Pope Saint Pius V

Today is the feast of a very important Pope who may be overlooked at times. In fact, before Popes St. John XXIII, Pope St. Paul VI and St. John Paul II were canonized in the past 10 years, the only two Popes over the last 900 years to be Saints were Pius X and Pius V. Born in 1504 as Michele Ghislieri, he worked as a shepherd until some Dominican priests called him to join them. He was ordained a priest at the age of 24 and taught philosophy and theology until he was made a Bishop and soon afterwards a Cardinal. He was a great friend of St Charles Borromeo and helped in fighting against heresy and corruption in his time. He was elected Pope in 1566 and chose the name of Pius V. He served the poor and the sick himself and fasted and prayed in front of the Blessed Sacrament regularly. He lived at the height of so much reform in the church, as he helped at the Council of Trent and also devised the Roman Missal in Latin, which was used until 1969.. Two important landmarks remind me of this beloved Pope. First he was a friend of the Maltese people, who were being attacked by the Turkish Empire in the 1550s and 1560s. After the Great Siege of Malta, which the Knights of Malta helped in defeating the Turks, the Grandmaster wanted to construct the city of Valletta, the capital city with all its fortifications, palaces and churches. Pope Pius V intervened and he actually sent his own architect from Rome, Francesco Lapparelli to help construct the city of Valletta. This was completed by Lapparelli’s assistant Girolamo Cassar (possibly a distant relative of mine,) including the massive Cathedral of St John, a gem which has just been restored. Pope Pius contributed financially for the building of our capital city, and we owe it to him that we have such a gem of a city. The other interesting fact is that since Pope Pius V was a Dominican, he started using a white cassock instead of the black one that priests usually wear. All Dominican priests wear a white habit. It must have been hot during those summers, because the tradition remained that the Pope started to use a white cassock, which they still do, thanks to Pope St Pius V.

St. Catherine of Siena

                 
St. Catherine of Siena was born during the outbreak of the plague in Siena, Italy on March 25, 1347. She was the 25th child born to her mother, although half of her brothers and sisters did not survive childhood. Catherine herself was a twin, but her twin sister did not survive infancy. Her mother was 40 when Catherine was born. As a child, prayer was her delight. When only seven years old, she made a vow of virginity and afterwards endured bitter persecution for refusing to marry. At the age of fifteen, she entered the Third Order of Saint Dominic, but continued to reside in her father’s shop, where she united a life of active charity with the prayer of a contemplative saint. From this obscure home, the seraphic virgin was summoned to defend the Church’s cause. Armed with papal authority, and accompanied by three confessors, she travelled through Italy, reducing rebellious cities to the obedience of the Holy See and winning hardened souls to God. She sought out Pope Gregory XI at Avignon, brought him back to Rome, while she wrote profusely to the kings and queens of Europe encouraging allegiance to the Pope.  She was the counselor of Pope Urban VI, and sternly rebuked the disloyal cardinals who had a part in electing an anti-pope. Day and night she wept and prayed for unity and peace. But the devil excited the Roman people against the Pope so that some sought the life of Christ’s Vicar. Her prayers helped bring some semblance of peace. She also established a monastery for women in 1377 outside of Siena. She is credited with composing over 400 letters, her Dialogue, which is her definitive work, and her prayers. These works are so influential that St. Catherine would later be declared a Doctor of the Church. By 1380, the 33-year-old mystic had become ill, possibly because of her habit of extreme fasting. In January of 1380, her illness accelerated her inability to eat and drink. Within weeks, she was unable to use her legs. She died on April 29, aged 33, following a stroke just a week before. St. Catherine is the patroness against fire, illness, Italy, miscarriages, and people ridiculed for their faith.

St. Gianna Beretta Molla

St Gianna with 2 other children, and Gianna Emmanuela today

Today we honor a saint canonized in 2004 after sacrificing her life for her baby daughter, Gianna Emmanuela. She is beloved in Italy, and by everyone who has the gift of life at heart.

