Palm Sunday

On this special day that leads into Holy Week, we see Jesus being welcomed in Jerusalem with people throwing their cloths and blankets on the ground while waving palm branches in a festive mood. The gospel reading of this event in fact is not read during the Mass but before the celebration starts, frequently in a distant place from the church, with the blessings of palms and a small procession folloings, at places accompanied by a donkey or two. During the Mass the entire account of the Passion of Christ is read, usually in a dramatized fashion, so that the congregation can also participate. Wherever palm branches are not available, olive branches are used, as is the case in Malta where small branches are distributed to the people after they are blessed. Now the mood in our liturgy changes as we head into Holy Week, leading to the Holy Triduum of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter.

Good Friday procession in miniature

As we enter Holy Week, I share with you during this week some of the traditions, customs , and ecclesiastical heritage that is so prevalent in Malta during this entire week. Many enthusiast showcase their work and craftsmanship in various exhibitions in parish halls and private homes. Today’s post was a huge surprise for me 7 years ago, when on Good Friday morning, I was invited to visit this incredible piece of artwork done by one man - a complete Good Friday procession in miniature, spread out throughout an entire room, actually at the President’s residence. I was told that this man had been working on this project for a decade but never exhibited any of his statuettes, until the President of Malta himself showed interest and invited him to showcase this masterpiece during Holy Week at the Palace itself.

The statue of the Last Supper

On Good Friday, various processions are held in parishes with life-size statues of the Passion of Christ, complete with many biblical characters, Roman soldiers, marching bands playing funeral marches and the clergy. What you see here is a complete replica of a typical procession, from beginning to end.

Again these are just 4 photos of the display, showing different angles, some statues and other characters that are an important part of this unique procession that is held on Godd Friday evening through the streets of about 25 parishes.

Altar servers and monsignors with the statue of Our Lady of Sorrows

Mother of Sorrows

Procession in honor of the Sorrowful Mother held in Valletta, Malta

I wrote this prayer as a meditation on this solemn day dedicated to our Sorrowful Mother, with the special devotion directed towards her especially in the Maltese Islands:

O Mother of Sorrows, we witnessed you crying under the Cross, seeing your Son taking his last breath. The same breath you gave Him 33 years earlier when yu gave birth to Him in the stable of Bethlehem. Then they brought down his lifeless body and placed it on your lap. Who knows how many times as a toddler, you welcomed Him on your lap, to nurse Him, to calm Him, to nurture Him, to put Him to sleep. But now he was much different, bloody, tortured and without any life.

And now you prepare to give Him back to whoever gave Him to you from Heaven. What can I ask of you dear Mother in this moment of so much sorrow, anguish and pain? I cry with you, with Mary Magdalene and with John, the beloved apostle. Give me one drop of His precious blood so that I can be saved. Give me one drop of your tears to feel satiated. Give me one breath coming from His heart. Give me your hands so that we can walk together and find consolation in each other.

Now I pray with the same courage that you showed on the way of the Cross and on Golgotha, fill us with that sacred courage we so desperately need nowadays. Help us on our own journey, during which we have none of the sorrows which you experienced. We had none of the thorns that were forced into your Son’s head, and none of the troubles and problems you faced. But we ask you nonetheless for your help in facing our own trials and tribulations. And walk with us through the alleys, the streets and hills we face each day. Today we cry with you dear Mother Mary, stay close to us, to dry the tears from our eyes. We cry with you today, not because we feel sorry for you, but because we know that only you can console us.

Our Lady of Sorrows - reflection 4

Michelangelo's Pieta

Finishing our prayers reflecting on the 7 sorrows of Mary:

Seventh Sorrow of Mary: Jesus is laid in a borrowed tomb.

Blessed Mother, be with us always in our journey of life.....pray for us.

Blessed Mother, please do not abandon us when we are burdened with suffering.....pray for us.

Blessed Mother, remind us to show dignity and respect when we bury or loved ones, and remember them on anniversaries and other special days.....pray for us.

Blessed Mother, console us in our own valley of tears....pray for us.

Blessed Mother, show us Your Son Jesus, the blessed fruit of your womb.....pray for us.

O most holy and afflicted Virgin! Queen of Martyrs! you who did stand motionless beneath the Cross, witnessing the agony of Your expiring Son - through the unceasing sufferings of your life of sorrow, and the bliss which now more than repays you for your past trials, look down with a mother's tenderness and pity on me, who kneel before you to venerate your sorrows, and place my requests, with filial confidence, in the sanctuary of your wounded heart. Present them, I beg you, on my behalf, to Jesus Christ, through the merits of His own most sacred death and passion, together with your sufferings at the foot of the cross, and obtain my present petition. To whom shall I resort in my wants and miseries if not to you, O Mother of Mercy, who, having so deeply drunk of the chalice of your Son? Offer for me to my Savior one drop of the Blood which flowed from His sacred veins, one of the tears which trickled from His divine eyes, one of the sighs which rent His adorable Heart. O refuge of the universe and hope of the whole world, do not reject my humble prayer, but graciously obtain my petition.

