Saint Julian

The Redeemer and the Redeemed interact at the start of the procession

Today happens to be the local feast of my patron, Saint Julian, which we celebrate in my hometown. Born in Belgium in the 9th century AD, St Julian was a hunter, mostly hunting deer. One day he saw a big deer that spoke to him, and told him ‘Please do not shoot me – remember that one day you will kill your own parents.’ Fearing this terrible fate of his, Julian left home and wandered around Belgium, not informing his parents of his whereabouts. He got married to his wife Margerita and lived happily in a small town. Distraught and heartbroken, his parents started searching for him, and eventually reached the town where he was living. They found his house and his wife greeted them kindly and since they were tired, she let them sleep in her own bed. Another man, jealous of Julian and his wife, met Julian on his way back from hunting and told him that his wife was sleeping with another man. Furious and outraged, Julian went inside his house and found the two people sleeping in his bed, and without any thought, took his sword and decapitated them. A bigger surprise greeted him when he went outside and met his wife coming towards home with a big smile to tell him of the good news that his parents were home. Realizing what he had done, Julian cried and cried and was inconsolable. 

The 1893 statue of St Julian by Carlo Darmanin

He decided there and then to dedicate his life to help the poor and the sick, and even built a hospital to care for the sick in the area where he and his wife lived, in Italy. He had to redeem himself of the sin of parricide that he had committed. He knew it wasn’t his fault, but still wanted to amend his mistake and devoted his entire life to helping the sick. One day he heard the cry of a sick man and went out in the middle of the night to save him. He cared for him in his hospital, but all of a sudden the man’s countenance turned very bright and told Julian “your sin has been forgiven.” It was Jesus talking to him through that sick man. St Julian is known as the patron saint of hunters and hospitaliers, as well as doctors and nurses and those who care for the sick.

Dolly’s prayer routine

Dolly Parton, the philanthropist and country singer shared how she has a tendency to be up and around by 3 a.m. and claims that during these early hours she gets some of her best work done. She points out that she's a very spiritual person and God takes center stage as soon as she wakes up. She claims: ‘Every single day, before I do anything, I wake up and I thank God for the night and ask him to bless the day and to bring all the wrong people out of my life, and bring all the right stuff in. And just to guide me, lead me. And I always pray that he’ll let me uplift mankind and glorify Him.’ The10-times Grammy Award winner also turns to Scripture before starting with the more practical parts of the day, which included making sure her husband of more than five decades, Carl Dean, has a cooked breakfast. However, in true Parton style, she shares how she wears her high heels while she's in the kitchen - partly so that she can reach the cupboards!

It's incredible to think how her energy levels continued so high for so many decades. She does most of her best spiritual work, some of her best writing, and some of her business work—call-ins and letters — between 3 am and 7 am.’ I get more work done during that little period of time when the world is calm, energies are down, and I just feel like a farmer. They say the early bird gets the worm. Well, they also get a lot of good ideas too.’ It's incredible to think how her energy levels continued so high for so many decades. "Well, I’m energized by just what I do. It’s like, work begets work, energy begets energy. I just really stay alive because I just live on creative and spiritual energy. I’m just recharged by the excitement of being able to still be active and to still be able to create stuff and to be still in demand."  She was principally a songwriter — her publishing catalogue contains more than 3,000 songs. She told stories in her songs, stories of faith and friendship in the face of adversity, told with a certain femininity, both delicate and determined. Dolly’s ease in sharing her faith made her especially popular with Christian audiences. Dolly says: ‘Most songwriters have a zone that they go into. I call it my spiritual zone. I feel like I am closest to God when I write. … A great line will come to me, and I’ll go, ‘Hey, thank you, Lord. I know that I didn’t think of that.’ Parton was often in the news for her philanthropic work, yet it's always refreshing to see a star, especially one so admired, share her love of God for all to see.

St Augustine and St Monica

The feast of St Augustine is placed just one day after that of his mother St Monica. Spending her entire life praying for his conversion, she certainly deserved to become a Saint herself. Augustine was born in the city of Tagaste, Algeria, in 354 AD to a Christian mother. He was educated in North Africa and resisted his mother's pleas to become Christian. Living as a pagan intellectual, he took a concubine and became a Manichean, even fathering a child out of wedlock. Later he converted to Christianity, being baptized by St Ambrose, and became a bishop of Hippo, a Latin Father and Doctor of the Church, and is one of the most important figures in the development of Western Christianity. Some of his writings are strictly autobiographical, even though very theological in thought. The Confessions, which is often called the first Western autobiography are still read around the world. As a young man before his conversion, he taught in North Africa, Carthage and Rome. It was only when he arrived in Milan that his life started to change. In the summer of 386, after having read an account of the life of Saint Anthony of the Desert which greatly inspired him, Augustine underwent a profound personal crisis and decided to convert to Catholic Christianity, abandon his career in rhetoric, quit his teaching position in Milan, give up any ideas of marriage, and devote himself entirely to serving God and the practices of priesthood, which included celibacy. Key to this conversion was the voice of an unseen child he heard while in his garden in Milan telling him in a sing-song voice to Tolle lege ("take up and read"). He grabbed the nearest text to him, which was Paul's Epistle to the Romans and opened it at random to 13:13-14, which read: "Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying; but put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires."  St. Ambrose baptized Augustine, along with his son, Adeodatus, on Easter Vigil in 387 in Milan, and soon thereafter in 388 he returned to Africa. St Monica died as she was leaving the port of Ostia on her way back to Africa, just after her son had converted. In 391 Augustine was ordained a priest and became a famous preacher, while 5 years later he was made bishop of Hippo. Augustine died on August 28, 430. 

