Feast of the Visitation

The month of May, dedicated to the Blessed Mother ends with another feast of Mary, precisely her visitation to her cousin Elizabeth. It was also the first encounter between Jesus and John the Baptist, even though they were still in their mothers’ respective wombs. As was customary, the younger woman would visit the older one and Mary stayed with Elizabeth for three months, helping her with chores, while chatting and praying over their upcoming blessed event. Who knows what they talked about....asking questions that any prospective mother would ask another mother....”What are you going to name the baby? ......is he kicking yet?........is the crib ready?.....how many more weeks for the delivery?........”

This feast also encourages us to focus on the spirit of visits. People visit each other frequently, as families vacation and go on holidays while stopping at homes and places where they know they would be welcome. How hospitable are we to guests who stop by to visit us? How gracious are we when we visit friends? Do we check to see if we are imposing on them? How about visiting elderly people, like grandparents, uncles and aunts who may be very lonely? Do we set a good example when friends visit us? Do we invite them to attend church with us on a weekend, or are we embarrassed to take them to Mass with us? You may be surprised how honored they would feel when you introduce them to the church and parish community? I can tell you that this is how most converts are made, when they visit a church and get ‘hooked’ by something special they see, a message in the homily, the music or flowers or any other event that may seem insignificant for you, but not for your friends and guests.

God’s Creations

When God created the earth, He decided to send children into it to embellish it with their innocence, joy and laughter. But these were already in heaven. So when God mentioned this proposal to them, they all agreed as long as they can take some beautiful music with them. So God created birds and their joyful song. Other children asked if they could take with them the beautiful colors of heaven. God accepted and He created roses. A few others wanted to take with them the majesty and the blue color of the sky. And so God created the seas and the oceans. One child told God ‘I am ready to go to earth, as long as I have someone with me who really loves me, stays with me and holds my hand.’ God accepted and He created mothers. And mothers created more children with the help of their spouses, and the circle of life goes on and on.

Ascension

Today we celebrate the feast of the Ascension, a celebration that has been transferred in many Dioceses to the 7th Sunday of Easter. This is the day that the Lord gave his final “Goodbye” to his followers, although it was more like a “So Long.” And as Jesus leaves us today, He is also empowering us to continue His work, as He did with the apostles 2 millennia ago. They did no let Him down, and neither did the many saints and holy people that have followed. Let us not let Him down, but continue this enticing relay race of Christianity, passing the proverbial baton to our children and children’s children, as our forefathers have done over the centuries. And His message to the apostles is the same message He is trusting us with today, to spread the Good News, and be witnesses of the faith we received on our Baptism. Let us remember also the message that Pope Francis left to the Maltese people almost 2 months ago – that God loves us. It’s our duty to share this love with others.

Large saintly families

We always wonder what was the background of many of the saints we honor. One fact that is very common is that they come from large families. If you want proof of this, consider these saints. St. John Newman was the oldest of 6 children. St. Josemaria Escriva was the second of  6 children. St. Bernard of Clairvaux was the third of 7 children. St. Aloysius Gonzaga was the first of 7 children. St. Brigid of Sweden had 8 children, and her second daughter was St. Katherine of Vadstene. St. Margaret of Scotland was the mother of 8. St. Gemma Galgani was the the fifth of 8 siblings, and St. Bernardette Soubirous was the oldest of 9 children. St. Therese of Lisieux had 8 siblings, 5 of them who survived were all nuns. St. Teresa of Avila was one of 10 children, while St. Faustina Kowalska was the third of 10 children. St. Rose of Lima was one of 10. St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (also known as St. Edith Stein) was the youngest of 11 children.  You want more big families? St Gabriel of the Addolorata was the 11th child from 13 brothers and sisters. St. Ignatius of Loyola was the youngest of 13 siblings, while St. Gianna Beretta Molla was the 10th of 13 children in her family. St. Mary Elizabeth Hesselbled was the 5th of 13 children. St. Louis de Montfort was the last to die from his family of 18 siblings, while St. Catherine of Siena had 24 brothers and sisters.

