End of the Year prayer

First things first – Dear Coronavirus, on your first anniversary of showing up in China, we want to tell you Good Riddance! We’ve had enough of you. You’ve caused too much heartache. You’ve devastated too many families, you’ve destroyed so many countries, and you’ve left a trail of destruction everywhere. With 85 million cases and almost 2 million deaths, you brought the entire globe to a standstill, with lockdowns, businesses shut down, and hospitals overflowing. You’ve even triggered new strains and other mutations. Now we say to you: GET LOST, once and for all.

Almighty Father, You are so good. You are faithful and gracious and You have blessed us beyond measure. Thank you for everyday blessings to which we have become accustomed, but never want to take for granted: clean drinking water, electricity, food in my pantry, hot showers, a roof over our head, and a bed to sleep in. Thank you for legs that carry me where I need to go and hands that enable me to accomplish many things. As GK Chesterton used to say, ‘we are grateful for our stockings being filled with gifts – let’s thank God that our stockings have legs.’ Thank you for my hearing and my vision and for a sound, healthy mind. Thank you our family, our friends, our jobs, our neighbors. Thank you for freedom to attend our church, for our pastors, and for our many relationships.

Lord God, thank you for life and laughter, for health and happiness, for relationships and memories.

Thank you, too, for the lessons learned and the tears we’ve cried because of Your ability to grow us through them.

Thank You for Your comfort and Your presence, in light of good days and bad.

Thank You for what we have now, for what we had yesterday, and for what You will continue to give tomorrow. Let us never take You for granted, but to always be grateful for every good and perfect gift that comes from You.

Thank you, God for the times You have said "no." They have helped us depend on You so much more.

Thank you, God, for unanswered prayer. It reminds us that You know what's best for us, even when our opinion differs from Yours.

Thank You, Lord, for the things you have withheld from us. You have protected us from what we may never realize.

Thank You, God, for the doors You have closed. They have prevented us from going where You would rather not have us go.

Thank you, Lord, for the physical pain You've allowed in our lives, especially the fear of getting the coronavirus. It has helped us more closely relate to Your sufferings on our behalf.

Thank you, Lord, for the alone times in our life. Those times have forced us to lean in closer to You; and for the uncertainties we've experienced. They have deepened our trust in You.

Thank You, Lord, for the losses we have experienced. They have been a reminder that You are our greatest gain; also for the tears we have shed. They have kept our heart soft and always prepared for the unexpected.

Thank You, God, for those people in my life whom You have called home to be with You. Their absence from this earth keeps my heart longing for heaven.

Thank You, Father, that You know us, You hear us, and You see our tears. And yet You never judge us, but You forgive us and always gives us another chance, another year, which we start tomorrow.

Thank you for my new IPad from my family, for the generous gifts from many of our residents, for 105 mince-pies, 65 oranges, nuts and dried fruit, but please let everyone know that I don't like chocolate!

More Christmas memories

Before we end this year I share with you two more Christmas memories in the two other parishes I served in Eastern Oregon. The first photo shows the Fontanini Nativity I left for St Francis of Assisi parish in Bend. It shows the complete set in front of the altar. I had originally intended to build it up year by year as they were quite expensive. I bought the Blessed Mother myself in memory of my mother, and invited the parishioners to sponsor the other characters, a few every year. But the response was so overwhelming that we bought the whole set for Christmas of 2015. In fact, I ordered them in time to get a big discount, placing the order just a few minutes before the sale was going off. It is now enjoyed every Christmas season as it evokes a prayerful atmosphere.

The second photo shows the small church of St Elizabeth of Hungary in John Day, my first Oregon parish where I stayed for 2 and a half years, before the Bishop asked me to go to the Cathedral in Baker City. It was a country mission church, which had also two other mission churches which I had to reach every weekend, a 130 mile round trip, to celebrate Mass for 6 to 10 people.

Christmas memories

My recollection today takes me back to my parish at the Baker City Cathedral, in Oregon. I arrived there in 2005 and was determined to lead a renovation of the inside of the Cathedral, to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the building in 1908. The first photo shows the finished sanctuary, where I placed the tabernacle in the center, under the new baldacchino. Then I placed the nativity in front of the altar, whereby one can see the whole transition of Christ’s life right there in front of you. From the manger to the Eucharist on the altar and in the tabernacle, to the crucifix and the Resurrected image of Jesus in the apse painting. 