One more year

Many people look forward to retiring at 60, 62 or 65. Others just keep going, doing whatever they’ve done all their life, and hoping that their health will help them in whatever they dream of doing in the future. So many people started hobbies and even careers when they were over 60. Socrates gave the world his wisest philosophy at 70. Cato began studying Greek at 80, while Petrarch started his study of Latin at 75. Michelangelo was designing structures while he was still 90, and painted the Sistine Chapel ceiling when he was 91. Johann Strauss was still composing after his 80th birthday, and Haydn wrote his oratorio ‘Creation’ after he was 67. Giuseppe Verdi wrote ‘Othello’ at the age of 74, then ‘Falstaff’ at 80 and ‘Four Sacred Pieces’ at 85. Titian produced ‘The Last Supper’ at 80 and the classic ‘Battle of Lepanto’ at 86! How about those writers....Milton wrote ‘Paradise Lost’ at 57 and ‘Paradise Regained’ at 63. Victor Hugo wrote ‘Les Miserables’ at 62 and George Bernard Shaw wrote his best plays after the age of 80. And Webster wrote his monumental dictionary at 70.

And as I turn 74 today, I am still going strong with my photography, watercolors, flute playing, cooking, writing regularly in local papers, posting on my blog daily, preparing and presenting PowerPoint talks, saying Mass daily and 5 Masses on weekends, and caring spiritually for a large Retirement Home. Please keep me in your prayers, as I assure you, you are all in mine.

Dolly Parton

Dolly Parton, who rose from humble beginnings to the greatest heights of American music and became one of the country’s most philanthropic, unifying and beloved stars, died Tuesday in Nashville. She was 80 after facing a brief battle with cancer. Born on January 19, 1946 in a one-room cabin in Tennessee, Parton grew up the fourth of 12 children. Music was always a part of the family, especially via her mother, whose father was a preacher who played piano and guitar. The star had been open about various health issues in the last two years, and especially after her husband Carl Dean died in March 2025. In a career that spanned over half a century, Parton captured the American experience, penning more than 3,000 songs. Those included “Coat of Many Colors,” a quiet ode to her mother, who stitched together garments in the family’s rural Tennessee home. She wrote and performed songs of love and heartbreak, like “Jolene” and “I Will Always Love You.” “9 to 5,” the title track from the movie of the same name, in which Parton also starred, which became an anthem for American women and workers. Parton went on to release 49 albums and win 11 Grammys, and became one of the most successful country crossover artists of all time. Later in life, she funnelled her massive success into philanthropy, founding a library program that has gifted more than 300 million books to children around the world. An uncle gave Parton her first guitar as a child. She learned to play when she was just 7 years old and started writing her own songs. In 1999, Parton was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame and received the Recording Academy’s lifetime achievement award in 2011.

Back in 1990 I remember watching the GMDove Awards on American TV, and Dolly Parton appeared on stage and sang this exceptional song about the passion, death and Resurrection of Jesus. Originally written by Don Francisco, ‘He’s Alive’ has a dramatic crescendo as you listen to the words clearly sung by Dolly, reaching a climactic moment joined by a choir that emphasizes the majesty of the moment. Please find 5 minutes in silence and listen to this unique religious song. (Please ignore the written lyrics that appear - they are all wrong and very confusing - just look at Dolly as she sings.) It gives me goose bumps every time I hear it. I hope it moves you too. Rest in peace Dolly !

Oleander in Hiroshima

When the atom bomb was dropped on Hiroshima in August of 1945, all forms of life was completely destroyed, besides of course many innocent people. The scientific community were pretty sure that for the next 70 years, nothing will be able to grow, because of the radiation that spread in Japan, even followed by the Nagasaki bomb. However, the following spring, oleander sprouted mysteriously from the ground. Nobody ever expected this miracle. That is why the oleander is considered in Japan as a symbol of power of renewal and regeneration which is found in the mystery of creation. Incidentally oleander grows wild in Malta, without absolutely any care, and they produce pink and white flowers which bloom abundantly and prolifically. There is a feeling among the Maltese people that they also attract cockroaches, but they produce beautiful flowers like the ones I took photos of, seen here above.