Rose Kennedy and her faith

The mother of ex-President John F. Kennedy, Rose experienced one tragedy after another in her life. In 1941, her daughter Rosemary had to be institutionalized. In 1944 her eldest son Joe died, and in 1948 her daughter Kathleen died in an airplane accident. In 1963, her son John was assassinated in Dallas, and in 1968, it was her son Bobby’s turn to be assassinated. Yet, her faith remained strong all through her many ordeals. She remained optimistic throughout her life, and her prayer life kept her focused on the Lord and the mission He had planned for her. She was a woman of discipline and strong religious convictions. One day, when her son John graduated from his school, he hosted a party with his friends. The party kept going beyond midnight, and in the morning, everyone overslept. Yet Rose showed up waking everyone up, with her determined focus on her priorities telling everyone, “Come on, get up everyone. Today is Sunday....” They all dressed up and went to Mass with her.

St Philip Neri

If one had to choose one saint who showed the humorous side of holiness that would be St. Philip Neri. Born in 1515 in Florence, he showed the impulsiveness and spontaneity of his character from the time he was a boy. His father was not successful financially and at eighteen Philip was sent to work with an older cousin who was a successful businessman. During this time, Philip found a favorite place to pray up in cave on a mountain that had been turned into a chapel. He then went to Rome in 1533 where he studied  philosophy and theology until he thought his studies were interfering with his prayer life. He then stopped his studies, threw away his books, and lived as a kind of hermit. Night was his special time of prayer. In 1548 Philip formed a confraternity with other laymen to minister to pilgrims who came to Rome without food or shelter. The spiritual director of the confraternity convinced Philip that he could do even more work as a priest. After receiving instruction from this priest, Philip was ordained in 1551. Young men especially found in him the wisdom and direction they needed to grow spiritually. But they needed guidance during their daily lives. So Philip began to ask the young men to come by in the early afternoon when they would discuss spiritual readings and then stay for prayer in the evening. The numbers of the men who attended these meetings grew rapidly. In order to handle the growth, Philip and a fellow priest built a room he called the Oratory. Philip understood that it wasn't enough to tell young people not to do something -- you had to give them something to do in its place. So at Carnival time, when the worst excesses were encouraged, Philip organized a pilgrimage to the Seven Churches with a picnic accompanied by instrumental music for the mid-day break. After walking twelve miles in one day everyone was too tired to be tempted! 

The altar where the body of St Philip Neri lies, with the painting 'St Philip in Ecstasy' by Guido Reni

Even though Philip was accused of "introducing novelties" their community became officially known as the Congregation of the Oratory, made up of secular priests and clerics. Philip was known to be spontaneous and unpredictable, charming and humorous. One of his men was Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina who wrote beautiful harmonic choral music and Masses. Humility was the most important virtue he tried to teach others and to learn himself. There were unexpected benefits to his lessons in humility. One member, Baronius, wanted to speak at the meetings about hellfire and eternal punishment. Philip commanded him instead to speak about church history. For 27 years Baronius spoke to the Oratory about church history. At the end of that time he published his talks as a widely respected and universally praised books on ecclesiastical history! Philip died in 1595 after a long illness at the age of eighty years.

Innocent children killed

Yet another tragic massacre took place yesterday in the Robb Elementary school in south-west Texas, in the town of Uvalde. With the U.S. still reeling from the mass shooting at a Buffalo grocery store, not even two weeks ago, we are faced with yet another tragic event as an 18-year old opened fire and killing 19 children and two adults. This was the 27th school shooting this year in the USA. The children were all in 3rd, 4th and 5th Grade, aged anywhere between 7 and 11 years old. Obviously parents and Texas citizens are heart-broken by this tragic story, and yet an 18 year old was able to freely buys guns on his 18th birthday, as gun-control is often discussed and nothing is decided after one tragic massacre after another. Let us pray for the victims and their teachers, parents and the community of Uvalde, Texas, mostly of Latino descent. 

