St John Bosco

The heavenly vision of St John Bosco

We celebrate today the feast of St John Bosco, the founder of the Salesian Order. He lived in Italy between August 16, 1815, and January 31, 1888. He worked tirelessly with children and the youth to bring back some of the dignity they may have lost as street children. He introduced the preventive method of education, emphasizing goodness and rewards for good deeds done, instead of punishment. Among the children he helped was St Dominic Savio. The Salesians’ main focus is on the education of children and producing audio-visual material as well as printed material. He had an interesting vision of heaven with a big ship heading towards us and arriving between two pillars. On the ship, one can see the Pope, Cardinals and other prelates. Other boats with people are seen being tossed around in the raging waves. As long as the Church was tethered between the pillar of Mary, Help of Christians, and the pillar of the Eucharist, the Church would survive. He wrote, “Only two things can save us in such a grave hour: devotion to Mary and frequent Communion. Let us do our very best to use these two means and have others use them everywhere.”
Below is a prayer attributed to St. John Bosco directed to Mary, Help of Christians, that reflects this belief and places a person within the powerful protection of the Virgin Mary against all evil forces acting in the world:
O Mary, powerful Virgin, you are the mighty and powerful protector of the Church; you are the marvelous help of Christians; you are terrible as an army in battle array; you alone have destroyed every heresy in the whole world. In the midst of our anguish, our struggles, and our distresses, defend us from the power of the enemy and at the hour of our death, receive our souls in paradise. Amen.

30 ways to feel happy

These are 30 practical ways to feel and experience happiness, besides, of course, jumping for joy in bare feet on a dock close to the sea:
1. Eat well for your health.
2. Be kind-hearted with others.
3. Exercise a little bit every day.
4. Meditate.
5. Be honest.
6. Dream big.
7. Judge others less.
8. Smile often.
9. Love and respect yourself.
10. Be patient.
11. Be grateful towards others.
12. Be positive.
13. Forgive others right away.
14. Drink plenty of water.
15. Believe in yourself and your potential.
16. Keep your mind open to new learning.
17. Be aware of your needs.
18. Don’t bring any excuses.
19. Speak always kindly of others.
20. Listen and understand those who talk to you.
21. When fearful, make sure your faith helps you and guides you.
22. Do your best in every circumstance of life.
23. Be disciplined with yourself.
24. Look at the glass half full.
25. Don’t compare yourself to others.
26. Look at faults and failures as opportunities.
27. Understand who your true friends are.
28. Always give our own opinion.
29. Whatever cannot be changed, ignore it and forget it.
30. Sleep well and enough.

Kobe Bryant, a Catholic superstar

Many people may not know the human and the religious side of Kobe Bryant, baptized Catholic, married a Catholic girl and have all his daughters baptized in a Catholic church. They attend church regularly, and some people saw him at an early morning Mass last Sunday, just a few hours before he died tragically with his daughter Gianna and 7 other friends. He grew up in Italy where his father played basketball with various teams, mainly in Reggio Emilia. He spoke perfect Italian and rooted for Milan AC, but his popularity was in Los Angeles, a superstar with the Lakers, with whom he played for 20 long seasons, and won 5 NBA championships, besides two Olympic medals with the US team. Kobe married Vanessa on the 18th of April 2001 at St Edward the Confessor Church in Dana Point, California. When he got in trouble, he sought the help from a priest who helped him through some tough time, but after the accusations were dropped, he worked harder to keep his reputation clean, even founding the Kobe & Vanessa Bryant Family Foundation, to help the homeless and the poor youth. They had 4 daughters, Natalia 17, Gianna 13, Blanka 3 and Capri Kobe 6 months old. 

Kobe with wife Vanessa, still pregnant with baby Capri and 3 daughters.

When Kobe retired in 2016,  he wrote the script for a short animated movie “Dear Basketball” which won him an Oscar in 2018.  Many people remember him attending with his family at the Holy Family Cathedral, Orange County, California, even seeing him attend during the week, praying by himself. He may not have been a Catholic superstar, as the title to this post says, but he was a devout Catholic, and undoubtedly one of the greatest superstars in sports history.
Let us pray for Kobe and Gianna, the other victims and for Vanessa and her three living daughters.

The Key Person

All of us are important in the life of the church, not just the Pope and Bishops and priests. All the people, children, young and old are important and needed for the church to function properly and effectively. This interesting story shows how intrinsic our role is, and even if I’m one in a billion, my contribution is just as important and necessary.