St Bartholomew

Statue of St Bartholomew at the Lateran Basilica

All that is known of St Bartholomew with certainty is that he is mentioned in the Gospels and Acts as one of the twelve apostles. His name means "son of Tolomai" (or Ptolemy) and scholars believe he is the same as Nathanael mentioned in John’s Gospel, who says he is from Cana and that Jesus called him an "Israelite...incapable of deceit, a person in whom there is no guile." He was a close friend of St Philip, because they are always mentioned together. After the Ascension, Bartholomew went on a missionary tour to India. Other traditions record him as serving in Ethiopia, Mesopotamia, Persia and Egypt. Along with St Jude, Bartholomew is reputed to have brought Christianity to Armenia in the st century. However, it is in Greater Armenia that Bartholomew saw his end where he was flayed or skinned and beheaded by King Astyages. The famous Last Judgment painting by Michelangelo shows St Bartholomew holding the knife of his martyrdom and his flayed skin. The face of the skin is recognizable as Michelangelo's, as if the artist wanted to show how much he suffered under Pope Julius, who wanted the Last Judgment finished sooner.

St Bartholomew with his flayed skin

Of the many miracles performed by St. Bartholomew before and after his death, two very popular ones are known by the townsfolk of the small island of Lipari, off the coast of Italy. When St. Bartholomew's body was found off the shore, the Bishop ordered many men to take the body to the Cathedral. When this failed due to its extreme weight, the Bishop then sent out the children. The children easily brought the body ashore. The people of the island of Lipari celebrate his feast day annually. The tradition of the people was to take the solid silver and gold statue from inside the Cathedral of St. Bartholomew and carry it through the town. On one occasion, when taking the statue down the hill towards the town during a procession, it suddenly got very heavy and had to be set down. They managed to lift it but had to put it down a few more times. Within seconds, walls further downhill collapsed. If the statue had been able to be lifted, all of the townspeople would have been killed. During World War II, the Italian Fascist regime looked for ways to finance their activities. The order was given to take the silver statue of the Saint and melt it down. The statue was weighed, and it was found to be only several ounces. It was returned to its place in the Cathedral of Lipari. In reality, the statue is made from many pounds of silver and it is considered a miracle that it was not melted down. 

3 Good Prayers

Statue of Mary by Emvin Cremona a Ibrag parish

St Josemaria Escriva, the founder of Opus Dei, was asked once if he could suggest a prayer to be said in difficult times. He offered this prayer: ‘My Lod and my God, into your hands I abandon the past and the present and the future, what is small and what is great, what amounts to a little and what amounts to a lot, things temporal and things eternal. Give me the courage to continue to follow in your footsteps.’

The Memorare to Mary: Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession, was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother. To thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.

The Memorare to St Joseph: Remember, O most chaste spouse of the Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who implored your help and sought your intercession were left unassisted. Full of confidence in your power I fly unto you and beg your protection. Despise not, o Guardian of the Redeemer my humble supplication, but in your bounty, hear and answer me. Amen.

Mary, Queen of Heaven

Mary's Coronation - Lourdes' Rosary chapel

Today being the feast of the Queenship of Mary, I thought of giving you a brief reflection on one of the most popular prayers or hymns of the Catholic Church. The Salve Regina, or Hail Holy Queen  was composed during the Middle Ages by German monk Hermann of Reichenau. It was always sung or recited in Latin especially among monks during Compline, the prayer that is said in the evening. It is said that St Bernard, while acting as legate Apostolic in Germany, on Christmas Eve, 1146, he entered the cathedral to the processional chanting of the anthem, and, as he genuflected three times, he uttered the words "O clemens, O pia, O dulcis Virgo Maria," and these words were added to the Salve Regina. The Salve Regina is traditionally sung at the end of a priest's funeral Mass out of reverence to Mary, the Mother of Christ, the High Priest, and all Priests. As a prayer, it is commonly said at the end of the rosary. The hymn has been set to music by various composers, including Victoria, Palestrina, Josquin and Lassus. Handel and Liszt composed their own settings in later years. Schubert composed no less than four versions. In 1976 the words of the first verse of the Salve Regina were used as a repeating theme in the song 'Oh What a Circus' in the musical Evita, with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice.
Hail, holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, Hail our life, our sweetness and our hope. To thee do we cry, Poor banished children of Eve; To thee do we send forth our sighs, Mourning and weeping in this vale of tears. Turn then, most gracious advocate, Thine eyes of mercy toward us; And after this our exile, Show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.