The second photo shows me near the nativity that used to be erected on the side.  The 8 years I spent there were glorious years which I will treasure as much as the parishioners will cherish our times together. 

The Holy Innocents

'The Blessed Mother welcoming the Holy Innocents' by Peter Paul Rubens

Today we honor and remember the unknown number of boys massacred by Herod at the time when Jesus was born. The Massacre of the Innocents is the biblical narrative of the cruel infanticide committed by Herod. According to the Gospel of Matthew, Herod ordered the execution of all young male children in the village of Bethlehem, so as to avoid the loss of his throne to a new-born King of the Jews whose birth had been announced to him by the Magi. An Old Testament prophecy was thus fulfilled: "Then was fulfilled that which was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet, saying, A voice was heard in Ramah, Weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children." The number of infants killed is not stated, however the Holy Innocents have been claimed as the first Christian martyrs. Today we remember also the millions of babies killed through abortion, who may be considered as the modern martyrs, the modern Holy Innocents. With them we can remember all martyrs, especially priests and religious who were killed in their churches while serving their congregations.

A prayer for families

On this feast of the Holy Family of Nazareth, I offer this Family Prayer: May all families be protected from harm, misfortune and sadness. May they enjoy the privilege of spending precious quality time together, to share joy, celebrate happy occasions and to be there for each other when there is need for comfort. May good health prevail and there be ever-present faith in God’s grace and mercy. May they always be protected and blessed, those absent and those present, all the living, the sick and the dead.  We pray for couples who are trying to conceive and have a child. For those who are struggling with too many mouths to feed and too little income to provide enough for each of them. And we pray especially for those who are struggling in their relationship, and may have separated temporarily, that they may find professional help to see them back together again. Let us remember that like branches on a tree, we all grow in different directions, but our roots remain as one. Keep everyone safe from the coronavirus and let us pray for those affected by it, and remember those lost by this pandemic. On the example of the Holy Family, may we strive for unity, patience with each other, tolerance and understanding.

St. Stephen

Annibale Carracci - The stoning of St. Stephen

I realized that over the past 9 years since I’ve been doing this blog, I never placed a post on St. Stephen, probably because it is close to Christmas and I add a few other reflections on the seasonal festivities. And since he is the name of my Guardian Angel, I think he deserves an appropriate post on his feast day. St. Stephen was a Christian deacon and the first Christian martyr, dying in 36 AD in Jerusalem. He was a foreign-born Jew who spoke Greek. It happened that there were some complaints that the care of the elderly widows was being neglected by the Hebrew-speaking majority. The apostles presented the matter to the congregation and, instructing it to select seven deacons for this community service. They were chosen and ordained, and Stephen, became the best known of the seven. Stephen was bitterly opposed to the Temple of Jerusalem and its sacrificial cult. He revered the law of Moses but considered the temple cult an illegitimate part of it. Stephen seems to think of Jesus as the “restorer of Mosaic religion.” In his discourse, he sets Aaron over against Moses, the Temple over against the tent, and Solomon, who built the Temple, over against David. For Stephen, the building of the Temple was a bit of idolatry, comparable to Aaron’s golden calf; “the Most High does not dwell in houses made with hands.” His martyrdom is described in detail in in the Acts of the Apostles, (chapter 7) where we see him confronting the Sanhedrin about his defense of the faith. This defense before the rabbinic court enraged his Jewish audience, and he was taken out of the city and stoned to death. Saul was present at the stoning, but did not participate, but those who did placed their clothes next to him. Stephen’s final words, a prayer of forgiveness for his attackers, echo those of Jesus on the cross. Stephen is the patron saint of deacons and stonemasons.  

A different Christmas

In the stable of Bethlehem this year, things are going to be a a little different than usual. When they arrived at the stable where Jesus was to be born, Mary and Joseph found a farmer watching the animals, and they were surprised he had to take their temperature. He asked them to use the sanitizer and reprimanded them for not wearing a mask! When Jesus was born, the shepherds arrived wearing masks, but the fruit, eggs and milk they brought with them, Mary could not touch them before a week passes by. Then when the Three Kings arrived, since they came from a foreign country, the poor guys had to be quarantined for 14 days, and instead of offering Jesus his gifts on the Epiphany, they gave them to Him on the 20th of January. And when the Angels appeared to proclaim ‘Glory to God and Peace on Earth,’ they informed the people of Bethlehem that the vaccine will not arrive before March or April. But gathered around the manger where Jesus lay, they rejoiced with the new baby, as He screamed and wailed, but surrounded by a bright light, and everyone knew that he was a very special baby – the Son of God and Son of Mary and Joseph. Thankfully the new-born baby did not have to wear a mask!

