St Ignatius of Loyola

Peter Paul Rubens: 'Apotheosis of St. Ignatius.'

Today being the feast of St Ignatius of Loyola, (1491-1556) the founder of the Society of Jesus, also known as Jesuits, we  pray especially for Pope Francis, who is a Jesuit himself, and who just finished an arduous trip to Canada. In an interview given on his way back to Rome, Pope Francis expressed his tiredness and his pain in his legs, which led him to say that if this persists, he may retire. He was seen being led by a wheel-chair wherever he visited. I share with you today two of St Ignatius' famous quotes:

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

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

40 years ago

I share with you today three photos as flashbacks from 40 years ago. The first one shows my parents with a New York friend at the base of the World Trade Centre, right in front of the famous sculpted globe. They did go on top of the world with a spectacular view of the Manhattan skyline and the adjacent Hudson River. Little did they know that 19 years later, the Twin Towers would be destroyed in one of the saddest days in American and world history.

The second photo shows me after I just finished painting the jeep we used to plough snow from the parking lot in my parish of Holy Spirit in New Hyde Park. I used the ploughing to practice driving, after which I got my driver’s license in February 1983. I gave up my license here in Malta three years ago, after experiencing lots of traffic in our streets, and also to help the environment. My action is only a tiny drop in a huge ocean, as another 50 cars are added daily to the already overcrowded roads. Besides, traveling by bus is fairly convenient for me, except when on a rare occasion, the bus doesn’t show up at all, and have to wait another hour for the next one!

My third photo is during the baptism of Petra-Julienne Coppini , the first daughter of Josie and Carmen Coppini, whom I had married in January of 1981. They would have another daughter, Justine, and each daughter would have children of their own, baptizing one of them myself. Josie was a well-know comic actor and performer in Malta, and he passed away 24 years ago in July. I happened to be present for his funeral at St. Julian’s parish, having just arrived from New York to visit my family. Yet I kept contact with Carmen over the years, and until the pandemic started, she used to attend my Mass at my chapel.

And this one was from 32 years ago when my first nephew Julian was born on July 30, 1990. Happy Birthday Dr. Julian Jr.

St. Martha, St. Mary, St. Lazarus

The three Bethany siblings are now together again as their feast is celebrated today. Until last year, it was only Martha that had her feast on July 29, but now we have Mary and Lazarus along with her. We all remember that domestic scene in the Gospels when Jesus visits his friends Martha and Mary, who along with their brother Lazarus, all of them close friends. We read how Mary sat at the feet of Jesus to listen to him talk, while Martha was busy with the household chores and duties of hospitality, which were very important in Middle Eastern culture. Eventually Jesus reprimanded Martha and praised Mary for choosing the better part. I always felt bad for Martha, because she was doing her duty as a host. As if she was trying to tell Jesus: “Let’s all fix some snacks together and then we can sit down and talk....” Maybe Jesus was a little too quick to criticize her, but we know that all got along well, and both girls humbly yet eagerly appealed to Jesus when their brother Lazarus died. I have no doubt that Jesus enjoyed visiting them, sitting down, taking his sandals off, putting his feet up, and relax in the shade of a trellis in their yard covered with vines, with bunches of grapes hanging from them. Then the girls would prepare some food, some nice crusty bread, a dish filled with figs, olives, grapes, nectarines, pomegranate and other finger food that was popular those days. And as they listen to their friend talk, they would nibble of the food, while sipping some home-made wine, which surely Lazarus would have prepared for his friend. This feast reminds us also of the value of hospitality as we visit friends or relatives, as they visit us, being courteous and grateful, hospitable and welcoming and forever gracious. We celebrate today also the gift of friendship.

Learning from the dogs

It’s amazing how much we can learn from our four-legged, furry and bubbly friends:
When someone comes home, go and greet them.
Never pass a chance to go out for a stroll in the neighborhood for some fresh air.
Obey right away, and you won’t regret it.
Sleep and rest comfortably, and stretch when you wake up.
Run and play a little bit daily.
Make sure you are visible. The more attention you give, the more your receive it.
On very hot days, drink plenty of water, and stay in the shade as much as possible.
When you are happy, jump for joy, and share your happiness with those around you.
Don’t worry if they yell at you. Stay close to them and make up quickly – remain friendly always.
Eat with a healthy appetite, but don’t overdo it.
Be loyal and faithful to everyone.
When someone is suffering, stay with them motionless. Just being close is a great sign of comfort.