Pope St Pius X

Saint Pius X was born on June 2, 1835, his name being Giuseppe Sarto. He was the first Pope since Pope Pius V to be canonized. He was one of 11 children, and though poor, his parents valued education, and Giuseppe walked 3 miles to school each day. Pius X was a fervent reformer of Church practices and regulations such as the Canon Law, his most important reform, which for the first time codified Church law in a central fashion. He was a pastoral pope, encouraging personal piety and a life-style reflecting Christian values. He was the only Pope in the 20th century with extensive pastoral experience at the Parish level and pastoral concerns permeated his papacy. The Catechism of Pope Pius X is short and direct. His teachings were considered equally down to earth and practical. He favored the use of modern language in Catechesis. Frequent communion was a lasting innovation of Pius X, because before his time, people could only receive communion once a month and, on special occasions, on Sunday. He was also instrumental in introducing the custom of First Holy Communion for young children. Personally Pius combined within himself a strong sense of compassion, benevolence, poverty, but also stubbornness. He wanted to be pastor and was the only Pope in the 20th century who gave Sunday sermons every week. His charity was extraordinary, filling the Vatican with refugees from the 1908 Messina quake, long before the Italian government began to act on its own. He rejected any kind of favors for his family, his brother remained a postal clerk, his favorite nephew stayed on as village priest, and his three sisters lived together close to poverty in Rome.  He often referred to his own humble origins, taking up the causes of poor people. "I was born poor, I have lived poor, and I wish to die poor." Considered a holy person by many, public veneration of Pope Pius X began soon after his death. He died August 20, 1914 and was canonized in 1954, after his body was exhumed and displayed under a side-altar where priests can celebrate Mass, many of which I was lucky to serve as an altar boy in 1966. 

St Bernard and Mary

Alonso Cano, The Miraculous Lactation of Saint Bernard - 1650

We celebrate today the feast of Saint Bernard, (1090-1153) the primary builder of the Cistercian Monastic order. He was also very devoted to the Blessed Mother having written various prayers in her honor. He is actually credited to have added the last phrase of the Hail Holy Queen, Salve Regina, when he entered a monastery and heard the monks singing this beautiful prayer, and then knelt down, and said: O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary. The above painting seems strange for some people, but it reflects the nurturing instinct that Mary had on St Bernard. Mary is seen squeezing her breast to feed Bernard with her maternal milk, showing herself as a spiritual provider of food as any mother would see that her children are fed, physically and spiritually.

This is one of the prayers written by St Bernard.
O you, whoever you are, who feel in the tidal wave of this world you are nearer to being tossed about among the squalls and gales than treading on dry land, if you do not want to fall apart in the tempest, do not avert your eyes from the brightness of the star, Mary, Your Mother.
When the wind of temptation blows up within you, when you strike upon the rock of tribulation, gaze up at the Star, call out to Mary, Your Mother.
When you are being tossed about by the waves of pride, or ambition, slander or jealousy, gaze up at the Star, Mary, Your Mother. When rage or greed or fleshly desires are battering against the protective shield of your soul, gaze up at Mary, Your Mother. When the immensity of your sins weighs you down and you are bewildered by your heavy conscience, when the terrifying thought of judgement appals you, and you begin to lose heart in the gulf of sadness and despair, think of Mary, Your Mother.
Keep her name on your lips, Keep her in your heart. Follow the example of her life and you will obtain the favor of her prayer. Following in her footsteps, you will not go astray. Asking for help, you will not fall into despair: thinking of her you will not err. While she keeps hold of your hand, you will not fall or stumble. With her protecting you, you will not be afraid. With her leading you, you will not tire. Enjoying her protection, you will reach the goal. Her kindness will see you through the end.

Orange segments

In an orphanage, the boys every year were given a special gift for Christmas. A family that had a large orchard next door to the orphanage used to give a large basket of oranges for the boys. The sisters used to give them one each on Christmas morning. However Jimmy, one of the boys was walking in the mud outside on Christmas Eve, and came in the sitting room nicely carpeted for the season decorated with a large Christmas tree and other decorations and festoons hanging on the walls. Since he left muddy footprints all over the carpet, the sisters were upset with him, and as a punishment they decided not to give him the orange. He cried and cried and as the other 10 boys came down to open their presents, Jimmy stayed on his bed, and covered his face with the pillow, not wanting to hear his friends joyfully celebrating and playing with the simple toys they received. Besides of course relishing that juicy orange ! As he kept sobbing and missing his orange, he heard someone walk by his bed and left something on his little table. Jimmy however didn’t get up and remained in bed. Finally curiosity go the best of him and he looked at the top of the table, and there he saw a small saucer and on it were 10 segments of oranges, placed strategically as if they were from one single orange. He was delighted and he was so happy when he realized what had happened. The other 10 boys, realized that Jimmy was punished by the sisters, and so each of them gave him a segment of their own orange and made up a complete orange, which he enjoyed eating, one segment at a time. And there was joy in the orphanage that Christmas Day.

