The Leap Year

Although most years of the modern calendar have 365 days, a complete revolution around the sun takes approximately 365 days and 6 hours. Every four years, during which an extra 24 hours have accumulated, one extra day is added to keep the count coordinated with the sun's apparent position. That is why we have February 29 every 4 years. The leap year was introduced as part of the Julian calendar reform. February 29 came to be regarded as the leap day when the Roman system of numbering days was replaced by sequential numbering in the late Middle Ages.
Some important events that took place on February 29 in leap years:
1504 – Christopher Columbus uses his knowledge of a lunar eclipse that night to convince Native Americans to provide him with supplies.
1892 – St. Petersburg, Florida is incorporated.
1940 – For her role as Mammy in 'Gone with the Wind,' Hattie McDaniel becomes the first African American to win an Academy Award.
1956 – U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower announces to the nation that he is running for a second term.
1960 – An earthquake in Morocco kills over 3,000 people and nearly destroys Agadir in the southern part of the country.
1960 – Family Circus cartoon series makes its debut.
1972 – Hank Aaron becomes the first player in the history of Major League Baseball to sign a $200,000 contract. Today a major league player makes that much at every 6 to 8 at-bats!
1980 – Gordie Howe of the then Hartford Whalers makes NHL history as he scores his 800th goal.
1996 – Faucett Flight 251 crashes in the Andes, killing 123 people.
2004 – Jean-Bertrand Aristide is removed as President of Haiti following a coup.

Gioacchino Rossini, born on February 29, 1792

Some famous people born on February 29:
1468 – Pope Paul III (d. 1549)
1792 – Gioacchino Rossini, Italian composer (d. 1868)
1812 – Sir James Wilson, Premier of Tasmania (d. 1880, also on February 29!)
1892 – Ed Appleton, American baseball player (d. 1932)
1904 – Jimmy Dorsey, American bandleader (d. 1957)
1908 – Balthus, French-Polish painter (d. 2001)
1916 – Dinah Shore, American singer and actress (d. 1994)
1924 – Al Rosen, American baseball player
1924 – Carlos Humberto Romero, President of El Salvador
1952 – Bart Stupak, American congressman
1964 - Maltese footballer Carmel Busuttil, known as 'Il-Buzu'

Life begins at 60

Pablo Picasso, still painting as a nonagenarian

Pablo Picasso was still producing drawings at 90 – and his painting became more innovative with the years. Pianist Arthur Rubinstein gave one of his greatest recitals at 89. Actress Jessica Tandy won an Academy Award at 80 for her performance in ‘Driving Miss Daisy.’ Michelangelo was still on his back painting the Sistine Chapel well into his 80s. At age 100, Iva Blake had one of the most beautiful gardens in Albuquerque – she gardened from a wheelchair, using special tools. New York social worker Fannie White found a way of combining a hobby with volunteer work – at age 94 she started a stamp club for fifth graders, using stamps to tutor them in history and geography. Pope St. John XXIII became Pope at the age of 77 and set in motion Vatican Council II, renewing the Catholic Church, especially in the way we celebrate Mass. It’s never too late to start enjoying life, pick up a hobby and keep working through the golden years. You never know, the best may be yet to come.

Honesty

US President Harry Truman

Reports of dishonesty, especially by civil servants, are disheartening and may even tempt some people to lower their own standards. But politicians can have high standards too. Listen to what former US President Harry Truman once wrote in his personal journal: “I had certain rules which I followed....I refused to handle any political money in any way whatever......I refused presents, hotel accommodations and trips which were paid for by private parties.....I lived on the salary I was legally entitled to and considered that I was employed by the taxpayers.....I would much rather be an honorable public servant and known as such than to be the richest man in the world.” Wouldn’t it be great if some of our politicians would use the same method of self-examination and be morally accountable for their actions?

Ash Wednesday

The Lenten season starts today with the celebration of Ash Wednesday. As people gather in churches, they will hear two different phrases as they receive their ashes.
"Repent and Believe in the Gospel of Jesus Christ."
"Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return."
This is time of penance and repentance, a time to get closer to our ideals as Christians, to get closer to our God who will soon suffer and die for us. Let us utilize this special spiritual time of the year to show that we are truly remorseful of our sinfulness and are ready to change our lives. 

May I give my own humble suggestion as to how we can go through Lent with a few practical sacrifices: attending daily Mass when possible, go to confession, one hour less Internet, save 50 cents a day and give to charity (total $20 or 20 euros,) refrain from saying that harsh angry word, get up 15 minutes earlier and listen to some soft music while meditating, visit an elderly relative you haven’t seen lately, plan to attend Holy Week services, less gossiping, less complaining, more silence around your house, more showing gratitude.

