St Ignatius of Loyola

Today being the feast of St Ignatius of Loyola, (1491-1556,) the founder of the Society of Jesus, also known as Jesuits, we  pray especially for Pope Francis, who is a Jesuit himself, celebrating the feast of his founder as a Pope. Ignatius never intended to become a priest, but when he was recovering in a hospital from a cannonball shot to his leg, he looked for some romantic books to read, but instead found a Bible and the lives of saints, He became so impressed by what he read that he converted and became a priest, eventually a founder of the Jesuits and a well-loved saint. Today I share with you three of his most famous quotes:

“Act as if everything depended on you; trust as if everything depended on God.”

“O my God, teach me to be generous
to serve you as you deserve to be served
to give without counting the cost
to fight without fear of being wounded
to work without seeking rest
and to spend myself without expecting any reward
but the knowledge that I am doing your holy will. Amen”

“If God causes you to suffer much, it is a sign that He has great designs for you, and that He certainly intends to make you a saint. And if you wish to become a great saint, entreat Him yourself to give you many opportunities for suffering; for there is no wood better to kindle the fire of holy love than the wood of the cross, which Christ used for His own great sacrifice of boundless charity.”

A Maltese Tradition

A popular Maltese tradition is known as ‘Il-Quċċija’ whereby a baby would choose his career on his first birthday. The idea is to place the toddler on his fours and then he would crawl towards a series of objects place next to each other in a straight line. The objects would represent various careers or occupations the child may choose in the future. Among the objects would be a hammer (carpenter, construction worker,) a pen (teacher), a dollar bill or a 5 Euro (business person,) a rosary (priest or nun,) a book (scholar, writer, journalist,) an egg (baker, chef,) stethoscope (doctor,) etc. Other modern jobs and occupations can be added. The child would then pick whatever appeals to him or her, and the parents and other relatives would applaud, as they hope and pray they would choose a respectable career. The photo shows my nephew Peter in January 1995 on his first birthday, as he chose an egg! Certainly, he did not become a baker or a chef, and I don’t believe he is much of a chef or cook, but we are all happy he became a doctor, as did his older brother Julian, who incidentally turns 30 today, his lucky birthday!

Saint Martha

Georg Friedrich Stettner - Jesus at the house of Martha (click to see detail)

"Jesus loved Martha and Mary and Lazarus." This unique statement in John's gospel tells us of the special relationship Jesus had with Martha, her sister, and her brother. Apparently, Jesus was a frequent guest at Martha's home in Bethany, a small village two miles from Jerusalem. We read of three visits in Luke 10:38-42, John 11:1-53, and John 12:1-9. Many of us find it easy to identify with Martha in the story Luke tells. Martha welcomes Jesus and his disciples into her home and immediately goes to work to serve them. Hospitality is paramount in the Middle East and Martha believed in its importance. Imagine her frustration when her sister Mary ignores the rule of hospitality and Martha's work in order to sit and listen to Jesus. Instead of speaking to her sister, she asks Jesus to intervene. Jesus' response is not unkind, which gives us an idea of his affection for her. He observes that Martha is worried about many things that distract her from really being present to him. He reminds her that there is only one thing that is truly important -- listening to him. And that is what Mary has done. In Martha, we see ourselves -- worried and distracted by all we have to do in the world and forgetting to spend time with Jesus. It is, however, comforting to note that Jesus loved her just the same.
The next visit shows how well Martha learned this lesson. She is grieving the death of her brother with a house full of mourners when she hears that Jesus has just come to the area. She gets up immediately and leaves the guests, leaves her mourning, and goes to meet him. Her conversation with Jesus shows her faith and courage. Jesus tells her that he is the resurrection and the life and then goes on to raise her brother from the dead. Our final picture of Martha in Scripture is the one that sums up who she was. Jesus has returned to Bethany some time later to share a meal with his good friends. In this home were three extraordinary people. We hear how brother Lazarus caused a stir when was brought back to life. We hear how Mary causes a commotion at dinner by anointing Jesus with expensive perfume. But all we hear about Martha is the simple statement: "Martha served." She isn't in the spotlight, she doesn't do showy things, she doesn't receive spectacular miracles. She simply serves Jesus. We know nothing more about Martha and what happened to her later. According to a totally untrustworthy legend, Martha accompanied Mary to evangelize France after Pentecost. But wouldn't it be wonderful if the most important thing that could be said about us is "They served"? Martha is the patron saint of servants and cooks.