Christmas at home

Over the years my parents have always decorated our home with Christmas symbols, including a large presepio, a Nativity display that my father created for us, the whole town of Bethlehem. They also set up a canopy with baby Jesus and two angels in the entrance of our house, something which I refer to as a masterpiece, because they put so much love and attention to it. These photos show my parents next to it, back in the 1990s. 

Surrounding baby Jesus are pots of grown vetch, a seed that grows very white, as long as it is grown in the dark. It is called ġulbiena in Maltese and is usually planted in early December and watered every few days, until a few days before Christmas. It may look similar to alfalfa, but it’s used frequently by many families and churches for the Christmas season. It will be snow white when displayed outside in the light around baby Jesus, but then it starts turning green after a few days. In my chapel I got into he habit of planting the ġulbiena twice, once around December 8, and another time around December 22, so that I can change it and it will look white on January 1st. Then the people will ask me 'how did you keep it so white Father?' My answer is 'Magic, and Prayers!'

Happy Christmas in 38 languages

Arabic: Idah Saidan Wa Sanah Jadidah
Argentine: Feliz Navidad
Armenian: Shenoraavor Nor Dari yev Pari Gaghand
Basque: Zorionak eta Urte Berri On

Bulgarian: Chestita Koleda
Croatian: Sretan Bozic
Danish: Glædelig Jul
Dutch: Zalig Kerstfeast
English: Merry Christmas
Esperanto: Gajan Kristnaskon
Finnish: Hyvaa joulua
French: Joyeux Noel
Gaelic: Nollaig chridheil agus Bliadhna mhath ùr
German: Froehliche Weihnachten
Hawaiian: Mele Kalikimaka
Hindi: Christmas Mubarak Ho
Hungarian: Kellemes Karacsonyi unnepeket
Icelandic: Gledileg Jol
Indonesian: Selamat Hari Natal

Irish: Nollaig Shona Dhuit
Italian: Buon Natale
Japanese: Shinnen omedeto. Kurisumasu Omedeto
Latin: Descendit de coelis Salvator mundi. Gaudeamus
Lithuanian: Linksmu Kaledu
Maltese: Il-Milied it-Tajjeb u s-Sena l-Ġdida mimlija risq u hena

Nepalese: Christmas Ko Suba Kamana
Norwegian: Gledelig Jul 

Pakistani: Christmas mu barako

Peru: Feliz Navidad y un Venturoso Año Nuevo
Philipines: Maligayan Pasko at Manibagong Bagong Taon
Polish: Wesotych Swiat Bozego Narodzenia
Portuguese: Feliz Natal
Rumanian: Sarbatori vesele
Russian: Pozdrevlyayu s prazdnikom Rozhdestva is Novim Godom
Slovakian: Vesele vanoce
Spanish: Feliz Navidad
Swahili: Heri kwa noeli na baraka nyingi kwa mwaka mpya
Thai: Sawadee Pee Mai
Turkish: Noeliniz Ve Yeni Yiliniz Kutlu Olsun
Vietnamese: Chung Mung Giang Sinh
Welsh: Nadolig Llawen

To all my friends

      

                                   *
                                                                        This
                                                                       Xmas,
                                                                      I would
                                                                    like to put
                                                                up a tree in my
                                                             heart, and instead
                                                           of hanging presents,
                                                         I would like to put the
                                                        names of all my friends.
                                                    Close friends and not so close
                                                 friends. The old friends, the new
                                              friends. Those that I see every day
                                         and the ones that I rarely see. The ones
                                       that I always remember and the ones that
                                    I sometimes forget. The ones that are always
                                there and the ones that seldom are. The friends of
                               difficult times and the ones of happy times. Friends
                         who, without meaning to, I have hurt, or without meaning
                     to, have hurt me. Those that I know well and those I only know
                   by name. Those that owe me little and those that I owe so much. 
               My humble friends and my important friends. The names of all those
              that have passed through my life no matter how fleetingly. A tree with
                                                  very deep roots and very long
                                                    and strong branches so that
                                                     their names may never be
                                                     plucked from my heart. So
                                                       that new names from all
                               over may join the existing ones. A tree with a very
                                pleasant shade so that our friendship may take a
                                moment of rest from the battles of life. May the
                                  happy moments of Christmas brighten every 
                                    day of 2021. These are my sincere wishes.