From vacations to coolcations

Scenic Norwegian fjords

European holidaymakers worn down by recurrent heatwaves are currently snubbing Mediterranean destinations for northern climates in hopes of cooler temperature, but it remains to be seen whether this is just a fad or a durable shift in the tourism market.  The concept of ‘coolcations’ has been gathering pace in recent years, but it had literally exploded this year. For example, searches for rooms in the Danish capital Copenhagen have jumped by 246% since May. Those for Dublin, Ireland have risen by 151%. Oslo has seen booking growth of 154%, and Helsinki of 124%. The reason for this shift in vacation plans for tourists is because at higher altitudes, there is a clear drop in temperatures in the evening and during the night, which encourages and results in much better sleeping conditions. But we wonder  if this current enthusiasm can actually change the geography of international tourism. Yet climate is only one aspect that influences travel decisions. Security, nature, the cultural and artistic presence of museums, accessibility, air connections and exchange rates are also other factors.

Marian statue in Poland

The town of Konotopie, next to Torun in central Poland now boasts the tallest statue of the Blessed Mother in Europe. At 55 meters high, it is the second tallest statue in the world, after the Mother of all Asia effigy in the Philippines which is 98 meters high. The Konotopie Virgin Mary cost an estimated 100 million zlotys, equivalent to Euros 22.8, and is being paid by the  billionaire Roman Karkosik, a 75-year-old, who is listed as one of Poland’s richest tycoons. The was officially opened by Bishop Krzysztof Wętkowski, who consecrated the statue on Saturday August 15, feast of the Assumption, a Catholic holy day in Poland and many other Catholic countries.  Among the attendees on Saturday was Lech Wałęsa, who led the Solidarnosc movement to end communism in Poland and would go on to become the country's first democratically elected president. Polish Catholics have two other spiritual memorials. The first one is Pope John Paul II, who was the first Polish Pope and reigned for 27 years, plus 20 years as Bishop and Cardinal of Poland. The second memorial is the painting known as the Black Madonna, which attracts close to 5 million pilgrims every year. The Polish population is one of the most faithful Catholic populations, and in 2021, 71% identified themselves as active Catholics down from 88% ten years ago.

Two Frogs

This is the story of two frogs. It’s a story about persistence and perseverance and I shared it in my homilies this weekend since it related to the Gospel reading, and as many people liked it, I share it here with the rest of the world. One frog was fat and the other skinny. One day, while searching for food, they inadvertently jumped into a tub of milk. They couldn’t get out, as the sides were too slippery, so they were just swimming around. The fat frog said to the skinny frog, “Brother frog, there’s no use paddling any longer. We’re just going to drown, so we might as well give up.” The skinny frog replied, “Hold on brother, keep paddling. Somebody will get us out.” And they continued paddling for hours. After a while, the fat frog said, “Brother frog, there’s no use. I’m becoming very tired now. I’m just going to stop paddling and drown. It’s Sunday and nobody’s working. We’re doomed. There’s no possible way out of here.” But the skinny frog said, “Keep trying. Keep paddling. Something will happen, don't give up, keep paddling.” Another couple of hours passed. The fat frog said, “I can’t go on any longer. There’s no sense in doing it because we’re going to drown anyway. What’s the use?” And the fat frog stopped. He gave up and drowned in the milk. But the skinny frog kept on paddling. With all his paddling, an hour later, the skinny frog felt something solid beneath his feet. When he looked under his legs, he noticed that he had churned the milk into butter. He stood up on the solid chunk of butter and hopped out of the tub into safety, while the other frog was dead in the bottom of the tub. The lesson is very simple – never give up! Persevere! Keep trying and you’ll find yourself out of any problem you encounter. 

The Assumption of Mary

As we celebrate the beautiful feast of Mary’s Assumption into heaven, it is worth noting that there are two different traditions of how Mary’s life on earth actually ended. One tradition says that Mary was buried when she died, in the presence of most of the apostles. However, St Thomas was not present, and when he returned, he demanded that the grave be opened again, similar to what he did when Jesus appeared and he wasn’t present and wanted to see with his eyes and touch with his hands the wounds of the Risen Christ. Well this time, when they opened the grave, they found the body of Mary missing, except for some of her clothes. They believe that she was miraculously resurrected before being assumed, that is taken into heaven. This is what we believe as Catholics. More than half of the parishes in Malta are dedicated to the Blessed Mother under various titles, and 10 of them lead processions today in honor of Mary's Assumption, to whom they are dedicated.