The Lantern

It was a dark moon-less night. A blind old man was crossing the road with a lantern in his hands, carrying a water jar. A young man walking by almost bumped into him and furiously told him “you are so stupid, if you are blind, what’s the use of a lantern in your hands, especially if day and night are the same to you!” And the old man told him “you should know that I do not light the lantern for myself, but for those imbeciles who come out in the dark like you, and bump into me!” We are so quick to jump to conclusions sometimes, without taking the time to look at the situation from a different perspective. Next time you are quick to judge others, try to look at things also from their point of view.

Verdi not welcome!

When Giuseppe Verdi was still a young man and asked to enter the Milan Conservatory of Music, he was not accepted. The funny thing is that when he had achieved all his success with his famous operas, the same building was eventually named in his memory, ‘Conservatorio di Musica, Giuseppe Verdi.’ Today, concerts and recitals are frequently held in this beautiful hall in Turin, Italy.

 A similar story happened to Elvis Presley when he went to audition at the Grand Ole Opry. The judge asked him what he did for a living, which was driving trucks, and he told Elvis “young man, I would suggest that you keep on trucking and forget about a singing career!” You may remember that something similar happened to Jesus when he returned to his native Nazareth, and the people threw Him out, hurling stones at Him. So if at first you don’t succeed, try again. Verdi and Elvis persevered, and so did Jesus – and so should we.

Back-breaking love

Even though he suffered from a bad back, Steve enjoyed lifting his son up in the air, and then place him on his back as he crawls around the house as if his toddler was riding a horse. Someone once told him, “you will end up with a broken back if you keep this up and not take care of your health.” And Steve answered after a few minutes of thought, “yes I know, but I prefer to suffer from a broken back because I spent time playing with my son than experience a broken heart later on in life, simply because I had ignored him!”

St James and Compostela

The Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela

Today being the feast of Saint James (Santiago in Spanish,) I want to share a brief reflection on this pilgrimage site which every year sees hundreds of pilgrims going to Santiago de Compostela to celebrate the feast of St James. St James is the brother of St John and along with St Peter, they were frequently close to Jesus whenever he wanted to perform a particular miracle. They were with Him at the Transfiguration, the raising of Lazarus, and the Agony in the Garden, even though they slept, instead of praying with Jesus before His passion. It has become a popular tradition that people from every part of the globe make a traditional walk through the northern part of Spain every year, hiking with friends, sleeping in motels and special resting places, dividing their pilgrimage over a few weeks or months. The Cathedral itself was started in 1075 and finished in 1211 and was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1985. The Cathedral is the reputed burial-place of St James the apostle, and it is the destination of the Way of St James, the historical pilgrimage route since the Early Middle Ages. The building is a Romanesque structure with later Gothic and Baroque additions. According to legend, the apostle Saint James the Greater brought Christianity to the Celts in the Iberian Peninsula. In 44 AD he was beheaded in Jerusalem. His remains were later brought back to Galicia, Spain.

Just in case you thought you knew everything....

1. Rubber bands last longer when refrigerated.
2. Peanuts are one of the ingredients in dynamite.
3. There are 293 ways to make change for a dollar.
4. The average person's left hand does 56% of the typing.
5. A shark is the only fish that can blink with both eyes.
6. There are more chickens than people in the world.
7. The longest one-syllable word in the English language is screeched."
8. Almonds are a member of the peach family.
9. Winston Churchill was born in a ladies' room during a dance.
10. Maine is the only state whose name is just one syllable.
11. There are only four words in the English language which end in "dous": tremendous, horrendous, stupendous, and hazardous.
12. Los Angeles' full name is "El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora la Reina de los Angeles de Porciuncula"
13. A cat has 32 muscles in each ear.
14. An ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain.
15. Tigers have striped skin, not just striped fur.
16. The characters Bert and Ernie on Sesame Street were named after Bert the cop and Ernie the taxi driver in Frank Capra's "It's a Wonderful Life."
17. A dragonfly has a life span of 24 hours.
18. A goldfish has a memory span of three seconds.
19. A dime has 118 ridges around the edge.
20. It's impossible to sneeze with your eyes open.
21. In England, the Speaker of the House is not allowed to speak.
22. The microwave was invented after a researcher walked by a radar tube and a chocolate bar melted in his pocket.
23. The average person falls asleep in seven minutes.
24. There are 336 dimples on a regulation golf ball.
25. "Stewardesses" is the longest word that is typed with only the left hand.