Christmas Flowers

Two Christmas Flowers are very popular at this time of the year, and this is a little information on each of them:

The Poinsettia - (Euphorbia pulcherrima) is a culturally and commercially important plant species of the diverse family that is indigenous to Mexico and Central America. It is particularly well known for its red and green foliage and is widely used in Christmas floral displays. It derives its common English name from Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first United States Minister to Mexico, who introduced the plant into the United States in 1825. There now at least 6 varieties, including the white, jingle bell and marble poinsettia, besides the ever popular red one.

The Christmas Cactus - (Schlumbergera) is a small genus of cacti with six species found in the coastal mountains of south-eastern Brazil. Plants grow on trees or rocks in habitats which are generally shady with high humidity and can be quite different in appearance from their desert-dwelling cousins. Most species of Schlumbergera have stems which resemble leaf-like pads joined one to the other and flowers which appear from areoles at the joints and tips of the stems. In Brazil, the genus is referred to as Flor de Maio (May flower), reflecting the period in which they flower in the Southern Hemisphere. This genus contains the popular house plants known by a variety of names including Christmas Cactus, Thanksgiving Cactus, Crab Cactus and Holiday Cactus. In Europe, these plants are largely produced for sale in the period before Christmas, and are called:  Weihnachtskaktus in German, Cactus de Noël in French, and Cacto de Navidad in Spanish.

8 Wisconsin sisters

A group of 8 Catholic sisters, all of them in their 90s and living in the same convent, died this month of coronavirus, top from left: Sister Cynthia Borman, Sister Joan Emily Kaul, Sister Lillia Langreck, Sister Michael Marie Laux. Bottom from left: Sister Mary Elva Wiesner, Sister Dorothy MacIntyre, Sister Mary Alexis Portz, Sister Rose M. Feess. They were educators, music teachers and community activists who served tirelessly for those living in poverty. They all died at a Wisconsin retirement home this month, a gut-wrenching loss that highlighted the risks of infection in communal residences, even as administrators said they took precautions against infection. The deaths took place at Notre Dame of Elm Grove, about eight miles west of Milwaukee, in Waukesha County. Like most of the United States, Wisconsin is struggling to contain the spread of the coronavirus, and it has recorded at least 482,443 cases and 4,566 deaths since the beginning of the pandemic. There have been 34,176 cases in Waukesha. The home was converted into a residence for elderly and sick sisters on a site historically used as an orphanage for children in the area in 1859. The first of the eight women died on December 9, and the others in the days that followed, through last Tuesday. The deaths at the residence reflected losses at similar facilities. At the Convent of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in Livonia, Michigan, 12 Felician sisters died in April and May, followed by a 13th sister in June, of Covid-19. In Wisconsin, at least five sisters at Our Lady of the Angels Convent, in a suburb of Milwaukee, died, starting in April. All five nuns were discovered to have the virus only after their deaths. 

Nazareth

The origin of the name ‘Nazareth’ is from the Jewish ‘Natzer’ which means a branch, to signify the branch or root of Jesse, which is mentioned in Isaiah’s prophecy, referring to Jesus as a descendant of Jesse. That is why we do the Jesse tree, and list the genealogical ancestors of Jesus. Nazareth was not well-known at the time of Jesus, situated between Egypt and Mesopotamia near the Mediterranean Sea. Back then it had a population of 1,500, and is not even mentioned in the Old Testament at all. Today Nazareth is the capital of the Arab world as it is the largest city in the north of Israel. At the moment the population is about 78,000, one third of which are Christians, and two-thirds are Muslims. It is a much-visited city as the place here Jesus lived with his parents. In it there is also the church of the Annunciation where the Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary to announce to her that she was chosen to be the Mother of God. The present church was built after the first one was demolished in 356 AD.