Today we turn to Mary and ask for her protection on our families, our children, our parents, our elders, and all those who are in need of prayers for any particular reason. This prayer by St Gabriel Possenti is one of the most consoling prayers to Mary: “If you are in danger, she will hasten to free you; if you are troubled, she will console you; if you are sick, she will bring you relief; if you are in need, she will help you. She does not look to see what kind of person you have been. She simply comes to a heart that wants to love her.”

St. Maximilian Kolbe

Maximilian was born in January 1894 in Poland and was one of 5 sons to his devout parents. He contracted tuberculosis and, though he recovered, he remained frail all his life. In 1907 Kolbe and his elder brother Francis decided to join the Conventual Franciscans. During his time as a student, he witnessed vehement demonstrations against Popes St. Pius X and Benedict XV in Rome and was inspired to organize the Militia Immaculata, or Army of Mary, to work for conversion of sinners and the enemies of the Catholic Church through the intercession of the Virgin Mary. The Immaculata friars utilized the most modern printing and administrative techniques in publishing catechetical and devotional leaflets, a daily newspaper with a circulation of 230,000 and a monthly magazine with a circulation of over one million. After receiving a doctorate in theology, he spread the Movement through a magazine entitled "The Knight of the Immaculata" and helped form a community of 800 men, the largest in the world. Maximilian went to Japan where he built a monastery and then on to India where he furthered the Movement. In 1936 he returned home because of ill health. After the Nazi invasion in 1939, he was imprisoned and released for a time. He provided shelter to refugees from Greater Poland, including 2,000 Jews whom he hid from Nazi persecution in his friary in Niepokalanów. He was also active as a radio amateur, with Polish call letters SP3RN, vilifying Nazi activities through his reports. On February 17, 1941 he was arrested again by the German Gestapo and imprisoned in the Pawiak prison, and on May 25 was transferred to Auschwitz as prisoner #16670. In July 1941 a man from Kolbe's barracks vanished, prompting the deputy camp commander to pick 10 men from the same barracks to be starved to death in Block 13 (notorious for torture), in order to deter further escape attempts. One of the selected men, Franciszek Gajowniczek, cried out, lamenting his family, and Kolbe volunteered to take his place. The guards accepted this move, and Francizek was spared and eventually lived until the late 1990s. During the time in the cell St Maximilian led the men in songs and prayer. After three weeks of dehydration and starvation, only Kolbe and three others were still alive. Finally he was murdered with an injection of carbolic acid. Father Kolbe was beatified as a confessor by Pope Paul VI in 1971 and was canonized by Pope John Paul II on October 10, 1982 in the presence of Franciszek Gajowniczek and his family. 

Hail Joseph

We are all familiar with the Hail Mary, but so few people know the Hail Joseph, an equivalent prayer to the foster father of Jesus and husband of Mary. ‘Hail Joseph, you are full of grace. Jesus and Mary are with you. Blessed are you among all men, and blessed is the fruit of your pure and chaste spouse. St Joseph, foster father of Jesus and devoted spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, pray for us poor sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.’ In his Apostolic Letter ‘Patris Corde’ (With the heart of a father,) Pope Francis composed this prayer in honor of St Joseph: ’Hail to you, protector of our Redeemer, and spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary. To you God entrusted His own Son. In you Mary placed all her trust. With you Christ became an adult man. O beloved St Joseph, be a father to us all, and lead us through the way of life. Give us the grace, the mercy and courage, and protect us from all danger and evil that surround us. Amen.’

The ultimate sacrifice

Fortune Amaya Losike

On June 12, 2026, the dormitory at Utumishi Girls Academy Senior School in Gilgal, Kenya was on fire. And it is claimed that some of the students started the fire which killed 16 students, all between 15 and 18. Among those killed was Fortune Amaya Losike, aged 15 who died while trying to save some of her friends. As the fire was raging, some of the students jumped from a window, while Fortune let her friends jump ahead of her, and then when it was her turn to jump, the ceiling collapsed and buried her underneath. The priest preaching at her funeral said they recognized her body by the red and white rosary beads she had in her hands, which were intact. It is encouraging to witness such a heroic act by Fortune, because in a world consumed by egoism, her altruism saved a few other girls, and as she made the ultimate sacrifice, Fortune will always be remembered for the love she shared till the very end of her short life.

St Clare

St Clare with the Monstrance, painting at St Francis church, Rabat, Malta.