The Kxy Pxrson

Xvxn though our typxwritxr is an old modxl, it works quitx wxll xxcxpt for onx of thx kxys. Wx havx wishxd many timxs that it workxd pxrfxctly. It is trux that thxrx arx 45 kxys that function wxll xnough, but just onx kxy not working propxrly makxs thx diffxrxncx somxtimxs. It sxxms to us that thx Church is somxwhat similar to our typxwritxr. Not all thx pxoplx arx working propxrly. You may say to yoursxlf, “Wxll, I am only onx pxrson; I won’t makx or brxak thx Church.” But it doxs makx a diffxrxncx! Bxcausx thx Church, to bx xffxctivx, nxxds somx of you, thx mxmbxrs, to sxt thx xxamplx, to lxnd a hand, to prxach thx Gospxl by your dxdicatxd livxs. Thx Church nxxds thx sxrvicx only you can givx. So thx nxxt timx you think you arx not nxxdxd, rxmxmbxr our typxwritxr and say to yoursxlf, “ I am a kxy pxrson in thx Church - thx Church just might nxxd mx!”

Saint Julian

The statue of Saint Julian, the redeemed,  with the Redeemer in the background.

Today happens to be the liturgical feast of my patron, Saint Julian, which we celebrate in my hometown. Born in Belgium, St Julian was a hunter, mostly hunting deer. One day he saw a big deer who spoke to him, and told him ‘Please do not shoot me – remember that one day you will kill your own parents.’ Fearing this terrible fate of his, Julian left home and wandered around Belgium, not informing his parents of his whereabouts. He got married to his wife Margerita and lived happily in a small town. Distraught and heartbroken, his parents started searching for him, and eventually reached the town where he was living. They found his house and his wife greeted them kindly and since they were tired, she let them sleep in her own bed. Another man, jealous of Julian and his wife, met Julian on his way back from hunting and told him that his wife was sleeping with another man. Furious and disappointed, Julian went inside his house and found the two people sleeping in his bed, and without any thought, took his sword and decapitated them. A bigger surprise greeted him when he went outside and met his wife coming towards home with a big smile to tell him of the good news that his parents were home. Realizing what he had done, Julian cried and cried and was inconsolable. 

He decided there and then to dedicate his life to help the poor and the sick, and even built a hospital to care for the sick in the area where he and his wife lived. He had to redeem himself of the sin of parricide that he had committed. He knew it wasn’t his fault, but still wanted to amend his mistake and devoted his entire life to helping the sick. One day he heard the cry of a sick man and went out in the middle of the night to save him. He cared for him in his hospital, but all of a sudden the man’s countenance turned very bright and told Julian “your sin has been forgiven.” It was Jesus talking to him through that sick man. St Julian is known as the patron saint of hunters and hospitaliers, as well as doctors and nurses and those who care for the sick.

A timely prayer

This prayer is attributed to Fr Mychal Judge, OFM, one of the first victims of September 11, 2001. He was chaplain to the NYC firefighters and died tragically when debris fell on him, and was carried to a nearby church by fellow firefighters.
Lord, take me where You want me to go.
Let me meet who You want me to meet.
Tell me what You want me to say.
And keep me out of Your way.

The Pope speaks about Malta

Caravaggio - 'The conversion of St. Paul.'

On this feast of the Conversion of St Paul, I would like to share something special that happened this week, as Pope Francis spoke about Malta and how the natives 2000 years ago welcomed St Paul, He urged men and women of goodwill to promote and practice a culture of welcome, especially towards vulnerable migrants in search of a better life. He decried recent government policies that have seen migrant ships in the Mediterranean be denied access to a safe port. Speaking during his General Audience on Wednesday, the Pope referred to the passage in the Acts of the Apostles in which St Paul is shipwrecked on the island of Malta. The Pope compared St Paul and his companions to the migrants of today. “The hospitality they received from the people of Malta,” said the Pope, “reflects the love of God.”
Today, the sea on which Paul and his companions were shipwrecked is, once again, a dangerous place for the lives of other sailors. All over the world migrant men and women face risky voyages to escape violence, to escape war, to escape poverty. Pope Francis said that many times, just as Paul and his companions did, those who are travelling experience indifference; the hostility of the desert, the rivers, the seas.
The theme chosen for this year’s Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is “hospitality”. “Being brothers and sisters in Christ means recognising each other as such," said the Pope. St Paul and his companions were given shelter by the Maltese people from the rain, food, and fire to keep warm.”  The Pope continued, “Upon reaching land, they experienced something new: this ‘rare humanity’, after the violence of the ocean. As Christians, we must learn to work together to show migrants this love of God. “We must work together to practice hospitality, especially towards those whose lives are most vulnerable” as this will “will make us better human beings, better disciples, and a more united Christian people”.

