Saint Andrew

Sibling rivalry is not often mentioned in the Gospels, but we know that John and his brother James were always trying to impress Jesus, while their mother spoke in their regard so that they get preferential treatment in heaven. Then there was Peter who had his brother Andrew close to him, both fishermen, but Jesus had the soft spot for Peter, while Andrew stayed in his shadow.  Andrew became a disciple of the great St John the Baptist, but when John pointed to Jesus and said, "Behold the Lamb of God!" Andrew understood that Jesus was greater. At once he left John to follow the Divine Master. He was actually the first apostle Jesus called at the Sea of Galilee. At first the two brothers continued to carry on their fishing trade and family affairs, but later, the Lord called them to stay with Him all the time. He promised to make them fishers of men, and this time, they left their nets for good. It is believed that after Jesus ascended into Heaven, St Andrew went to Greece to preach the gospel, as well as along the Black Sea. He is said to have been put to death on a cross, to which he was tied, not nailed. He lived two days in that state of suffering, still preaching to the people who gathered around their beloved Apostle. Various countries have chosen St Andrew as their patron saint, among them Russia, Ukraine, Romania and Scotland. In fact Scotland has incorporated his X-shaped cross in their flag, repeated again in the Union Jack, the British flag. Relics of the Apostle Andrew are kept at the Basilica of St Andrew in Patras, Greece; the Duomo di Sant'Andrea, Amalfi, Italy; St Mary's Roman Catholic Cathedral, Edinburgh, Scotland; and the Church of St Andrew and St Albert, Warsaw, Poland. There are also numerous smaller reliquaries throughout the world. The painting reproduced here was an altar piece in the famous church San Andrea della Valle in the heart of Rome. Thankfully they allowed photography in the church, and I was able to take a few photos in May 2012. The church is featured in the first act of the opera Tosca by Giacomo Puccini.

A colorful Friday

We’ve been bombarded with adverts about Black Friday since early November. This is something pretty new to our dear Malta, but copying the recent tradition started in the USA the day after Thanksgiving, when everybody goes shopping, may I suggest a different perspective of this day. Make it colorful. Instead of the negativity, the horrendous traffic jams that a day like this creates, besides the lines of people waiting at the check-out counters in stores, just try to look positive and happy. Smile more, be cheerful, be courteous to people who seem in a rush, that is 99% of those shopping today, and be kind to those who appear frustrated or angry. Try to look at colors in your life, the beauty of a rainbow, a vegetable stand, varieties of candy and ice-cream, a watercolour tray, just browsing through your dress closet. Even colored pencils can make you happy, like those in this photo of pencils created out of twigs, a photo I took on my only visit to San Francisco in 2015. You can also watch any cartoon, which are usually very colorful, to change your mood, after a day shopping, thus making it a very colorful Friday.

My first Thanksgiving

My first Thanksgiving in 1981 was a memorable one, as I went to watch Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade in New York City. It was a glorious day with thousands of people watching the floats of Snoopy, Spiderman, the Smurfs and Kermit float by in the cold autumn air. I thought I would spend the rest of the day visiting some stores in Manhattan, but everything was closed! So I headed back to New Hyde Park where I joined the Donohues, one of the families in my parish for a delicious turkey dinner. Things have changed over the years as some stores started to open in the evening to beat the Black Friday rush of customers storming the stores for early Christmas shopping. But it’s a shame that commercialism and materialism has tarnished this otherwise religious and meaningful holiday. But even as many Americans watch the balloons, football games and enjoy a turkey dinner, as well as some pumpkin pie (at least for those who like them) let us also be thankful to God for giving us another year of blessings and graces. I am grateful for my health, my family close by, staying busy with plenty of work, Masses, articles to write, homilies to prepare, flute melodies to transcribe and play, soups to cook, photos to take, PowerPoint talks to prepare and share, interviews for our Catholic newspaper, my daily blog seen by hundreds, as well as some new water color projects. A Blessed  Thanksgiving to everyone.

The Catholic star

Wendie Renard after scoring one of her goals

Wendie Renard is the football captain of  the women’s national team of France. She is 34 years old and became a professional football player at the age of 17, playing for Olimpique Lyonnaise. In her career, she won 10 national championships, 8 Champions League Cup, and took part in the World Cup as well as the Olympic Games. But she is mostly outspoken about her Catholic faith. She was born in Martinique, an island in the Caribbean, and lost her father when she was 8 years old. But her faith was always strong, and that’s where she found consolation in her loss. She said ‘when my parents took me to be baptized, I became a child of God. I received a big blessing and protection. My Guardian Angel was there to protect me and guide me. My faith is my compass. You can’t always win. You can fall once, twice, three, ten times, 20 times – what matters is that you get up at the 21st opportunity. My faith is strengthened by Mass on Sunday and even daily Mass when I can. I pray to St Therese, the Little Flower and to St Michael the Archangel. I feel like a great victory when I can lead someone else to Mass and to prayer.’ In 2021 she met the Pope and Wendie even took her mother with her – and this was one of the best days of her life. She recalls that he spoke to her in French, and then blessed them and blessed their rosaries.