Born on October 4, 1922, Gianna Beretta was the 10th of 13 children, even though only 8 of the siblings survived infancy. She grew up in Bergamo, Italy where she was very active in the Catholic Action movement. In 1942, in the midst of the chaos of World War II she started her studies in Milan and graduated as a doctor in 1949, specializing in paediatrics. She actually wanted to go to Brazil to work as a paediatrician with her brother, a missionary priest, but her health prevented her from doing this. So she worked happily as a doctor, eventually meeting her future husband Pietro Molla, whom she married in 1955. They had 3 children within 5 years, and in 1961, she was pregnant with her 4th child. During the pregnancy, she developed a fibroma in her uterus, and the doctors suggested her to have an abortion to save her life. But she continued with her pregnancy and the baby was born on April 21, 1962, Easter Saturday. Gianna made the ultimate sacrifice for her daughter, and she got weaker and weaker and died a week later, on April 28, 1962. Her daughter Gianna Emmanuela became a paediatrician herself, and was present with her father and two other siblings at her mother’s beatification in 1994. Another sister had died in 1964, 2 years after her mother.

Gianna and Pietro with their first 3 children

The miracle that certified her canonization was done on a Brazilian woman Elizabetta Comparini, who in her 16th week of pregnancy, experienced a tear in her placenta, losing all the amniotic fluid. Praying to Gianna Beretta Molla, she continued with her pregnancy and gave birth to a healthy baby, defying all the negative prognosis the doctors had given her. Gianna was proclaimed a Saint by Pope St John Paul II on May 16, 2004, with her husband and three children present. She has since became the patron for pro-life and for pregnant women, and a great statement against abortion.

NASA Madonna on Mars

“Nuestra Señora de Flores” (Our Lady of Flowers)

NASA’s 2020 Mars expedition landed the Perseverance Rover on Mars on February 18, 2021, after a 7-month trip from earth. However, many do not know that the Blessed Mother also travelled to Mars under the title of “Nuestra Señora de Flores” (Our Lady of Flowers), patron saint of Álora, Spain. NASA selected inscriptions for 150,000 plates for the robot to carry to Mars. Air Force Sergeant Francisco José Fernández included the Nuestra Señora de Flores’ name, for whom he has great devotion. The goal is that when the robot stops working for eternity, those names will be inside if someone finds the machine or if humans end up settling on Mars. It is exciting to know that in a few years, Mary’s name will be there, in space, between the valleys and deserts of Mars. The devotion to the Nuestra Señora de Flores originated in the 15th century in Álora, Spain after the conquest of Granada. Queen Elizabeth I ordered the building of a chapel in her honor. Today the chapel is a sanctuary. This statue of Our Lady was built for the sanctuary in 1602. Our Lady holds a sceptre in her right hand and the Child Jesus in her left. The Church celebrates her feast on September 8, the same date as the Nativity of Mary. Everyone is so proud of the fact that Our Lady of Flowers is now also on the planet Mars.

Long names in Wales

The train station at Llanfairpwillgwyn......

I only visited Wales once, in 1996 just after performing the wedding of my brother Paul and his wife Kay in Penketh.  While spending a few more days with them, they took me on a few trips by car. One of them  was in the heart of Wales, visiting among other towns the one with the longest name ever invented. It is written as: Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwlllantysiliogogogoch  and it means: The Church of Mary in the hollow of the white hazel near the fierce whirlpool and the church of Tysilio near the red cave. 

By the entrance to a store in Llanfairpwllgwyn.......

There are many other names as Welsh cities, maybe not as long, but tongue twisters nonetheless. This particular town has nothing special other than its name, but attracts many tourists to visit, just as it attracted us to check it out. It is located on the north-west side of Wales, across from Bangor.

Knowing the Shepherd

This 4th Sunday of Easter is traditionally known as the Good Shepherd Sunday as the readings present Jesus as our Good Shepherd. As a consequence, the church has included this day to be a day for prayers for Vocations to the Priesthood and Religious Life.  This story challenges us as to how much do we know the Shepherd.

At a gathering of poets, writers, actors and artists as well as some prominent religious figures, the Master of Ceremonies invited a famous actor to read Psalm 23 from the podium. He was of course very dramatic in his interpretation...”The Lord is my Shepherd, there is nothing I shall want. He makes me walk in fertile pastures.....” Everyone was impressed by what they just heard and the actor returned to his place getting praises from those around him. Then the MC noticed an elderly priest in the crowd and invited him to read the same passage. The elderly priest walked to the podium with his cane and with a soft but emotional voice started: “The Lord is my Shepherd,....there is nothing I shall want.....He makes me walk in fertile pastures,.....He refreshes my soul.....” 
When he had finished, there wasn’t one dry eye in the hall. He went back to his place while the Master of Ceremonies came up, himself with tears in his eyes. Then with a broken voice he told the crowd, “Ladies and gentlemen, we witnessed something very special today. We heard the actor and the priest read the same passage of Psalm 23. As you could see the actor knew drama, he knew acting, he knew performance...but the priest knew the Shepherd himself!”