Blessed Adeodata Pisani

Blessed Adeodata Pisani with fellow sisters at their convent

The only daughter of Baron Benedetto Pisani Mompalao and Vincenza Carrano, she was born Maria Teresa Pisani in Naples, Italy on 29 December 1806, and baptized the same day in the Parish of St Mark at Pizzofalcone. Her father held the title of Baron of Frigenuin, one of the oldest and richest baronies in Malta; her mother was Italian.
Her father took to drinking and this soon led to marital problems, so much so that whilst Maria Teresa was still a small child her mother left the conjugal house and entrusted the child's care to her mother-in-law, Elizabeth Mamo Mompalao, who lived in Naples. Elisabeth was a decent caregiver but died when her granddaughter was only ten years old. After her grandmother’s death, Maria Teresa was sent to the famous Istituto di Madama Prota, a boarding school in Naples.
In 1821 her father was involved in the uprising in Naples and sentenced to death. Since he was a British citizen, his sentence was suspended and King Ferdinand of Naples had him expelled and deported to Malta. In 1825, Maria Teresa and her mother came to live in Malta, settling in Rabat.
Once in Malta, Maria Teresa decided to become a nun, although her mother preferred that she marry. Although her mother tried to find her a suitable husband, Maria Teresa invariably declined such proposals, preferring to lead a quiet life, attending church and helping the poor. Upon turning 21, she entered the Benedictine Community in St. Peter’s Monastery and took the name of Maria Adeodata (given to God.) She made her solemn profession two years later. In the cloister, Maria Adeodata was a seamstress, sacristan, porter, teacher and novice mistress. Maria Adeodata wrote various works, the most well-known of which is ‘The mystical garden of the soul that loves Jesus and Mary,’ a collection of her personal reflections between the years 1835 and 1843. She was abbess from 1851 to 1853 but had to retire from her duties because she suffered from heart problems. She died on February 25, 1855, aged 48, and was buried the next day in the crypt of the Benedictine monastery at Mdina. She was remembered for her sanctity, love of the poor, self-imposed sacrifices.
A miracle required for her beatification took place on November 24, 1897, through an incident in which the abbess Giuseppina Damiani from the Monastery of Saint John the Baptist in Subiaco, Italy was suddenly healed of a stomach tumor following her request for Adeodata Pisani’s intervention. However, even though she was revered as a holy person for over a century, it was only in 2001 that she was beatified by the Blessed John Paul II, on May 9, 2001, at Floriana, beatified along with St. George Preca and Blessed Nazju Falzon. Pope St John Paul said during her beatification: ‘Prayer, obedience, service of her Sisters and maturity in performing her assigned tasks: these were the elements of Maria Adeodata’s silent, holy life. Her holy example certainly helped to promote the renewal of religious life in her own Monastery. Through her prayer, work and love, she became a well-spring of that spiritual and missionary fruitfulness without which the Church cannot preach the Gospel as Christ commands.’ The bishops of Malta released a pastoral letter emphasizing the serious difficulties that she had to face, stating that Maria Adeodata had had "a difficult childhood as her parents did not live together. She renounced and disposed of her wealth, willingly living as a cloistered nun." Next week I will share a beautiful reflection by Pisani on our spiritual life.

Blossom Time

This is the time of the year when all the blossoms show up on the fruit trees, and even though they may not be as spectacular as the cherry blossoms from Japan or those seen along the Potomac River in Washington DC, they still create a nice colorful display in our countryside and streets where they blossom impressively and majestically for a few days. Too bad that the wind blows those petals away so quickly, and within a few hours, they turned from beautifully-clothed to ashamedly-naked. 

But let’s enjoy them while they last, especially if photographers are quick enough to snap a few photos like these I am sharing with you today. These particular blossoms are of a peach tree. Spring is around the corner. And let's continue to pray for rain. February in Malta this year has not seen one drop of rain and the fields are pretty parched, as the broad beans, potatoes, artichokes, and wheat wait patiently from moisture from heaven above.

A generous footballer

We look at our sports idols as they score goals, touchdowns, hit home runs and break all kinds of records, while earning millions of dollars and euros. But then there are those who come from a poor background, and realize how grateful they should be that they are earning so much money for playing sport. One such player is the Liverpool star from Senegal, Sadio Mane’. In 2016, he signed a $44.8 million contract and he has been quite successful with Liverpool, presently helping them run away with the Premier League as they lead by over 20 points. Mane’ was determined not to forget his background, and he recently donated $300,000 to build a school in Banbali, Senegal. He is also sponsoring and paying for the construction of a stadium and a hospital. He does not want any publicity and to each family in his hometown, he gave them half of their monthly earnings. And he also sent 300 Liverpool football shirts to the youth in his community.