Our Lady of Sorrows - reflection 3

Continuing our meditation on the seven sorrows of the Blessed Mother:

Fifth Sorrow of Mary: Mary sees her beloved Son crucified and dies on the Cross.

Blessed Mother, help us when in our suffering, we start to lose hope.....pray for us.

Blessed Mother, console us when we find suffering too hard to bear, and start to collapse under the burden of pain.....pray for us.

Blessed Mother, remind us always, so that like you, we are ready to encourage others who are failing in their efforts.....pray for us.

Blessed Mother, when we are burdened with the weight of sickness and personal family problems....pray for us.

Sixth Sorrow of Mary: the body of Jesus is brought down from the Cross and laid on Mary’s lap.

Blessed Mother, dry the tears of those mothers who lost children because of violence, tragedy or other illnesses....pray for us.

Blessed Mother, help us when we experience the heart-breaking death of a loved one in our family.....pray for us.

Blessed Mother, be with us at the hour of our death so that we will be saved.....pray for us.

Blessed Mother, bring us to Your Son and pray that He will be a merciful judge....pray for us.

Blessed Mother, you who endured so much suffering because of Your Son Jesus, comfort us in our anxiety and sorrow.....pray for us.

Our Lady of Sorrows - reflection 2

Continuing on the reflections on Our Lady of Sorrows, reviewing and praying over her 7 sorrows:

Third Sorrow of Mary: Jesus is lost and found in the Temple.

Blessed Mother, encourage those mothers who suffer because of their children.....pray for us.

Blessed Mother, please pray for those mothers who are worried because of the behavior of their children.....pray for us.

Blessed Mother, be of comfort and hope to those families who are experiencing problems of division and separation....pray for us.

Blessed Mother, help those who lost their way and are living in sin, and bring them to Your Son, Jesus.....pray for us.

Blessed Mother, help those Christians who are suffering in their countries and are being persecuted because they are in the minority.....pray for us.

Fourth Sorrow of Mary: Mary meets her Son on His way to Calvary.

Blessed Mother, help those mothers who are caring for their sick and ailing children......pray for us.

Blessed Mother, assist those mothers who with a great deal of generosity and dedication are taking care of their handicapped children.....pray for us.

Blessed Mother, encourage those mothers who daily visit their children in hospitals or other places of care.....pray for us.

Blessed Mother, console those mothers who daily accompany their children towards their own Calvary, because they are in prison, or experienced alcohol or drug abuse and other sins that go contrary to the dignity of human beings.....pray for us.

Our Lady of Sorrows - reflection 1

From now until Friday, I will dedicate my posts in honor of the Sorrowful Mother. Friday is a very devotional feast in Malta where the Blessed Mother is honored with processions in each parish church, besides many confessions and Masses celebrated everywhere, including in various places of work.

I will reflect on the 7 sorrows endured by Mary and add a few prayers on each sorrow. Today the first two sorrows....

The First Sorrow: Mary and Joseph present Jesus in the Temple and Simeon prophesied that Mary’s heart will be pierced with a sword because of what her Son would endure.

Blessed Mother, you who presented your Son at the temple....pray for us.

Blessed Mother, who heard the prophesy of Simeon.....pray for us.

Blessed Mother, who reflected on those words all through your life.......pray for us.

Blessed Mother, who received all that God sent your way, good or bad.....pray for us.

Blessed Mother, who wanted to remain close to your Son as He was suffering, please remain with us in our anguish, sickness and anxious moments.......pray for us.

The Second Sorrow: Mary and Joseph had to escape into Egypt to avoid the wrath of Herod.

Blessed Mother, who had to escape into Egypt and avoid seeing your Son being murdered.....pray for us.

Blessed Mother, who suffered exile for a few years, being away from your family and home.....pray for us.

Blessed Mother, who adapted well to a new environment which welcomed you and Joseph and Jesus.....pray for us.

Blessed Mother, be a refuge for all the immigrants fleeing their homelands seeking a better life....pray for us.

Blessed Mother, touch our hearts to be a welcoming community towards all those seeking a new home and hope for the future.....pray for us.