The Robb Elementary school in Uvalde, Texas.

More Art from Malta

Christmas Triptych by Anton Inglott

A few more artefacts from the MUZA Museum for you to enjoy, all of which were crafted by Maltese artists. This is one of a few museums that are managed by Heritage Malta, an organization instituted to promote the cultural and artistic heritage of the Maltese Islands.

Silver chalices and monstrances

Art from Malta

Last Thursday, with a few of my classmates, I visited one of the best museums in Malta, known as MUZA (short for MUZew tal-Arti – Museum of Art,) featuring hundreds of paintings, most of which are by Maltese artists or related to their stay in Malta over the past few centuries. These are just four of the paintings/sculptures that appealed to me. More over the next few days.

The Adulterous Woman by Wille Apap

Sculpture bozzetti by Antonio Sciortino

Jesus Christ by Giuseppe Cali

Saint Rita

Are you faced with a difficult problem? Does it seem insurmountable? The prayer to St. Rita of Cascia (1381-1457) shown below might help. After all, St. Rita is known as the “Saint of the Impossible,” and we honor her today, her liturgical feast day.

Early in life, she had a strong desire to be a nun, but got married instead, following her parents’ wishes. By all accounts, her husband was Mr. Wrong, an abusive man with whom she bore two sons of similar temperament. Apparently she had the patience of a saint because she prayed for them all and tried to be a dutiful wife and mother! After 18 years of marriage, her husband was murdered and her sons, planning revenge, died of natural causes the following year. After that, St. Rita finally got her wish and was admitted to the convent of Augustinian nuns at Cascia. Tradition has it that the nuns there initially refused to let St. Rita join because she was a widow. One night Saint John the Baptist, St. Augustine and St. Nicholas of Tolentino opened gates that had been bolted shut and left her in the chapel of the convent. When the nuns found St. Rita there the next morning they understood God’s designs for her and accepted her unanimously. Talk about prayer opening doors! Many other miracles were attributed to St. Rita, both during her life and after her death. As an example, her devotion to Jesus in His Passion was such that a thorn from the crucifix in her room pierced her forehead one day while she was praying! The prayer to St. Rita also touches on that miracle:

Oh glorious St. Rita, who did miraculously participate in the sorrowful Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, obtain for us the grace to suffer with resignation the troubles of this life, and protect us in all our needs. St. Rita, model wife and widow, you yourself suffered in a long illness showing patience out of love for God. Teach us to pray as you did. Many invoke you for help, full of confidence in your intercession. Come now to our aid for the relief and cure of (mention your request). To God all things are possible; may this healing give glory to the Lord. Through the prayers of St. Rita, may we learn to bear our crosses in life in the same spirit in which she bore hers. Amen.

The Pessimist and the Optimist

                     
The pessimist finds fault; the optimist discovers a remedy.
The pessimist seeks sympathy; the optimist spreads cheer.
The pessimist criticizes circumstances; the optimist changes conditions.
The pessimist complains about the apple seeds; the optimist plants them.
The pessimist imagines impending peril; the optimist sees signs of prosperity.
The pessimist disparages; the optimist encourages.
The pessimist creates loneliness; the optimist finds friends.
The pessimist nibbles at the negative; the optimist is nourished by the positive.
The pessimist builds barriers; the optimist removes roadblocks.
The pessimist invents trouble; the optimist enriches the environment.
The pessimist finds a difficulty in every opportunity; the optimist finds an opportunity in every difficulty.