How much do we know our Shepherd?

How faithfully do we follow His leadership?

Who are the real shepherds in our daily lives?

Are they leading us in the right path?

Or are they distracting us from following a true and honest shepherd?

Karettuni

                          
After yesterday’s post on wheels I shared with you, today I am sharing with you a photo I took over 46 years ago. This was in our sister island Gozo during the summer of 1974 or 1975 as I came across this alley with a number of sulky carriages lined up against the wall, and behold this black-and white photo I took with my instamatic camera. These types of carriages are very popular in Malta and are used with a horse guiding them. You can see them occasionally even in busy streets, but they are used mostly for racing around a track. I remember also when in 1990 my Bishop of Long Island visited Malta, he was so impressed with these sulky carriages meandering among cars on the Malta roads, which were not as busy then, as they are now. We call them karettuni and are a part of the Maltese landscape as windmills, farmhouses and church domes and steeples are on the skyline, unfortunately overpowered by tower cranes over the last 10 years.

Wheels

                  
Besides fire, many people claim that the biggest invention of mankind was the wheel. Imagine how many trillions of miles are made every hour on four wheels in cars all over the world. Imagine how useful the wheel was when the prehistoric people moved obelisks and huge stones to build massive structures by means of the humble wheel. Just consider the Egyptians building the pyramids with the use of wheels to move huge boulders needed to construct some of the wonders of the world. Wheels are needed when airplanes use the runway to take off to cross from continent to continent, from one airport to another, even from aircraft-carrier to heliports to attack, to fight, but also to bring much needed medicine to poor countries. The wheel-and-axle combination was invented around 4500 BC in Mesopotamia, and was probably first used for a potter’s wheel. Foot-powered spinning wheels appeared around 500 BC, water-wheels in the first century BC and windmills in the seventh century AD. For centuries, waterwheels and windmills helped irrigate fields or remove water from flooded areas; they drove grinding machines to produce flour; they powered bellows and hammers in metal workshops.  During the 17th and 18th centuries, water-wheels powered huge machines in cotton mills. Eventually, the steam engine became the preferred source of power to turn the wheels of industry. Wheels are indispensable to have roller-skates, bicycles, trains, and so much more. This photo was taken when I was in John Day, Oregon, where an antique store had a maintenance facility to fix wheels of old carriages, which are nowadays used only for ceremonial occasions.

QE II at 95

Queen Elizabeth just celebrated her 95th birthday yesterday, and I share with you a chronological photo-montage of her over the years since she was a 1 year old baby until a few years ago. After 73 years of marriage she became a widow just 10 days ago with the passing of Prince Philip, and many are speculating that she may retire soon, but you never know, seeing her resilience in leading England for so many turbulent years. She is actually the fourth longest-serving monarch in the world, after King Louis XIV of France, who reigned for over 72 years. He was followed by Bhumibol Aulyadej of Thailand and King Johann II of Liechtenstein, both of whom reigned for over 70 years each. Queen Elizabeth, known affectionately as Lilybeth, reigned so far for 69 years and 75 days, a total of 25,278 days.

800-year old prayer

This is a special prayer that has always brought me comfort. With these words, I also created a banner for my first parish in the USA, Holy Spirit in New Hyde Park, Long Island, NY. These words were originally written in a prayer by St Richard of Chichester (1197-1253) and were incorporated in the 1971 ballad 'Day by Day', written by Stephen Schwartz and John-Michael Tebelak in the musical ‘Godspell.’ St Richard studied at the Dominican house in Orleans, and was ordained priest in 1243. A year later he was elected Bishop of Chichester, and preached at the Crusades, while clashing with King Henry III, who treated him very poorly, although he later recognized Richard as his Bishop.  The complete prayer is this: We thank you, Lord God, for all the benefits you have given us in your Son Jesus Christ, our most merciful Redeemer, Friend, and Brother, and for all the pains and insults he has borne for us; and we pray that, following the example of your saintly bishop Richard of Chichester, we may see Christ more clearly, love him more dearly, and follow him more nearly; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.