Saint Bridget

St Bridget presenting the Rule of the Brigittine Order.

Born of a wealthy family in 1302, Saint Bridget, also known as Birgitta, was related to many members of the royalty. In 1316, at the age of 14, she married Ulf Gudmarsson to whom she bore eight children, four daughters, and four sons. Six survived infancy, which was rare at that time. One daughter is now honored as St. Catherine of Sweden. Bridget became known for her works of charity, particularly toward Östergötland's unwed mothers and their children. When she was in her early thirties, she was summoned to be a lady-in-waiting to the new Queen of Sweden. In 1341 she and her husband went on pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, in Spain.

In 1344, shortly after their return, Ulf died at the Cistercian Alvastra Abbey in Östergötland. After this loss, Birgitta became a member of the Third Order of St. Francis and devoted herself wholly to a life of prayer and caring for the poor and the sick. It was about this time that she developed the idea of establishing the religious community which was to become the Order of the Brigittines, whose principal house at Vadstena was later richly endowed by King Magnus IV of Sweden and his queen. One distinctive feature of the pre-Reformation houses of the Order was that they were double monasteries, with both men and women forming a joint community, though with separate cloisters.
In 1350, a year of jubilee, Bridget braved a plague-stricken Europe to make a pilgrimage to Rome accompanied by her daughter, Catherine, and a small party of priests and disciples. This was done partly to obtain from the Pope the authorization of the new Order. But since the Pope was living in Avignon, France at that time, she had to wait until he returned to Rome.
It was not until 1370 that Pope Urban V, during his brief attempt to re-establish the papacy in Rome, confirmed the Rule of the Order, but meanwhile Birgitta had made herself universally beloved in Rome by her kindness and good works. Save for occasional pilgrimages, including one to Jerusalem in 1373, she remained in Rome until her death on 23 July 1373. She was canonized in the year 1391 by Pope Boniface IX.

St Mary Magdalen

Mary Magdalen on meeting Jesus after His Resurrection

Mary Magdalene, whose liturgical feast we celebrate today, is mentioned as one of the women who ministered to Jesus. The same passage also refers briefly to an act of exorcism performed on her, on an occasion when seven demons were cast out. These women, who earlier "had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities", later accompanied Jesus on his last journey to, and were witnesses to the Crucifixion. She was also the privileged first person to see Jesus risen from the tomb, an honor that was not given to any of the 12 apostles, but only to Mary Magdalene, probably in a way of thanking her for staying with Jesus till the end at the foot of the cross. This is the last mention in the Gospels of Mary of Magdala, who now returned to Jerusalem. She is probably included in the group of women who joined the Apostles in the Upper Room in Jerusalem after Jesus' Ascension and may have also been with the Blessed Mother at Pentecost. 

Tradition as early as the third century identifies Mary Magdalene with Mary of Bethany and with the woman sinner who anointed Jesus' feet, even though she remains unnamed. The identification of Mary Magdalene with Mary of Bethany and "the woman who was a sinner" is reflected in an influential sermon Pope Gregory I gave in 591, which said: "She whom Luke calls the sinful woman, whom John calls Mary of Bethany, we believe to be the Mary from whom seven devils were ejected according to Mark.” Mary had been looked upon as a great sinner, but Christ knew the circumstances that had shaped her life. It was He who had lifted her from despair and ruin. Seven times she had heard His rebuke of the demons that controlled her heart and mind. It was Mary who sat at His feet and learned of Him. It was Mary who poured upon His head the precious anointing oil, and bathed His feet with her tears. Mary stood beside the cross, and was first at the tomb after His resurrection. According to Eastern traditions, she retired to Ephesus and there she died. Her relics were transferred to Constantinople in 886 and are there preserved. Most importantly we honor today a woman who remained faithful to Jesus until the very end of her life.