The Rosary instead of poison

The recently canonized St Titus Brandsma was killed by a lethal injection on July 26, 1942, exactly 80 years ago. The witness account of the nurse who administered the injection was an important fact for his eventual beatification in 1983. That nurse said that just before he died St Titus offered her his Rosary beads. Refusing it claiming she does not pray, he insisted ‘take it anyway as my last gift to you....use it to pray for us sinners....’ These were his last words. That Dutch nurse eventually converted to the Catholic faith and in 1955, she told her story of the last 10 days of St Titus. ‘I gave him poison and he gave me the Rosary....and with the Rosary beads, he inspired my own conversion, and salvation.’ One of the promises the Blessed Mother told St. Dominic was this: ‘The sinner who says the Rosary will convert and would end up loving the things of heaven instead of worldly things, and will grow in virtue and kindness towards others.’ St Titus Brandsma was canonized on May 15 earlier this year, and his feast day will be celebrated each year on July 27, since the day of the 26th (the day of his actual death) is taken by the grandparents of Jesus, the parents of the Blessed Mother. He is now also known, along with St Francis de Sales, as the patron saint of journalists.

St Joachim and St Anne

We honor today St Joachim and St Anne, the parents of the Blessed Mother and grandparents of Jesus. In their honor, I offer this prayer for grandparents:
Almighty God, we pay tribute today to the role of grand parenthood. So many grandparents nowadays are raising their own grandchildren, because their own parents either failed, or are too busy, or are separated or divorced. At a time when they thought that their work was done, they take over more responsibilities with patience, love and determination. May the images of St Joachim and St Anne be an inspiration to these grandparents, as they reflect on the love and affection they showed in raising their daughter Mary, the Mother of our Savior. And who knows how happy they were to see baby Jesus being born, raised and loved by his own parents. Who knows how often they baby-sat for him, and they must have been so proud of him, as they admired him growing up as a toddler, a young man and eventually leaving home for his official mission. We pray for all grandparents that they may find the courage and strength to honor their role in protecting, guiding and inspiring their grandchildren, and may they be an example of faith and fortitude for them.

The oldest woman alive

Yesterday I showed the oldest man alive, and I think it’s appropriate that I also show you the oldest woman alive, who is a French nun, Sister André  Randon. Born Lucile Randon in 1904, she is now 118 years old. Blind and partially deaf, she lives in a nursing home. She was actually baptised as a Protestant, but became Catholic before the war started. She worked as a teacher and governess in Paris, a period she once called the happiest time of her life. Then in 1944, she took  her religious vows with the Daughters of Charity. After the war, she spent 28 years working with orphans and elderly people at a hospital in Vichy, in the Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes region. After already living through the Spanish Flu pandemic in 1918, she tested positive for coronavirus in January 2021, and was quickly isolated in her retirement home to stop the virus spreading. Defying the odds, she shook off the virus after three weeks with no symptoms or side effects other than a little tiredness, in time to celebrate her 117th birthday. According to members of her retirement home, she does like to indulge in a few candies and chocolate, and also has a daily glass of wine. Her birthday is usually celebrated with a Port and chocolate combo. Her secret to her long life is to pray and drink a cup of chocolate every day.

The oldest man alive

Juan Vicente Perez Mora, aged 113.

According to the Guinness Book of Records, Juan Vicente Perez Mora is the oldest man alive. He was born on May 27 1909, and is now 113 years old. Born and raised in Venezuela, Juan Vicente is a man of deep faith. His secret for a long life is hard work, rest during the holidays, early to bed, and early to rise, a daily glass of aguardiente (strong liquor,) love towards God and make sure you carry Him with you always. He claims that the most important lesson he learned in his lifetime is the love of God, the love towards his family, and waking up early for work. For a while, he was the sheriff of his home town of Caricuena. He married his wife Ediofina Del Rosario Garcia and had 11 children. They were married for 60 years when she died. It’s interesting to note that the oldest woman is a nun from France, Sister Andre Randon who is 118 years old.