St Francis DeSales

Born in 1567, the eldest in a large family, Francis was ear-marked by his father to become a lawyer. He was more interested though in Canon Law and with the support of his mother and his prestigious appointment as provost of the Cathedral Chapter, his father eventually gave his consent to Francis’ desire for service in the church. He studied in Paris, France and Padua, Italy and was ordained a priest in 1593. As a priest he set out to offer clear and solid teaching, even slipping articles on Catholic doctrine under the doors of people’s homes, for which he was later named Patron of Journalists. He also was very instrumental in implementing the decrees of the Council of Trent which was completed 30 years earlier. He tried very hard to reform the people’s way of life, and conquered Geneva’s Calvinist trend with the weapons of fasting, charity and good behavior.
In 1602, he was made Bishop of Geneva, and here he strove to educate the clergy as well as support and enrich religious life. He preached zealously, always focusing on the Scripture, while trying to reform lax abbeys and monasteries. He gave spiritual direction to many, as well as through his letters. He gave special attention to women, to the poor and to the disadvantaged. His famous book The Introduction to the Spiritual Life was a result of his letters written as spiritual direction. The Treatise on the Love of God came about in response to the Visitation Sisters, whom he helped found with the help of St Jane Frances de Chantal, with whom he became a spiritual pen-friend, their letters also published in a book. Francis De Sales was revered by his daughters (The Visitation Sisters,) honored by Kings and loved by children. His friend St Vincent de Paul described Francis as “The man who best reproduced the Son of God living on earth.” He died in 1622 and was canonized 33 years later in 1655.

Failure motivates

Dave Sime on the right winning the silver medal in the 100 yards Rome Olympics

Enduring trials and tribulations in life build character because it demands strength. The strength to pick up and try again; the strength to maintain a positive outlook. The story of Dave Sime is a perfect example of this. He began his career as a runner. In 1956, the American athlete broke the world record for the 220-yard hurdles while training for the Melbourne Olympic Games. But soon injuries and failures began to plague him, and because of an error in passing the baton, his relay team was disqualified at the 1960 Rome Olympics. Crushed by his setbacks, Sime retired from sports even though he still had won the silver medal in the 100 yards final in the same Olympics. And yet, his misfortunes pointed him to medical school and he graduated in the top 10 percent of his class. He eventually became a successful ophthalmologist, and he refers to his failures in track as “the best thing that ever happened to me.”

St Publius

Emvin Cremona painting: St Publius being consecrated as Bishop by St Paul.

Today we celebrate the feast of St Publius, the first official saint from Malta. He was the chief of the island of Malta when St Paul was shipwrecked here in 60 AD. He welcomed St Paul, St Luke and the 276 sailors who ended up drifting to shore on planks of wood from the broken vessel on which they had traveled. Publius was very generous and hospitable to all these people, and when St Paul found out that his father was sick with fever and a bout of dysentery, he went to his house and healed him, whereupon many other natives came to be healed of various ailments. Eventually, St Paul ordained St Publius as the first Bishop of Malta. Later on in his life, he was captured and martyred by the cruel Emperor Hadrian. Most probably he was sent to the amphitheater and devoured by a lion, as his statue always shows him with a lion next to him. The parish church of Floriana in Malta is dedicated to him, and the impressive ceiling of the church was painted by Emvin Cremona with various scenes from the life of St Publius.

St Agnes

One of the early and young martyrs of the church is the beloved Saint Agnes. According to tradition, Saint Agnes was a member of the Roman nobility born c. 291 and raised in a Christian family. She suffered martyrdom at the age of twelve or thirteen during the reign of the Roman Emperor Diocletian, on 21 January 304.
The Prefect Sempronius wished Agnes to marry his son, and on Agnes' refusal he condemned her to death. As Roman law did not permit the execution of virgins, Sempronius had a naked Agnes dragged through the streets to a brothel. Various versions of the legend give different methods of escape from this predicament. In one, as she prayed, her hair grew and covered her body. It was also said that all of the men who attempted to rape her were immediately struck blind. When eventually she was led out to die she was tied to a stake, but the bundle of wood would not burn, or the flames parted away from her, whereupon the officer in charge of the troops drew his sword and beheaded her.
It is also said that the blood of Agnes poured to the stadium floor where other Christians soaked up the blood with cloths. A few days after Agnes' death, her foster-sister, Saint Emerentiana was found praying by her tomb; she claimed to be the daughter of Agnes' wet nurse, and was stoned to death after refusing to leave the place and reprimanding the pagans for killing her foster sister. Emerentiana was also later canonized. Agnes' name may have derived from the Latin 'agnus', meaning lamb, and she is always represented with a lamb near her. Then there is another beautiful tradition......

On this day, the feast of St Agnes, the Pope traditionally blesses two lambs raised by Trappist monks near Rome. The lambs are sheared and the wool is given to the cloistered Benedictine nuns at Rome’s Basilica of St. Cecilia. The nuns use the wool to make palliums, which are bands that the heads of archdioceses wear around their shoulders during liturgical functions. Every year on the June 29 feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, the Pope places the bands around the necks of archbishops who have taken office in the past year. Today, after blessing the animals, the pope also asked God to “bless the pastors who will receive the palliums made from the wool of these lambs.”