The old car

Steve was proud that his daughter was graduating with honors in Anthropology. As a gift he told her, ‘Peggy, I want to give you as a gift my own car. It’s an old model but has served me for 40 years so far. It’s still very safe to drive and should give you at least another 10 years on the road. However, I want you to go to a car dealer and ask him what it’s worth.’ Peggy quickly headed to the nearest car dealer and their response was ‘we can give you $500 for it. It’s in good condition, but it’s an old model, and many drivers today look for fast cars.’ Her father told her not to give up, and suggested she should take it to the Collectibles Vintage Car Organization and see what they would offer. She did so and came back beaming with joy, telling her father ‘they offered me $50,000, since it’s a rare vintage car, and collectors go crazy for such a model!’ Steve looked at Peggy and told her ‘Remember my sweetheart that in life you’re gonna find people who will use you and then dump you. But whoever recognizes your true worth will appreciate you and treasure you for who you are. So when you feel unappreciated, never feel inferior to others. The problem is never you, but the perspective of those who cannot see beauty, talent, skills and gifts which you can give. So don’t try to please others. Just be yourself and take care of yourself, and appreciate the wonderful person you truly are. Trust always those who can appreciate you for who you are, and not for what fits their purpose.’ Obviously Peggy kept her father’s car and treasured it, and learned that only love can value the price and talents of a person.

Jesus' first steps

Luisa Roldan - The first steps of Jesus

I recently came across a beautiful and touching sculpture entitled Los Primeros pasos de Jesus, The first steps of Jesus. In a darkened corner of the Prado Museum in Spain, a depiction of the toddler Jesus that is remarkable in its poignancy, its humanity and its history. It shows the domestic rather than divine and shows a chubby, beaming infant ambling towards his equally beaming father. Its creator was the Spanish baroque artist Luisa Roldán who, despite becoming the first female sculptor to the royal court in 1692, is only now making her debut in the hallowed Madrid museum. The colored sculpture shows a scene reminiscent of many households when a year-old toddler makes his first steps, a massive achievement for any child and parent. With two angels giving thanks for this great milestone, Mary holds the infant Jesus with a cloth around his chest and below his arms, as he reaches towards his beaming father, waiting for approval.

Christ the King

The Solemnity of Christ the King is celebrated on the last Sunday of the Liturgical Year. It’s a day to honor our Savior as King, who leads us with love, kindness and compassion, unlike many other ruthless Kings and Emperors who lead with tyranny, oppression and cruelty, many of whom were deposed by their own people. The image of Christ the King has always been presented to us as if sitting on a glittering throne, with a scepter in hand and golden crown on his head. In actual fact, his throne was the cross on which he was crucified, the scepter were the nails driven through his hands and feet, and the crown was made of sharp thorns that were pushed on his head. The feast of Christ the King as we know it now was introduced in 1925, 99 years ago, to counteract the start of Communism in the world. The Bolshevik Revolution of 1917 had taken the presence of Christ from the hearts of people, and the Church wanted to bring Him back into the center of their lives. The feast was celebrated on the last Sunday in October until 1969, when Pope Paul VI shifted this feast to the last Sunday of the Liturgical Year, usually towards the end of November. Next year of course we’ll celebrate its centennial, with great celebrations around the Christian world. Christus Vincit, Christus Regnat, Christus Imperat (Christ will win, Christ will reign, Christ will rule.) 

The above painting is by Irene Thomas. Christ is the King of Creation and the universe, represented by the starry background as well as the angelic, invisible world. The painting shows Him seated on a throne of angels. Upon His robe is painted every flag of today’s world, because Christ is the king of all past, present and future nations. The second photo shows even the flag of Malta in the center, on the left side of His robe. The US flag is also visible. (click to enlarge both photos)

2 mission churches

St Katharine Mission church, in Long Creek, Oregon

I go back 20 years today as I was settling down in St Elizabeth of Hungary parish in John Day, Oregon, where I served between 2003 and 2005. This parish had a total area of 4,800 square miles. In this territory I could fit 38 Maltas! And besides the main church, I also had 2 mission churches, which I had to reach weekly. The first one was run by the Walton family and was dedicated to St Katharine, a modern church, very spacious with a parish hall underneath, which unfortunately was hardly ever used. In fact I remember using it twice, once for a baptism of a Walton grand-child, and the other time for the funeral of Bud Walton, the father, with a reception that followed in the hall, and plenty of cowboys in attendance. Bud himself was a cowboy as were his two sons, who ranch over a thousand cows in different pastures. They had lots of property, probably one-third the size of Malta. Next to the church, they even had a small cemetery, mainly for family burials. Father George Murphy the first pastor, and friend of the Waltons was buried there, and he had dug up his own grave in the ground. Moreover he had crafted his own casket which he used as a bookshelf while he was still alive. I enjoyed saying Mass there, in spite of the small congregation, and I embellished it further by buying a few icons for the walls, which were pretty bare and empty. And when the grand-children of Bud showed up for Christmas and Easter, the crowd would double at least.