Vangelis RIP (1943-2022)

Vangelis Papathanassiou, the Greek composer of soundtracks for "Blade Runner" and "Chariots of Fire" has died aged 79. The world of music has lost the international artist. The reclusive, mostly self-taught keyboard wizard was a lifelong experimenter, switching from psychedelic rock and synthesizers to ethnic music and jazz. In a career spanning over five decades, Vangelis drew on space exploration, wildlife, futuristic architecture, the New Testament and the 1968 French student riots for inspiration. His Oscar-winning main theme for "Chariots of Fire" beat John Williams' score for the first Indiana Jones film in 1982. It reached the top of the US billboard and was an enduring hit in Britain, where it was used during the London 2012 Olympics medal presentation ceremonies. His work on over a dozen soundtracks included Costa-Gavras' "Missing", "Antarctica", "The Bounty", "1492: Conquest of Paradise", Roman Polanski's "Bitter Moon" and the Oliver Stone epic "Alexander". Born Evangelos Odysseas Papathanassiou on March 29, 1943 in the central Greek coastal town of Agria, near Volos, Vangelis was a child prodigy, performing his first piano concert at the age of six, despite never having taken formal lessons. After studying painting at the Athens School of Fine Arts, Vangelis joined popular Greek rock group The Forminx. But success was cut short in 1967 by the arrival of a military junta that clamped down on freedom of expression. Trying to get to England, he found himself stuck in Paris during the 1968 student movement, and joined fellow Greek expatriates Demis Roussos and Lucas Sideras in forming progressive rock group Aphrodite's Child. The group achieved cult status, selling millions of records with hits such as "Rain and Tears" before disbanding in 1972. Vangelis and Roussos both moved on to successful solo careers. Relocating to London in 1974, Vangelis created Nemo Studios, the "sound laboratory" that produced most of his solo albums for over a decade. He is a pioneer in synthesizer music, along with Kitaro, Jean Michel Jarre, and recently Hans Zimmer.  Listen to some of his incredible soundtracks on this YouTube clip.

Bad Luck

Girmay Biniam winning stage 10 of the Giro d'Italia

You probably all know how fond I am of the cycling races, especially the big three: Giro d’Italia, around Italy, the Tour de France around France, and La Vuelta, around Spain. Presently the Giro d’Italia is going on, and last Tuesday, there was a historic result as the first ever African cyclist won Stage 10, a sprint that he sparkled through by beating the best of the best sprinters. The majority of the winners of various stages came from all the continents so far, mostly from Europe, North and South America, Australia, Asia, and never from the African continent. Recently there were a few African racers taking part, including a few from Eritrea who seem to have a special fondness for competitive cycling. So it was a big surprise and reason for exuberant joy that the Eritrean cyclist Girmay Biniam won stage 10 of the Giro d’Italia on Tuesday May 17. But with a split-second of sheer bad luck he will take no further part in the race after he was injured during the podium celebrations. His celebrations were cut short when he accidentally popped a champaign cork in his left eye. The 22-year-old cracked his eye with the cork as he failed to direct it away from his face as he unscrewed it. 

Girmay just after the cork stuck his eye, and the bubbly shooting up in the air.

Girmay immediately grimaced in pain and grabbed his face, but he made sure to pick up the bottle and spray out the contents on the cheering crowd, as is customary. But soon afterwards he was swiftly taken to the hospital after celebrating his historic victory. The prosecco cork has marred his triumph as Girmay was bent over opening the bottle at his feet when the cork flew up and hit him in the left eye. Although he carried on with the traditional spraying of the bubbly tipple, he was clearly pained by the blow. The worst part of the whole story is that he will have to drop out of the Giro d’Italia. He had already placed second and 4th and 5th twice in a field of over 170 cyclists. Truly a situation of bad, bad luck for Girmay. But I am sure he will be ready now for the Tour de France, which starts on July 1st.