Bethlehem

In Arabic, Bethlehem means ‘house of meat’, while in Jewish, it means ‘house of bread.’ Could it be coincidence that the Bread of Eternal Life eventually became the Body of Christ when Jesus said ‘Take and eat...this is my Body.’? Bethlehem is also mentioned in the book of Samuel (Sam 17:12) when Samuel left for Bethlehem to anoint King David. That is why Bethlehem is also called the ‘City of David.’ Later on, the prophet Micah elevated Bethlehem further when he said ‘Bethlehem, Ephrata, you are the smallest among the cities of Judah, but the Lord will choose from your midst One who will lead his people.’ (Mic 5:2) From then onwards, the Jewish people kept waiting for the Messiah to be born in Bethlehem. After Jesus was born, this little village which was not very populated, and only 10 kilometres from Jerusalem, was destroyed in the 2nd century during the reign of Emperor Hadrian. But St. Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine was able to reconstruct the village in 327 AD, just after the persecutions have ended, and even commissioned the church of the Nativity. Some damage was done to the church in 529, and was rebuilt by the Emperor Justinian I one hundred years later. Today it is a city with 25,000 inhabitants, and still visited by many pilgrims to see the place where Jesus was born.

Happy Birthday Pope Francis

Today Pope Francis turns 84. We wish him the best of health as he continues to lead the church through a turbulent period in history. He was planning to visit Malta this past May, but his visit was cancelled because of the coronavirus.  We hope that he will do this trip this coming year or the next. Jorge Bergoglio was born in Buenos Aires on December 17, 1936 and was ordained to the priesthood on December 13, 1969. He was consecrated as bishop on June 27, 1992 and created Cardinal on February 21, 2001. He was elected Pope after the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, on March 13, 2013. Ad Multos Annos Papa Francesco.

A Playmobil Nativity

A few years ago, while visiting my family in Malta, I found in my nephews' collection of toys a Christmas Nativity set produced by Playmobil. I also found out that these little figures are assembled in Malta, in a big factory which was built over three decades ago. Playmobil is a line of toys produced by the Brandstatter Group, headquartered in Zirndorf, Germany. This ever growing company was started in 1975 and even though the plastic pieces are made in Germany, they are all assembled in Malta, which gives every box the distinctive honor of seeing "Made in Malta" on every box produced. The signature Playmobil toy is a 7.5 cm (approximately 3 inch) tall (1:24 scale) human figure, in its early days known as a "klicky". A wide range of accessories, buildings and vehicles, as well as many sorts of animals, are also part of the Playmobil line. Playmobil toys are produced in themed series of sets as well as individual special figures and playsets. New products and product lines developed by a 50-strong development team are introduced frequently, and older sets are discontinued. These practices have helped give rise to a sizeable community of collectors. Collector activities extend beyond collecting and free-form play and include customization, and the creation of photo stories and stop-motion films. This Nativity comes complete with camels, kings, rabbits and even Santa Claus.

Advent sunset

A spectacular sunset occurred yesterday over the skies of  Malta. It just happens that sunset at this time of the year takes place around 4:30 PM, when I am celebrating Mass in my chapel. But yesterday I saw a luminous, cloudy sky and ran up to the third floor around 4:15 PM to capture a spectacular sunset with my camera. Luckily, the distant hills of Rabat and Mdina were not cluttered with cranes and skyscrapers, and this is probably the only direction which is still unspoiled by the modern technological and structural annoyances which dominate the Maltese skyline, just about wherever you look. The Baroque churches of Rabat and Mdina, as well as the belfry of the Carmelite church add a little touch of the spiritual and the sacred to this scene. I share this ominous photo with you today as we continue our Advent journey towards Christmas.

Christmas on Long Island

My memories of Christmas on Long Island New York are very vivid for me, as I spent over 20 years there, experiencing one colorful and illuminated Christmas after another. People would decorate their homes with extravagant lighting, creating a veritable village with all kinds of characters, but always with a prominent display of the nativity, usually in plastic figures lit up from inside. 

Over the last few years, people have been more high-tech with lights synchronized to music. One of these days I will share with you one of these spectacular displays from YouTube. But for today, enjoy these photos I took in the 1980s. These are of course not digital photos, so the resolution is not the very best, but nostalgic and special nonetheless.