St Anne's mission church in Monument, Oregon.

Another mission church I had was in Monument dedicated to St Anne, but this was actually a trailer transformed into a chapel, which was perfect for the 6 to10 people that would show up once a month. Monument itself was very small, next to the John Day river, which made the surroundings very green and lush. Besides, along the river they had various orchards that grew cherries, apricots, peaches, pears and apples. I used to enjoy picking bunches of cherries off the trees and the Thomas family who ran them gave me abundant apricots and other fruit when they were in season, normally in the summer months. This little hamlet is out of the way and to reach it you have drive through the only road that goes through it. Unlike other towns and hamlets which are on the main road, these little places hardly get any attention and visibility. But they somehow survive, and the people probably prefer it that way, so that they will be left in peace and quiet.

St Cecilia

St. Cecilia is one of the few martyrs whose name we know, along with St. Agnes, St. Agatha, St. Sebastian, St. George, and St. Lucy, among others. She was martyred by Emperor Marcus Aurelius between the years 176 and 180 AD. Cecilia was arrested and condemned to be suffocated in the baths. She was shut in for one night and one day, as fires were heaped up and stoked to a terrifying heat - but Cecilia did not even sweat. When the Emperor heard this, he sent an executioner to cut off her head in the baths. The executioner struck her three times but was unable to decapitate her so he left her bleeding and she lived for three days. Crowds came to her and collected her blood while she preached to them or prayed. On the third day, she died and was buried by Pope Urban and his deacons. St. Cecilia is regarded as the patroness of music because she heard heavenly music in her heart when she was married and is represented in art with an organ or organ-pipes in her hand. Officials exhumed her body in 1599 and found her to be incorrupt, the first of all incorrupt saints. She was draped in a silk veil and wore a gold embroidered dress. Officials only looked through the veil in an act of holy reverence and made no further examinations. They also reported a "mysterious and delightful flower-like odor which proceeded from the coffin." That year, Cardinal Paolo Sfondrati built a church to honor her and ordered a marble statue in the catacombs to be crafted. A few musical compositions were written in her honor. Among them are the ‘Ode to St. Cecilia’ by Henry Purcell, a cantata by Georg Frederic Handel and ‘Hymn to St. Cecilia’ by Benjamin Britten. Paul Simon also wrote a song in her honor, entitled ‘Cecilia.’

Presentation of Mary

The Gospel of St. James and other apocryphal works (not included in the Bible) told the story of Mary's presentation at the Temple at the age of three. In gratitude for being granted a child after years of infertility, Mary's parents, Saints Joachim and St Anne had vowed to dedicate Mary to the service of God at the Temple. When they presented her at the Temple at the age of three, she stayed willingly, showing her dedication to God even at that young age, attending the temple regularly, similar to what children do attending their Religious Education classes. The Gospel or Protoevangelium of James is the source of many details of Mary's life that became universally accepted by the Church, including the names of her parents, the story of her birth, her age at her betrothal to Saint Joseph, and Saint Joseph's advanced age and his status as a widower with children by his first wife. When Mary left the Temple at the age of 12 after her betrothal to Joseph, she remained pure and chaste, and at the Annunciation God came to dwell in her. The Feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary first made its way to the West through monasteries in Southern Italy in the ninth century; by the 11th century, it had spread to other locales, but was by no means universally celebrated. Pope Sixtus IV first placed the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary on the universal calendar in 1472, but in the Tridentine reform of the calendar in 1568, Pope Pius V removed the feast. It was restored 17 years later by Pope Sixtus V, and remains in the Roman calendar today as a memorial. Today's Feast emphasizes our response to God's gifts. We remember the response of Mary's mother and father in their decision to present her in the temple for dedication to the Lord. All parents are called to imitate their response by presenting their children for Baptism. Mary was called to continually give her "Yes" to God's invitations of love.