The Chair of St Peter

The Bernini chair with the 4 Father of the Latin church

Today we celebrate the feast of St Peter and precisely the authority of St Peter in a feast called “The Chair of Saint Peter.” Of course, we do not venerate chairs as such, but the ‘chair’ or ‘cathedra’ of St Peter is very symbolic, to such an extent that his chair has been immortalized in a magnificent sculpture by Gian Lorenzo Bernini behind the main altar at St Peter’s Basilica. It is actually a part of the colonnade above the main altar, the massive chocolate-colored Baldacchino that dominates the interior of the basilica. Next to the chair are the 4 Fathers of the early church, St Ambrose, St John Chrysostom, St Augustine, and St Athanasius. Above the chair is a stained-glass window of the Holy Spirit in yellow texture. The bronze sculpture was crafted between 1647 and 1653 by Bernini. 

The original chair of Saint Pater

The original chair of Peter is preserved, although in a very worn-out state. It was transferred from the church of Santa Prisca to the Vatican and was exposed to the public once a year. However, it was encased with the Bernini masterpiece, where it still is, protected mostly because of its fragile structure. For 200 years it was kept hidden and protected, but in 1867 it was exposed to the faithful to commemorate the anniversary of the martyrdom of Sts Peter and Paul.

Don Bosco’s mother

St John Bosco with his mother Margherita Occhiena

Margherita Occhiena was born in 1788. She is St John Bosco’s mother, known also as Mamma Margherita. She married at the age of 24 and had 3 children. Her husband died in 1817. She was illiterate but she passed on her natural wisdom and her love of education to her children. She had a great influence on her son St John, who had asked her to help him in raising and caring for children entrusted in his care. She lovingly accepted this role, and did all kinds of work, washing, ironing, sewing, cooking, sweeping, growing vegetables and even raising chickens. She was the mother of all, and they looked at her as a devoted mother. She died aged 68. Pope Benedict XVI declared her Venerable, and we now wait until she is beatified. As we all know, behind every successful man (and a holy man) there is a hard-working, possibly holier woman.

St. Francisco and St. Jacinta Marto

Jacinta, Lucia, and Francisco in 1917

Today we commemorate the lives of brother and sister visionaries of Our Lady of Fatima, Francisco and Jacinta Marto. Very much like Lourdes and Guadalupe, the quietness of these small little villages was turned upside down when the Blessed Mother appeared in 1917 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. Their biographies are very brief, but suffice to say that they are now saints in heaven. They were beatified by Pope St. John Paul II in the year 2000 and were canonized on May 13, 2017, by Pope Francis. More investigations have to take place for Lucia to be canonized since she lived a long life, but hopefully one day, she will be reunited with her two friends and all the saints in heaven.

Raphael Tapestries

Tapestries seen on the lower part of the Sistine Chapel

For the first time in centuries, 10 magnificent tapestries designed by Renaissance master Raphael will hang together on the walls of the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City. The tapestries are usually only displayed on rotation in the "Raphael Room" at the Vatican Museum. But to mark the celebration of 500 years of Raphael's death, they are being brought together for one week to share the beauty that is represented by the tapestry together in this beautiful, universal place that is the Sistine Chapel. Pope Leo X commissioned Raphael to design the tapestries in 1515. Michelangelo had just finished his elaborate work on the ceiling and the pontiff wanted to ensure the lower walls weren't bare. Raphael painted 10 intricate images that depicted the lives of Saints Peter and Paul, now known as the Raphael Cartoons. The cartoons were then sent to the workshop of master weaver Pieter van Aelst in Brussels to be woven into tapestries.

Tapestry of Peter and the apostles fishing

The first tapestries were delivered to the chapel in late December 1519, however, Raphael died months later and did not see all the tapestries completed and together. So here we are, centuries later, and after a decade of restoration, the tapestries will hang this week where they were intended, below Michelangelo's famous Sistine Chapel ceiling and near his "The Last Judgment." Raphael and Michelangelo were rivals for the Vatican's commissions. Michelangelo was known to accuse Raphael, nearly a decade his junior, of plagiarizing his style. Only seven of the original cartoons exist and are held at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, where they have been preserved since 1865.

