Something about Tessa

This story is told by a woman, Therese Guy who in 1960 was attending a Catholic school.......”I got in trouble a few times in school, but there was another girl in my class who received a few more punishments than me. Her name was Tessa, and she appeared to be poor, a little filthy at times, although she always wore her school uniform. One day she came to school with invitations for her birthday party. Right away, I was determined to attend and asked my father to come along to let me buy a small gift. I was looking for something small, like a jump-rope or a T-shirt, but my eyes fell on a beautiful porcelain china set, and my dad said it’s OK to buy it. I wrapped it and when the day arrived, my father dropped me off, and he told me he’ll pick me up in two hours, encouraging me to have fun. It was a very simple house, no carpeting as we were used to, and no furnishings, no Television but just a cross hanging on the wall. I was obviously the first one there, as I met her family, surrounded with an aroma of baking goodies, which were on a table covered with an embroidered table-cloth. I chatted with Tessa as we waited for any other classmates to arrive, but it became apparent that I was the only one who accepted her invitation. She took it well though and was happy with my presence, as were her parents and her younger siblings. Then we feasted on the pastries and cakes, as I gazed at the lonely gift in the middle of the table. Tears of joy sprung from Tessa’s eyes as she opened her gift and saw the china tea set. Her family gasped in surprise. ‘Thank you,’ she said ‘no one has ever given such a fine gift.’ All at once tears sprung from my eyes also, because never have I seen someone so beautifully clothed in gratitude. When we returned to school, our classmates still avoided her company, but we became soulmates for a long time.”

Successful Men and Women

He is a successful man . . . .

- who lives well, laughs often and loves much,

- who has the respect of intelligent men and the love of little children,

- who is careful and devoted to his duties, and accomplishes his tasks properly,

- who leaves the world better than he has found it, whether by an improved poppy,

                      a perfect poem or a rescued soul,

- who never lacks appreciation of earth’s beauty or fails to express it,

- who always looks for the best in others, and gives the best he has,

- whose life is an inspiration, and whose memory is a blessing to those he leaves behind.

She is a successful woman . . . .

- who has an appreciation of the world around her,

- who has energy to devote both to work and play,

- who has the capacity to give of herself, and to accept graciously the gift of others,

- who has people she trusts and is trusted by, people she cares about who care about her,

- who has a zest for life, and feeling of kinship with all living things,

- who has the enthusiasm to welcome each new day with warmth and joy and love.

St Aloysius Gonzaga

One of the patrons of youth, St Aloysius Gonzaga was an Italian Jesuit saint of the 16th century. Quite a few Jesuit colleges are named after him, including Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington and St Aloysius College, in Malta. Aloysius is the Latin form of his given name, Luigi, in English known as Louis. The Gonzaga name is well known in Italy. Aloysius Gonzaga was born at Castiglione near Mantua, Italy, in 1568 to a celebrated family of wealth and prestige. As the first born son, he was in line to inherit his father's title of Marquis. He grew up amid the violence and brutality of the Renaissance Italy and witnessed the murder of two of his brothers. In 1578, accompanied by his parents, he traveled to Spain to join the court of Philip II in Madrid. In Spain, Aloysius decided he wanted to join the newly founded religious order, the Society of Jesus. His father resisted his decision, but Aloysius eventually prevailed. Renouncing his right to the title of Marquis and to the vast wealth he was destined to inherit, he entered the Society of Jesus in Rome on November 25, 1585. During his early studies in Rome, he would regularly go out into the streets of the city to care for victims of the plague. He himself contracted the disease as a result of his efforts for the suffering and died on June 21, 1591, at the age of twenty-three, six years short of his ordination as a Jesuit priest. Even before his time as a Jesuit, Aloysius was known for his love of prayer and fasting. He received his First Communion from St. Charles Borromeo. His spiritual director was St. Robert Bellarmine who later was canonized and declared a doctor of the church. When Robert was dying, he asked to be buried next to the grave of Aloysius. Today, they rest next to each other in the church of St. Ignatius Loyola in Rome. Pope Benedict XIII canonized Aloysius in 1726, and three years later declared him to be the patron of youth in the Catholic Church, an honor later confirmed by Pope Pius XI in 1926.  Gonzaga University in Spokane is the only Jesuit university in the world named after St. Aloysius.