St. Bridget of Sweden

                         
Born on June 14, 1303 of a very devout family, Bridget’s mother died when she was only 10. She was raised with her siblings by her father and other aunts. As was customary during the Middle Ages, Birgitta was married when she was 13 years old to a young man, Ulf Gudmarsson with whom she had eight children, four daughters and four sons, all of them survived infancy, and that was very rare at that time. The King of Sweden, Magnus Eriksson married a foreigner, and asked Birgitta to come and be Lady-in Waiting and to teach his new bride and young queen the language and customs of her new country. After her years of service at Court, Birgitta and Ulf made the long pilgrimage to Santiago di Compostela in Spain. On the return journey Ulf became ill but survived until early in the year 1344, when he was very ill again, and so Birgitta took him to the monks at Alvastra where he died and was buried. Birgitta remained in a little house near the abbey and she spent long hours in prayer by Ulf’s grave. She arranged her affairs among her children and various charities and prayed for guidance. When she was 41 years old, in the abbey at Alvastra she felt God calling her to start a religious order, mainly for women. He said that the other orders had fallen into decay and this new order would be a vineyard whose wine would revivify the Church. She needed a monastery, chaplains and priests, besides 60 nuns to start the order. King Magnus donated a little palace and much land to the new monastery in Vadstena, but as soon she had begun altering the palace and organizing the work, Christ appeared to her and asked her to go to Rome. Birgitta left Sweden at the end of 1349 never to return, spending the Holy Year 1350 there.

Although she had longed to become a nun, she never even saw the monastery in Vadstena. It was not until 1370 that Pope Urban V confirmed the rule of her order, but meanwhile Birgitta had made herself universally beloved in Rome by her kindness and good works. Save for occasional pilgrimages, including one to Jerusalem, she remained in Rome until her death on July 23, 1373. She was originally buried at San Lorenzo in Panisperna before being moved to Sweden. She was canonized by 1391. Birgitta was the first women ever to found a religious order, known as the Brigittines.
The order spread swiftly throughout Europe with monasteries from Scandinavia throughout Europe, in particular Spain, Italy, Mexico and the USA. None of these foundations have brothers (except U.S.A. which has one male convent.)

St. Mary Magdalen

Mary Magdalene, whose liturgical feast we celebrate today, is mentioned as one of the women who ministered to Jesus. The same passage also refers briefly to an act of exorcism performed on her, on an occasion when seven demons were cast out. These women, who earlier "had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities", later accompanied Jesus on his last journey to, and were witnesses to the Crucifixion. She was also the privileged first person to see Jesus risen from the tomb, an honor that was not given to any of the 12 apostles, but only to Mary Magdalene, probably in a way of thanking her for staying with Jesus till the end at the foot of the cross. This is the last mention in the Gospels of Mary of Magdala, who now returned to Jerusalem. She is probably included in the group of women who joined the Apostles in the Upper Room in Jerusalem after Jesus' Ascension and may have also been with the Blessed Mother at Pentecost. Tradition as early as the third century identifies Mary Magdalene with Mary of Bethany and with the woman sinner who anointed Jesus' feet, even though she remains unnamed. The identification of Mary Magdalene with Mary of Bethany and "the woman who was a sinner" is reflected in an influential sermon Pope Gregory I gave in 591, which said: "She whom Luke calls the sinful woman, whom John calls Mary of Bethany, we believe to be the Mary from whom seven devils were ejected according to Mark." Mary had been looked upon as a great sinner, but Christ knew the circumstances that had shaped her life. It was He who had lifted her from despair and ruin. Seven times she had heard His rebuke of the demons that controlled her heart and mind. It was Mary who sat at His feet and learned of Him. It was Mary who poured upon His head the precious anointing oil, and bathed His feet with her tears. Mary stood beside the cross, and was first at the tomb after His resurrection. It was Mary who first proclaimed a risen Savior. According to Eastern traditions, she retired to Ephesus and there she died. Her relics were transferred to Constantinople in 886 and are there preserved.  Most importantly we honor today a woman who remained faithful to Jesus until the very end of her life.

Digital Peace

Pope Francis in a message to the Catholic Association for Communication sent on July 18, 2022, deplored that some digital spaces have become places of toxicity, hate speech and fake news. He acknowledged that the digital revolution is a powerful means of fostering communion and dialogue, recalling the role that digital media played during the pandemic. Indeed, during the months of lockdown due to the pandemic, we saw clearly how digital media could bring us together, not only by disseminating essential information, but also by bridging the loneliness of isolation and, in many cases, uniting whole families and ecclesial communities in prayer and worship. For the Pope, the problem raised by the digital world is a question of education. To fight against lies and misinformation, he encourages a media education that involves the development of a sound critical sense, learning to distinguish truth from falsehood, right from wrong, good from evil, and to appreciate the importance of working for justice, social concord, and respect for our common home. The Pontiff also pleads for greater digital inclusion of communities that do not yet have access to the digital space. If Catholics could work to ensure this access for all, they would help the spread of a culture of peace grounded in the truth of the Gospel. As you all know, I am doing my part by sharing these reflections on my blog, which started in Oregon in January 2012, and continued in Malta from May 2016 onwards. If each visitor would pass on my blog address to just one other person, I would double the number of visitors to this blog, which is now going uninterrupted for over 10 years.  How many blogs do you know of, that have lasted more than a couple of years? All I’m asking for is 2 minutes every day, and cherishing some worthwhile food for thought. Thank you – please come back to visit.