A little dolly

As I was at the check-out counter to pay for my groceries, I find a young boy clasping a cute dolly which he wanted to buy. It was obviously not for him, and he showed the few coins he had to the girl at the check-out counter. ‘I’m sorry but you don’t have enough for the doll,’ she told him. I couldn’t help but kneel down and tried to help him. ‘How much do you need?’ ‘I think it’s 10 dollars, but I only have 7.50.’ As I brought out some coins from my wallet, I assured the boy that he had enough. And so I slipped a few of my coins and we counted them together, and he ended up with 14 dollars. Almost in tears, the boy told me ‘I really had to buy this dolly for my sister, so that my mother can give it to her when she meets her again.’ After inquiring about where are his mother and sister, he said sobbing and with tears splashing on his hands and the dolly’s dress, ‘my daddy told me that my mother soon will leave us to be with my sister and with Jesus, and so I wanted to make sure that my sister will get it in time for her birthday. I also wanted to buy a rose for my mother too, as she loves red roses.’ I assured him that he has enough money for a few roses too. I could not help cry in my heart as the boy left happy with two precious gifts in his hands. Later in the day I checked the newspaper and found out that there was a fatal accident when a drunk-driver killed a young girl and injured her mother who was driving.’ Two days later, I read that the mother also passed away, and I made sure to go to the Funeral home and placed a bouquet of red roses next to her coffin, who was lying holding the dolly in her arms, a few roses by her side, and rosary beads entwined in her fingers. It was a big blessing meeting that little boy who taught me a great lesson about caring, loving and being grateful.’

Our Life

Our life is like a camera – you have to focus on what’s most important when taking a photo.

Our life is like a book – it contains many stories of success and failures. May our book becomes a best-seller with a happy ending.

Our life is like a mirror - when you smile at her it smiles back at you. Avoid showing anger and the mirror will never disappoint you.

Our life is like a piano – the white keys are the happy moments, while the black ones show our saddest moments. But they need to be played together to have beautiful music.

Our life is like a theatre – it doesn’t matter if you’re in the audience or on the stage. The important thing is that you follow the vocation for which you are called.

Our life is like a garden – you harvest what you plant.

Our life is like a good teacher – lessons are repeated to us, and it’s up to us if we learn it or not.

Our life is like a mountain – when you reach the top remember that there is a valley down under, a valley of tears.

Our life is like a bicycle – to keep your balance, you have to keep pedalling.

Basilicas of Peter and Paul

Barely a week ago, we commemorated the dedication of the Mother Church of the Catholic Church, St John Lateran. Today we commemorate the dedication of two other major basilicas combined together, St Paul outside the walls and St Peter’s basilica, known as the Vatican. These dedications are important because they symbolize in a way the birth and baptism of each edifice. When the early persecutions ended in 313 AD by King Constantine, he later built a basilica over the tomb where St Peter was buried. It lasted almost a thousand years, and the reconstruction of the original building started in the 14^th century. The present Basilica, an ingenious structure built with the collaboration of Michelangelo, Bramante, Carlo Moderno, Giovanni Pannini and Bernini was officially consecrated on November 18 1626 by Pope Urban VIII. It is by far the most imposing and impressive church in all of Christendom, where major celebrations, elections of Popes, funerals, Canonizations etc, are held.

The Basilica of St Paul was started by Valentinian II on the Via Ostiense in 386, on the place where St Paul was buried. It was subsequently modified by Pope Gregory the Great in the 6^th century. It has a graceful cloister that was built in the 13^th century. Of all the churches of Rome, it had preserved its primitive character for 1435 years. However a negligent fire destroyed it in 1823 and the new and present Basilica was built in the 19^th century and consecrated on December 10, 1854 by Pope Pius IX. The whole world contributed to its reconstruction. The Viceroy of Egypt sent pillars of alabaster, the Emperor of Russia the precious malachite and lapis lazuli of the tabernacle. The work on the principal façade, looking toward the Tiber, was completed by the Italian Government, which declared the church a national monument. Pope Pius IX ruled that both Basilicas will have their dedication celebration together, on November 18. Both churches are majestic in appearance, but also very imposing in their stature as two of the 4 major basilicas in Rome.

On giving and receiving

A king once invited all his people for a feast inside his castle. Everyone loved him because he was very kind to his people. When his birthday arrived, he invited the people to attend and bring along a container with water. It doesn’t matter the size or quality of the container as long as it has water. When they arrived at the castle they were told to throw the water into a fountain which was completely empty at first. The day arrived and the people brought all kinds of containers, barrels, plastic bottles, jugs, small pitchers and larger ones, a simple glass or even a cup. They poured the water into the fountain, which filled up quickly, and then left their container around it, and went in to celebrate. The king thanked them for coming and of course they all sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to him. As they left, they went to pick up their container, and around the fountain there were shouts of joy and screams of anger and despair. All the containers were filled to the brim with golden coins. And everyone took home as much coins as they brought water with them. The greedy were left with very little, while the generous ones were rewarded according to their own generosity. The more you give, the more you receive back.

The chain that saved a ship

A blacksmith was working on crafting a long chain. On his anvil, banging with a hammer, he kept making spherical donuts with solid metal and connecting them to each other.  Some people passed by and made fun of him, because all he did were these donuts as the chain got bigger and bigger. A few months later, the chain was connected to a large anchor and hauled to a ship. One day the ship had developed some steering problems and faced an oncoming storm. Waves suddenly engulfed the ship and the sailors decided to drop the anchor. That chain which the blacksmith had so patiently crafted was what saved the ship from being swallowed up by the raging sea. Nothing happened to the ship and all the passengers survived, thanks to the strong chain that the blacksmith had made, and which some people had made fun of him. Lesson: never underestimate the small simple things you do in life, in spite of the criticism that annoying and unappreciative people throw at you.