St Sebastian

Girolamo Genga "The Martyrdom of St Sebastian."

Nothing is known about St. Sebastian's youth other than the fact he may have come from southern France and he was educated in Milan. He joined the Roman Army in 283 AD, ostensibly to be of service to other Christians who were being persecuted by the Romans. St. Sebastian distinguished himself and for his excellent service, he was promoted to serve in the Praetorian Guard to protect Emperor Diocletian. While serving as a Praetorian Guard, deacons Marcus and Marcellian, twin brothers, were imprisoned for refusing to make public sacrifices to the Roman gods. During their imprisonment, their parents visited them to implore them to renounce Christianity. However, St. Sebastian convinced both parents to convert to Christianity. St. Sebastian also converted several other prominent individuals, including the local prefect. This led to his discovery and he was reported as a Christian to Emperor Diocletian in 286. The Emperor, who was already infamous for ordering the deaths of hundreds of Christians scolded Sebastian and ordered him to be killed by having him tied to a stake on a training field and used as target practice.
Archers riddled his body with arrows, his body was described as, "full of arrows as an urchin." Believed to be dead, the archers left his body for retrieval and burial. He was recovered by Irene of Rome, whose Christian husband was a servant to Diocletian and also martyred. Irene discovered that Sebastian was still living and she hid him and nursed him back to health. Once well, Sebastian went in search of Diocletian to surprise him. He managed to catch Diocletian by a stairwell and proceeded to criticize him loudly and publicly for his persecution of the Christians. Diocletian surprised that Sebastian was still alive, was immediately taken aback, but recovered his composure. This time, he would not permit Sebastian to escape with his life. He ordered his former guard to be beaten to death with clubs, then thrown into the sewers. His body was recovered by a Christian woman, named Lucina, and she secretly buried him in the catacombs beneath Rome.
Nearly 80 years after his death, around 367, his remains were moved to a basilica in Rome, built by Pope Damasus I. His body, or at least some relics from his body were reportedly removed and shared with a community of monks in France. His cranium was sent to a German monastery where it was placed in a special silver case in 934. The relic remains in its case today in a special reliquary in Ebersberg. St. Sebastian was commonly invoked as a protector against the plague. According to historical records, he defended the city of Rome against the plague in 680. In artwork, St. Sebastian is depicted with arrows shot into his body, often tied to a post or a tree. His second execution is virtually never depicted. St. Sebastian is the patron saint of soldiers, athletes, and those who desire a saintly death. He is also the patron saint of archers.

Popeye Village

The movie ‘Popeye’ starring Robin Williams and Shelley Duvall was filmed in Malta in the late 1970s. Even though it was not successful at the cinemas around the world, we, of course, cherish the fact that it was filmed completely in Malta. The whole set was built on one of the rocky shores in Malta, and it still exists, featuring the whole village of Smithaven. Much of the lumber used for the construction of the entire set was brought from abroad. Many tourists visit this iconic place and it probably garnered more money to the Popeye empire than the movie itself. It is known as Popeye Village, and I share with you some photos I took back in the 1980s. 

Popeye premiered on December 6, 1980, in Los Angeles, California. It had a budget of $20 million and gained $60 million at the box office. The movie was considered to be a musical with the soundtrack composed by Harry Nilsson.

The O of Giotto

The Stefaneschi Triptych by Giotto at the Vatican Museum

Pope Boniface VIII wanted to commission some paintings for the Vatican Basilica. So he asked some artists to go around and search for the best painter they could find. They asked the painters to produce a sample of their works. When they arrived at the workshop of Giotto, a famous Italian artist of the 13th century, he simply bent down and picking up a brush, a knelt down and made a perfect circle on a piece of parchment. They made fun of him but Giotto insisted that the Pope would understand when shown the perfect circle he did by hand. The Pope noticed right away the artistry of such a genius and commissioned him to paint some of his masterpieces, including the Stefaneschi Triptych, reproduced here in this post.