Angels and children

The image of Angels has always impressed me and since they appeared on the cave of Bethlehem when Jesus was born announcing “Glory to God in the highest,” they signalled to the shepherds where to find the new-born baby, who came to adore Him and pay Him homage, as did the Three Kings later on. Naturally Angels remind me of innocent children in their unpredictability, innocence and spontaneity.  I always cherished the time I spent with them, celebrating Mass for them, visiting them in their classes, and presenting talks to them over the years in various parishes, in the USA and Malta.  Christmas pageants also feature many children dressed as angels. It is a joy seeing little children running around with a care-free attitude, tirelessly chasing each other and playing freely with no concern about any of the world’s problems. Maybe we should learn a big lesson from them, and enjoy every moment and share joy, happiness, smiles and sheer exuberance. Too bad that childhood is so short-lived, and soon we’re facing college courses, dating, driving in heavy traffic and eventually raising a family themselves. Too bad we cannot remain like angels, ageless and ever so young.   

Our Lady of Guadalupe

The image of Our Lady of Guadalupe is one of the most treasured among Mexicans and Catholics alike. It all started in 1531 when an Aztec Indian named Juan Diego was walking through the Tepayac hill country in central Mexico. Near Tepayac Hill he encountered a beautiful woman surrounded by a ball of light as bright as the sun. Speaking in his native tongue, the beautiful lady identified herself: "My dear little son, I love you. I desire you to know who I am. I am the ever-virgin Mary, Mother of the true God who gives life and maintains its existence. I desire a church in this place where your people may experience my compassion. Here I will see their tears; I will console them and they will be at peace. So run now to Tenochtitlan and tell the Bishop all that you have seen and heard." Juan, age 57, and who had never been to Tenochtitlan, nonetheless immediately responded to Mary's request. He went to the palace of the Bishop-elect Fray Juan de Zumarraga and requested to meet immediately with the bishop. After a few days, Juan met with the bishop who, on hearing his story, asked him to ask the Lady to provide a sign as a proof of who she was. Juan dutifully returned to the hill and Mary told him to go to the top of the hill and cut the flowers that are growing there, a full bloom of Castilian roses growing on frozen ground - a miracle in itself! Removing his tilma, a poncho-like cape made of cactus fiber, he cut the roses and carried them back to Mary. She rearranged the roses and told him: "My little son, this is the sign I am sending to the Bishop. Tell him that with this sign I request his greatest efforts to complete the church I desire in this place. Show these flowers to no one else but the Bishop. You are my trusted ambassador. This time the Bishop will believe all you tell him." At the palace, Juan once again came before the bishop and several of his advisors. He told the bishop his story and opened the tilma letting the flowers fall out. But it wasn't the beautiful roses that caused the bishop and his advisors to fall to their knees; for there, on the tilma, was a picture of the Blessed Virgin Mary precisely as Juan had described her. The next day, after showing the Tilma at the Cathedral, Juan took the bishop to the spot where he first met Mary. 

The actual image of Mary in the Basilica at Guadalupe.

Within six years of this apparition, six million Aztecs had converted to Catholicism. The tilma shows Mary as the God-bearer - she is pregnant with her Divine Son. Since the time the tilma was first impressed with a picture of the Mother of God, it has been subject to a variety of environmental hazards including smoke from fires and candles, water from floods and torrential downpours and, in 1921, a bomb which was planted by anti-clerical forces on an altar under it. There was also a cast-iron cross next to the tilma and when the bomb exploded, the cross was twisted out of shape, the marble altar rail was heavily damaged and the tilma was...untouched! Indeed, no one was injured in the Church despite the damage that occurred to a large part of the altar structure. In 1977, the tilma was examined using infrared photography and digital enhancement techniques. Unlike any painting, the tilma shows no sketching or any sign of outline drawn to permit an artist to produce a painting. Further, the very method used to create the image is still unknown. The image is inexplicable in its longevity and method of production. It can be seen today in a large cathedral built to house up to ten thousand worshipers. It is, by far, the most popular religious pilgrimage site in the Western Hemisphere.

Origami Christmas

While I was stationed at Holy Spirit parish in New Hyde Park, New York, I became interested in origami, and I created an Origami Christmas Nativity in 1983. It features Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus, the three kings and three camels, a donkey and a cow, a deer, some pine trees, some colorful boxes and a large star, besides a number of colorful cranes hanging on the tree, the symbol of peace. 

The Japan Airlines Office in Manhattan used to set up a huge Christmas Tree, with ornaments created by Japanese children living in New York. It was on display for a the Christmas season, and I always admired the intricate work needed to come up with clever ideas of how to use origami in an inventive way.