The Knights of Malta

Popularly known as the Knights of Malta, they were originally nurses and hospitallers who took care of the medical needs of pilgrims to the Holy Land in the Middle Ages. As popular as they are in Malta, along with their history and cultural heritage they imprinted on Malta during the 250 years they spent leading our country between 1530 and 1798, they are also popular in the USA. They do extraordinary philanthropic work in raising funds for charitable cases. In West Point Military Academy, Upstate New York, where thousands of cadets are trained as they join the army and follow in the steps of Patton, Schwartzkopf, and Colin Powell, the chapel has a stained glass window dedicated to the Knights of Malta. I took this photo in the 1980s, and it is featured on the left hand side of the chapel, next to a Knight of the Holy Sepulcher. 

Officially called Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta, the Knights are a Catholic lay military order, traditionally of military, chivalric and noble nature. The order has been called "the smallest sovereign state in the world".

Hand me downs

Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi

Many parents who have several children are used to the idea of clothing passing on from one sibling to another, especially as they outgrow them and they seem to fit the next child. The idea of hand me downs seems to be popular even among royalty, as was seen recently at the wedding of Princess Beatrice to Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, showing the bride wearing a dress and jewelry lent to her by the Queen. The wedding took place in private at Windsor on Friday after the original plans for their big day in May had to be canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. Princess Beatrice wore a vintage dress by Norman Hartnell from the Queen's collection. It was altered to fit her by the Queen's dresser and designer Angela Kelly and designer Stewart Parvin. 

Queen Elizabeth wearing the same dress in a 1962 state occasion.

The Queen also allowed her granddaughter to wear the same tiara that she wore on her wedding day. The diamond fringe tiara was originally made in 1919 for Queen Mary by Garrard and Co. from a diamond necklace given by Queen Victoria for her wedding. The wedding took place at The Royal Chapel of All Saints at Royal Lodge on the Windsor estate. Buckingham Palace said the couple decided to hold a small private ceremony with the Queen, Prince Philip, their parents, and siblings.

Thomas Jefferson's 10 rules

Thomas Jefferson was an American statesman, diplomat, lawyer, architect, philosopher, and Founding Father who served as the third President of the United States from 1801 to 1809. These are 10 rules he advised people to follow:
1. Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today.
2. Never trouble another for what you can do yourself.
3. Never spend your money before you have earned it.
4. Never buy what you don't want because it is cheap.
5. Pride costs more than hunger, thirst, and cold.
6. We seldom repent of having eaten too little.
7. Nothing is troublesome that we do willingly.
8. How much pain the evils have cost us that have never happened?
9. Take things always by the smooth handle.
10. When angry, count to ten before you speak; if very angry count to a hundred.

The Crucifix of Lucca

The Holy Face of Lucca, an 8-foot-tall crucifix with a central role in Christian iconography, has survived more than 1,000 years. Local legend has it that this crucifix was carved at the time of the crucifixion by Nicodemus, and that it arrived in Lucca miraculously in 782. An Italian bishop discovered it on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. The crucifix was put on a ship with no crew and miraculously set sail to the Tuscan coast, where an angel helped guide the relic to its final home in a cathedral in Lucca. For centuries, in a picturesque Tuscan town near the Mediterranean coast, legions of pilgrims came to venerate one of Christendom’s most treasured relics — an eight-foot-tall wooden crucifix known as the “Volto Santo de Lucca.” (The Holy Face of Lucca.) 

The crucifix was shown to be the oldest surviving wooden carving in Europe. And it remains in remarkable condition, the downcast eyes of Christ on the cross still captured in dramatic detail. It is considered as a symbol of pride for a city-state that remained an independent republic for seven centuries, with a celestial defender on its side. By the late Middle Ages, the image was so well known in Northern Europe that it became an object of devotion of the French nobility. “By the face of Lucca” was an oath sworn by William II of England and it is also mentioned in Dante’s Inferno.

Pope St John XXIII

Pope St John XXIII visiting the children's hospital

The beloved Pope St John XXIII was the first Pope to start visits to hospitals and prisons. When he visited the children’s hospital, all the sick children were jumping on their beds with joy to see the pontiff among them. One child remained quietly in his bed, and when the Pope reached out to him, the child asked him if he was really the Pope. After the ‘Yes’ answer from Good Pope John, the child said: “I am very happy, but I cannot see you, because I am blind.” The Pope then moved closer to the boy and said to him: “Carmine, we are all lacking in our eyesight – we pray that the Lord gives us foresight in our hearts so that we can recognize that we are all brothers and sisters.” 