St Antony Abbot

Saint Antony is also known as St. Anthony of the Desert or St. Anthony of Egypt. Along with St Francis of Assisi, he is invoked as the patron saint of the animal kingdom, and special Masses take place on the Sunday closest to his feast day of January 17th, with the blessing of animals and pets held afterwards. St Anthony was a hermit who lived in Northern Egypt. His parents died very young and left him with his younger sister. He gave much of their money to the poor, and after saving some money for his sister’s well-being, he started a life of solitude. He was a staunch defender of the faith against Arianism. During his travels, he met many animals, some helpful and some not, but they all befriended him and were kind to him, just as he was kind to them. Anthony died when he was 105 years old. A life of solitude, fasting, and manual labor in the service of God had left him a healthy, vigorous man until very late in life. And he never stopped challenging himself to go one step beyond in his faith. Saint Athanasius, who knew Anthony and wrote his biography, said, "Anthony was not known for his writings nor for his worldly wisdom, nor for any art, but simply for his reverence toward God." We may wonder nowadays at what we can learn from someone who lived in the desert, wore skins, ate bread, and slept on the ground. We may wonder how we can become him. We can become Anthony by living his life of radical faith and complete commitment to God.

The water of life

Where there is water, there is life. In our world, we have water in three forms – solid, liquid and gas. It is calculated that 70% of our planet earth is covered with water, that is oceans, seas, lakes, and rivers. It is also calculated that 65% of our human bodies is water. So, it is obvious that we cannot live without water, and as time goes by, we realize that water is becoming more scarce with the lack of rain. On the other hand, some countries experience severe flooding with overabundance of rain, melting snow, landslides, and avalanches, etc. Without water, there is no food. We need water also to wash ourselves, to bathe, and keep ourselves clean and presentable. From ancient times, water has always been considered as a cleansing agent in a spiritual sense. In fact many religions, water has an important role, especially Hinduism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. In the Catholic religion, we use water for baptism to destroy the stain of original sin. We use water for blessings, as holy water is blessed by the priest and used to bless many objects. I cannot even think of the objects I was asked to bless in my life, and the list is truly endless and somewhat strange, to say the least.....cars, cockatiels, Clydesdale horses, pregnant women, houses, restaurants, rosary beads, shoes, bibles, food, medals, uniforms, couples on anniversaries, wedding rings, jewelry, chalices, bread and wine, newborn babies, and of course dead bodies. But we are grateful that people still believe that holy water gives new life and invigorates their lives.

From Miss Mexico to Nun

Esmeralda as Miss Mexico and as a nun with 2 other sisters.

Esmeralda Solís Gonzáles is a young Mexican woman who was crowned 4 years ago as a beauty queen in her hometown — and now she’s joined the Poor Clares Missionaries of the Blessed Sacrament. Born in Valle de Guadalupe, Jalisco State, to a Catholic family, she joined the convent of the Poor Clare Missionaries of the Blessed Sacrament of Cuernavaca in Morelos State, after leaving her career as a nutritionist. Esmeralda says “You really don’t know what religious life is until you’re within it. I was very happy with everything I had, but it does not compare with the happiness that God now places in my heart.” The young postulant met the Poor Clare Missionaries five years ago, at the age of 14, when her concern for a religious vocation “was awakening” through “vocational days, missions and camps.” In order to discover her vocation, she spent a lot of time in prayer and charity, “knowing from the outside or from the world” what this change would involve. The Poor Clares Missionaries of the Blessed Sacrament are a Religious Institute founded by Blessed María Inés Teresa Arias in 1945 in Cuernavaca, Mexico. The spirit of the order is Eucharistic, Marian, priestly and missionary and is centered on Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. The missionaries work in clinics, youth groups, preschools and schools, university dorms, centers for the spiritual exercises and missions, among others. They are present in Mexico, Costa Rica, Argentina, the United States, Spain, Italy, Ireland, Russia, Japan, Korea, Indonesia, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Vietnam and India. Esmeralda was Miss Mexico in 2016, but now she is completely given to God and her vocation as a dedicated and happy nun.

Stealing from churches

 Caravaggio’s “Nativity with St Francis and St Lawrence,”

On July 4 , 2018, around 250 police officers searched over 40 places of worship in Italy, Germany, Spain and England. This followed 4 years of investigations by Italian policemen in an operation called Demetra, which arrested 23 suspects, and recovered 25,000 objects of art, worth $47,000,000. The police found out that the international center of this sort of crime was in Caltanisetta, Sicily. From there these artistic items were shipped to Germany where they were sold in an auction. In the meantime, the Italian police are still investigating the robbery of one of the most infamous art thefts of the 20th century, Caravaggio’s “Nativity with St Francis and St Lawrence,” which was snatched from the Oratory of San Lorenzo in the heart of Palermo in 1969 by two unidentified raiders who cut it out of its frame with knives.

Oratory of San Lorenzo, Palermo - the missing Caravaggio.

According to one account the painting, which today would be worth at least £13 million, ended up being hidden in a farm in the Sicilian countryside, where it was eventually nibbled to nothing by rats and mice. Another story, told to Italian police by a well-known mafia informer, recounts that the painting, which is 2.7 metres high and nearly two metres wide, was used as a floor mat by Toto Riina, the murderous head of Sicily’s Cosa Nostra Mafia group. Yet another theory holds that it was destroyed in an earthquake in Irpinia in the southern region of Campania in 1980, shortly before it was to be sold on the black market. Whatever became of it, one thing is sure – it was never recovered and is listed by the FBI as one of the world’s top 10 art crimes.