Raphael's tapestries hanging in the Sistine Chapel

Only in America

Only in America do people drive on a parkway and then park in a driveway....
Only in America do people send goods by a car and call it a shipment, then send goods by a ship and call it cargo.....
Only in America do people have their noses run and their feet smell....
Only in America can a pizza get to your house faster than an ambulance.....
Only in America are there handicapped parking spaces in front of a skating rink.....
Only in America do people put suits in garment boxes, and then put garments in suitcases.....
Only in America do drugstores make the sick people walk all the way to the back of the store to get their prescriptions, while all candy is in the front of the store.....
Only in America do people order a double cheeseburger, large fries and a diet coke......
Only in America do banks leave both doors open, and then chain their 50 cent pens to the counters.....
Only in America do people leave cars worth thousands of dollars in their driveway, and leave useless junk locked in their garage......
Only in America do we buy hot dogs in packages of 10 and buns in packages of 8.....
And one final question that has puzzled me, especially in rural Eastern Oregon...why is it that people have to clean up after their dogs, but not after their horses or cows?

Feast of the 7 Holy Founders

The Seven Holy Founders, also called Seven Servite Founders, were priests who spread the devotion to the Blessed Mother in the 13th century throughout Italy. They were saints Bonfilius, Alexis Falconieri, Giovanni Bonagiunta, Benedict dell’Antella, Bartholomew Amidei, Gerard Sostegni, and Ricoverus Uguccione, who together founded the Ordo Fratrum Servorum Sanctae Mariae (“Order of Friar Servants of St. Mary”). Popularly called Servites, the order is a Roman Catholic congregation of mendicant friars dedicated to apostolic work. According to the 14th-century early writing, the men were Florentine merchants. They joined together, living a penitential life, and were members of the Society of St Mary at a time when Florence was in political upheaval. Led by Bonfilius, they became closely knit and devoted themselves to the Virgin Mary, who, according to tradition, appeared to the seven in a vision and encouraged them to withdraw into solitude and a life of prayer. With the approval of their bishop, Ardingus, they moved, in 1233, outside the gates of Florence to a neighbouring area called Cafaggio, into a house dedicated to Mary. Seeking stricter isolation, they departed for Monte Senario, about 12 miles from Florence, where they built a hermitage, continued their penitential life without distraction, and laid the foundation for what was to become their order, adopting the Rule of St. Augustine. They returned to Florence, where they built a church called St. Mary of Cafaggio. The Seven Founders were canonized in 1888.

10 commandments or suggestions?

The 10 Commandments by St Cecilia Church in Omaha, Nebraska.

This Sunday we reflect on the 10 commandments God gave to Moses on Mount Sinai. I still remember one spectacular scene from one of my favorite films, ‘The Ten Commandments’ which was issued in 1955 with Charlton Heston as Moses and Yul Brynner as the Pharoah Rameses. It’s one of those immortal movies with some spectacular scenes which we tend to appreciate even more today because they were done without any digital technology we have today. One of the most fascinating scenes is when God is giving the 10 commandments to Moses on Mount Sinai, with those flames of fire one after the other zipping through the air and arriving on the tablets, with sparks flying and writing in Hebrew the commandments. We all know what happened afterward as Moses was disappointed when the people, impatient in waiting, built a golden calf and started to adore him. In the USA, various states have erected monuments with the 10 Commandments, which brought some opposition, but eventually many of them were saved and are still standing. Most of these are set up in front of law courts close to the state Capitol. Others were erected next to churches, Catholics and Protestants, as well as Jewish synagogues. 

Someone once said that we humans have invented thousands of rules and regulations, but no one has been able to improve on the richness and the value of the 10 commandments. With the two new commandments given to us by Jesus, these are the benchmarks by which to monitor our spiritual lives. Let us always remember that they are not suggestions, but orders, commands, which we have to follow, as faithful followers of our Lord. 

A modern litany to Mary

Adolphe  Bouguereau - Virgin and Angels

Mary, hope of our future. 

Mary spiritually pregnant with my future friends. 

Mary, model of endless waiting. 

Mary, model of enduring patience. 

Mary, help during our human redemption from sin. 

Mary, model of timely tolerance. 

Mary, beautiful beyond anything or anyone ever created. 

Mary, healer of all emotional pain. 

Mary, consoler of the broken-hearted. 

Mary, comforter of those shattered by unfair criticism. 

Mary, example of perseverance and determination. 

Mary, guide to those seeking a new direction in life.