Celebrating

Yesterday, as is customary, me and my classmates concelebrated Mass together at the Immaculate Conception church in Hamrun to commemorate our 47 th anniversary. Three of our classmate were not present but the other 7 are seen here in a group photos we took for the occasion. This particular church is very close to my heart as during my diaconate year, between 1976 and 1977, I served at that church, practicing my homilies every weekend during Sunday Mass. Over the last few years, as you can see in this photo, some beautiful embellishment took place, creating a variation on the Via Crucis (The Way of the Cross,) this time called Via Lucis (The Way of the Light) represented in mosaic, 14 stations that took place after Jesus’ resurrection until Pentecost. (Click to enlarge photos)

The 14 Stations of the Via Lucis

47th Anniversary

Our Class of 1977 just before our ordination.

With my classmates today we celebrate our 47th anniversary of ordination. All of us are now in Malta, except for two who are in heaven, two still serving as pastors, others semi-retired, while others still working at various positions and offices in the church in Malta. We spent 7 glorious years together at the Major Seminary, while studying at the University of Malta. Seminary life was very special to me, and living in a community was very rewarding and enriching. At one time we were close to 90 seminarians at various stages of the priesthood. Nowadays the numbers have dwindled to around 8, and vocations for the priesthood and religious life has become a major issue for the church in Malta. We met yesterday for a day-and-a-half retreat on the occasion of our anniversary, and today we will con-celebrate together in a chosen church, with our families in attendance. 

The quote I used for my Ordination holy card was from the first letter of St Peter: "Tend the flock of God in your midst, overseeing not by constraint but willingly, as God would have it, not for shameful profit, but eagerly" (1 Peter 5:2.) I offer my Mass today for the Rectors, Vice-Rectors, Spiritual Director and professors and teachers who taught us over the 7 years we spent together, most of whom have since passed away. I offer my Mass for my parents, brothers and sisters, nephews and relatives and friends in the parishes I served over the past 47 years, St Julian’s, (Malta,) New Hyde Park, Rocky Point, Hicksville, Pleasant Valley (all in New York) and John Day, Baker City and Bend (all in Oregon,) as well as my new friends at Hilltop Gardens, Simblija Carehome, and at Naxxar parish. I thank God for the blessings he gave me along with a few talents to use in my ministry, as I promise to continue to use them to the best of my ability.

With my family and relatives on June 19, 1977

Strength and Courage

It takes strength to be certain  -  It takes courage to have doubts.

It takes strength to fit in  -  It takes courage to stand out.

It takes strength to share a friend's pain  -  It takes courage to feel your own pain.

It takes strength to hide your own pain  -  It takes courage to show it and deal with it.

It takes strength to stand guard  -  It takes courage to let down your guard.

It takes strength to conquer  -  It takes courage to surrender.

It takes strength to endure abuses  -  It takes courage to stop them.

It takes strength to stand alone  -  It takes courage to lean on a friend.

It takes strength to love  -  It takes courage to be loved.

It takes strength to survive  -  It takes courage to live.

ABCs of Commitment

I open my heart and my mind to be aware of the ABCs which will lift my spirits up day by day.
 
Almighty Creator of the Universe, who created all that we have and cherish.
Beloved Father, God of compassion.
Create in me a clean heart this day, to love you more.
Deliver me from the limitations of my ego.
Exalt your presence in my mind, and keep me always focused on You.
Forgive all that I have done against You, myself and others.
Grant me peace, and grant peace to all the world.
Hold me steadfastly within the boundaries of your truth.
Inspire my heart to know You better, my ears to hear You, and my eyes to recognize You.
Justify me in the presence of all enemies.
Knead my heart with works of kindness and acts of humility.
Let no harm befall me or my loved ones.
May all I do or say glorify You, and never let any word of mine ever hurt You.
Nourish me with Your Wisdom and Knowledge.
Open my eyes to know your vision of truth.
Purge my heart of all things that are offensive to your law.
Quiet my soul in the midst of confusion and temptation.
Renew my commitment to You.
Save me from my secret fears.
Teach me to trust You at all times.
Use all You have given me to serve You.
Victory for Your cause is my desire.
Walk with me so that my strength will never be diminished.
Xamine my heart continually.
Your Love and Grace are my good fortune.
Zealously, I commit my life to serving you faithfully and dutifully.
Until today, you may not have been aware of the power of knowing the alphabet. Just for today, practice in making each letter of the alphabet come alive in your life.