Meeting Mother Teresa

Jim Castle was tired when he boarded his plane in Cincinnati , Ohio , that night in 1981. The 45-year-old management consultant had put on a weeklong series of business meetings and seminars, and now he sank gratefully into his seat ready for the flight home to Kansas City , Kansas . As more passengers entered, the place hummed with conversation, mixed with the sound of bags being stowed. Then, suddenly, people fell silent. The quiet moved slowly up the aisle like an invisible wake behind a boat. Jim craned his head to see what was happening, and his mouth dropped open. Walking up the aisle were two nuns clad in simple white habits bordered in blue. He recognized the familiar face of one at once, the wrinkled skin, and the eyes warmly intent. This was a face he'd seen in newscasts and on the cover of TIME. The two nuns halted, and Jim realized that his seat companion was going to be Mother Teresa! As the last few passengers settled in, Mother Teresa and her companion pulled out rosaries.

Each decade of the beads was a different color, Jim noticed. "The decades represented various areas of the world," Mother Teresa told him later, and added, "I pray for the poor and dying on each continent." The airplane taxied to the runway and the two women began to pray, their voices a low murmur. Though Jim considered himself not a very religious Catholic who went to church mostly out of habit, inexplicably he found himself joining in. By the time they murmured the final prayer, the plane had reached cruising altitude. Mother Teresa turned toward him. For the first time in his life, Jim understood what people meant when they spoke of a person possessing an 'aura'. As she gazed at him, a sense of peace filled him; he could no more see it than he could see the wind but he felt it, just as surely as he felt a warm summer breeze. "Young man," she inquired, "do you say the rosary often?"  "No, not really," he admitted. She took his hand, while her eyes probed his. Then she smiled. "Well, you will now." And she dropped her rosary into his palm. An hour later, Jim entered the Kansas City airport where he was met by his wife, Ruth.

"What in the world?" Ruth asked when she noticed the rosary in his hand. They kissed and Jim described his encounter. Driving home, he said. "I feel as if I met a true sister of God."  Nine months later, Jim and Ruth visited Connie, a friend of theirs for several years. Connie confessed that she'd been told she had ovarian cancer. "The doctor says it's a tough case," said Connie, "but I'm going to fight it. I won't give up." Jim clasped her hand. Then, after reaching into his pocket, he gently twined Mother Teresa's rosary around her fingers. He told her the story and said, "Keep it with you, Connie. It may help." Although Connie wasn't Catholic, her hand closed willingly around the small plastic beads. "Thank you," she whispered. "I hope I can return it." More than a year passed before Jim saw Connie again. This time her face was glowing, she hurried toward him and handed him the rosary. "I carried it with me all year," she said. "I've had surgery and have been on chemotherapy, too. Last month, the doctors did second-look surgery, and the tumor's gone. Completely!" Her eyes met Jim's. "I knew it was time to give the rosary back." 

Patron Saints - Part 2

Here are a few more patron saints:

Mentally Ill: St. Dymphna

Messengers: St. Gabriel

Military Chaplains: St. John Capistrano

Mission: St Therese of Lisieux, St. Francis Xavier

Mothers: St. Monica

Motorists & Drivers: St. Christopher

Nurses: St. Elizabeth of Hungary

Painters & Artists: St. Luke

Pharmacists: Saints Cosmas and Damian

Plasterers: St. Bartholomew

Police Officers: St. Michael

Pregnant Women: St. Anne, St Gerard Majella

Priests: St. John Baptist Vianney

Schools and Scholars: St. Thomas Aquinas

Scientists: St. Albert

Servants: St. Martha

Shoemakers: St. Crispin

Singers: St. Gregory

Skiers: St. Bernard of Montjoux

Soldiers: St. Joan of Arc

Tailors: St. Homobonus

Teachers: St. John Baptist de La Salle

Television: St. Clare of Assisi

Young Boys: St. Tarcisius

Young Girls: St. Agnes

Youth: St. Aloysius Gonzaga

Patron Saints - Part 1

Here is a list of some of the most popular Patron Saints (more tomorrow):