Passion Movies

'Jesus of Nazareth' by Zeffirelli

These are some of the most popular movies about the Passion of Christ:

1905 - 'The Life and Passion of Jesus Christ' is a remarkable relic from the very dawn of cinema. First released in 1902 by France’s Pathé film company, it was expanded and tinkered with for the next three years, reaching its complete form in 1905. Though popular for decades after its release, it has been unavailable on video or DVD until recently, when it was released on DVD with an early American Jesus movie, From the Manger to the Cross (1912).

1953 – ‘The Robe’...director Henry Koster...starring Richard Burton and Jean Simmons. It’s a movie about what happened to the robe which Jesus was wearing before he was stripped to be crucified.

1959 – ‘Ben Hur’  - directed by William Wyler and with colossal music score by Miklos Rosza, and starring Charlton Heston, Stephen Boyd and. It is subtitled “The story of the Christ” and tells about the rivalry between Ben Hur and Messala, a Roman centurion, featuring the famous Chariot race and a miracle taking place during the passion and crucifixion of Christ.

1961 – ‘King of Kings’ - one of the Biblical classics directed by Nicholas Ray and starring Jeffrey Hunter and a star-studded cast.

1964 – ‘Il Vangelo secondo Matteo’ - directed by Pier Paolo Pasolini in black and white with practically unknown actors and actresses but became known as a very realistic depiction of a human Jesus.

1965 – ‘The Greatest Story Ever Told’ - another biblical classic based on the book by Fulton Ousler. It was directed by Drected by George Stevens starring max von Sydow

1977 – ‘Jesus of Nazareth’ - Directed by Franco Zeffirelli with Robert Powell, Olivia Hussey among the main characters. Released in two parts portraying the entire life of Christ from his birth to his death.

1979 - ‘Jesus’ - starring Brian Deacon, Directed by John Krish taken literally from the Gospel of St Luke        

2000 – ‘Jesus’ - originally produced by CBS   Dir Roger Young, starring Jeremy Sisto low budget, distributed free throughout the world. Translated into many languages.

2005 – ‘The Passion of the Christ’ - Mel Gibson produced the classic movie in Matera, Italy, the same place where Pier Paolo Pasolini produced his black and white movie “Vangelo secondo Matteo”(Gospel According to St. Matthew) “Passion” focuses on the 12 hours of Jesus' life leading to his crucifixion. Jesus speaks Latin and Aramaic with the aid of subtitles.

When you thought I wasn't looking......

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you hang my first painting on the refrigerator, and I wanted to paint another one.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you feed a stray cat, and I thought it was good to be kind to animals.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you make my favorite cake for me, and I knew that little things are special things.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I heard you say a prayer, and I believed there is a God I could always talk to.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I felt you kiss me good night, and I felt loved.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw tears come from your eyes, and I learned that sometimes things hurt, but it's all right to cry.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw that you cared and I wanted to be everything that I could be.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I looked...and wanted to say thanks for all the things I saw when you thought I wasn't looking.

My favorite painting

'Triptych of the Holy Rosary' by Hans Suess Von Kulmbach

One of the paintings that struck me the very first moment I saw it is the 'Triptych of the Holy Rosary' by Hans Suess Von Kulmbach (1510,) which is in the Thyssen Bornemisza Museum, Madrid. The two side panels show the Presentation of Mary, with St. Joachim and St. Anne at the bottom of the steps, while the other one show Mary’s parents in a loving embrace. The center and more prominent panel is very descriptive, and shows the Crucifixion encircled within the Rosary beads, each Hail Mary symbolized by a rose flower. The 5 Our Fathers are symbolized by 5 crosses, also symbolic of the 5 wounds of Christ. A scene from hell is shown in the bottom, with two angels above and two others below, one of whom I seen saving a baby and the other holding scales in his hands.

The 4 layers of saints are described as follows, from top, left to right: 

1. With God the Father and the Holy Spirit are seen Mary and a variety of angels.
2. Melchizedek, David, Moses, John the Baptist - Peter, Mark, Paul and Luke.
3. Lawrence, George, Erasmus, Stephen, Holy Innocent baby - Gregory, Jerome, Nicholas, Charlemagne.
4. Clare, Agnes, Barbara, Catherine of Alexandria - Anne, Mary, Mary Magdalene, Helen.

There will not be any posts over the next few days. Stay tuned.

The Prodigal Son in the key of F

The Prodigal Son by Esteban Murillo

Feeling footloose and frisky a feather-brained fellow forced his fond father to fork over the family finances. He flew far to foreign fields and frittered his fortune feasting fabulously with faithless friends. Finally facing famine and fleeced by his fellows in folly, he found himself a feed-flinger in a filthy farmyard.

Fairly famished he fain would have filled his frame with the foraged foods of the fodder fragments left by the filthy farmyard creatures.