Saint Valentine

Saint Valentine, patron saint of lovers

Valentine was a holy priest in Rome, who, with St. Marius and his family, assisted the martyrs in the persecution under Claudius II. He was especially known for marrying young Christian couples in secret, for fear of being caught. He was apprehended and sent by the emperor to the prefect of Rome, who, on finding all his promises to make him renounce his faith ineffectual, commanded him to be beaten with clubs, and afterwards, to be beheaded, which was executed on February 14, about the year 270. Pope Julius I is said to have built a church near Ponte Mole to his memory, which for a long time gave name to the gate now called Porta del Popolo, formerly, Porta Valentini. The greatest part of his relics are now in the church of St. Praxedes. His name is celebrated as that of an illustrious martyr in the sacramentary of St. Gregory, the Roman Missal of Thomasius, and all other martyrologies on this day. Other historians hold that St. Valentine was a temple priest jailed for defiance during the reign of Claudius. Whoever he was, Valentine really existed because archaeologists have unearthed a Roman catacomb and an ancient church dedicated to Saint Valentine. In 496 AD Pope Gelasius marked February 14th as a celebration in honor of his martyrdom.

Never ever give up!

Florence Chadwick in one of her swims.

Falling short of expectations could be used as an excuse to give up. Often that’s all that seems possible in the face of a big setback. But failure can also be a form of encouragement to go on and persevere. Swimmer Florence Chadwick of Southern California remembers well her first race as a six-year-old. She laughingly recalled “six girls entered and I finished dead last. But finishing last made me want to swim better. So I trained and trained. My motto was to give it all you’ve got, or don’t do it at all.” Chadwick’s strength and endurance, propelled by an earlier failure, led her to swim the English Channel in 1950 in record time, knocking more than an hour off the standard set 19 years earlier.
Flaubert once wrote: “Remember that the most glorious moments in your life are not the so-called days of success, but rather those days when out of dejection and despair you feel rise in you a challenge to live and the promise of future accomplishments.” Consider the famous children’s book author Dr. Seuss. His first book was rejected by 23 publishers. The 24th publisher has sold 6 million copies of the book ‘The Cat in the Hat,’ just in its first printing. Who knows how many millions more copies were printed since then.

Pope Francis to visit Malta

Pope Francis will celebrate Pentecost in Malta, the island-nation where St. Paul was shipwrecked and where thousands of migrants and refugees continue to seek welcome and shelter. The Vatican announced Feb. 10 that the pope would visit the islands of Malta and Gozo May 31, Pentecost. It is the first papal trip confirmed for 2020. The theme of the visit would be taken from the Acts of the Apostles’ description of how the Maltese people treated St. Paul and the 275 others aboard the storm-tossed boat: “They showed us unusual kindness.” The official logo for the trip shows hands reaching up to the cross, a sign a Christian’s welcome of his neighbor and assistance of those in difficulty. Archbishop Charles Scicluna of Malta said that since the quote from the Acts of the Apostles was used in January for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, Pope Francis already had offered several meditations on the verse. The verse, the archbishop said, is “a reminder that we need to welcome each other, to forgive each other and to welcome migrants who knock on the shores of our island seeking a safe haven and human dignity.” Like Italy and Greece, since 2015 Malta has been a major destination for migrants and refugees fleeing violence in the Middle East or extreme poverty in Africa. Pope Francis plans to visit both Malta and the sister island of Gozo, lead Eucharistic celebrations as well as a possible visit to migrant camps. The official program will be released at a later date, but much preparatory work has already started. This will be the 4th official visit by a Pope. St John Paul visited Malta in 1990 and 2001, while Pope Benedict XVI visited Malta in 2010.

Our Lady of Lourdes

The main Basilica at Lourdes, framed with some flowers the photographer was able to find.

In August 2019 I was able to visit Lourdes with a group of Maltese pilgrims. I celebrated Mass for them every day and visited many landmarks, both in Lourdes itself and in the outskirts. But the thing that impressed me the most is the holiness and sacredness of the entire place. Yes, there were, of course, hotels and restaurants, but every shop and souvenir stand sold only religious articles and absolutely nothing else. And once you enter the territory of Lourdes, you feel like you really entered a sanctuary, and you have the feeling that you were in a church, even with thousands of other pilgrims around. It was a very special time for me and one really felt the presence of the Blessed Mother with you wherever you went. Of course, we participated in the aux flambeaux procession in the evening in the 4 days we were there. I came back with over a thousand photos, one of which is seen here. Actually today I am presenting a highly-illustrated talk on Lourdes at the indoor Courtyard at Hilltop Gardens, Naxxar at 10:30 AM and again at 7 PM.
Today we commemorate the first apparition of Our Lady at Lourdes to the young girl Bernadette Soubirous in 1858. It took the church a few years to declare the apparitions as truly authentic, and since then over 70 miracles have taken place to people visiting Lourdes, the tiny place nestled between Spain and France at the base of the Pyrenees Mountains.

The Shipwreck of St. Paul

The apse at St Paul's church in Valletta, showing his conversion.