A Pope’s blessing –maybe a miracle

17-year-old Peter Srsich returned from a canoe trip suffering from chronic fatigue and a cough, and his family thought he might have pneumonia. The teen was diagnosed with stage four non-Hodgkins lymphoma when doctors discovered a large tumor on his lungs. He underwent rounds of chemotherapy that left him feeling depressed and questioning why he was going through such an ordeal. Although he had a strong a faith and already felt called to the priesthood, in his hospital bed he was reluctant to receive the Communion. To make his mother happy, he received communion from one of his friends, who also told him ‘Peter, I know this is hard. I’m not going to take the suffering away from you, but I’m going to walk with you through it.'” The Make-a-Wish Foundation, reached out to Srsich. Rather unusually for a youngster, Peter wished to go to the Vatican and see the Pope. In May 2012 his dream came true. Srsich, who traveled with his family, didn’t think he’d actually meet the pope. 

Pope Benedict XVI blessing Peter Srsich.

They went to St. Peter’s Square to see Pope Benedict XVI address the audience. The Srsich family were then asked to queue up to actually meet the Pope. Benedict XVI spoke to Peter and as he later shared: “He looked at me and said, “Oh, you speak English?” and put his hand on my chest right where the tumor had been, even though I had not mentioned it to him. The blessing is usually on the head.” Peter also took the time to explain his story to the pope, and explained that he wanted to become a priest and asked for Benedict XVI’s blessing. While some people believe the pope’s blessing worked miracles, Peter saw it somewhat differently; “Chemo helped me fight the cancer. Make-A-Wish helped me fight the chemo. Knowing the Pope was in my future helped me get through that, and in a small, non-miraculous way, helped cure my cancer.” And nearly a decade after his meeting with the pope, Peter Srsich was able to have a further wish come true. After God’s continued gentle calling, the 6′ 6″ former lacrosse player was ordained a priest in May 2021 for the Archdiocese of Denver. After a brief assignment in a Denver parish, he is now studying in Rome for a licentiate in Biblical Theology.

Nadal’s gesture

Earlier this month, Rafael Nadal showed himself to be a true gentleman with a simple gesture that may seem small but is significant. On Thursday, July 7, he had made public his withdrawal from Wimbledon due to a muscle injury, specifically an abdominal tear. It was physically impossible for him to serve with his left hand. His medical team recommended him to leave the court to avoid a major injury. Nadal gave a press conference during which he revealed his conviction that withdrawing from the competition was the best option, without hiding his sadness at being forced to back out. The following day, he packed his bags and slung his backpack over his shoulder. He left his room and walked to the door of the building where he was staying. He looked calm but serious. Then, he saw workers from the All England Tennis Club in the lobby of the building. They’re the people you don’t see; they don’t stand out and they’re not famous. Nadal decided there was one more thing he wanted to do before going out the door: greet them all one by one. It wasn’t just that he passed them on his way out; he went out of his way to meet them. He hugged one worker, shook hands with others, then went to the transportation counter where the comings and goings of the tennis court are managed. He showed his appreciation for those who attend to the stars of Wimbledon, taking pictures with whoever asked him. Upon leaving Wimbledon, he lost his chance to win the historic prize, but in the eyes of everyone it’s clear that he’s a champion in values: simplicity, selflessness, strength, joy in adversity, self-sacrifice, gratitude. Now he’s taking some days to recover, and probably will miss the US Open held in early September. The word is that it could be between 4 and 6 weeks. This will also give him time to enjoy the beginnings of his fatherhood: His wife Mery (Xisca) Perelló is pregnant.

What’s in a name

One of my best photos ever - a Bald Eagle in Keating, Oregon.

A firefly is not a fly – it’s a beetle.
A prairie dog is not a dog – it’s a rodent.
India ink is not from India. It’s from China and Egypt.
A lead pencil contains no lead – but graphite.
A Douglas fir is not fir. It is a pine tree.
A silkworm is not a worm. It’s a caterpillar.
A panda bear is not a bear. It is a racoon relative.
An English horn is not English and not a horn. It is an alto oboe from France.
A Guinea pig is not from Guinea and not a pig. It is from South America and it’s a rodent.
Shortbread is not bread. It is a thick cookie.
A shooting star is not a star. It is a meteor.
A funny bone is not a bone. It is the spot where the ulnar nerve touches the humerus.
A bald eagle is not bald. It’s got flat white feathers on its head and neck when mature – dark feathers when young.
A cucumber is not a vegetable. It is a fruit.
A jackrabbit is not a rabbit. It is a hare.
A peanut is not a nut. It is a legume.
A Turkish bath is not Turkish. It is Roman.
A koala bear is not a bear. It is a marsupial.
Dresden China is not made in Dresden. It is made in Meissen.