Disfigured hands

Our little girl Shirley was very close to her mother. They were best friends and did everything together. As Shirley grew older, she started to notice that her mother always wore gloves. As a toddler and young girl, she never bothered to ask her mother why she wore gloves, even when cooking, bathing her and playing with her. One day, Shirley had gone unnoticed in her parents’ bedroom, and she was shocked to see her mother without gloves, which she quickly tried to hide them. It was enough for Shirley to notice that her mother’s hands were severely disfigured and badly burned. Of course she cried when she saw her deformed hands and asked her mother why are they so badly disfigured. Her mother Debbie started to cry profusely and sobbingly, asked Shirley to sit next to her, and for the first time ever, she held her daughter’s hands in hers, even though she pulled them away at first. But then Debbie told Shirley her touching story. ‘When you were a little baby, 4 months old, we had a sudden big fire in our house. You were sleeping upstairs in your room, and we were all downstairs, and quickly got out of the house. Then I got some coats and other clothing, whatever I could grab, and walked amid flames of fire up the stairs and into your room, as you were screaming in a roomful of smoke. I quickly grabbed you in the coats I had and tried to go down the steps, but it was impossible. So I pushed open a window and told your dad to catch you as I had to throw you down the window, knowing for sure that he would catch you. Then I tried to manage to climb out of the window and slowly grabbed the pipes by the walls and tried to climb down. Obviously they were all terribly hot and I had no other choice than to somehow slide down and a few men with your father were able to see me down safely, but not before seeing my hands all red and scared with the fire and the red-hot pipes I had to hold on to. So as you see little Shirley, my hands are so scarred because I wanted to save you, and you were not hurt at all. But my hands were badly burned and I needed a few months in the Burn Unity of the hospital, until they healed enough for me to start touching objects, and hold you in my arms.’ Little Shirley picked her mother’s hands and started to kiss them as they hugged for a long, long time. What sacrifices mothers do for their children !

Praying

There are many people, mostly elderly who need very little sleep, yet they are never tired. The Trappist monk Thomas Merton (1915-1968) once said ‘when you cannot go to sleep, remember that there is someone in the world who needs your prayers.’ The British writer G. K. Chesterton (1874-1936) tells us ‘do you pray before meals? Good. I pray before a concert, before I open a book, before I start painting,  before I swim,  before I go for a walk, before I dance, and before I dip my pen into the ink jar.’  Whoever can kneel down in front of God, can then stand up in front of everyone. It used to be said that if you cannot get to sleep, start counting sheep. But better yet, if you can’t fall asleep, talk to the Shepherd! And remember Fr Patrick Peyton's famous quote: The family that prays together, stays together.

St Frances Xavier Cabrini

St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, was born in Lombardia, Italy in 1850, the youngest of thirteen children. Two months premature, she remained in delicate health throughout her 67 years. As a young girl, Francesca was taken care of by her older sister Rosa, because her mother was 52 when Maria Francesca was born. At 13, she was sent to Arluno to study under the Daughters of the Sacred Heart at the Normal School, and in 1868, at 18 she was certified as a teacher. Four years later she contracted smallpox. When she tried to enter into the Daughters of the Sacred Heart, Mother Superior refused admission, even though she saw potential in her, because of her frail health. She helped her parents until their death, and then worked on a farm with her siblings. One day a priest asked her to teach in a girls' school and she stayed for six years. At the request of her Bishop, she founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart to care for poor children in schools and hospitals. Although her lifelong dream was to be a missionary in China, Pope Leo XIII sent her to New York City on March 31, 1889 with six other nuns. There, she obtained the permission of Archbishop Michael Corrigan to found an orphanage, which is located in West Park, Ulster County, NY today known as Saint Cabrini Home, the first of 67 institutions she founded in New York, Chicago, Seattle, New Orleans, Denver, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and in countries throughout South America and Europe, especially Italy, England, France, Spain. Filled with a deep trust in God and endowed with a wonderful administrative ability, this remarkable woman soon founded schools, hospitals, and orphanages in this strange land and saw them flourish in the aid of Italian immigrants and children.  She died in Chicago, Illinois on December 22, 1917. In 1946, she became the first American citizen to be canonized by Pope Pius XII. St. Frances Xavier Cabrini is the patroness of immigrants. Her beatification miracle involved the restoration of sight to a child who had been blinded by excess silver nitrate in the eyes. Her canonization miracle involved the healing of a terminally ill nun. She is buried in Washington Heights where a shrine is also dedicated to her.