February 10 is the celebration of the Shipwreck of St Paul on the shores of Malta. It is a holy day in Malta. The main church dedicated to the shipwreck of St Paul that happened in 60 AD, is situated in Valletta. The above is a painting of the restored apse in the same church. The account of this event is recorded with minute detail by St Luke in chapters 27 and 28 of the Acts of the Apostles. The most popular verse in the entire Bible for all of the Maltese people is certainly this one: "Once we were on land, we realized that the island was called Malta. The inhabitants showed us extraordinary kindness by lighting a fire and gathering us all around it."

The statue of St Paul by Melchiore Gafa, being carried procession.

This is the day when the entire country of Malta stops in thanksgiving to the Lord for an event that turned our lives around. St Paul brought Christianity to Malta, and it has survived the Romans, the Arabs, the Normans, the Spanish, the French and the British, all of whom had their own beliefs and influences. And yet the Maltese people remained strong in their adherence to their faith. Granted that materialism and consumerism, as well as the invasion of social media, have taken their toll on many countries in Europe, and Malta, though not unblemished, has withstood the waves that have driven Christianity off the agenda of so many Catholic European countries. I pray this year that Catholicism continues just as strong in the decades to come. An artistic statue carved of wood by Melchiore Gafa is carried in procession through the streets of the capital city Valletta on the evening of February 10, and thousands of Maltese faithful will witness this manifestation of faith.
San Pawl Missier taghna, itlob ghalina (St Paul, our Father, pray for us)

The colors of the window

This is a prayer by Fr Gaston Lecleir, a priest serving in a parish in Belgium: Almighty God, you are offering me 365 pieces of multi-colored glass, so that I can create a beautiful stained-glass window. I look at the colors and remember various values. The red glasses remind me of love and my enthusiasm for life. The purple ones remind me of the sufferings and anxiety I feel. The green glass makes me think of my hopes while the pink ones remind me of my dreams. The grey and blue pieces remind me of my work and the projects I have planned for this year. The yellow and golden pieces of glass represent my creations, what I have to plan and create. The white glass represents my ordinary days, while the black ones remind me of those people who need to reach out to God and be more active in the church. The pieces are cemented together with the glue of faith. I ask you, Lord God, that my stained-glass window, when finished, will be lit by your everlasting Light from the inside. And then, those people I meet will recognize your presence in my humble masterpiece.

Infanticipating

I heard on a radio podcast an interesting word that describes being pregnant. It made me laugh and smile, and realized how true it is. The word is INFANTICIPATING, a combination of the words ‘infant’ and ‘anticipating’ – a clever way of creating a new word to describe exactly what is taking place, anticipating an infant, also to affirm the pro-life mission, and affirm the undeniable presence of life at the very moment of conception. I searched a few other words that describe the same meaning, some of them slang words, and may not be as clean as ‘infanticipating’, but here they are:
pregnant - expectant - enceinte - expecting - carrying a child - clucky - parturient - caught - childing -expecting a baby - heavy - in pod - knocked up - storked - up the duff - up the pole - with child - antenatal - anticipating - expecting a happy event - fecund - fertile - fertilized - fruitful - gestating - heavy with child - in the club - prenatal - productive - prolific - up the spout - up the stick - on the way - with one in the oven - having swallowed a watermelon seed - in a delicate condition - with a bun in the oven - in a family way - with a joey in the pouch - in the pudding club - be blooming – be eating for two – in an interesting condition – hormonal – pupped – up the stump – cooking up baby – bumpaholic.

Blessed Pope Pius IX

Today the church celebrates the feast of Blessed Pope Pius IX, the longest reigning Pope in history. Born in Senigallia, Italy, on May 13, 1792, as Giovanni Maria Mastai-Ferretti, he was head of the Catholic Church from June 16, 1846, to his death on February 7, 1878, exactly 140 years ago today. During his pontificate, Pius IX convened the First Vatican Council (1869–70), which decreed papal infallibility. One interesting fact that many people don’t know is that he was ordained a priest by a Maltese Cardinal. It was Fabrizio Sceberras Testaferrata (1 April 1757 - 3 August 1843) who ordained Giovanni Maria Mastai-Ferretti a priest on April 10, 1819. The Maltese prelate served as Bishop of Senigallia from 1818 until his death in 1843. In his younger years, Pope Pius IX was Archbishop of Spoleto between 1827 and 1832. He was a Marian Pope, who in his encyclical Ubi Primum described Mary as a Mediatrix of salvation. In 1854, he promulgated the dogma of the Immaculate Conception, articulating a long-held Catholic belief that Mary, the Mother of God, was conceived without original sin. Pius IX will always be remembered for the many concordats agreed and signed, and helping many developing nations.
On another note, Pope Pius IX was instrumental in erecting the Diocese of Gozo as a separate Diocese from mainland Malta. After a long-winded correspondence and various meetings, on July 14, 1864, the Holy See initiated the proceedings for the eventual establishment of the diocese. On 16 September, Pope Pius IX approved the decision through the Bull ‘Singulari Amore’ (With Remarkable Love) establishing Gozo and Comino a separate Diocese directly subjected to the Holy See. On September 22, Bishop Michele Francesco Buttigieg was elected the first bishop of Gozo. On October 23, he made his joyous entry into the new Cathedral amidst the deafening cheers and enthusiastic applause of his devoted flock. Pius IX celebrated his silver jubilee as a Pope in 1871, going on to have the longest reign in the history of the Papacy, 31 years, 7 months and 23 days. Together with Pope St. John XXIII, he was beatified on September 3, 2000, after the recognition of a miracle. Pius IX was assigned the liturgical feast of February 7, the date of his death.