Four more flowers from Malta

An unusually colored hibiscus

To end this series of colorful posts from our tiny island, here are four more flowers that grow at this time of the year. Our vegetation is very limited and we have little space for public gardens, especially in the last few years where skyscrapers have taken over the few green area we still have. But enjoy these flowers nonetheless.

Yellow-red flowers that attract butterflies

More Maltese flowers

Here are a few flowers found blooming in Malta at this time of the year. Some of them may be endemic to our islands, and even surprised me when I found them and took their photos. A few more to come tomorrow. In the meantime, enjoy them, and I hope you're not allergic to flowers.

Maltese flowers

                    
It is the season when flowers abound all over the place. These are just three flowers that show up at this time of the year in Maltese gardens. The one above is also a wildflower which sprouts in abundance when it follows a rainy winter. 

A blossoming tree with poppies in the foreground

Vegetation in Malta is very scarce as countrysides are being gobbled up by high risers, buildings and skyscrapers. Even though the government tries to keep certain areas as green as possible, the megalomaniac developers are always eating up the little green areas we still treasure, and consider as gold. But at least some people who have front gardens and little yards in the back of their homes, plant such plants and they flower with a little water and ever-lasting botanical love and horticultural affection.

Crosses in Jerusalem

                 

Among the most moving sights visitors encounter at Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre are the thousands of crosses etched into the church’s walls. They serve as reminders that today’s pilgrim follows in the footsteps of Christians, who centuries ago, crossed continents to see the site of Jesus’ crucifixion and tomb. Until now the markings were thought to be graffiti made by the pilgrims themselves. Now, Israeli researchers using three-dimensional imaging technology have determined that the crosses were part of a more organized effort. Dated back to the 15th century, they were very similar in terms of their depth and design. This suggests that they were created by only a few people, maybe two or three hand artists. Maybe  not graffiti after all, but something more organized. They were created as a service to the pilgrims, perhaps to aid them in their spiritual journey. An archaeologist working on them said  “Let’s say that you are an Armenian pilgrim, so you pay something to the priest, you pay something to this special artist and he carved for you, for the benefit of your soul and your relatives’ souls, …a special cross in the most sacred place for Christianity on earth.” Similar to people lighting a candle in our churches in front of statues. After closing last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre opened for Easter, and is once again welcoming visitors. Since some of the crosses resemble the Maltese cross, they could have been done by a member of the Knights of Malta, or some artist who had a connection with the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, later known as the Knights of Malta.

What retired footballers do?

Lou Macari in his playing days

Many of us wonder what do sports people do when they retire? Well, some of them become coaches to teach the sport they excelled in and a few of them become quite successful. Yet there are others who do voluntary work and others who go over and beyond being generous. One such footballer is Lou Macari who played in the 1970s and 1980s with Manchester United, playing 400 games and scoring 100 goals. Recently he opened the Macari Center to house homeless people. He got the idea while walking in the countryside, and found a place in which he erected a series of huts, which he called ‘pods.’ They will house over 50 homeless people in Stoke-on-Trent in the West Midlands, United Kingdom. 

Lou Macari near some of the pods in Stoke-on-Trent

These pods are 15 feet by 8 feet complete with a bed, a desk, a TV, warm running water and a closet. Lou Macari supervises this centre, a large warehouse the size of a football field, and is also very close to Marcus Rashford who is still playing for Man Utd, and who is sensitizing the whole community to raise money for the poor in England. Lou has received many donations from other generous people, including 46 television sets, clothing and the cooperation of the local City Council.

Inside one of these pods.

My Cockatiels

Charlie Parker reigned in John Day and Baker City.

I never had a pet until in 2003, when someone from Central Oregon asked me if I wanted a cockatiel. This woman lived in Seneca, 20 miles away and she told me that she had two of them and were always fighting, and wanted to separate them. So I ended up in my parish in John Day with Charlie Parker, who was quite talkative, and even knew his name and would say repeatedly ‘Charlie Parker, Charlie Parker’ and then blow a barrage of kisses. Charlie Parker was a famous jazz saxophonist. These birds love company and since I would be away on my mission trips most of the day on Sunday and other meetings during the week, he would let me have it when I arrive back, and would be very angry, even trying to bite on a few occasions. When I am around him, he would be very entertaining, blowing kisses all the time in the form of ‘ts ts ts ts ts ts.’ I took him with me to the Cathedral in Baker City where he entertained bishops who were visiting, and other priests. But when I had to be with my mother towards the end of her life in March and April 2010, apparently he missed me so much that he died of a broken heart. The parish secretary was actually bird-sitting him, and she was just as devastated. 