The next day, the Pope went to Regina Coeli prison and told the prisoners: “You could not come to me – so I came to you. Try to rebuild your lives by eliminating one word from your lives: despair. And prepare your lives to do good for the rest of your lives, because you are all children of God.” One of the prisoners knelt down before him and told him “I am delinquent. Is there any hope for me?” Pope John told him:”There is hope for everyone. There is hope for you too. Don’t worry!”

Three new Marian titles

Pope Francis has just introduced three new titles to the Litany of Loreto, which many Catholics recite after the Rosary. This Litany was approved by Pope Sixtus V in 1587, when he removed all the other litanies that were used in popular devotion, and introduced the Litania Lauretania. Over the years a few other titles were added, most recently by Pope St John Paul, ‘Mother of the Church’ in 1980, and ‘Queen of the Family’ in 1995. The present Pope decided to add three very relevant titles. The first one is Mater Misericordiae, Latin for Mother of Mercy, and it will be inserted after Mother of the Church. The second one is Mater Spei, Latin for Mother of Hope, and will be inserted after Mother of Grace. The third one is Solacium Migrantium, Latin for Refuge of Migrants, to be inserted just after Refuge of Sinners. It was expected that Pope Francis would introduce some form of prayer for the migrants who are searching for any kind of hope for their future. And the other two titles reflect his desire to encourage us to show mercy towards each other, especially the poor, the downtrodden, and the thousands of migrants who risk their lives in crossing perilous seas to search for hope. So, in a way, all three titles reflect his wish to help those suffering injustice and inhumanity.  Today we celebrate another Marian feast, Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

One scene that is gone forever

St Francis de Sales Cathedral in Baker City, Oregon in 2006.

St Francis de Sales Cathedral after the renovation in 2008.

Just to conclude this triple series of events and scenes that will never happen again, today I take you to one of my former parishes, the Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales in Baker City, Oregon, where I spent 8 glorious years between 2005 and 2013. The Cathedral was built in 1908, and so I had to celebrate the centennial by doing something special. And this turned out to be a big blessing for the Cathedral sanctuary as we renovated it completely. As you can see from these two photos, which I placed together for a purpose, you can compare what was before and after. Back in 1980, they had built a wall or screen behind the main altar, to coincide with the Vatican II liturgical renewal. The tabernacle, unfortunately, was pushed to the side and the orange/mustardy coloring of the carpet and walls was transformed into something more pleasant to the eye. We also created a Baldacchino right behind the main altar where we placed the tabernacle in a central position. We relocated the 4 statues, two on each side, and the color scheme became blue, as was the new carpet. Some of the pews were also adjusted, The result was something truly special and everyone was pleased with the result. 

The Cathedral during a wedding in 1954

The third photo shows what the Cathedral looked like in the 1950s, and so the triple change was quite dramatic but reverent and at the end very conducive to prayer. A lot of intricate stenciling was discovered during the renovation, and some of it was preserved, just behind the main altar.

More things that will never happen

My first car, a Toyota Tercel

I refer to two other events that you will never see again. The first one is seeing me drive again, as I gave up driving last August. But I look back to the thousands of miles, possibly close to a million miles that I’ve driven in the USA, both in New York and in Oregon. I remember so well my 5 cars, starting with the Toyota Tercel (1982-1994), then my Geo Metro (1994-1998), my Honda CRV (1998-2008) and finally my Chevy Equinox (2008-2016). In Malta, for two years I drove a Toyota Vitz (2016-2019), but my driving here was limited, uneventful and nerve-wracking at times, and certainly never enjoyable, because of the incredible amount of traffic.

Another event which will never be seen again is watching the Concorde flying overhead. This was a daily occurrence when I was in New Hyde Park, NY, as the Concorde would pass twice over us, the first one the Air France at 8:45 AM and then the British Airways, punctually at 9:15 AM when I would be saying the Mass, and had to pause, usually during the Offertory when the sonic boom would make it impossible to be heard. The Concorde was introduced in January 1976 and stopped operating in October 2003.

Things that will never happen again

I refer today to two scenes which will probably never happen again. They both are photos I took in 1981 or 1982. The first one shows me on a large pile of snow, which I had plowed from the schoolyard at Holy Spirit Parish in New Hyde Park. I am there playing the flute, which of course I still do daily, but to see me again on a large amount of snow like that is impossible. Not only because I may never go back to the USA in the wintertime, but also because with the global warming, we will probably never see that amount of snow accumulated, unless you are close to the North Pole. 