St Paul Miki and companions

The 26 Martyrs of Japan we honor today refer to a group of Christians who were executed by crucifixion on February 5, 1597, at Nagasaki. Their martyrdom is especially significant in the history of Roman Catholicism in Japan. As many as 300,000 Christians were in Japan towards the end of the 16th century, but most of them met complications from competition between the missionary groups. Christianity was suppressed, and it was during this time that the 26 martyrs were executed. By 1630, Christianity had been driven underground. Two hundred and fifty years later, when Christian missionaries returned to Japan, they found a community of "hidden Christians" that had survived underground. On February 5, 1597, 26 Christians – six European Franciscan missionaries, three Japanese Jesuits and seventeen Japanese laymen including three young boys, who were all members of the Third Order of St. Francis – were executed by crucifixion in Nagasaki on the orders of Hideyoshi Toyotomi. These individuals were raised on crosses and then pierced through with spears. While there were many more martyrs, the first martyrs came to be especially revered, the most celebrated of which was Paul Miki. The Martyrs of Japan were canonized on June 8, 1862, by Blessed Pius IX. Unfortunately, Nagasaki would become known as the second city on which the atom bomb was dropped during World War II, the other city being Hiroshima, also in Japan.

St Agatha

Alessandro Allori - The Martyrdom of St Agatha

St. Agatha was born in Catania, Sicily, and died there a martyr in approximately 251 AD. In the legend of her life, we are told that she belonged to a rich, important family. When she was young, she dedicated her life to God and resisted any men who wanted to marry her or have sex with her. One of these men, Quintian, was of a high enough rank that he felt he could force her to acquiesce. Knowing she was a Christian in a time of persecution, he had her arrested. He expected her to give in when faced with torture and possible death, but she simply affirmed her belief in God.
Quintian imprisoned her in a brothel in order to get her to change her mind. He brought her back before him after she had suffered a month of assault and humiliation in the brothel, but Agatha had never wavered. Quintian sent her to prison, instead of back to the brothel - a move intended to make her more afraid, but which probably was a great relief to her. When she continued to profess her faith in Jesus, Quintian had her tortured by cutting off her breasts. He refused her any medical care but God gave her all the care she needed in the form of a vision of St. Peter.
Saint Agatha is often depicted in paintings carrying her excised breasts on a platter. The shape of her amputated breasts, especially as depicted in artistic renderings, gave rise to her attribution as the patron saint of bell-founders and of bakers, whose loaves were blessed at her feast day. More recently, she has been venerated as the patron saint of breast cancer patients.
Because she was asked for help during the eruption of Mount Etna she is considered a protector against the outbreak of fire. She is the patron saint of Catania, Molise, Malta, San Marino and Segovia in Spain. She is also the patron saint of breast cancer patients, martyrs, wet nurses, fire and earthquakes. The following painting is a modern impression of St Agatha, in relation to her role as patron of breast cancer patients.

A modern representation of St Agatha's legacy as breast cancer patron

O St. Agatha, who withstood the unwelcome advances from unwanted suitors, and suffered pain and torture for your devotion to Our Lord, we celebrate your faith, dignity, and martyrdom. Protect us against rape and other violations, guard us against breast cancer and other afflictions of women and inspire us to overcome adversity. O St. Agatha, Virgin, and Martyr, mercifully grant that we who venerate your sacrifice may receive your intercession. Amen.