Martha and Mary

Martha, preparing the meal, by herself!

The Gospel reading for today is the story of Martha and Mary, as Jesus visits his friends to say Hello, to munch on some grapes and figs, taste some freshly-baked bread and sip some home-made wine. I always had a soft spot for St Martha. She was criticized by Jesus for not sitting down at his feet and listen to Him as her sister Mary did. Poor Martha was respecting the rules of hospitality, and having such an honored guest, she was probably preparing some snacks to serve when Jesus arrived, possibly unexpected. This painting by Vincenzo Campi gives Martha a lot of reason to complain, as she had a quite a meal to prepare, with fish, poultry, artichokes, cabbage, cauliflower, beans, carrots and all kinds of vegetables. Of course, it may be exaggerated, but is funny in a way. Yet whenever I look at this cute painting and see Jesus talking to Mary in the background, I always feel sorry for poor Martha. I would say “Hey Lord, first things first - let’s just prepare a few snacks for us all, and then we can sit and chit-chat, while nibbling on the snacks, or feast on the big meal that Martha probably prepared.” St Martha is the patron saint of housekeepers, housewives, and waitresses. Her feast day is on July 29, and now both Mary nd Lazarus are included with her, since until 2021, the feast honored Martha all by herself.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel

According to a pious tradition, the Blessed Virgin appeared to St Simon Stock at Cambridge, England on Sunday June 16, 1251. In answer to his appeal for help for his oppressed order, she appeared to him with a scapular in her hand and said to him: ”Take, beloved son, this scapular of your order as a special sign of grace for all Carmelites; whoever dies with this scapular, will not suffer everlasting fire. It is a sign of salvation, a safeguard in danger, a pledge of peace.” The Carmelites are a religious order founded on Mount Carmel in the 13th century, named thus in reference to the mountain range found in the Holy Land. The founder was a certain Berthold, who was either a pilgrim or a crusader. The order was founded at the site that it claimed had once been the location of Elijah’s cave, 1700 feet above sea level. By 2001, there were 2,100 religious monks in 25 provinces in the Carmelite order, besides 700 enclosed nuns in 70 monasteries. In addition, the Third Order of lay Carmelites count 28,000 members throughout the world. Besides St Simon Stock, there are other Carmelite saints such as St Therese of the Child Jesus, St John of the Cross, St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, St Theresa of Avila and St Elizabeth of the Trinity. In honor of Mary, many children in Malta are named Carmen, Carmela, Carmelo, Charles and similar derivations, although they were more popular in the past.

Maltese furniture

These few photos showcase some of the vintage furniture from Malta. They come from the time of the Knights of Malta who ruled the island between 1530 and 1798. Among these are chestnut coffers, cupboards, chests of drawers, armchairs, bookcase bureaus. The art of inlay is also displayed magnificently, as Italian artisans were brought over the specialize in this technique. Craftsmanship was at its excellent best and craftsmen produced some of the most intricate pieces of furniture, most of them now in private collections. Some items can still be admired in some of the parish churches, as well as private homes of the noble and the high class of society.

Not in your neighborhood

198 days since it launched on Christmas Day 2021 and a million miles of travelling later, the most powerful telescope to ever take flight has returned its first image.......and it's as ground-breaking and historic as you'd expect. The first image from the James Webb Space Telescope, revealed its deepest, sharpest infrared view of the universe to date. The striking image is just the first of many which are expected to come in the coming days and indeed for the next 20 years, as the JWST is expected to change and shape much of what we know and have learnt about space so far. It's overwhelmingly beautiful, knowing that these images have been in space, on the way to this camera, for over 13 billion years. These images brings back memories of another iconic deep space photo, when the Hubble Space Telescope had stared at a seemingly empty patch of sky for 100 hours back in 1995 and revealed the iconic galaxy-filled photo which has served as the backdrop to countless documentaries and posters. Now, we enter a new phase of scientific discovery. It will enhance what we know about the origins of our universe, our solar system, and possibly life itself. Here's a photo that is billions of miles away!