Almost aborted

Giorgia Meloni, Sylvester Stallone, Cristiano Ronaldo, Andrea Bocelli

Quite a few people we know were almost aborted when their mother became pregnant with them. Cristiano Ronaldo is one them, as his mother had a few children already and could not raise another child. But she was convinced to deliver the child, and the football world is forever grateful for her courageous decision for life. Giorgia Meloni, the present Prime Minister of Italy was born out of a broken marriage and her mother already had a young girl. Then her father left for the Canary Islands, and never returned. Her mother prepared herself for the procedure, fasted for a few hours, and then she had a change of heart. She left the clinic, went into a bar, bought a capuccino, and a few months later, baby Giorgia was born. Sylvester Stallone ‘Rocky’ was almost aborted as his parents weren’t married and could not afford to raise children. Another actor, Jack Nicholson was conceived when his mother was only 17, and she was forced to commit an abortion. But she resisted and the child was raised by his grandparents, and told Jack that his mother was his older sister. Andrea Bocelli was told that his mother almost aborted him because he had a disability, but she continued with her pregnancy. Franco Zeffirelli, the film producer who gave us ’Jesus of Nazareth’ was also almost a victim of abortion, as he was conceived out of wedlock, with his mother being of the higher class of the 1930s Florence. Her friends insisted that she should abort the baby, but Franco was allowed to be born. And the world is grateful for Ronaldo, Giorgia, Rocky, Jack, Andrea and Franco.

Veterans Day

Poppy fields remind us of the bloody sacrifice many did in the past.

Known also as Remembrance Day or Armistice Day, we honor today all veterans of past wars, who number in the many thousands. We also acknowledge those who were hurt and have been disabled ever since. They are the men and women who live every day in pain. Physical pain from their wounds, lost limbs, or maybe it's the shrapnel they still carry. Emotional pain from being separated from their families for long periods of time. For missing the birth of their child, or death of a parent. Mental pain for what they have seen and what they had to do. They are the ones who make life-long friends. They know how precious life is and they never forget the ones who didn't make it back. Never. That is why you will see Veterans at the cemetery on Memorial Day walking around and silently thanking the ones who are buried there. They don't have to know them personally to know the sacrifice each one made.

They are not the ones who are loud and boisterous. They are the ones who are quiet.
They are the ones who shivered in the foxhole, trying to keep the enemy at bay.
They are the ones who crawled through sand when the temperature was 126 degrees.
They are the ones who carried their buddy to safety.
They are the ones who sometimes drink too much, trying to keep the memories from haunting them.
They are the ones who carry the flag with the honor and respect it deserves.
They are the ones who wear their military uniform with pride and still have it in their closet 30 some years later.

They are the ones who don't ask you to go out of your way for them.
They are the ones who have gone out of their way for you.
They are the ones who spent many nights awake on guard duty so you didn't have to.
They are the ones who helped keep our shores safe while you played video games.
They are the ones who missed their birthdays, anniversaries, and other important dates.
They are the ones who got shot and got sent home, but felt guilty because their buddies were still there.
They are the ones who followed orders even when they didn't want to.
They are the ones who had enough love and pride in their country to do a job many others couldn't do.
They are the ones who cried when they were alone in their tent.
They are the ones who flew planes, drove tanks, worked a ship, and armed the missiles.
They are the ones who had moms at homes praying for them every minute of every day.
They are the ones who made it safe for you so you could go to school or work.
They are the ones who missed ordering pizza, the movies, the shopping trips, and all that you take for granted.
They are the ones who asked to take a friend's deployment because that friend had a family.
They are the ones who gave their girlfriends a lock of their hair to keep as a promise of their return.
They are the ones who wanted to come home.
They are the ones who didn't return.
They are the ones who waited months for a letter.
Let us pray and remember them, and never forget what they did for our country.

Janina Jandulska

Janina lived with her mother in the Ukrainian town of Wierzboviec. The Soviets, in the name of their atheist Communist ideology, had set about shutting down seminaries and arresting priests, so many people under Communist rule began to participate in Catholic groups organized by lay people to teach catechism and offer spiritual and moral support to the community. Under these circumstances, Janina joined the Living Rosary. Although she was aware of the risks, Janina agreed to host a meeting of the Living Rosary at her home. Unfortunately, the Communist authorities got wind of it, and Janina was arrested. She was taken away and shot as she sat in her wheelchair. Shortly afterwards, her mother was informed that her daughter had died of a “liver infection.” Eventually, however, the truth surfaced. Today, Janina’s picture hangs in a Catholic church in her hometown, where she is honored as a martyr of the faith. It’s amazing what people would do to persevere in their faith. Janina simply wanted to say the rosary. Still today, there are people who refuse to pray, to say the Rosary and attend Mass, as millions of others cannot even attend their churches, because they are oppressed by regimes who are anti-Christian.