Why God created Fathers

When the good Lord was creating Fathers, he started with a tall frame. A female angel nearby said "What kind of a Father is that? If you're going to make children so close to the ground, why have you put the Father up so high? He won't be able to shoot marbles without kneeling, tuck a child into bed without bending, or even kiss a child without stooping." God smiled and said, "Yes, but if I make him child size, who would children have to look up to?" And when God made a Father's hands, they were large. The angel shook her head and said, "Large hands can't manage diaper pins, small buttons, rubber bands on pony tails, or even remove splinters caused from baseball bats." Again God smiled and said, "I know, but they're large enough to hold everything a small boy empties from his pockets, yet small enough to cup a child's face in them." Then God molded long slim legs and broad shoulders, "Do you realize you just made a Father without a lap?" the angel chuckled. God said, "A Mother needs a lap. A Father needs strong shoulders to pull a sled, to balance a boy on a bicycle, or to hold a sleepy head on the way home from the circus."

When God was in the middle of creating the biggest feet anyone had ever seen, the angel could not contain herself any longer. "That's not fair. Do you honestly think those feet are going to get out of bed early in the morning when the baby cries, or walk through a birthday party without crushing one or two of the guests?" God again smiled and said, "They will work. You will see. They will support a small child who wants to ride to Adventureland or Disneyworld or scare mice away from a summer cabin, or display shoes that will be a challenge to fill." God worked throughout the night, giving the Father few words, but a firm authoritative voice; eyes that see everything, but remain calm and tolerant. Finally, almost as an afterthought, He added tears. Then He turned to the angel and said, "Now are you satisfied he can love as much as a Mother can?" The angel said nothing more.

Happy Father's Day to all fathers, grandfathers, step-fathers, foster-fathers and also all priests, who are spiritual fathers.

The Pope on Artificial Intelligence

Pope Francis with all the world leaders at the G7 in Italy.

Pope Francis on June 14 issued a stark warning to world leaders that artificial intelligence has led to a "cognitive-industrial revolution" that could undermine human dignity, in an historic speech where he became the first pontiff to ever address the annual "G7" summit, held in the Puglia region in Southern Italy. He said: ‘Artificial intelligence (or "AI"), is both an exciting and fearsome tool where the benefits or harm it will bring will depend on its use. We need to ensure and safeguard a space for proper human control over the choices made by artificial intelligence programs. Human dignity itself depends on it, we are enthusiastic when we imagine the advances that can result from artificial intelligence, but at the same time, we are fearful when we acknowledge the dangers inherent in its use. Human freedom requires tremendous responsibility when navigating how to develop and use such technologies. When our ancestors sharpened flint stones to make knives, they used them both to cut hides for clothing and to kill each other. The same could be said of other more advanced technologies, such as the energy produced by the fusion of atoms, as occurs within the sun, which could be used to produce clean, renewable energy or to reduce our planet to a pile of ashes.’

Pope Francis and Italian PM Meloni arriving at the G7 summit.

The pope dedicated his 2024 World Day of Peace message to the theme of AI, where he called for a binding international treaty to regulate its development and warned that it could lead to a "technological dictatorship" if not properly regulated. The Pope cited a number of specific examples where he said AI programs revealed their limitations: judges using computer programs to determine prison sentences, chat bots that mimic human interactions and students who use such technologies to prepare papers. In each scenario, the Pope noted that AI offered some utility, but ultimately offered diminished or flawed outcomes. He finished his speech by saying: ’Indeed, we seem to be losing the value and profound meaning of one of the fundamental concepts of the West: that of the human person. It is up to everyone to make good use of Artificial Intelligence, but the onus is on politics to create the conditions for such good use to be possible and fruitful.’

The best apple

A young girl was holding two apples in her hands. Her mother comes in the kitchen and asks her to give her one of the apples, while she could have the other one. The girl however did something peculiar which made her mother very disappointed. She bit one of the apples, and then bit the other one too. Her mother thought this was a selfish gesture from her daughter who was always obedient and loving. She asked why did she do such a thing. The girl tasted both apples and enjoyed their flavor, and then declared ‘Mom, this is your apple – it is sweeter and crispier than the other one.’ And her mother ate the better apple while the girl ate the inferior one. Then her mother gave her a huge hug saying to her ‘you’re so special – I love!’ So let us not judge on outside appearances only. The true value of a person is what lies in their heart. The girl wanted to give her mother the very best! Let us also give one another the very best we can offer.