My Acolyte – now a priest

Father Dustin Busse processing at the end of the Ordination ceremony

Over the years I had around 6 altar-servers who eventually became priests, some in Malta, a few in New York and now one from Oregon. Dustin Busse was one of my faithful Acolytes in my last parish at St. Francis of Assisi in Bend. He was a very devout and serious young man who had mentioned to me about discerning a vocation to the priesthood. When I left Bend he told me that he was doing some exploratory work at Mount Angel Seminary. So I was honored to write a letter of recommendation for him for entrance to the Seminary. I remember him checking my blog which he liked very much, and kept visiting it even when I started the second one in Malta in May 2016. I always imagined him studying at the Mount Angel Seminary, with which I am very familiar since we always had our retreats there right after Easter. They have a beautiful and extensive library, designed by the famous Finnish architect Alvar Aalto. 

Fr Dustin being ordained by Archbishop Sample

He actually studied Philosophy and Literature at the Seminary, and then went to Rome for his theological studies. On June 25, the memorial of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Dustin became Father Dustin Busse when he was ordained by Archbishop Sample of the Portland Archdiocese. He is temporarily stationed at St. Cecilia Catholic church in Beaverton, Oregon, to be followed by more studies in Rome. I wish him the very best as he starts his pastoral journey to bring more people closer to God. Oregon is only around 12% Catholic, and so there are plenty of opportunities to make converts out of the many unchurched people. Ad Multos Annos Fr Dustin.

Sts Louis and Zelie Martin

A detail from the banner during their canonization in 2015.

Very few married couples have been elevated to sainthood. Of course we remember St Joseph and the Blessed Mother, as well St. Joachim and St. Anne, Elizabeth and Zechariah, and most recently another couple joined them. They are the parents of yet another saint, and so we can say that there are three saints from the same family, a rare feat. Sts. Louis and Zelie Martin are the parents of St Therese of Lisieux. Louis was born in 1823 and wanted to become a monk, but he was poor in his studies of Latin, and became a watchmaker instead. Zelie was born in 1831 and she also wanted to become a nun, but with some breathing problems, she was refused entry into the convent. Instead she became a professional lace-maker, to such an extent that her husband left his job and helped her in the production of Alencon lace, which became very popular all over France.

Their love for each other continued to blossom, and they got married on July 12, 1858, at the Basilica of Notre Dame in Alencon. It was the same time when the Blessed Mother was appearing to Bernadette Soubirous in Lourdes. They wanted to live a celibate life without any sexual relations between them. But when their spiritual director heard of this strange marital arrangement, he reprimanded them, and insisted that this is not the way married couple should live their lives together. Apparently they must have listened to him, because in 13 years they had 9 children. Only 5 of them lived into adulthood and they were all girls, and all of them became nuns.

An Icon oft he Martin family, including all deceased babies

Marie Louise lived 80 years, Marie Pauline lived 90 years, Mare Leonie lived 78 years, Marie Celine lived 90 years, and Marie Francoise-Therese lived only 24 years, and became the popular saint Therese of Lisieux. Their parents, however, were not lucky enough to enjoy the company of their daughters. Their mother Zelie died of breast cancer in 1877, aged 45, and their father Louis died in 1894, aged 70.  They raised their daughters with deep spirituality and love. Louis had built a little chapel where he used to spend time in prayer. He loved nature and traveled to many holy places, like Rome, Lourdes, Costantinople. He even gave affectionate nicknames to his girls. One he called diamond, another one pearl, another one the brave, yet another Guardian Angel, and young Therese he called little queenie, reginetta. Louis and Zelie used to write beautiful letters to each other and were published in a book. Although the letters from Louis were only 16, the ones from Zelie were 216, and they show the deeply spiritual life they used to live together. They were canonized by Pope Francis in October 2015.

Saint Benedict

The feast of Saint Benedict, the founder of Monasticism is a very special day in the life of the church, as all Benedictines celebrate the life of their founder today. St Benedict devised his famous Rule, which is read by all his members, at times almost memorized. I am always fascinated by Chapter 4 of the Rule, which lists 61 tools for good works, all based on Scripture. Here they are, listed in order, which makes for a good meditation:

In the first place, to love the Lord God with the whole heart, the whole soul, the whole strength. Then, one's neighbor as oneself. Then not to murder. Not to commit adultery. Not to steal. Not to covet. Not to bear false witness. To honor all. And not to do to another what one would not have done to oneself. To deny oneself in order to follow Christ. To chastise the body. Not to become attached to pleasures. To love fasting. To relieve the poor. To clothe the naked. To visit the sick.
To bury the dead. To help in trouble. To console the sorrowing. To become a stranger to the world's ways. To prefer nothing to the love of Christ. Not to give way to anger. Not to nurse a grudge. Not to entertain deceit in one's heart. Not to give a false peace. Not to forsake charity.
Not to swear, for fear of perjuring oneself. To utter truth from heart and mouth. Not to return evil for evil. To do no wrong to anyone, and to bear patiently wrongs done to oneself. To love one's enemies. Not to curse those who curse us, but rather to bless them. To bear persecution for justice's sake. Not to be proud. Not addicted to wine. Not a great eater. Not drowsy. Not lazy. Not a grumbler. Not a detractor. To put one's hope in God. To attribute to God, and not to self, whatever good one sees in oneself.  But to recognize always that the evil is one's own doing, and to impute it to oneself. 