Lewis and Clark sharing a millet, in a cooperative mood.

However, a local veterinarian heard of my loss and told me he had two more to give away, and lo and behold, I ended up with Lewis and Clark, named for the two navigators and explorers who discovered Oregon and the west side of the USA beyond the Missouri River. Clark was dominant and treated Lewis very badly, not even letting him eat sometimes, and sure enough within 2 years, Lewis died, leaving Clark by himself, who learned some great melodies when my music was going on, which was all the time. In particular, he learned the Colonel Bogey March, which he kept practicing all the time, besides the kisses, which seems to be a popular technique among cockatiels.  Then when I was packing to leave to my next parish in 2013, he got weaker and weaker and died the day I was leaving, probably disappointed that I was disappearing, although I was planning to take him with me. Again, death by a broken heart. I guess you can now call me a heart-breaker! All three of them are buried in front of the Rectory in Baker City, next to my favorite plants, the Bleeding Heart and Cleome.

2009 caricature

This caricature was done in Baker City, Oregon during our annual parish picnic, in September 2009. A local artist, Tom Novak spent a few hours drawing faces, and he insisted on my sitting down after a hectic afternoon talking to people, and within a few minutes, he was done with this painting. At that time I still had my passion for my flute, which still occupies most of my free time, along with water coloring. At that time I also had a cockatiel, named Charlie Parker, and here you see him perched happily on my shoulders. Unfortunately he died of a broken heart when I was visiting my family in Malta in 2010, but then I got two more cockatiels, whom I named Lewis and Clark, the two navigators and explorers who discovered Oregon and the west side of the USA beyond the Missouri River. While Lewis died after two years, Clark survived until the day I was transferred to my new parish in Bend. These birds somehow know when you are moving or going away. We will meet them tomorrow.

1984 caricature

                                
Today and tomorrow I am going down memory lane and show you two caricatures that were made of me. I treasure the originals which were done by two clever and observant artists. You will  find such artists in fairs, bazaars, along a main street, sitting there waiting for someone to volunteer his or her face. This first one was done in Montauk Point during one of my long bike rides with some altar boys in the summer of 1984, precisely 37 years ago!  This was a quite, scenic yet busy fishing harbor at the end of Long Island in New York. Of course the artist asked me what are my hobbies and back then I was playing the flute on my own. I was also fond of biking, even though I had just got my drivers license. I was also in love with baseball, in particular the New York Mets, who would win the World Championship in 1986. Tomorrow you’ll see a recent caricature from 2009.

If tomorrow never comes.....

Let us remember not to take each other for granted, and if tomorrow never comes, you’ll have no regrets about today! Remember and try to live the message of this prayer:
 
If I knew it would be the last time that I'd see you fall asleep, 
I would tuck you in more tightly and pray the Lord, your soul to keep.

If I knew it would be the last time that I see you walk out the door,
I would give you a hug and kiss you and call you back for one more.

If I knew it would be the last time I'd hear your voice lifted up in praise,
I would video tape each action and word, so I could play them back day after day.

If I knew it would be the last time that I see you, I could spare an extra minute or two
to stop and say "I love you," instead of assuming, you would KNOW I do.

For surely there's always tomorrow to make up for an oversight,
and we always get a second chance to make everything right.

There will always be another day to say our "I love you's",
And certainly there's another chance to say our "Anything I can do's?"

But just in case I might be wrong, and today is all I get,
I'd like to say how much I love you and I hope we never forget.

Tomorrow is not promised to anyone, young or old alike,
And today may be the last chance you get to hold your loved one tight.

So if you're waiting for tomorrow, why not do it today?
For if tomorrow never comes, you'll surely regret the day,

That you didn't take that extra time for a smile, a hug, or a kiss
and you were too busy to grant someone, what turned out to be their one last wish.

So hold your loved ones close today, whisper in their ear,
Tell them how much you love them and that you'll always hold them dear.

Take time to say "I'm sorry," "please forgive me," "thank you" or "it's okay".
And if tomorrow never comes, you'll have no regrets about today.