Saint Anthony

Always called St Anthony of Padova, still he was actually born on August 15, 1195 near Lisbon, Portugal to a wealthy family and given the name Fernando. He was sent to the cathedral school in Lisbon, but in 1210, at the age of 15 he entered the Augustinian monastery of Sao Vicente in Lisbon, against the wishes of his family. But in their monastery near his native city he was distracted by visits from relatives and friends. After two years, Fernando asked to be transferred. He was sent to Holy Cross in Coimbra, a great center of learning and capital of Portugal at that time. He devoted the next eight years of his life to study and prayer, immersing himself in Sacred Scripture. When news of the Franciscan martyrs in Morocco reached him, he joined the Franciscan Order in 1221, when he was 26 years old. At his own request, he was sent as a missionary to Morocco with the mission of preaching among the Moors. He had to return to Europe because of ill health. After this, St Anthony was moved to Romagna (Italy) and spent 9 months as a chaplain to hermits. At an ordination ceremony, the priest who was about to give the sermon fell ill suddenly and St Anthony was called upon to give the sermon in his place. Although he refused with humility at first, he eventually had to do so because of his vow of obedience to his superior. The rest as they say, is history! 

St Anthony's Basilica in Padova, Italy

The last two years of his life he spent in Padua, preaching, hearing confessions and working to help the poor. St. Anthony died on June 13th, 1231 aged 36 at Arcella, a suburb of Padova.  Saint Anthony was canonized in 1232 by Pope Gregory IX and declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius XII in 1946. He holds the record for the second fastest canonization in history: he was declared a saint 352 days after his death. In 1263, a basilica was built in his honor. Today he is one of the most famous saints and is often called upon by Catholics to help find lost possessions. Saint Anthony of Padua is usually sculpted or portrayed holding the child Jesus, or a lily or a book, or all three, in his arms.

Whom do you see?

I have no idea who took this photo. Most probably a boyfriend of one of these 3 girls, sharing a cup of coffee. Nothing unusual about it. But if you close your eyes, and move back about another foot or two. Then open your eyes quickly, and what do you see? Who appears in this photo? I’m sure you’ll be surprised as I was. Just say a prayer and share it with your friends, knowing that truly inspirational moments come into our lives when we least expect them.

Valencia Monstrance

The largest Monstrance in the world is carried through the streets of Valencia every year. There are 159 sculptures adorning the monstrance used in the annual Corpus Christi procession in Valencia, Spain, including biblical scenes from the Old Testament up to the Good Shepherd and the risen Christ. The apostles and doctors of the Church adorn the host and Eucharistic miracles are depicted. Saints particularly devoted to the Eucharist are part of the multitude of adorers, as is Pope Pius X, known as the “Pope of the Eucharist” since he encouraged frequent reception of the sacrament and lowered the age for first Communion. Valencia’s procession was first celebrated in 1355, and by 1372, it was an annual event: the city’s “festa grossa” (great feast). It was only in 1264 that Pope Urban IV had made the Corpus Christi feast universal for the whole Church. When the former monstrance was destroyed in the civil war, the city felt its loss at each Corpus Christi procession. But the post-war years were tumultuous times marked by economic struggles. 

Nevertheless, a Jesuit priest of the city, Father Antonio de León, proposed to Archbishop Prudencio Melo (archbishop from 1922–1945) the project of constructing a new Monstrance. While the archbishop agreed, the priest wasn’t sure how it could happen, given the economic situation. But then he received what he took as a sign, something of a “widow’s mite” in the form of five silver coins donated by a laborer of the city. León put the project in motion and the citizens of Valencia responded with enthusiasm. Both the poor of the city and the well off donated what they could. The current solemn procession consists of a large group of vested priests processing down the streets of Valencia, followed by a group of sacristans creating a cloud of incense, Jesus arrives as red flower petals rain down on the monstrance, thrown by the faithful gathered on their balconies and those lining the streets.