How our Father loves us

I share with you today a prayer by the recently canonized St John Henry Newman:

God sees and knows every one of us. Each and every one.

No matter who you are, He sees you as an individual.

He calls you by your name.

He understands just how He really made you.

He knows what is within you, all your feelings, your deepest thoughts.

Your strengths and your weaknesses.

He watches over you on your days of joy and your days of sadness.

He loves you when you are hopeful and when you are tempted.

He is interested in all your worries and in all the high and low points of your spirit.

He has even counted the hairs on your head and measured your height.

He enfolds you in the protecting arms and He raises you up and sets you down.

He examines the features of your face, when you cry and when you smile,

When you are ill and when you are in good health.

Tenderly He looks at you, hears your voice,

Listens to the beating of your heart, and even hears your breath......

You cannot love yourself more than He loves you.

You cannot tremble with the fear of pain,

As He trembles when He sees it coming to you.

All the same, if He lets you bear it,

It is because you too, if you were really wise,

Would choose to endure it for a greater future good.

The Baptism of Jesus

Marble statue of Jesus and the Baptist by Giuseppe Mazzuoli

As we celebrate Jesus’ Baptism today, may we look back at our own baptism and see how faithful we have been to the commitment our parents made for us. I ask 3 simple questions today for your consideration:
1. How proud are you of the decision your parents took when they introduced you to the Catholic faith by baptizing you?
2. Do you know the names of your godparents, the name of the priest who baptized you, the church in which you were baptized?
3. If you were chosen as a godparent for a child, do you keep in contact with that child, who may now be a teenager, an adult, a parent, and do you make sure they attend church regularly? Remember that this was one of the promises you made when you stood as a godparent on the baptism day.
The marble statues of Jesus and John the Baptist: In 1666, a project for the main altar of St John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta, by Malta's greatest sculptor, Melchiorre Gafa was approved and begun. Gafà intended a large sculpture group in bronze depicting the Baptism of Christ. Following Gafà's tragic death in 1667 in a foundry accident while tending to this work in Rome, the plans were abandoned. Only in 1703, Giuseppe Mazzuoli, Gafà's only pupil, finished a marble group of the Baptism of Christ which might have been influenced by his master's undocumented designs.

Most popular Bible verses

The new app called YouVersion, also known as Bible.com claimed that it had an increase of 30% of searches in 2019, compared to 12 % the previous year. The founder Bobby Gruenewald said: ‘We are truly encouraged by the fact that so many people, in difficult moments, are turning to the Bible.’ The database showed the 3 most popular verses searched by people. These were;
1. Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. (Philippians 4:6)
2. But seek first the kingdom [of God] and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides. (Matthew 6:33)
3. For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control. (2 Timothy 1:7)

The axe

A young man applied to cut trees in a forest and went for a test. He was very strong and ambitious and wanted the job very much to earn some money. The foreman tested him as he cut the tree quickly and efficiently. So the job was his and was the start on Monday. He was delighted and very happy that he can now earn a living and support his family. He showed up on time on Monday and spent the day cutting one tree after another, exhausted. The same happened Tuesday and Wednesday. On Thursday, the foreman showed up and gave him his pay-check. The boy was surprised as he objected “but I thought we get paid on Friday?” “Yes, but your job is terminated,” came the surprising response.”You started very well, but your quota was not reached.” The young man objected again “but I did my best, I arrived on time, was the last one to leave....I didn’t even take a break.” The foreman then asked him “how many times did you sharpen your axe?” “Not once, sir, as I did not want to slow down, and I kept cutting.” The final word from the foreman was ...”that’s why you fell behind. Just to work was not enough - you have to make sure your tools are in good working order. You need to sharpen your axe, otherwise, all your hard work would be useless.”

The foreman did give him another chance. But how often we act like that young man. We are so busy and occupied all the time that we don’t have time to slow down and ‘sharpen our axe,’ and to take care of the tools we need to live by and survive. We don’t have time to speak to the Lord and to each other. We are too busy to listen to each other, play with our children, visit the sick, enjoy nature and the countryside. That’s why the heart hardens, the soul weakens, love fades away and life becomes miserable. So try to slow down the frenetic pace, and share an open heart, a relaxed mind, some time with God, a little fun with your family. And don’t forget to keep your axe always sharpened!