Accountants: St. Matthew

Altar-Servers: St. John Berchmans

Animals: St. Francis of Assisi

Archers: St. Sebastian

Architects: St Thomas

Authors: St. Francis de Sales

Bakers: St. Elizabeth of Hungary

Barbers: St. Martin de Porres

Beggars: St. Martin of Tours

Boys Scouts: St. George

Cancer Patients: St. Peregrine

Carpenters: St. Joseph

Children: St. Nicholas

Computers: St. Isidore of Seville

Cooks and Chefs: St. Martha

Doctors and Nurses: St. Luke

Dying: St. Joseph

Emigrants: St. Frances Cabrini

Expectant Mothers; St. Gerard Majella

Eye Disease: St. Lucy

Farmers: St. Isidore

Fishermen: St. Andrew

Florists: St. Therese of Lisieux

Funeral Directors: St Joseph of Arimathea

Hairdressers: St. Martin de Porres

Housewives: St. Anne

Hunters: St. Julian

Journalists: St. Frances de Sales

Librarians: St. Jerome

Lost Objects: St. Anthony of Padua

Appreciate what you have

It can happen that right now, you’re not in the right place, where you really wish you can be.

It could be that at this moment in your life, you don’t have everything that you need or desire.

But remember that that you have the most precious things that you have – your life!

Therefore count your blessings not your problems.

Count the many times you smile during the day, not your tears.

Count the joys you experience, not your sad moments.

Count your friends, not your enemies.

Count your strengths, not your weaknesses.

Try your best to be positive in all the circumstances of life.

Be humble and do not try to show off, in whatever capacity you’re at.

Then you will realize what a beautiful life you have, filled with many blessings.

So remember, always be thankful.

St. Charles de Foucauld

Meeting today another saint who will be canonized tomorrow May 15. St. Charles de Foucauld (also known as Brother Charles of Jesus) was born in Strasbourg, France on September 15th, 1858. Orphaned at the age of six, he and his sister Marie were raised by their grandfather in whose footsteps he followed by taking up a military career. He lost his faith as an adolescent. His taste for easy living was well known to all and yet he showed that he could be strong willed and constant in difficult situations. He undertook a risky exploration of Morocco, and seeing the way Muslims expressed their faith questioned him and he began repeating, “My God, if you exist, let me come to know you.” On his return to France, the warm, respectful welcome he received from his deeply Christian family made him continue his search. Under the guidance of Fr. Huvelin he rediscovered God in October 1886. He was then 28 years old. A pilgrimage to the Holy Land revealed his vocation to him: to follow Jesus in his life at Nazareth. He spent 7 years as a Trappist, first in France and then at Akbès in Syria. Later he began to lead a life of prayer and adoration, alone, near a convent of Poor Clares in Nazareth. Ordained a priest at 43 in 1901 he left for the Sahara, living at first in Beni Abbès and later at Tamanrasset among the Tuaregs of the Hoggar. He wanted to be among those who were the furthest removed, the most abandoned. In a great respect for the culture and faith of those among whom he lived, his desire was to shout the Gospel with his life. On the evening of December 1st 1916, he was killed by a band of marauders who had encircled his house. He had always dreamed of sharing his vocation with others: after having written several rules for religious life, he came to the conclusion that this “life of Nazareth” could be led by all. Today the “spiritual family of Charles de Foucauld” encompasses several associations of the faithful, religious communities and secular institutes for both lay people and priests. 

St. Titus Brandsma

One of the Blesseds to be canonized this Sunday May 15, 2022 can very well become the patron saint of journalists. Dozens of journalists have asked Pope Francis to proclaim the Dutch Carmelite to take this new role, alongside St. Francis de Sales, who was declared in that role in 1923. The journalists recognize in Titus Brandsma a professional peer and fellow believer of considerable standing. He was someone who shared the deeper mission that should drive journalism in modern times: a search for truth and veracity, the promotion of peace and dialogue between people. For many, Blessed Brandsma's staunch opposition to promoting Nazi propaganda is particularly relevant today due to the increasingly polarized media landscape and the prevalence of "fake news." According to his biography, he was named spiritual adviser to the Dutch Association of Catholic Journalists in 1935 and became its president after the Nazi invasion of the Netherlands. He worked with the Dutch bishops' in crafting their message opposing Nazi ideology and the forced publication of propaganda in Catholic newspapers. Despite the risks, Blessed Brandsma visited the offices of Catholic media outlets around the country over the course of 10 days, encouraging editors to resist pressure to publish propaganda. His actions drew the ire of the Nazi regime that arrested him in 1942. Several months later, he was transported to the Dachau concentration camp where he was killed by a lethal injection of carbolic acid. St. John Paul II, who beatified the Dutch priest in 1985, regarded him as a "valiant journalist" and a "martyr of freedom of expression against the tyranny of the dictatorship." According to a report by UNESCO published in January, 55 journalists and media professionals were killed in 2021. Two-thirds of those killed died in countries where there is no armed conflict.