ABBA honored

All four members of the Swedish pop quartet ABBA were reunited last Friday to receive one of Sweden's most prestigious knighthoods from King Carl XVI Gustaf. The Order of Vasa was awarded for the first time in over 50 years. Seen here, left to right, Bjorn Ulvaeus, Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Agnetha Faltskog and Benny Andersson became 'Commanders of the First Class' for their very outstanding efforts in Swedish and International music life. They burst onto the scene in 1974 when they won the Eurovision Song Contest with the song 'Waterloo.' After that, it was one classic hit after another. Congratulations to ABBA.

St. Julian’s Choir

St Julian's Choir in 1965 led by Fr Guido Calleja

Since a few days ago I showed you my choir Pueri Cantores from the early 1960s, it’s fair enough that today I show you two photos of the St. Julian’s choir that was pretty strong, popular and quite appealing for a few decades. It was started by Fr. Guido Calleja, parish priest until 1966, and continued under the direction of Fr. John Galea into the new millennium. They rehearsed regularly and performed many classic choral pieces in various places, among them St. John’s Cathedral, where the major works were performed, as well as the St Julian’s parish church itself, where they also embellished the liturgy during major service. 

St. Julian's Choir in 1979, led by Fr John  Galea

They even sang at my First Solemn Mass on August 14, 1977, when they used the Missa Secunda Pontificalis by Luigi Perosi. Among the affluent repertoire they performed, there were three major oratorios: Handel’s ‘Messiah,’ Mendelssohn’s ‘Paulus,’ and Chev. Rev. Carmelo Scerri’s ‘San Gregorio Magno.’ They also became famous and in demand for the popular Maltese oratorio ‘Pawlu ta’ Malta’ (St. Paul of Malta) with words by Oliver Friġġieri and music by Charles Camilleri. (Click on each photo to enlarge)

Immaculate Heart of Mary

                              

The day after the feast of Sacred Heart, we celebrate the feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. On this occasion I share with you one of my favorite hymns that is used in the Breviary which the priests recite daily. This is taken from the hymn of the Morning Prayer of the Common of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a poem whose text is attributed to Dominican sisters:

Mary the dawn, Christ the Perfect Day;
Mary the gate, Christ the Heavenly Way!

Mary the root, Christ the Mystic Vine;
Mary the grape, Christ the Sacred Wine!

Mary the wheat, Christ the Living Bread;
Mary the stem, Christ the Rose blood-red!

Mary the font, Christ the Cleansing Flood;
Mary the cup, Christ the Saving Blood!

Mary the temple, Christ the temple’s Lord;
Mary the shrine, Christ the God adored!

Mary the beacon, Christ the Haven’s Rest;
Mary the mirror, Christ the Vision Blest!

Mary the mother, Christ the mother’s Son;
By all things blest while endless ages run. Amen.

Sacred Heart

We are approaching an important milestone, as next year we’ll commemorate the 350th anniversary of the great apparition of Jesus to St Margaret Mary Alacoque. Pope Francis already mentioned that he is preparing a special document for this occasion, and special commemoration which starts this September and ends next year on the feast of His Sacred Heart in June. The "great apparition," which took place on June 16, 1675, during the octave of the Feast of Corpus Christi, is the source of the modern Feast of the Sacred Heart. In that vision, Christ asked St. Margaret Mary to request that the Feast of the Sacred Heart be celebrated on the Friday after the octave (or eighth day) of the Feast of Corpus Christi, in reparation for the ingratitude of men for the sacrifice that Christ had made for them. The Sacred Heart of Jesus represents not simply His physical heart but His love for all mankind.

Heart of Jesus, give us the strength to persevere in your footsteps.

Heart of Jesus, enlighten our path to stay faithful in our journey of faith.

Heart of Jesus, remind us always to love others as You loved us, always and unconditionally.

Heart of Jesus, teach us to be patient with those we don’t seem to tolerate that easily.

Heart of Jesus, help us to find time to pray, to listen to You and to act kindly towards others.

Heart of Jesus, encourage everyone to appreciate the gift of the Eucharist, and our meeting You daily at Mass.

Heart of Jesus, protect our children and our youth, and mold them into strong future leaders of our church.

Heart of Jesus, may we appreciate the simple things in life, and accept Your blessings on us and our families.

Heart of Jesus, inspire us to give that word of encouragement to those who have given up hope.

Heart of Jesus, take us to Mary Your Mother, and keep us close to her.

Heart of Jesus, shower us with your abundant love, and never let us take You for granted.

Heart of Jesus, help us to live one day at a time.