Healthy Living

US President John Quincy Adams (1767-1848)

Many problems once thought to be caused by age are really caused by poor health habits. A balanced diet and regular exercise can improve health at any age. One group of 70-year-old men who took part in an exercise program had the bodily reactions of men of 40 at the end of the year. At the age of 82, Eula Weaver suffered from angina, congestive heart failure, high blood pressure, and arthritis. At 85, after 3 years of careful diet and exercise, she won two gold medals in the Senior Olympics. Even with serious health problems, life can be productive and happy. When French artist Auguste Renoir was 60, his fingers were too stiff to hold a brush and he was unable to walk. He worked with a brush strapped to his wrist and continued to work for 18 years. At age 100, Iva Blake had one of the most beautiful gardens in Albuquerque. She gardened from a wheelchair, using special tools. Faith in God and a sense of humor also helps. At the age of 80, US President John Quincey Adams, when asked how he was, replied: “Mr. Adams is quite right, all right, thank you. Of course, the house he lives in is a bit dilapidated; its walls are tottering on their foundation; its roof is greatly in need of repair. I think he is soon having to move out of his old house into a stronger one. However, Mr. Adams is quite all right, thank you.”

St Blase

St. Blase, St. Catherine and St. Sebastian in Michelangelo's 'Last Judgment'

Many people today head to churches to have their throats blessed on the occasion of the feast of Saint Blase, bishop and martyr. St Blase lived in the 4th century and was a physician, and bishop of Sebastea (modern Sivas, Turkey). He was martyred by being beaten, attacked with iron carding combs, and beheaded. In iconography, Blase is often shown with the instruments of his martyrdom, steel combs. The similarity of these instruments of torture to wool combs led to his adoption as the patron saint of wool combers in particular, and the wool trade in general. He may also be depicted with crossed candles. Such crossed candles are used for the blessing of throats on the feast day of Blase, the day after Candlemas on the Roman Catholic calendar of saints. Blase is traditionally believed to intercede in cases of throat illnesses. He was particularly remembered for dislodging a fish-bone in the throat of a young child, a miracle just before his death which led to many invoking prayers to him for protection of all throat ailments. His image is also portrayed in the 'Last Judgement' fresco by Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel, seen close to St Catherine and St Sebastian. 

The prayer that is usually recited when throats are blessed is this: “Through the intercession of Saint Blase, Bishop and Martyr, may God protect you from all ailments of the throat and every other illness, in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. AMEN”

Presentation of Jesus

Stained glass window at Baker City Cathedral, Oregon, USA.

It’s been 40 days since Christmas, and on this day, February 2nd, two special ceremonies are remembered. The first and the most popular is the presentation of Jesus to Simeon in the temple, followed by his circumcision. The other ceremony is the one that all mothers who gave birth to a son had to perform, precisely 40 days after the birth of their baby boy. Under Mosaic Law, a woman who had given birth to a boy was considered ritually unclean for 40 days, (80 days if a girl,) at which time she was to present herself to the priests and offer sacrifice - her “purification”. Up until 1969, the liturgical calendar still commemorated as the Purification of Mary, and then the emphasis turned to the Presentation of Jesus. At the beginning of the 8th century, Pope Sergius inaugurated a candlelight procession. At the end of the same century, the blessing and distribution of candles became part of the celebration, giving the feast its popular name “Candlemas Day.” Up to a few years ago, in my native Malta, all the pastors of parish churches used to con-celebrate a Mass with the Bishop, during which Mass, they would offer the Bishop a candle, usually artistically decorated. Only recently the custom was changed slightly whereby the pastors would offer, along with the candle, a food basket or a monetary donation to be distributed to the needy and poor of the diocese. This custom now has also been dropped as prayers are said on this day for those dedicated to the consecrated life, monks, friars, nuns, sisters and brothers who take various vows in their vocation.

The Terry Fox story

Terry Fox of Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, was 22 when he undertook a strenuous trans-Canadian “Marathon of Hope” to raise funds for cancer research. What made his run so special was that in 1977, after it was discovered that he had a rare form of bone cancer, most of one leg had to be amputated. It was while recovering that he got the idea for the marathon. After months of training, he began his run at St. John’s, British Columbia on April 2, 1980. He ended it on September 1, 1980, in Thunder Bay, Ontario. At first, his story was given a few lines on the back pages of Canadian newspapers. By the time he finished, he had inspired millions of people all over the world, helping to raise $24.7 million for research in the process. A movie was produced on his story, and I remember one specific line that had inspired me personally. When some people were making fun of him on the road, Terry was thinking of giving up the marathon, and his coach, played by Robert Duvall took him aside and told him, “Terry, you’re doing this for the millions who believe in you, not for the few jerks who don’t!” Terry’s role was played by Eric Fryer, himself an amputee. Although he was dying, Terry Fox found the strength to do something positive. Alive with hope, he made his last year on earth a meaningful and exciting adventure. He died a national hero on June 28, 1981. The name of the movie was “The Terry Fox Story” and the sub-title was ‘he made an entire nation stand up and cheer.’