Nativity from 1993

One of the most meaningful photos I took was back in 1993, when I was stationed at St Anthony of Padua parish in Rocky Point, New York. I was preparing my Christmas cards for that year and thought of connecting the nativity with the crucifixion, the beginning and the end of Christ’s life. So I placed the figures of Mary and Joseph in the foreground with the crucifix out of focus in the middle, set at a distance. The result was very meaningful and I share this photo with you today as we meditate on the journey Jesus was prepared to take, from the crib in the stable at Bethlehem to the Cross on Calvary, 33 years later.

The Whispering Gallery

In St. Pauls’ Cathedral in London, similar to St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, there are steps that will lead you to the cupola and get a bird’s eye view of the city. The corridor that leads to the gallery is called the Whispering Gallery because of the echo it produces when someone speaks ever so softly. Even if a person is on one side of the dome, a tiny whisper can be heard on the other side, many feet away. It is said that years ago, a poor shoemaker told his girlfriend that he doesn’t have enough money to buy more leather for his trade, and so he could not marry her. On the other side of the dome, someone overheard the comment and tried to help them. This person walked behind the shoemaker and followed him to see where he lives. Then this kind gentleman bought some leather and made sure it was delivered to the poor shoemaker, making sure the donor remains anonymous. Everything turned out beautifully as the shoemaker kept working, made a little more money, and was able to marry his sweetheart. Years later it was discovered that the kind gentleman who donated the leather was none other than the Prime Minister of England, William Gladstone. Let us go through life without doing anything extraordinary, but simple ordinary things with a lot of love and concern towards others, as William Gladstone did. He served as Prime Minister for 12 years, spread over four terms beginning in 1868 and ending in 1894.

Immaculate Conception

Just imagine the millions of Christmas cards being exchanged right now, going across the globe, many of which are images of the Blessed Virgin Mary, frequently with baby Jesus and St Joseph. Just imagine the thousands upon thousands of nativities being set up and displayed around the world with the Holy Family taking center stage for the Advent and Christmas season.

The 38 million links and articles to the word ‘Blessed Mother’ produced by Google, and the 3 million images produced when you type the words ‘Our Lady’ are proof of how dominant she still is in the Catholic church and in Christian culture around the world. And when I think that more than half of the parishes in my home country of Malta are dedicated to the Blessed Mother, it shows the devotion people still have towards her. Many were also the classical works written in sacred music, starting with various Gregorian chant melodies and continuing with the Magnificat, Salve Regina, Vespers of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and so much more by many great composers. They all get their inspiration from the image of Mary, conceived without sin, a privilege that was only granted to her, and no one else. Just as Jesus was considered the new Adam, so Mary is considered the new Eve. 
In 1760, Pope Clement XIII authorized the celebration of the Immaculate Conception in the Catholic church. But it was only in 1854 that Pope Pius IX, after consulting with all the bishops of the world, pronounced and proclaimed the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception. This was a rare event and it took another 96 years to have another Dogma proclaimed, this time the Assumption of Mary in 1950. Then another event happened that affirmed the Immaculate Conception of Mary, only 4 years later, when in 1858, the apparition at Lourdes took place, Mary revealing herself to Bernadette Soubirous as the Immaculate Conception. The Encyclical Ineffabilis Deus that proclaimed the Dogma proclaims that the Blessed Virgin Mary, “in the first instance of her conception, by a singular privilege and grace granted by God, in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the human race, was preserved free from all stain of original sin, is a doctrine revealed by God and therefore to be believed firmly and constantly by all the faithful.”

Please remember my brother Paul, who 10 years ago entered eternal life on December 8, 2010. May God grant him eternal peace, as well as comfort and consolation to his wife Kay, his brothers and sisters, nephews and relatives, and friends.

Animals in the Bible

                  
I did a little research about the animals that are listed in the Bible. Combining any mention of animals or group of animals, this is the list that I came up with, in alphabetical order. Some of them may sound strange to you, as they did to me, but they are listed as animals, and so I included them too, 122 in all.