Heart of Jesus, send Your peace on our world.

Heart of Jesus, thank you for loving us so much, maybe when we didn’t even deserve it.

D-Day – 80 years ago

Today we commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day, the allied assault on Normandy in World War II. The operation was codenamed Overlord. We honor today the estimated 6,000 Americans who were killed, wounded or missing by the end of the first day. That day about 156,000 troops were hurled against Hitler’s Atlantic Wall, the largest amphibious operation in history. On four of the five landing beaches, the Allied troops made quick work of the German defences at Omaha beach, they encountered fresh troops and the fighting was ferocious. On the night of June 6, 1944, President Roosevelt addressed the nation by radio. His speech consisted mostly of a prayer:

Almighty God: Our sons, pride of our Nation, this day have set upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our Republic, our religion, and our civilization, and to set free a suffering humanity. Lead them straight and true; give strength to their arms, stoutness to their hearts, steadfastness in their faith. They will need Thy blessings. Their road will be long and hard. For the enemy is strong. He may hurl back our forces. Success may not come with rushing speed, but we shall return again and again; and we know that by Thy grace, and by the righteousness of our cause, our sons will triumph. And, O Lord, give us Faith. Give us Faith in Thee; Faith in our sons; Faith in each other; Faith in our united crusade. Let not the keenness of our spirit ever be dulled. Let not the impacts of temporary events, of temporal matters of but fleeting moment let not these deter us in our unconquerable purpose. With Thy blessing, we shall prevail over the unholy forces of our enemy. Help us to conquer the apostles of greed and racial arrogancies. Lead us to the saving of our country, and with our sister Nations into a world unity that will spell a sure peace a peace invulnerable to the schemings of unworthy men. And a peace that will let all of men live in freedom, reaping the just rewards of their honest toil. Thy will be done, Almighty God. Amen.

Here is Christian nationalism done right: Petitioning, inclusive, noble, heartfelt. So this year, as we reflect upon the fact that the last soldiers who fought that day will soon join their comrades who died that very day, it is good to be horrified by that violence. It is good, too, to be grateful to those who braved it in order to liberate France and all of Europe from the Nazi tyranny. It is difficult to conceive of the ordeal they faced 80 years ago and of the courage that was required, but they faced it. All peoples who value freedom and democracy owe them a debt that can never be repaid. 

Flashback from 1964

Pueri Cantores 1964 - I'm on the top row, 3rd from right

I take you back exactly 60 years ago, when I was part of a boys choir which was started by my second cousin Fr John Galea, who would eventually become the pastor at St Julian’s parish, and with whom I served for 4 years between 1977 and 1981. He brought together a group of boys, many of whom were also altar boys and rehearsed with us on a weekly basis various hymns and even parts of Masses which for us were quite difficult to memorize. Our group was called Pueri Cantores (Children Singers,) and we even had our own uniform as you can see from these two photos. We were even given a small bag to carry it in, which included a small wooden cross and a red cincture. We sang at Christmas and the feast of St. Julian as well as venturing to other parishes, singing at first Solemn Masses of newly ordained priests and various other celebrations.

Pueri Cantores 1965 - I'm on top row, 1st from right

We even appeared on local TV on February 2nd, the day of my baby brother’s baptism. During the summer all of us as well as the other altar boys went for a little 3-day holiday on the island of Gozo, along with Fr John and a few chaperones, including my father, who volunteered to be one of the cooks. When Fr John became pastor in 1966, he had to leave the Pueri Cantores, but continued with an adult choir which for a number of years became the top choir in Malta. Rehearsals for us meant also a football match in the streets close to the church, and because of it, more boys joined our choir.