Clare was a beautiful Italian noblewoman who became the Foundress of an order of nuns now called "Poor Clares." She was born July 16, 1194, as Chiara Offreduccio. When she heard St. Francis of Assisi preach, her heart burned with a great desire to imitate Francis and to live a poor humble life for Jesus. So one evening, she ran away from home, and in a little chapel outside Assisi, gave herself to God. St. Francis cut off her hair and gave her a rough brown habit to wear, tied with a plain cord around her waist. Her parents tried in every way to make her return home, but Clare would not. Soon her sister Agnes joined her, as well as other young women who wanted to be brides of Jesus, and live without any money. St. Clare and her sisters wore no shoes, ate no meat, lived in a poor house, and kept silent most of the time. Yet they were very happy, because Our Lord was close to them all the time. Once, He saved them from a great danger in answer to St. Clare's prayer. An army of rough soldiers came to attack Assisi and they planned to raid the convent first. Although very sick, St. Clare had herself carried to the wall and right there, where the enemies could see it, she carried the monstrance with the Blessed Sacrament placed. Then on her knees, she begged God to save the Sisters. "O Lord, protect these Sisters whom I cannot protect now," she prayed. A voice seemed to answer: "I will keep them always in My care." At the same time a sudden fright struck the attackers and they fled as fast as they could. St. Clare was sick and suffered great pains for many years, but she said that no pain could trouble her. She died on  August 11, 1253. Many stories and allegorical tales have been created with St Francis and St Clare, including the popular movie and phrase “Brother Sun, Sister Moon.” But the fact is that both St Clare and St Francis laid a foundation for what to become one of the most influential orders of priests, friars and sisters, the Franciscans. Many other Orders splintered from the original Franciscans, but the foundation of each group remained always a life of poverty and good Christian example, a life detached from the materialism of this world.

St Lawrence

The martyrdom of St Lawrence

Saint Lawrence was one of seven deacons in Rome who were in charge of helping the poor and the needy. When a persecution broke out, Pope St. Sixtus was condemned to death. As he was led to execution, Lawrence followed him weeping, "Father, where are you going without your deacon?" he said. "I am not leaving you, my son," answered the Pope. ".....in three days you will follow me." Full of joy, Lawrence gave to the poor the rest of the money he had on hand and even sold expensive vessels, chalices and candlesticks to have more to give away. The Prefect of Rome, a greedy pagan, thought the Church had a great fortune hidden away. So he ordered Lawrence to bring the Church's treasure to him. The Saint said he would, in three days. Then he went through the city and gathered together all the poor and sick people supported by the Church and lined them all up. When he showed them to the Prefect, he said: "These are the Church's treasure!"

In great anger, the Prefect condemned Lawrence to a slow, cruel death. The Saint was tied on top of an iron grill over a slow fire that roasted his flesh little by little, but Lawrence was burning with so much love of God that he almost did not feel the flames. In fact, he even joked, "Turn me over," he said to the judge. "I'm done on this side!" And just before he died, he said, "It's cooked enough now." Then he prayed that the city of Rome might be converted to Jesus and that the Catholic faith might spread all over the world. After that, he went to receive the martyr's reward.
St Lawrence is one of thousands of martyrs who were mercilessly killed by the ruthless Emperors in the first 300 years of Christianity. Others were crucified, sent to the lions, beheaded, burned, tied to a tree and arrows shot at them, others were skinned or had parts of their body taken out or cut off. With St Stephen he is the patron saint of deacons.

$13.5 Million from Roger

Roger Federer, Mirka and his family, 2 sets of twins

The retired Swiss tennis player Roger Federer just contributed $13.5 million to open 81 new schools in Africa. His main target was to make considerable changes in the education of so many poor children. All the schools starting from kindergarten benefitted, because Roger believes that every professional, including himself started school from the lowest classes, Nursery and Kindergarten classes. These schools are in Malawi, and around 150,000 children will benefit from his contributions. Roger Federer, the father of 2 sets of twins with his wife Mirka has already helped schools in Switzerland, South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Malawi. We hope that more philanthropists like Roger come through with their wealth and share with the poor children in third world countries from what they earned and from what God allowed them to win in sporting events and tournaments.

Saint Dominic

Being the feast of St Dominic today, I thought you would appreciate this reflection on the physical characteristics of the beloved saint. After World War II, Pope Pius XII authorized the Dominicans of Bologna to have the relics of the founder examined. After the war, with the Pope’s permission, the Provincial of Lombardy had the relics examined by X-ray. He was not permitted to open the casket, but photographs from many angles were taken. Almost all the bones are still there after more than seven hundred years. Doctors and anthropologists were able to study them and give an accurate description of the skeleton and physical characteristics of St. Dominic. A certain Sister Cecilia's description is proved reliable by the scientific examination. She said he was of medium height — the measurements show that he was five feet six inches tall. She said, “his figure was supple; his face handsome and somewhat ruddy; his hair and beard blond with a reddish tinge. He was not a bit bald (apart from the shaven tonsure), though here and there in his hair there was a touch of gray.” At the bottom of the reliquary, the examiners found some shreds of St. Dominic’s hair. It was exactly the color that Cecilia had said it was. “From his brow and eyes,” she continued, “there came a radiant splendor which won the respect and admiration of all; his eyes were large and beautiful.” St. Dominic’s remains show large eye-sockets that are widely placed, confirming the physical description of Cecilia. With the scientific measurements and Cecilia’s description an artist has reconstructed an image of St. Dominic. At least in size, shape, and proportion it conforms to life. “His hands were long and handsome and his voice powerful and sonorous, and he was always joyous and smiling, except when moved with compassion at the affliction of his neighbors.” There are very few saints of so long ago whose personal appearance is so well described. The statue reproduced above is the image reconstructed from these descriptions. It was sculpted by Carlo Pini in 1946 and is in the Basilica of San Domenico, Bologna, Italy. That is also where St. Dominic’s remains are entombed.