God forgives

As I was reading the ‘Imitation of Christ’ by Thomas a Kempis, I came across this section in Book 4 chapter 7. It speaks about how God is always ready to forgive us, as long as we are remorseful. The second paragraph is very long, but worth reflecting on.

Carefully examine your conscience. Cleanse and purify it to the best of your power by true contrition and humble confession, that you may have no burden, know of no remorse, and thus be free to come near Me. Then if time permits, confess to God in the secret depths of your heart all the miseries your passions have caused.

Lament and grieve because you are still so worldly, so carnal, so passionate and unmortified, so full of roving lust, so careless in guarding the external senses, so often occupied in many vain fancies, so inclined to exterior things and so heedless of what lies within, so prone to laughter and dissipation and so indisposed to sorrow and tears, so inclined to ease and the pleasures of the flesh and so cool to austerity and zeal, so curious to hear what is new and to see the beautiful and so slow to embrace humiliation and dejection, so covetous of abundance, so niggardly in giving and so tenacious in keeping, so inconsiderate in speech, so reluctant in silence, so undisciplined in character, so disordered in action, so greedy at meals, so deaf to the Word of God, so prompt to rest and so slow to labor, so awake to empty conversation, so sleepy in keeping sacred vigils and so eager to end them, so wandering in your attention, so careless in saying the office, so lukewarm in celebrating, so heartless in receiving, so quickly distracted, so seldom fully recollected, so quickly moved to anger, so apt to take offense at others, so prone to judge, so severe in condemning, so happy in prosperity and so weak in adversity, so often making good resolutions and carrying so few of them into action.

When you have confessed and deplored these and other faults with sorrow and great displeasure because of your weakness, be firmly determined to amend your life day by day and to advance in goodness. Then, with complete resignation and with your entire will offer yourself upon the altar of your heart as an everlasting sacrifice to the honor of My name, by entrusting with faith both body and soul to My care. If a man does what he can and is truly penitent, however often he comes to Me for grace and pardon, "As I live, says the Lord God, I desire not the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live." I will no longer remember his sins, but all will be forgiven him.

The Saints speak on the Family

                     
All the wealth in the world cannot be compared with the happiness of living together happily united  - Blessed Margaret d’Youville

Perfect married life means the complete dedication of the parents for the benefit of their children -St Thomas Aquinas

Fathers and mothers owe four things to their children: maintenance, instruction, correction and good example. - St John Baptist de la Salle

Do not forget daily prayers; keep holy the Sundays and Holy days, and receive frequently the Sacraments, being well prepared. When it is possible, say in common the morning and night prayers, and grace before meals. - St John Vianney

Happiness is to be found only in the home where God is loved and honored, where each one loves, and helps and cares for the others - Blessed Theophane Venard

For recreation, choose the games which are approved and which also help to make you strong in body. Do not cheat or upset others, by showing bad temper. Raise your mind sometimes to God, or our Blessed Lady, by means of a little prayer; thus following the advice of St Paul “Do all for the glory of God” - St John Bosco

Do you wish to study to your advantage ? Let devotion accompany all your studies. Consult God more than your books. Ask Him to make you understand what you read. Always start your study by prayer. Science is a gift of God, not a work of your mind - St Vincent Ferrer

Our Lord needs from us neither great deeds nor profound thoughts. Neither intelligence nor talents. He cherishes simplicity - St Therese of Lisieux

He who wants something other than Christ, does not know what he wants; he who seeks something other than Christ, does not know what he wishes; and he who works but not for Christ, does not know what he is doing - St Philip Neri

The proof of love is in the works. Where love exists, it works great things. But when it ceases to act, it ceases to exist - St Gregory the Great

How to know you’re getting older

Everything hurts, and what doesn’t hurt, doesn’t work.