The Cabbage Patch Doll

Little Maria was visiting her grandparents during the summer holidays. This was 1984, and one evening the grandparents were invited to a local event, mainly for adults, but they could not leave Maria alone at home. When they arrived, our little Maria’s eyes fell on a box with a Cabbage Patch Doll, which in 1984 were a very hot item. Of course her first sentence out of her mouth was ‘I want it, I want it!’ Grandma Sophie told her that she could not have it as it was going to be raffled off at the end of the show. Grandpa Bill decided to buy 5 tickets for the raffle, which included a few other items, a toy car, a transistor radio and some children’s books and outfits. Most of the people in the hall were elderly people, and of course the gifts were for their grandchildren. Granda Sophie told her that is she remained quiet, she may win it after all. Little Maria stayed quiet all through the performance. So at the end, the Master of Ceremonies announced the drawing of the raffle. Grandpa Bill prepared Maria for the disappointment awaiting her, as surely with hundreds of tickets in the urn, it was just impossible to get your ticket drawn out. Maria sat motionless with eyes tightly closed and her tiny hands clasped in prayer. As the MC announced the number, Grandpa Bill stood up in disbelief. Maria’s sudden burst of joy followed as she asked Grandpa ‘Who won?’ And his exuberant response brought tears to his eyes......’You won Maria! You won the dolly.’ Bill gave her the ticket and lifted her on stage to collect her treasured prize. She hugged that box and smiled, as the crowd gave her a thunderous applause. That scene reminded everyone present that when the odds are hopelessly stacked against you, a little faith and a simple prayer can make us winners. Maria went home with her Cabbage Patch Doll she treasured for the rest of her life.

The Ugandan Martyrs

We commemorate today the Ugandan martyrs, even though St Charles is the one often mentioned. One of 22 Ugandan martyrs, Charles Lwanga is the patron of youth and Catholic action in most of tropical Africa. He protected his fellow pages (aged 13 to 30) from the homosexual demands of the Bagandan ruler, Mwanga, and encouraged and instructed them in the Catholic faith during their imprisonment for refusing the ruler’s demands. For his own unwillingness to submit to the immoral acts and his efforts to safeguard the faith of his friends, Charles was burned to death at Namugongo on June 3, 1886, by Mwanga’s order. Charles first learned of Christ’s teachings from two retainers in the court of Chief Mawulugungu. While a catechumen, he entered the royal household as assistant to Joseph Mukaso, head of the court pages. On the night of Mukaso’s martyrdom for encouraging the African youths to resist Mwanga, Charles requested and received Baptism. Imprisoned with his friends, Charles’s courage and belief in God inspired them to remain chaste and faithful. When Pope Paul VI canonized these 22 martyrs on October 18, 1964, he referred to the Anglican pages martyred for the same reason. Although the Anglicans could not be canonized, they were named "with the others, also deserving mention" for enduring "death for the name of Christ".The Basilica of the Uganda Martyrs was built at the site of the executions, and serves as their shrine. Their remains are in Kampala. The order known as "The Brothers of St. Charles Lwanga" were founded in 1927 as an indigenous religious congregation of Ugandan men committed to providing education to the youth of their country.

Corpus Christi

Monstrance at St Francis in Bend, Oregon

Without any doubt, the greatest gift Jesus could have left us was Himself in the Eucharist. He also gave us His mother Mary as our Mother, just before He died on the cross, but a few hours earlier, he gave us His Body and His Blood, literally and figuratively, as our everlasting spiritual food. We are also honored to adore His presence every day. Not only in our own church, but in every church around the world, the Blessed Sacrament is present for Adoration, prayer and private time with the Lord. When people pray in His presence, miracles happen, as many people can tell you.  Today’s celebration of Corpus Christi further accentuates the respect and reverence we should all show to the Eucharist. Processions are held in various countries, a tradition started by St Juliana of Liege in the 12th century. At the same  time St. Thomas Aquinas was commissioned to write various Eucharistic hymns, such as Tantum Ergo, O Sacrum Convivium,  Lauda Sion Salvatorem and others. Processions are held world-wide with the participation of First Communion children, priests and  faithful. Streets are frequently carpeted with flowers and petals to honor the presence of Jesus walking in the Monstrance held by the presiding priest.

IHS

Adjacent to a church in Malvern, Worcestershire, England there is a small cemetery, and among the tombstones, there is one that is always decorated with plants and flowers. A young girl was buried there, who is the daughter of famous scientist Charles Darwin, a biologist, geologist and naturalist. Anne Elizabeth got sick when her mother was pregnant with her 9th child. Charles decided to take his favorite daughter and travel to Malvern where there was a natural spa, with the hope that the waters would heal the little girl. However when they were there the girl died, probably of tuberculosis, and she was buried in a cemetery close by. She was only 10 years old. Charles Darwin was a devout family man, but he was an agnostic. But he entrusted his daughter to Jesus, as her tombstone shows, with the IHS engraved above her name. IHS is the acronym for the name of Jesus in Greek.