8th century manuscript of the Rule of St Benedict

To fear the Day of Judgment. To be in dread of hell. To desire eternal life with all the passion of the spirit. To keep death daily before one's eyes. To keep constant guard over the actions of one's life. To know for certain that God sees one everywhere. When evil thoughts come into one's heart, to dash them against Christ immediately. And to manifest them to one's spiritual guardian. To guard one's tongue against evil and depraved speech. Not to love much talking. Not to speak useless words or words that move to laughter. Not to love much or boisterous laughter. To listen willingly to holy reading. To devote oneself frequently to prayer.
Daily in one's prayers, with tears and sighs, to confess one's past sins to God, and to amend them for the future. Not to fulfil the desires of the flesh; to hate one's own will. To obey in all things the commands of the Abbot or Abbess even though they (which God forbid) should act otherwise, mindful of the Lord's precept, "Do what they say, but not what they do." Not to wish to be called holy before one is holy; but first to be holy, that one may be truly so called.

The Good Samaritan

The story of the Good Samaritan we read about in today’s gospel reminds me of some interesting points Pope Francis made in his recent encyclical Fratelli Tutti. The Pope mentions how the good Samaritan not only helped the victim by carrying him on his beast and took him to a hotel, besides paying for his lodging, but also gave him his time. He gave him the gift of accompaniment, a rare gift today, as everyone is so busy and occupied with many chores and demands. Our reaction to finding ourselves in a similar situation, would be one of these 4: we can retreat inwards, we can completely ignore the situation, we can act indifferent to the plight of those in need, or we can roll up our sleeves and help out, as the good Samaritan did today. The Pope mentioned also that we can be the ones being the victim, hurt, abandoned and ignored. Let us on the other hand be the ones to help, not look the other way, simply because you claim to be too busy or unconcerned. 

Surviving a crash with prayer

The Aer Lingus plane that crashed in Birmingham

On January 1 1953, 25 passengers were on a flight from Dublin to Birmingham. When they had almost reach Birmingham, one of the 2 engines shut down, and a few minutes later the second one also shut down. The stewardess gave instruction to put the seat-belt on and wait , and pray. She calmly explained the seriousness of the situation and then knelt down in prayer. She told them: ‘Ladies and gentlemen,  I believe that this is a moment when we have to pray.’ She recited the Act of Contrition and then started the Rosary for  safe landing. Meanwhile the pilot was looking for any stretch of land where he could crash-land. As he did, he ripped a few trees, lost both engines, hit a wall and damaged severely the underneath of the damaged plane. But when the first rescuers arrived on the scene, they found all the passengers trying to crawl out of the plane, all unhurt, except for the pilot and co-pilot who had some scratches and superficial injuries. An expert in civil aviation said ‘this is truly a miracle as not one person lost his life!’ Yes, the power of Prayer.

Naming for Mary

For those who like a little variation on the name of Mary, in honor of the Blessed Mother, here are a few suggestions. The Scandinavians use often Mia or Mari, while the Finns use Maikki, and Majken is popular among the Swedes. The Jewish tradition has Miriam or Mara, while the Spanish favor Marisol or even Maria de Soledad. Molly and Moira are both used in Ireland and Scotland. And so is Mauren in Wales, Scotland, the Isle of man, Cornwall and Brittany. The French opt for Marie and Maire, Manon and Marion. Mariella is popular among the Italians, as is Marika in Holland and Mariska in Hungary, Mriya in Russia and Bulgaria. Marysia is popular among the Poles, as are Marynia and Maryla. And finally Maricel is common among the Filipinos. And just about every one of them is becoming popular even in Malta, although Maria and Mary are the two most common in Malta, where more than half of the parishes are dedicated to the Blessed Mother.