St Cajetan

Like a few other saints, like St Francis De Sales and St Alphonsus, Cajetan seemed headed for an “ordinary” life — first as a lawyer, then as a priest engaged in the work of the Roman Curia. Born in 1480, his life took a characteristic turn when shortly after his ordination at 36, he joined the Oratory of Divine Love in Rome, a group devoted to piety and charity. When he was 42 he founded a hospital for those with incurable illnesses at Venice. At Vicenza, he joined a “disreputable” religious community that consisted only of men of the lowest stations of life — and was roundly censured by his friends, who thought his action was a reflection on his family. He simply sought out the sick and poor of the town and served them, but was criticized for this. Cajetan and three friends decided that the best road to reform the church was in reviving the spirit and zeal of the clergy. One of them later became Pope Paul IV. Together they founded a congregation known as the Theatines, named after the town of Chieti, where their first superior‑bishop had his see. They managed to escape to Venice after their house in Rome was wrecked when Emperor Charles V’s troops sacked Rome in 1527. In Naples he founded one of many charitable, non-profit credit organizations that lent money to help the poor and protect them against usurers. Cajetan’s little organization ultimately became the Bank of Naples, with great changes in policy. When Cajetan was sent to establish a house of his congregation in Naples, a count tried to prevail upon him to accept an estate in lands. He refused. The count pointed out that he would need the money, for the people of Naples were not as generous as the people of Venice. “That may be true,” replied Cajetan, “but God is the same in both cities.” He died on August 7, 1547 in the Kingdom of Naples. His remains are in the church of San Paolo Maggiore in Naples; outside the church is Piazza San Gaetano, with his statue. He was beatified in 1629, by Pope Urban VIII. On April 12, 1671, Cajetan was canonized together with St Rose of Lima and St Luis Beltrán. He is the patron saint of workers, gamblers, job seekers and unemployed people.

Transfiguration

Jesus took Peter, James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no fuller on earth could bleach them. Then Elijah appeared to them along with Moses, and they were conversing with Jesus. Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them; from the cloud came a voice: "This is my beloved Son. Listen to Him."

Are we listening to Him? There is a big difference between hearing something and listening attentively and intuitively. You can hear Beethoven or Mozart played on the radio, but to really listen to their music is to dissect, digest, analyse and appreciate the beautiful melodies they left us. The same with our relationship to Jesus. We can hear sermons and homilies about Him, but it’s important to also put into our hearts and minds the messages He gives us through those who preach. He still talks to us through Scripture, through miracles that still happen daily, through the Eucharist, through recommendations we receive from the Pope, our Bishops and priests. Are we listening to them? Because if we don't listen to them, we're not listening to Him! 

Dedication of St Mary Major

One of the 4 major basilicas of Rome is probably the lesser known one, dedicated to the Blessed Mother as St Mary Major. The church may still sometimes be referred to as Our Lady of the Snows, a name given to it in the Roman Missal from 1568 to 1969 in connection with the liturgical feast of the anniversary of its dedication on 5 August, a feast that was then denominated Dedicatio Sanctae Mariae ad Nives (Dedication of Saint Mary of the Snows). This name for the basilica had become popular in the 14th century in connection with a legend that the 1911 Catholic Encyclopedia reports thus: "During the pontificate of Liberius, the Roman patrician John and his wife, who were without heirs, made a vow to donate their possessions to the Virgin Mary. They prayed that she might make known to them how they were to dispose of their property in her honor. On 5 August, at the height of the Roman summer, snow fell during the night on the summit of the Esquiline Hill. In obedience to a vision of the Virgin Mary which they had the same night, the couple built a basilica in honor of Mary on the very spot which was covered with snow.” 

Inside the basilica there is an icon known as Salus Populi Romani, or Health of the Roman People or Salvation of the Roman People, due to a miracle in which the icon helped keep plague from the city. It was the first place which Pope Francis visited the day after he was elected Pope in 2013. He is buried precisely in this Basilica. Today we commemorate the anniversary of the dedication of this basilica of St Mary Major.