The other photo I took on one of the Jumbo Jets flights to New York, when it was safe and acceptable to ask a stewardess if I could visit the cockpit, and say Hello to the pilot and co-pilot. They were always gracious and accommodating, answering all kinds of questions from me. I will search for more ‘never to happen again’ photos from my collection, and share them with you from time to time.

Great comfort from Psalm 23

When we recite the famous Psalm 23, many people don't realize how much consolation, comfort, and reassurance we are praying for. Just reflect on each phrase, and feel Jesus ever so closer to you and your family........

The Lord is my Shepherd.......THAT'S RELATIONSHIP!
I shall not want........................THAT'S SUPPLY!
He makes me lie down in green pastures........THAT'S REST!
He leads me beside still waters......THAT'S REFRESHMENT!
He restores my soul.........THAT'S HEALING!
He leads me in the paths of righteousness........THAT'S GUIDANCE!
For His name sake........THAT'S PURPOSE!
Yes, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death......THAT'S CHALLENGE!
I will fear no evil........THAT'S ASSURANCE!
For thou art with me.......THAT'S FAITHFULNESS!
Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.........THAT'S SHELTER!
You prepare a table before me in the presence of mine enemies......THAT'S HOPE!
You anoint my head with oil....... THAT'S CONSECRATION!
My cup runs over.........THAT'S ABUNDANCE!
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life......THAT'S BLESSING!
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord....... THAT'S SECURITY!
Forever.......THAT'S ETERNITY!

Saint Benedict's Medal

Today being the feast of Saint Benedict, I thought of sharing with you the symbolism of the medal that had widespread use after its formal approval by Pope Benedict XIV in the 18th century. The medal is used by Catholics to ward off spiritual and physical dangers, especially those related to evil, poison, and temptation. On the front of the medal is Saint Benedict holding a cross in his right hand, the object of his devotion, and in the left his rule for monasteries. In the back is a poisoned cup, in reference to the legend of Benedict, which explains that hostile monks attempted to poison him: the cup containing poisoned wine shattered when the saint made the sign of the cross over it (and a raven carried away a poisoned loaf of bread). Above the cup are the words "Crux Sancti Patris Benedicti" (The Cross of our Holy Father Benedict). Surrounding the figure of Saint Benedict are the words “Eius In Obitu Nostro Praesentia Muniamur!” (May we be strengthened by his presence in the hour of our death), since he was always regarded by the Benedictines as the patron of a happy death.

On the back is a cross, containing the letters C S S M L - N D S M D, initials of the words "Crux Sacra Sit Mihi Lux! Non Draco Sit Mihi Dux!" (May the holy cross be my light! May the dragon never be my overlord!). The large C S P B stand for Crux Sancti Patris Benedicti (The Cross of [our] Holy Father Benedict). Surrounding the back of the medal are the letters V R S N S M V - S M Q L I V B, in reference to “Vade Retro Satana! Nunquam Suade Mihi Vana! Sunt Mala Quae Libas. Ipse Venena Bibas!" (Begone Satan! Never tempt me with your vanities! What you offer me is evil. Drink the poison yourself!) and finally, located at the top is the word PAX which means "peace."

What I Believe - part 2

I believe that sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be angry, but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.
I believe that just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to, doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have.
I believe that maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had and what you've learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays you've celebrated.
I believe that it isn't always enough to be forgiven by others. Sometimes you have to learn to forgive yourself.
I believe that no matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn't stop for your grief.
I believe that our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.
I believe that just because two people argue, it doesn't mean they don't love each other. And just because they don't argue, it doesn't mean they do.
I believe that you shouldn't be so eager to find out a secret. It could change your life forever.
I believe that two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different.
I believe that your life can be changed in a matter of hours by people who don't even know you.
I believe that even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you, you will find the strength to help.
I believe that credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.
I believe that the people you care about most in life are taken from you too soon.

What I Believe - part 1

I believe that we don't have to change friends if we understand that friends change.
I believe that no matter how good a friend is, they're going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that.
I believe that true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance. Same goes for true love.
I believe that you can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life.
I believe that it's taking me a long time to become the person I want to be.
I believe that you should always leave loved ones with loving words. It may be the last time you see them.
I believe that you can keep going long after you can't.
I believe that we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel.
I believe that either you control your attitude or it controls you.
I believe that regardless of how hot and steamy a relationship is at first, the passion fades and there had better be something else to take the passion's place.
I believe that heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.
I believe that money is a lousy way of keeping score.
I believe that my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and still have the best time.
I believe that sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you're down, will be the ones to help you get back up.