Blessed Karolina Kozka

Blessed Karolina Kozka (1898-1914)

After celebrating the feast of St Maria Goretti, I thought of sharing with you an insight into another virgin martyr of the last century, a contemporary of Goretti. Blessed Karolina Kozka was born in Poland on August 2, 1898, and at the age of 16, she became the victim of a sex attack and was murdered. Prior to that she was known locally for her strong faith and her eagerness to catechize her neighbours and children. Kózka is often referred to as the "Polish Maria Goretti" due to the manner of her death. Kózka's death caused great public outrage against Russians since a Russian soldier was believed to have attacked and killed her. She had been kidnapped along with her father, as one of the soldiers attempted to force himself upon her but she struggled and thwarted his attempted rape. Enraged, the soldier then stabbed her with his bayonet multiple times. She managed to escape and ran some 800 meters towards nearby swamps which saved her from further attacks. The soldier saw her fall and gave up the chase believing her to be dead. She was found a few days later in the woods, half naked and in bare feet which were badly wounded, and her neck slit with a knife. Three thousand people flocked to her funeral and called for her canonization cause to be introduced as she died defending her virginity. The cause formally commenced in the 1950s and culminated in 1987 with Pope John Paull II beatifying her in her and his, native Poland. Her major shrine is in her native Tarnow, Poland, and her feast day is celebrated on November 18.

Saint Maria Goretti

A young girl with little schooling became one of the most popular saints in Italy by the middle of the 20th century. Born in 1890, Maria Goretti was one day by her house and a neighbor attempted to rape her, and even though she resisted him, she was killed by 14 stab wounds. She died 24 hours after being stabbed, also giving her enough time receive Holy Communion. Maria was 12 years old. Her killer Alessandro Serenelli was jailed, sentenced to 30 years in prison, and was unrepentant for a while. Eventually he changed his life, even becoming a Franciscan Capuchin lay brother after being released 27 years later. 

Alessandro praying in front of the image of St Maria Goretti

One of the first things he did after his release was visit Maria’s mother and apologize to her. Maria was beatified in 1947, and on that occasion, her mother and siblings appeared with Pope Pius XII at the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica. Alessandro was even present at Maria Goretti’s canonization on June 24, 1950. Over half a million people had gathered in the Vatican piazza for her canonization. St Maria Goretti is the patron of youth, chastity and purity.

America needs prayers

After yet another day of carnage in Chicago, during a celebration and parade which usually brings people happily together, I share with you another prayer which would be appropriate for Independence Day, but even a day later, and every day of our lives, America needs prayers so that the senseless killings and murders will end.

Lord, we stand today as our forefathers have stood before You in times gone by, celebrating our history and revelling in all the great things that our country has achieved.
On this day we rejoice in the favor You have graciously given us.
We thank You for the blessings of liberty, for this generation and for the generations to come.
We thank You for our independence, peace and for all those who have bravely given their lives in the defense of freedom and justice.
We thank You that Your provident hand has given us so much.

Yet as a nation and people we have not always chosen the right way.
We ask You to forgive us for these times.
On this day we commit ourselves to wholeheartedly honoring and serving You.
With everything that we are, we lay our lives before You.
Make us a generous people, a holy nation, a grateful country.
A people set aside to love You forever,
For the sake of the land of the brave and free, and the peoples and nations of this world.

Today, we do not presume Your grace for our country. Our land is in need of You, Our people are in need of You, Our industry and business is in need of You.
May we look only to You this Independence Day, dependent on You.

Please come now by Your glorious Holy Spirit,
Breathe new life into the sinews of this nation. May justice flow like rivers,
And righteousness like a never failing stream, until the whole of our country is covered with Your glory, as the waters cover the sea.

We ask all this in the wonderful name of Jesus, Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit. One God, now and for all eternity. Amen.

And may the millions of guns and rifles and shotguns be replaced forever with blossoms of color, flowers of joy and hope for peace all over the country that is hurting so much.

America's Greatness

This is a favorite quote which I always cherished and I share it with all my friends across the pond and all those of goodwill. Hoping that the senseless shootings will stop, the murder of unborn babies will be halted, and that people can live in peace and harmony, even though of different religion, color, social status or orientation. It was written by Alexis de Tocqueville, a French aristocrat, diplomat, political scientist, philosopher and historian. He is best known for his monumental work Democracy in America, written  to help the people of France get a better understanding of the United States and its people.

I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her commodious harbors and her ample rivers, and it was not there.

I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her fertile fields and boundless forests, and it was not there.

I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her rich mines and her vast world commerce, and it was not there.

I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her public school system and her institutions of learning, and it was not there.

I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her democratic congress and her matchless constitution, and it was not there.

Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits flame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power.

America is great because America is good, and if America ever ceases to be good. America will cease to be great.