Adder (a hissing viper,) animal, ant, ape, asp, ass,
Badger, basilisk, (a type of serpent,) bat, bear, beast, bee, beetle, beeves (beef cow,) behometh (gigantic beasts,) bird, bittern (type of crane,) boar, bullock, burnt offering.
Calf, camel, cankerworm, caterpillar, cattle, chameleon, chamois, cockatrice (poisonous serpent), coney (mountain animals,) cormorant (type of pelican,) cow, crane, cuckoo.
Dog, doleful creatures, dove, dragon, dromedary.
Eagle, egg, elephant.
Fallow-deer, fatling, ferret, fiery serpent, fish, flea, fleece, fox, frog.
Gier eagle, gnat, goat, goldencalf, grasshopper, greyhound,
Hare, hart, hawk, he-ass, heifer, hen, herd, heron, hind, hoof, hornet, horse, horse-leech,
Insects,                    
Kangaroo, kid, kine (buffaloes,) kite.
Lamb, lapwing, leopard, leviathan, lice, lions, lizards, locust.                                                                 Mole, moth, mouse, mule,
Night-hawk
Osprey, ossifrage (a bearded vulture,) ostrich, owl, ox
Palmer-worm, partridge, peacock, pelicans, pigeon, pygarg (white antelope.)
Quails,                    
Ram, raven. roe,
Satyr (hairy goat,) scapegoat, serpent, sheep, snail, sparrow, spider, sponge, stork, swallow, swan, swine.
Tortoise, turtle.                
Unicorn,            
Viper,
Weasel, whale, wolf, worm.

An Advent Prayer

                          

I wrote this prayer which I used today in my homily. Quite a few parishioners asked for a copy. And so, here it is for everyone to reflect on as we prepare for the birth of Jesus:

Lord God, deliver me from a false Christmas – that Christmas which robs me from a Christian spirit and fills me only with an abundance of material things. Deliver us from the frenetic rush which leaves us with no time for You. Deliver us from the buying of things we don’t need, we cannot wear or we cannot use. Deliver us from the moods which eliminate the true Christian spirit this season creates. For once, dear Lord, make us get rid of the sound of coins jangling, cell-phones beeping, car horns blowing, cars dashing by, and instead let us listen to the song of the Angels. For once, allow me to fill my soul with the reading of the story of the Nativity, and instead of filling my stomach with puddings and cakes and other delicacies, let me fill myself with the simplicity of the spirit which the shepherds showed towards baby Jesus, with the spirit of generosity the Kings showed with their meaningful gifts, and with the joy the Angels showed as they proclaimed ‘Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth.’

Lord God, do not let me fall victim to the false traps of this season, while losing the reason why this season actually comes every year in December. Deliver us Lord from the uncontrollable overeating, from one party after another, for excessive use of those plastic cards, and the cyber temptation to overspend in ‘online’ shopping. And deliver us from the frenzy of gift-giving, and remind me to give one gift to Him for whom the entire world stops in admiration on December 25th. And to admire His presence, use His advice, and sing to Him as they do to us once a year ‘Happy Birthday dear Jesus!’

Pele on Maradona

                   
Pele shared his thoughts and emotions to all his followers on his Facebook account on the unexpected death of his friend Diego Maradona, who died last week: ‘You were a genius that enchanted the world, a magician with the ball at his feet, a true legend, but above all that for me you will always be a great friend with an even bigger heart. Your quick departure didn't let me say it to you, so I will just write, ‘I love you Diego.’ One day in heaven we will play together on the same team and it will be the first time that I raise my fist in the air in triumph on the pitch without celebrating a goal. It will be because I can finally embrace you, again.’

Come, Lord Jesus – part 2

                        
Come, Lord Jesus, and improve our disposition to help others more willingly, to pray more fervently and to love others unconditionally.

Come, Lord Jesus, encourage us to get to know You more clearly, to love You more dearly, to follow You more nearly.

Come, Lord Jesus, and while we Await for Your Coming, Prepare for Your Approaching, Rejoice at Your Arrival, and Behold Your Presence, make us realize that You are always with us in all the people we encounter daily.

Come, Lord Jesus, and may we protect You like the Blessed Mother, feel proud of You like St Joseph, announce Your arrival joyously like the Angels, adore you humbly like the shepherds, and reverence You like the Three Kings.

Come, Lord Jesus, and as we decorate our homes for this season, may we also remember to wear a Faith-filled countenance and have a love-oriented approach to everyday life.

Come, Lord Jesus, and console those who are hurting right now, especially the elderly who cannot see their families, those in hospitals recovering from the coronavirus, and give comfort to those who have lost loved ones because of this pandemic.

Come, Lord Jesus, and bring Peace to our World, Love to our Hearts, Faith to our Families, and Hope to our unknown Future.