2 Prince Philip Malta stories

There are two stories that happened when Prince Philip and Princess Elizabeth were still in Malta between 1949 and 1951. The first one relates to the above photo. If you look closely, Prince Philip has two fingers placed on the bench, and it is told that he did that on purpose. He wanted to give a subliminal message that his wife was pregnant with her second baby, the future Princess Anne. The pregnancy was not public yet, but he wanted to give a hint about the second blessed event that was coming, or as the Americans say....he wanted to give a hint that there is a bun in the oven!  The second story recalls the many times that Prince Philip used to call his wife from his HMS Magpie, where he was stationed, and occasionally she would not answer. The reason was because she had found a Maltese friend, and she would wrap a scarf around her face and sneak out with her to have a coffee and chat at the Hotel Phoenicia in Floriana.

Prince Philip (1921-2021)

Philip was born into the Greek and Danish royal families on June 10, 1921. He died on April 9, 2021, two months before his 100th birthday.  He was born in Greece, but his family was exiled from the country when he was eighteen months old. After being educated in France, Germany and the United Kingdom, he joined the British Royal Navy in 1939, aged 18. From July 1939, he began corresponding with the thirteen-year-old Princess Elizabeth, whom he had first met in 1934. During the Second World War he served with distinction in the Mediterranean and Pacific Fleets. After the war, Philip was granted permission by King George VI to marry Elizabeth. Before the official announcement of their engagement in July 1947, he abandoned his Greek and Danish titles and styles, became a naturalised British subject, and adopted his maternal grandparents' surname Mountbatten. He married Elizabeth on 20 November 1947. It is interesting to note that for a few years, from 1949 to 1951 Philip and Elizabeth lived in Malta when he was serving in the Navy (residing at Villa Guardamangia, which is presently being restored by the Government) after being posted as the first lieutenant of the destroyer HMS Chequers, the lead ship of the 1st Destroyer Flotilla in the Mediterranean Fleet. On July 16th 1950, he was promoted to lieutenant commander and given command of the frigate HMS Magpie. On 30 June 1952, Philip was promoted to commander though his active naval career had ended in July 1951. Incidentally his barber Emmanuel Farrugia was also my barber, and I remember in his barbershop seeing the coat-of-arms of HMS Magpie, which he proudly displayed for everyone to see.

Prince Philip with Princess Elizabeth while residing in Malta, 1950.

He was the longest-serving consort of a reigning British monarch and the longest-lived male member of the British royal family. He retired from his royal duties on 2 August 2017, aged 96, having completed 22,219 solo engagements and 5,493 speeches since 1952. He had a special love for the wildlife as well as conservation, something which his grandchildren have followed through in their royal engagements. Known also as the Duke of Edinburgh, he encouraged many young people to be involved in the Duke of Edinburgh Award which he launched in 1956, saying that education should be more than academic achievement, but also should include adventure, exploration, volunteering, and awareness of social issues. The award also encouraged physical activity, expedition, and other exploratory ventures. This is most probably his greatest legacy. Rest in Peace Philip.

More from the Prayer Book

From an old book entitled ‘The Crown of Jesus’, taken from the Prayer Book of Fr. F.X Lasance:

We can meditate when we sit in the house,

When we walk on the way,

When we lie down, when we rise up.

We can meditate by considering all earthly things as types of holy truths.

In trees, the wood of the cross, our Redemption.

In dust, our origin.

In the sky heaven, our reward.

In the stars, the heavenly mansions of those who by their glorious deeds have brought many to justice.

In the moon, the Queen of heaven.

In the sun, the Son of justice.

In the sea, the ocean of  eternity.

In the waves, the progress of time.

In the seashore covered with waters, our mortality.

In the footprints on the sand erased, fame.

In the sudden darkness, mortal sin.

In the bright Light, God’s grace.

In the gentle wind, the breath of the Holy Spirit, the Comforter.

In bread, the Blessed Sacrament, the true Bread of Life.

In water, the cleansing grace of Baptism.

In oil, the anointing of the young and the sick.

In the sound of the clock, the irrevocable progress of time.

A Priceless Prayer Book

Father Francis Xavier Lasance at his desk.

I came across an old prayer book by Father F. X. Lasance, published in the USA in 1908, and browsing through it I found some gems of wisdom which I like to share with you.

The first reflection is on Frankness, another word that means being candid, open, free, uninhibited, honest, truthful and plain-spoken, guileless, unconstrained. This is the quote by Abbe’ Roux: 'Frankness – There is frankness that is brutal, and I detest it; a frankness which is indiscreet, and I fear it; a foolish frankness and I pity it. There is also a frankness which is opportune, delicate and good – honor it!’