The present moment

Living in the present moment means saying NO to dark and fearful thoughts about the future. Before you go to sleep at night say the prayer of St. Francis De Sales. He wrote it to help himself deal with his own persistent fears. ‘Do not fear what may happen tomorrow. The same loving Father who cares for you today will care for you tomorrow and every day. Either He will shield you from suffering, or He will give you unfailing strength to bear it. Be at peace then and put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginings.’

Paul Azinger

When golf champion Paul Azinger learned in the early 1990s that he had cancer, his reaction was not anger or self-pity. He said: “When something like this happens, you can scream, ‘Why me, God?’ Or you can do an about-face and run to God. That’s what I did.” Azinger realized that God had a plan for him. After chemotherapy and still facing weeks of radiation treatment, he told reporters, “This whole ordeal has been one of the greatest experiences of my life.....It has given me an opportunity to encourage and inspire a lot of people. It has taught me a lot. Azinger realized that even misfortune can be a way God helps us grow in understanding – and a way He uses us to help others. Some eighteen centuries ago, St. Irenaeus wrote: “It is not you who shape God. It is God who shapes you. If then, you are the work of God, await the hand of the artist, who does all things in due season.”

Ennio Morricone (1928-2020)

Ennio Morricone (1928-2020)

It’s not often that you hear someone says that their favorite movie character is a soundtrack composer. That’s me! I always was a great fan of the music composed by Ennio Morricone. Well, my dear friend died today aged 91. The Oscar winner whose haunting, inventive scores expertly accentuated the simmering, dialogue-free tension of the spaghetti Westerns directed by Sergio Leone, is no more, but will live in the memory of thousands of movie lovers, especially those 500 films that grace his soundtracks. The Italian composer, who scored seven movies for his countryman Leone after they had met as kids in elementary school — died in Rome following complications from a fall last week in which he broke his femur. A native and lifelong resident of Rome whose first instrument was the trumpet, Morricone won his Oscar for his work on Quentin Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight (2015) and also was nominated for his original scores for Terrence Malick’s Days of Heaven (1978), Roland Joffe’s The Mission (1986), Brian De Palma’s The Untouchables (1987), Barry Levinson’s Bugsy (1991) and Giuseppe Tornatore’s Malena (2000).

Known as “The Maestro,” he also received an honorary Oscar in 2007 (presented by Clint Eastwood) for his “magnificent and multifaceted contributions to the art of film music,” and he collected 11 David di Donatello Awards, Italy’s highest film honors. Morricone’s ripe, pulsating sounds enriched Leone’s low-budget shoot-’em-ups A Fistful of Dollars (1964), For a Few Dollars More (1965), The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966) — those three starred Eastwood — Once Upon a Time in the West (1968) and Duck, You Sucker (1971). “The music is indispensable because my films could practically be silent movies, the dialogue counts for relatively little, and so the music underlines actions and feelings more than the dialogue,” Leone, who died in 1989, once said. “I’ve had him write the music before shooting, really as a part of the screenplay itself.” On 13 October 1956, he married Maria Travia, whom he had met in 1950. Travia wrote lyrics to complement her husband's pieces. Her works include the Latin texts for The Mission. They had three sons and a daughter: Marco (1957), Alessandra (1961), the conductor and film composer Andrea (1964), and Giovanni Morricone (1966).

The power of caring

A few years ago, a missionary nun, Sister Ann Mananaro looked after a sickly born infant named Tamiko. The child was very sick, but the nun held her, soothed her and fed her for weeks. When the baby eventually died, someone asked Sister Ann, “What on earth did Tamiko ever have?” Sister Ann’s answer was short, simple and very reassuring: “She had the power to draw a great deal of love out of me!”

Time to reflect and unite

The Declaration of Independence has great significance to the American people because it is what led to their independence from England and King George III in 1776. The Declaration of Independence justified their right to revolt against a government that no longer guaranteed them their natural rights and stated certain ideals that were important for them to have, such as liberty and equality.
One of the most important sentences is “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” The Declaration also plays a significant role in our world today and in recent history. It is because of the words in that document that women are now treated the same as men and that all races are treated equally. Without the words of our founding fathers some of the civil rights that have been passed might never have come to light. 