The speech never delivered

Armstrong, Collins and Aldrin

When the three astronauts Neil Armstrong, Edwin Aldrin and Michael Collins landed on the moon on July 20, 1969, it ended a historic race between Russia and  the USA as to who was going to reach the moon first.  There was some uneasiness as to their return home, and the government wanted to be prepared in case they would not have made it back home. And so the President at that time, Richard Nixon prepared this touching speech, which thankfully was never delivered: ‘Faith has ordained that the men who went to the moon to explore in peace will stay on the moon to rest in peace. These brave men, Neil Armstrong, Edwin Aldrin and Michael Collins know that there is no hope for their recovery. But they also know that there is hope for mankind in their sacrifice. These three men are laying down their lives in mankind’s most noble goal: the search for truth and understanding. They will be mourned by their families and friends; they will be mourned by their nation; they will be mourned by the people of the world; they will be mourned by a Mother earth that dared to send three of her sons into the unknown. In their exploration, they stirred the people of the world to feel as one; in their sacrifice, they bind more tightly the brotherhood of man. In ancient days, men looked at the stars and saw their heroes in the constellations. In modern times, we do much the same, but our heroes are epic men of flesh and blood. Others will follow, and surely find their way home. Man’s search will not be denied. But these men were the first, and they will remain the foremost in our hearts. For every human being who looks up at the moon in the nights to come will know that there is some corner of another world that is forever mankind.’

Fortunately there was no need to use this speech as the three astronauts returned home safely.

The Mission Rosary

In February of 1951, Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen (national director of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith from 1950 to 1966), in a radio address inaugurated a World Mission Rosary. “We must pray, and not for ourselves, but for the world. To this end, I have designed the World Mission Rosary. Each of the five decades is of a different color to represent the continents.” Each decade of that World Mission Rosary has a different color, and they call to mind an area where the Church continues her evangelizing mission: GREEN for the forests and grasslands of AFRICA; BLUE for the ocean surrounding the ISLANDS OF THE PACIFIC; WHITE symbolizing EUROPE, the seat of the Holy Father, shepherd of the world; RED calling to mind the fire of faith that brought missionaries to the AMERICAS, and YELLOW, the morning light of the East, for ASIA. So, when yo use the Mission Rosary beads, you are praying for, and thinking of the billions living in these countries.

A nice gift from God

When God created you, it’s as if he said to you: ‘I am now giving you a new car. It’s a beautiful and strong car, that can climb hills, make turns, slow down and go very fast according to your driving. The stearing is in your hands. She will listen to you when you step on the break, and go faster when you step on the gas. This is your life. Here are the keys. Just be careful you don’t get hurt or hurt other people. I am always with you. If you want your voyage to be a pleasant one, remember that your journey started from Me, and will end with Me. That is why I sent you my Son. He is your Way. If you have any bad habits, you have to get rid of them yourself. I can help you, but you have to help yourself first. I won’t lead you on the right road – you have to find it yourself. I will show it to you, but you have to follow it. I won’t be there to help you if you search for trouble – you have to make the correct decisions. I won’t let you into Heaven or send you into hell. You have to choose where to end up. Have a safe trip!’

The Claddagh Ring

Many of the weddings I celebrated, especially in New York were between Irish couples, and very often the ring they exchanged is the Claddagh ring which has an interesting story how it was created. The legend takes us back to the 17th century in the fishing town of Claddagh in Galway. A silversmith in town loved a particular girl, and planned to marry her, but was caught by pirates and was taken as a slave. But he prayed to God that he will be saved. While waiting for his return, he designed the ring he was planning to give her. As time went by, this ring became very popular for couples. It has two hands facing each other and hold a heart, while on top there is a crown.  The symbolism is very appropriate. The hands stand for friendship, as well as the compassion and  help Jesus offers to all of humanity.  The heart stands for the love we should share with each other, as well as the infinite love God has for each of us. And the crown stands for loyalty and fidelity between couples, and our commitment to God who watches over us.

33 photos from the US Presidency

On this election day, while you wait for the winner to be announced, browse through these 33 milestone photos from the past 180 years of US President’s history. This is an article published on Saturday in UK’s newspaper on line ‘The Guardian.’ Just a little history of elections in the USA....the winner needs to get 270 votes from the 50 US states. Each state has a number of votes, depending on how big the state is. So Texas and California have more votes, while Rhode Island and Hawaii have a few votes. Moreover, each town and village in the USA have to vote also for a number of senators, 2 in each state, 100 in all; and a number of congressmen, 435 in total. Senators are elected for 6 years and congressmen for 2 years. Each town also votes for school boards, firehouse boards, Governors, Mayors, abortion or  other controversial issues, and many other positions. But every 4 years the election includes the President, which is happening today, between Trump and Harris. But enjoy these 33 photos and the story behind them......click on this link......