The First to Believe

Each town and village in Malta has its coat-of-arms and motto. The one from Naxxar is a simple cross in white and red, juxtaposed half and half. It is displayed in churches, in banners, in festive decorations and other important landmarks. The motto is 'Prior Credidi,' Latin for 'The first to believe.' This Christmas a display of the coat-of-arms was done near the parish church with poinsettias, juxtaposed in white and red. Unfortunately, a wind-storm destroyed the plants a few days after I took this photo, but at least they made it through Christmas day.

The Naxxar emblem with its motto 'Prior Credidi' in a festive banner.

Good politics in the service of peace

Cardinal François-Xavier Nguyễn Vãn Thuận with Pope St John Paul II

This was the motto which Pope Francis proclaimed for the World Day of Peace, celebrated every year on January 1st....”Good politics in the service of peace.” As Malta goes through a turbulent period in politics, and a new Prime Minister is chosen on Saturday, it may be helpful to recall the “Beatitudes of the Politician”, proposed by Vietnamese Cardinal François-Xavier Nguyễn Vãn Thuận, a faithful witness to the Gospel who died in 2002, and mentioned recently by Pope Francis in his message on the World Day of Peace:
Blessed be the politician with a lofty sense and deep understanding of his role.
Blessed be the politician who personally exemplifies credibility.
Blessed be the politician who works for the common good and not his or her own interest.
Blessed be the politician who remains consistent.
Blessed be the politician who works for unity.
Blessed be the politician who works to accomplish radical change.
Blessed be the politician who is capable of listening.
Blessed be the politician who is without fear.

8 years blogging

It’s been 8 years since I started my blog, and I enjoyed every minute of it. Many people ask me how can I persevere for so long and place a post punctually every day. Yes, I hardly missed a day and totaled so far 2,859 posts in my 2 blogs. I started in early January 2012 from Oregon with my blog www.fatherjulian.blogspot.com and continued when I came back to Malta with www.dungiljan.blogspot.com  My first blog totaled 1512 entries, and the present one totaled so far 1347 entries. Sometime in March, I will hit my 3,000th post, another milestone. My wish is that more people will check my humble blog for 2 minutes every day. There is always something interesting for every person, and if you share the address with friends, the number of hits will continue to grow. So far, the present blog has 183,383 hits.  My first blog is close to half a million hits, presently standing at 482,816. So, check it every day, whenever you wake up in the USA and sometime during the day in Malta. 

Epiphany

Even though the liturgical celebration of the Epiphany was on Sunday, January 5, many countries still observe it on this day, January 6th, which is also considered as the 12th day of Christmas. Many beautiful paintings have been produced over the centuries to depict this scene of Gaspar, Melchior, and Balthasar presenting the gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the newborn Jesus. The gifts represent respectively the characteristics that Jesus had, as a King (gold,) as a God (frankincense,) and as a human being (myrrh.) The above painting is from the ceiling of St Mary's parish church in Ghaxaq, Malta, painted by Chev. Emvin Cremona, a Maltese painter and one of my favorite artists. The entire ceiling of the same church has other paintings representing scenes from the life of the Blessed Mother.
It was in the 4th Century that December 25 was finally adopted by the Western Christian Church as the date Christ's birth date. It is believed that this change in date gave rise to the tradition of the "12 Days of Christmas." While the Western Christian Church celebrates December 25th, the Eastern Christian Church to this day recognizes January 6 as the celebration of the nativity. January 6 is still considered in Italy and the Spanish countries as the day when the presents are opened. Imagine these children having to look at the presents under the tree for 12 days and not being able to open them. In a way, it makes sense to open gifts on the day Jesus received his 3 gifts from the Kings. But tell that to American as well as Maltese children!
In Slavic and Eastern European countries, including Poland, there is a tradition that on the evening before the feast of the Epiphany, traditionally they recite prayers, blessed dried herbs would be burnt and their aromatic smell would fill the house. Doorways would be sprinkled with holy water and the head of the house would write with chalk C + M + B and the year 2020 above every door in the house door and say: "Caspar, Melchior, Balthasar, protect us again this year from the dangers of fire and water." C + M + B has traditionally been translated with Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar, however, there is a tradition that it stands for "Christus Mansionem Benedicat" (Christ bless this home).

Where is the church?

With Elsa at the Holy Family Chapel, a few days after my encounter with her.

'Where is the church?'.......These were the first words I heard in 2020. I woke up as usual at 5 AM to head to the local church at Naxxar to celebrate the 7 AM Mass as I do every Sunday. As soon as the local bus Number 43 passed by, a few girls who work as carers at our Retirement Home stepped off the bus, but one girl, all bundled up in the unusually cold weather stood alone. As I passed her by and said ‘hello’, she asked me a most pleasant question “where is the church?” The first words I heard from any human being in 2020.