So let us pray today for those who are still suppressed and cannot enjoy any semblance of freedom. Let us pray in gratitude that we can speak freely, worship according to our personal beliefs (at least until now,) travel according to our needs or wishes, write whatever is on our mind and in our heart, and celebrate joyously every holiday that our country cherishes. But let us also respect one another, whether white or colored, whether rich or poor, whether young or elderly, whether Christian or non-Christian. And let us always remember those who have contributed to the history of the USA, irrespective of their affiliation at the time they lived, irrespective of their ethnic or racial background, and instead of tearing down statues that have been erected decades ago, let us reach out our hands in friendship and live in the freedom we all dream of.

Saint Thomas

Today we honor St Thomas, one of the apostles of Christ, who will always be remembered for his doubting traits. When Jesus appeared to the apostles after the Resurrection, at first Thomas was not there, and told his friends that he would not believe that Jesus was alive, unless he saw with his eyes, and touched with his own hands the wounds of Jesus. Of course the second time, Thomas not only believed, but uttered one of the most quoted phrases in the entire Gospel, "My Lord and my God." This is a phrase that is frequently repeated by many people at the time of the elevation of the Eucharist. Tradition says that St Thomas went to India where he introduced Christianity, and where his remains were preserved, until they were transferred to Mesopotamia in 232 AD, a ceremony organized by an Indian King, out of respect to the great Apostle. In some Christian areas of India, today is considered a holy day, and he is also known, as this icon represents, 'St Thomas of India.'
Thomas' wound of disbelief was healed by touching and seeing Jesus' wounds. So it wasn't by chance that Thomas was absent, then came and heard, he heard and doubted, he doubted and touched, and finally he touched and believed.

The Music Typewriter

Many of our young people don’t even remember the typewriter, since a keyboard for them is the one they use on their laptop, computer, or Ipad. Yet the typewriter was one of the most ingenious inventions of the last century. Who knows how many thousands of books, millions of articles and billions of letters were typed with an Olivetti, and Imperial or any other typewriter. Then I came across another similar invention, with the same technique – a music typewriter! The Keaton Music Typewriter was patented in 1936 and came with 14 keys. By the 1950s, it received an update and started to feature 33 keys on the circular keyboard! The typewriter worked by putting a sheet below the typing mechanism and then the notation marker would begin to type. It might sound complicated, but the truth was that the musical typewriters made it easier to write sheet music. However, it was important for the composer to work very carefully since they needed to start over with a new sheet if they made a mistake. The machine had 3 space keys that let users move the typehead through the units. Now, of course, we have programs that help us type the notes on a music program, one which used frequently very successfully.

Blessed Nazju Falzon

The Maltese Islands today celebrate the feast of a holy cleric who was loved and cherished especially by the British sailors who happen to be stationed in Malta. Back in 2001, Pope St. John Paul II beatified three holy people in Malta. The first one was St George Preca, eventually canonized in 2007, the second one was the mystic Blessed Adeodata Pisani, a Benedictine nun, and the third one was Blessed Nazju (Ignatius) Falzon. He was born on July 1, 1813. He had three brothers, two of whom became lawyers and later priests. He studied for the priesthood, received the minor orders like tonsure and acolyte, but was never ordained a priest as he felt he was not worthy to celebrate the Eucharist.
He learned how to speak English and taught catechism to young children as well as sailors and soldiers, since Malta was still a British colony and many of them were present in Malta. They trusted him with leaving personal belongings with him, as they feared not surviving during their travels and war-time confrontations. This way he would pass on these belongings to their respective families, in case they died. Nazju Falzon was also available to give advice about legal matters without any payment, although he never actually practiced as a lawyer. He also helped many sailors and soldiers who were Anglican and used to gather them in a Jesuit church, close to the University of Malta. Some of them converted and even became priests. He published a magazine entitled “The Comfort of the Christian Soul.” He was well-loved and many people found comfort and protection with him.
He died on his birthday, July 1, 1865, when he turned 52. His process of beatification started in 1882 and was declared Servant of God in 1889. But 100 more years had to pass for him to be proclaimed Venerable. Then he was beatified by Pope John Paul II in May 2001, after another miracle through his intercession was approved by the Vatican.