Another sentence that struck me with its beauty is this: ‘Distance lends enchantment to the view.’ Yes, it is so true, because we want everything up front, up close, but a little space, a sense of distance let us appreciate the beauty of any view that is in front of us. The space and emptiness of what lies between your eyes and the visible object enhances its value and adds charm and magnificence.

Do it now! Do not put until tomorrow what you can do today.

A final reflection on the theme of suffering: Sufferings afford opportunities for the practice of many virtues – of patience, repentance, fortitude, compassion, kindness, humility, courage, generosity – virtues which develop greatness and nobility of soul. Suffering is undoubtedly a source of great merit and happiness, when the sufferer is animated by a supernatural motive – and especially the motive of love. The grandest music of the human heart breaks forth in the day of trial. The sweetest songs are sung in sorrow. The best things in character are developed in the time of affliction.

You can download the entire book of 744 pages here:

http://www.holyromancatholicchurch.org/articles/MyPrayerBook.pdf

The Grand Canyon – part 2

                  
Continuing my sharing of some amazing photos of the Grand Canyon, taken recently by my friends Tom and Laura Barreras from Bend, Oregon, we thank Almighty God for giving us such beauty on our planet. While some aspects about the history of incision of the canyon are debated by geologists, several recent studies support the hypothesis that the Colorado River established its course through the area about 5 to 6 million years ago. For thousands of years, the area has been continuously inhabited by Native Americans, who built settlements within the canyon and its many caves. The Pueblo people considered the Grand Canyon a holy site, and made pilgrimages to it. The first European known to have viewed the Grand Canyon was Garcia Lopez de Cardenas from Spain, who arrived in 1540.

The Grand Canyon – part 1

I share with you today some spectacular photos of the Grand Canyon, taken recently by my friends Tom and Laura Barreras from Bend, Oregon, during a trip they made with their children over spring break. A steep-sided canyon carved by the Colorado River in Arizona, USA, the Grand Canyon is 277 miles (446 km) long, up to 18 miles (29 km) wide and attains a depth of over a mile. The canyon and adjacent rim are contained within Grand Canyon National Park and other forests and national parks, some of which are protected by the Native American Indians. 

President Theodore Roosevelt was a major proponent of the preservation of the Grand Canyon area and visited it on numerous occasions to hunt and enjoy the scenery. Nearly two billion years of Earth's geological history have been exposed as the Colorado River and its tributaries cut their channels through layer after layer of rock while the Colorado plateau was uplifted. (to be continued tomorrow) (click on each photo to enlarge)

From Cross to Light

I took this picture around 2011 when I was on my way to my mission church in Halfway, Oregon. It was a cloudy day with sunny intervals, and I noticed that someone had planted a wooden cross on a hill on the side of the road just before the descent into Halfway. Naturally I stopped and took a few good photos with the cross in the foreground and the sun peaking or shining through the clouds. This was very meaningful to me, as I saw the Cross being overwhelmed by the light of the Risen Christ, a beautiful meditation. If there is a title to this photo, it should be “The sufferings of Good Friday give way to the joy and glory of Easter,” or even “The darkness of the Cross leads to the Light of Christ.” May we also see this period in our lives as a transitional time from the suffering which so many people are experiencing because of Covid-19, to the eventual joy when it is all over and our lives can return to some kind of normalcy.

Alleluia

He is truly Risen! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

He brings a Prayerful Life to someone searching for meaning and direction.
He brings Peace to those who are always worried and uptight.
He brings Victory out of defeat.
He brings Joy to those who cannot seem to smile anymore.
He brings a Beautiful Baby to her who was premeditating an abortion.
He brings Light to those who are living in darkness.
He brings Enlightenment and Understanding to those couples whose marriage has been more of a struggle than a Joy.
He brings Hope out of despair.
He brings New Life to those worried about dying.
He brings Peace to this world ravaged by war, conflict, fighting and oppression.
He brings Love and Reconciliation to those harboring thoughts of revenge and hate.
He brings Optimism in a world tormented by pessimism.

He will also help us see the light at the end of our never-ending tunnel of coronavirus, if we all observe and respect the rules of our health authorities. As we suffered with Jesus on Good Friday and for an entire year, let us hope that with Him, we will also resurrect our lives to some kind of normal existence. 

Wishing you all a Blessed Easter.