The gleam in your eye is from the sun hitting your bifocals.

You feel like the night before, and you haven’t been anywhere lately.

Your little black book contains only names ending in M.D.

You get winded playing cards.

Your children begin to look middle aged.

You join a Health Club, but never go to exercise.

A dripping faucet causes an uncontrollable bladder urge.

You know all the answers, but nobody asks you the questions.

You look forward to a dull evening.

You need glasses to find your glasses.

You turn out the lights for economic rather than romantic reasons.

You sit in a rocking chair and can’t get it going.

Your knees buckle but your belt won’t.

Your back goes out more than you do.

You have too much room in the house and not enough in the medicine chest.

You sink your teeth in a steak and they stay there.

Saint George Preca

Today we celebrate the feast of the first Maltese saint, St. George Preca, who lived between 1880 and 1962. He founded a confraternity of Christian Doctrine to teach children and young adults about the Catholic Faith. He was canonized in 2007. This is a daily prayer that he devised and is suggested to be said daily, thereby known as Quotidie, meaning ‘Daily.’

Lord God, you are here and I am in you: I speak to you and you listen to me: I ask of you and you grant to me because you have shown us in Holy Scripture that it is your delight to be with us your children, and also that it is your wish that we should have recourse to you in all our needs. It is with total confidence, therefore, that we ask of you as children ask of their parents.

Lord God, glorify your name.

Lord God, reign over all people.

Lord God, defend your honour.

Lord God, make yourself known.

Lord God, do your own will.

Lord God, rejoice in your works.

Lord God, enjoy your own beauty.

Lord God, show the beauty of your law.

Lord God, enjoy your infinite treasures.

Lord God, convert sinners to you.

Lord God, give perseverance to the just.

Lord God, save the dying.

Lord God, grant rest to the faithful departed.

Lord God, console those who are sad.

Lord God, enlighten the ignorant.

Lord God, restore health to the sick.

Lord God, help those in need.

Lord God, help those experiencing worries to accept your will.

Lord God, purify my heart.

Lord God, give me the spirit of Christ.

Lord God, save me from all deceits.

Lord God, lead me in all my ways.

Lord God, make me rejoice in your peace.

Lord God, keep me always in your hands.

Lord God, fill me with the spirit of sacrifice.

Lord God, seek me to adore you.

Lord God, bless my soul at the hour of my death.

Praying for Vocations

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.  So I share today this prayer for Vocations:

O God, Father of all Mercies, Provider of a bountiful Harvest,
send Your Graces upon those You have called to gather the fruits of Your labor;
preserve and strengthen them in their lifelong service of you.
Open the hearts of Your children that they may discern Your Holy Will; inspire in them a love and desire to surrender themselves to serving others in the name of Your son, Jesus Christ. Teach all Your faithful to follow their respective paths in life guided by Your Divine Word and Truth.
Through the intercession of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary, all the Angels, and Saints, humbly hear our prayers and grant Your Church's needs.
Loving and Generous God, it is You who call us by name and ask us to follow You.
Help us to grow in the Love and Service of our Church as we experience it today.
Give us the energy and courage of Your Spirit to shape its future.
Grant us faith-filled leaders who will embrace Christ's Mission of love and justice.

We pray especially for all seminarians, religious novices and postulants, sisters and prospects for the consecrated life. May they persevere and continue pursuing their holy vocation, being encouraged by their parents and superiors.