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/nov/02/33-pivotal-us-presidential-moments-captured-on-camera

St Charles Borromeo

St Charles Borromeo helping the poor in Rome

Today's saint would have been a great Pope if he was elected, but the other cardinals did not want a relative the previous Pope. St. Charles Borromeo was the son of Count Gilbert Borromeo and Margaret Medici, sister of Pope Pius IV. He was born at the family castle of Arona on Lake Maggiore, Italy on October 2, 1538. He received the clerical tonsure when he was twelve and was sent to a Benedictine abbey at Arona for his education. In 1559 his uncle was elected Pope Pius IV and the following year, named Charles his Secretary of State and created him a cardinal and administrator of the see of Milan. He served as Pius' legate on numerous diplomatic missions and in 1562, was instrumental in having Pius reconvene the Council of Trent, which had been suspended in 1552. Charles played a leading role in guiding and in fashioning the decrees of the third and last group of sessions. He was ordained a priest in 1563, and was consecrated bishop of Milan the same year. Before being allowed to take possession of his see, he oversaw the catechism, missal, and breviary called for by the Council of Trent. When he finally did arrive at Trent (which had been without a resident bishop for eighty years) in 1556, he instituted radical reforms despite great opposition, with such effectiveness that it became a model see. He put into effect, measures to improve the morals and manners of the clergy and laity, raised the effectiveness of the diocese, established seminaries for the education of the clergy, founded a Confraternity of Christian Doctrine for the religious instruction of children and encouraged the Jesuits to be more visible and active. He founded a society of secular priests, Oblates of St. Ambrose (now Oblates of St. Charles) in 1578, and was active in preaching, resisting the inroads of Protestantism, and bringing back lapsed Catholics to the Church. He encountered opposition from many sources in his efforts to reform people and institutions. He died at Milan on the night of November 3-4, 1584 and was canonized in 1610. He was one of the towering figures of the Catholic Reformation, a patron of learning and the arts, and though he achieved a position of great power, he used it with humility, personal sanctity, and unselfishness to reform the Church, of the evils and abuses so prevalent among the clergy and the nobles of the times.

The Bible at Ground Zero

A professional photographer, Joel Meyerowitz spent nine months at Ground Zero in New York City after the terrorist attacks in 2001 to document the wreckage. As he was sifting through debris one day, a firefighter handed him something that would have a deep impact on anyone who sees it. Meyerowitz received a page of the Bible melted onto a piece of “heart-shaped steel.” What is most significant about the find, superseding the fact that fragile pieces of paper could survive such a disaster, is the passage of Scripture the Bible was open to. The page was open on Matthew 5:38-39 where Jesus says, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.” Out of all the pages of the Bible that it would be open to, that was remarkable. That day the Bible was found, Meyerowitz wrapped it in a scarf and put it in his bag. He kept it safe for years in his studio, until he found the right institution to give it to. He gave the Bible to the 9/11 Memorial Museum in 2010, right where he found it at Ground Zero.

Remembering our loved ones

The commemoration of All Souls is being observed today around the world, as people visit cemeteries to pay respect to their loved ones, place some flowers, light a candle, and say a prayer. Even though in the USA, such an event is observed on Memorial Day, still in most Christians countries, November is always cherished as the month when we remember our loved ones, who have entered eternal life before us.  We often look at death as a medical occasion, connected with hospitals, doctors, nurses, tests, pills, and other emotions that are heart-breaking for the immediate family. Instead, we should start to look at death as a spiritual experience which will see us reach heaven. So, instead of disappointment, we should feel a sense of reassurance, instead of sadness, contentment, instead of the end of everything, the beginning of a new life. "For those whom we love and lose are no longer where they were before, but they are now wherever we are, in our hearts, in our minds, in our souls." Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and may the perpetual light shine upon them. May our loved ones rest in peace.

Scary, Saints and Souls

I see three Triduums in our liturgical year. The most obvious one is the Holy Week Triduum of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter. Then there is the Christmas, New Year and Epiphany Triduum, which all come within two weeks of each other. Then there is the Triduum of All Hallows’ Eve, All Saints and All Souls, which come back-to-back-to back, Oct 31, Nov 1 and 2. Halloween is a time for reflecting on our mortal state, for acknowledging our natural fear of mortality, but also to look at this in a jovial albeit a scary way. It’s cute to see children dress up in their favorite characters’ costumes and beg for candy with no harm at all. However the grown-ups are giving this festivity a scary and spooky trait, even adding some mischief as I remember in my years in the USA, by spraying shaving cream at each other and wearing hideous masks. But today we get more serious as we commemorate All the Saints that have been canonized by the church, and those that are canonized in our hearts, like our parents and relatives we knew lived a truly holy life. Tomorrow we remember those who may still be waiting in purgatory to enter into heaven. And for this to happen, our prayers, sacrifices and Masses we offer will speed up their entrance into heaven’s Hall of Fame. In these three days we see 3 categories of Christians, the Church Militant, the Church Triumphant and the Church Suffering. The Militant church is all of us still struggling through our life. The Triumphant church comprises all the saints who have already received their reward. And the Suffering church are the souls in purgatory, still waiting to receive their ultimate reward.