hundred francs, and he had nowhere near that amount to spend. He didn’t want to return empty-handed, however, and disappoint the good people of Pompeii, so he somewhat reluctantly accepted a second-hand painting from a junk store for five lire (today a few cents worth). A trucker not knowing what the package contained pitched it on top of a load of garbage and so the picture arrived at the chapel. The people were pleased with the dilapidated picture and enshrined it. Almost immediately several miracles took place through Mary’s intercession as Our Lady of Pompeii. The Miraculous painting of Our Lady of Pompeii was restored three times, and crowned with two golden crowns, one for Mary and one for baby Jesus. The painting shows Mary with baby Jesus and two saints who spread the devotion of the Rosary, St Dominic and St Catherine of Siena. With the approval of Pope Leo XIII, the church was built between 1876 and 1891. A new basilica was built between 1934 and 1939, ordered by Pope Pius XI. Many people visit this beautiful Church near Naples every May 8, when her feast day is celebrated. The devotion is also popular in Malta, where a church is dedicated to her in the parish of Marsaxlokk.

The THINK Method

Continuing on the same theme as two days ago with the story of Socrates, what we say to others and about others could be detrimental to our friendships and relationships. Many of these were shattered and broken because we did not keep a secret, or because we spread rumors or gossiped about things, news and information that was not correct or true. So I always suggest this method to my parishioners, and invariably they always come back to ask me for a copy of what the five words are. It is so true, we can hurt so many people by what we say without first thinking - as the story of Socrates showed us two days ago. So, never say anything about others unless it is True, Helpful, Inspiring (or Important,) Necessary and Kind - a perfect acronym for the word THINK. That’s right, think about it, before you say it!

Saint Dominic Savio

Today we honor one of the youngest saints in the Catholic Church. Before St Jacinta and St Francisco Marto (the Fatima children) were canonized recently, he was the youngest saint (not martyred) to be venerated in the church. Born on April 2, 1842 in Piedmont Italy, he was a very devout young boy who wanted to become a priest. He received his First Holy Communion at the age of 7, at a time when the custom was that children would receive communion at the age of 12. But his parish priest noticed how devoted he was to the Eucharist, and made an exception for Dominic. He was noticed by St John Bosco, the founder of the Salesian Order, and took him under his wings. Unfortunately, he became very sick, asked for confession, communion and the final anointing, and died peacefully on March 9, 1857, aged 14. Soon after the death of Dominic, John Bosco wrote his biography, The Life of Dominic Savio, which contributed to his canonization. The original Italian edition was considered so well written during the time of Don Bosco that, along with his History of Italy and Ecclesiastical History, it was used in many public schools as part of the course materials on the Italian language. St Dominic Savio was canonized by Pope Pius XII on June 12, 1954. Quite a number of schools were named in his honor, among them in Austin, Texas, and Niagara Falls, New York, also 5 schools in Canada, a few in India, the Philippines and Australia, as well as the ever-growing Savio College, in Dingli, Malta.

Wisdom from Socrates

In ancient Greece (469-399 BC) Socrates was well-known for his wisdom. One day, a man ran towards him and all excited told him: ”Hey Socrates, do you want to know what I just heard about Diogenes?”

“Wait a moment, before you tell me whatever you want to say, let me ask you three questions. First of all, about truth. Do you know for certain that what you want to tell me is true?” asked Socrates.
“No, I just heard it, and came over to tell you this news,” answered the man.
“Very well, so you don’t even know if what you want to tell me is true. Here is the second question for you: whatever you want to tell me about Diogenes....is this something good?”
“No...on the contrary.....”
Socrates continued, “So, you came to tell me something that is not good, and something that is not even true. Let’s get to the third question then.  Do you think that whatever you want to share me with me about Diogenes is of any use to me?”
“I don’t think so!” responded the man.
“So, if you came to tell me something about another person which is not true, not good and of no use to me, why do you want to say it at all?” concluded Socrates. The man, of course, remained dumbfounded, and he kept the information to himself and learned a big lesson that day, which we should all keep grafted in our hearts and minds. And that is why Socrates was regarded as one of the wisest men to ever live on earth.

ABC’s of Love

AMEND a past situation 

BAKE something for someone 

CREATE something beautiful 

DONATE your time or money 

ENCOURAGE others 

FRIENDS, make new ones 

GIVE toys or gifts to charity 

HELP someone in need 

INCLUDE someone who may be left out 

JOKE with someone and make them smile 

KISS each of your family members daily 

LAUGH with your family and friends 

MEND something broken 

NOTICE someone who may need attention 

OPEN your home/heart to someone 

PRAY for others 

QUIETLY snuggle with family 

REMEMBER a cherished time and share the story 

SHARE a meal 

TALK meaningfully with a teen in your community 

UNDERSTAND someone who may be going through a tough time 

VOLUNTEER your time to help 

WRITE a letter to a distant friend 

X-CROSS your street to say hello 

YES, say it to anyone asking for your attention 

ZERO, let go your hate and focus on the good

Maltese flowers

One month into spring, flowers are blooming beautifully all over Malta. Here are some that may not be as common or as popular in the USA. Unfortunately, the vegetation in our small island is very limited, and the rain is also quite scarce, although this winter was pretty good and the fruit trees are already showing an abundant crop.