I recognized she was an African girl and told her to follow me as I was going to church to celebrate Mass. I finished saying the Rosary on my Ipad, as I do every time I’m heading to church quietly walking alone, and then asked her where is she from. “From Ethiopia, my name is Elsa,” came the quick response as she showed me a set of white teeth with a big smile. When I asked where she works, she said she is a carer at the Holy Family Home, where I celebrate Mass three times a week. I wished her a happy New Year and proceeded to the sacristy, as she found a place in the church, attending my 7 AM Mass. This unexpected encounter consoles me give me the motivation to work harder – as if God was talking to me through this girl to bring people back to the church, something I always did in my past parishes. What a great example Elsa gave us! When everyone had spent the night celebrating and partying, her first thought was to attend Mass at the early hours of the morning of a New Year.

This brief meeting was one of the best gifts God gave me this Christmas season. He was telling me there is hope for the church and the Catholic faith. I believe it was God who placed this Ethiopian girl in my path, the first person I met and spoke to at 6:15 AM in the New Year, with a simple question ‘where is the church?’ I realized that many of the immigrants we have in Malta have strong faith, and maybe God is using them to bring back the Maltese who have abandoned their faith, which according to the last survey, only 38% attend church regularly. I asked myself, was it accidental that I met this girl? I don’t think so. I believe that God was giving me a message that 2020 is going to be a good year for opportunities to bring people back to church, and encourage them to be more active.

Remembering my father

My parents John and Mary in 1988

It was 18 years ago today in 2002 when the first member of my immediate family was taken away from us. It was quite a shock when my father John died suddenly when I was visiting my family just after Christmas. My mother survived for another 8 years as did my younger brother Paul who both died in 2010. But nothing can prepare you for the sudden death of a close family member, especially as I had to lead the funeral a few days later, attended by many of our relatives and friends. He and my mother had sacrificed their lives for us their 5 children, and as often happens, we tend to appreciate them more when they are gone. He was a great provider and it was only later in life that I realized how much they gave us, and how little they kept to themselves so that we could have everything we desired. Not that we were spoiled, but they made sure that we enjoyed a happy, united and content childhood. 

Our family on the day of my Diaconate ordination, June 1976

We never had a car, and they never traveled until I brought them to the USA on a few occasions. Most importantly they gave us a strong foundation of faith, which inspired me to become a priest, and my siblings to remain faithful to their church duties. And they re-lived their parenthood again when their two nephews were born. And I know how happy they are in heaven looking down on them as they pursue their careers as very successful doctors. Rest in peace, dad.

To Heaven

St Cyprian, a bishop who lived in the 3rd century gives us this beautiful description of heaven: ”There are many people waiting for us, parents, siblings, children, grandparents, a large and numerous crowd waiting eagerly for us. Since they are assured of their immortality, they are anxious to see us get there too, to reach heaven and embrace them lovingly. How great will be their joy and ours too! They will be in the glorious company of the apostles, the happy assembly of the prophets, the countless family of martyrs crowned for their victories after struggling through many battles. There are the virgins triumphant over their chastity, after successfully controlling the desires of their bodies. There are those who received their reward for helping the poor and doing acts of mercy. There are those who listened to the Lord and replaced their material wealth with treasures from heaven. Let’s hurry to meet them all. Let us hope to be with them soon, and therefore be with Jesus as soon as possible,”

Audrey’s words of wisdom

Audrey Hepburn (1929-1993)

Audrey Hepburn, the famous actress, shares here her beauty secrets, and we can use them as our New Year's resolutions, applicable also to men:
For beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness.
For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others.
For a slim figure, always share your food with the hungry.
To have beautiful hair, let a little child stroke it.
For poise, remember that you never walk alone.
Remember, if you need a helping hand, it’s at the end of your arm.
Remember that you have two hands: the first is to help yourself, the second one is to help others.
A woman’s true beauty is not in her figure, or her hair.
A woman’s beauty is seen in her eyes, because they are the window to her soul, the place where love dwells.

A year dedicated to Mary

The Blessed Mother by Sassoferrato

We start this year with a special feast in honor of Mary, Mother of Jesus, Mother of God, and Mother of us all. January 1st, since 1968 has also been considered as the World Day of Peace, proclaimed by Pope St Paul VI, and I dedicate this year to the Blessed Mother as she blesses us with her protection and love. May she always protect our families, those still hurting with recent tragedies, those who lost loved ones, and those who seem lost or disoriented in life. As she knows the pain and anguish of losing a child, may we look towards her for direction, for motivation, and consolation.
May Mary, the Queen of Peace and her Son, the Prince of Peace bless the world with peace and harmony, the poor with care and prosperity, the despairing with hope and confidence, the grieving with comfort and gladness, the oppressed with freedom and deliverance, the suffering with solace and relief.
Wishing every visitor to this blog, a healthy and peace-filled 2020.