'Fooey', he said, 'My father's flunkies fare far fancier,' the frazzled fugitive found feverishly, frankly facing facts. Frustrated by failure and filled with foreboding he forthwith fled to his family. Falling at his father's feet, he floundered forlornly. 'Father, I have flunked and fruitlessly forfeited family favor.'

But the faithful father, forestalling further flinching frantically flagged the flunkies. 'Fetch forth the finest fatling and fix a feast.' But the fugitive's fault-finding frater frowned on the fickle forgiveness of the former folderol. His fury flashed. But fussing was futile, for the far-sighted  father figured, such filial fidelity is fine, but what forbids fervent festivity.

The fugitive is found. 'Unfurl the flags, with fanfares flaring, let fun and frolic freely flow.' Former failure is forgotten, folly forsaken, forgiveness forms the foundation for future fortitude."

Forgiveness

O God, forgive us for the faults which make us difficult to live with.
If we behave as if we were the only people for whom life is difficult;
If we behave as if we were far harder worked than anyone else;
If we behave as if we were the only people who were ever disappointed, or the only people who ever got a raw deal; If we are far too self-centered and far too full of self-pity:
Forgive us, 0 God.
If we are too impatient to finish the work we have begun; 
If we are too impatient to listen to someone who wants to talk to us, or to give someone a helping hand; 
If we think that other people are fools, and make no attempt to conceal our contempt for them:
Forgive us, 0 God.
If we too often rub people the wrong way;
If we spoil a good case by trying to ram it down someone's throat;
If we do things that get on people's nerves, and go on doing them, even when we are asked not to:
Forgive us, 0 God.
Help us to take the selfishness and the ugliness out of life and to do better in the days to come.

Praying for London

I offer my prayers today to the city of London as another terrorist attack shatters the peaceful and harmonious life of this big, welcoming city. It all happened on one of the most popular bridges and under the shadow of the most historic landmark of London. 
I pray for the victims and their families during these trying days and also for the safety of everyone traveling. May God give eternal peace to those who were innocently killed so suddenly. 

The Marriage of Joseph and Mary

Continuing on the theme of Saint Joseph, I want to share with you a pretty unknown painting which I discovered last Sunday at the Franciscan church where the feast of St Joseph was held in Rabat. I came across this painting by chance, as it was hanging in a small room off the sacristy, hidden by candles, flowers and a cross. Apparently the Franciscans didn’t think anything of it, otherwise they would have displayed it more prominently. But when I removed the items mentioned, I was able to take a quick photo, before anyone would see me. Actually this was the time when the statue of St Joseph was being taken out in procession. So all the eyes of the people were on him, and everyone was inside the main body of the church. 

The anonymous painting reveal the moment when Joseph and Mary are being united in marriage. One can notice that both of them are kneeling and wearing floral crowns, as the bearded high priest, also kneeling, holds both of their hands and they exchange their vows. Various people are invited, as well as neighbors and friends. On the right side one can also notice two bowls on a stand, possibly being filled with wine which the bride and groom would consume. Joseph is holding a staff with spikenard at the end. Spikenard produces an aromatic oil, and was also included in Pope Francis' coat-of-arms. All the people seen in the painting seem focused on the couple as they look in anticipation, ready to rejoice and wish Mary and Joseph many blessings and prayers in anticipation of the birth of Jesus. 

St Joseph's Church

On Sunday I ventured to the church dedicated to St Joseph, in Rabat, Malta, where the celebration of the saint was being celebrated. There was the evening procession in the unusual cooler temperatures of mid-March, so much different than the warm days in July and August, when the majority of village festas are celebrated. 

But I want you to enjoy just a few photos of the beautiful ornate church, dressed up in all its splendor and glory. One of the photos shows a bishop leading the Evening Vespers, while others highlight the tapestries on walls, the chandeliers, the heavy silver sanctuary lamp as well as the painted ceiling. Please click on each photo to enlarge and get a better resolution of this magnificent church, run by the Franciscans. It is not a parish church but is very much loved by many. In two weeks, they will also hold the Good Friday procession with biblical characters and passion statues.

Saint Joseph

Dear St Joseph,
- Today being your feast day, I thought of writing you a few lines mainly to show my gratitude to you for all you did for Jesus and Mary his mother. Very few people are greater than you, because who was ever closer to Mary and Jesus than you. You married Mary even though many people were suspicious of you, and you were patient enough to raise Jesus from his birth to the day you died, and left him as an orphan and his mother as a widow. Joseph, you showed your greatness by your humility. By being humble and quiet and staying always in the background, your image shone forth majestically and we admire the simple life you led, and your courage in taking Mary as your wife, in spite of the gossip that was going on from other people.
- I can only imagine how special and happy was that house in Nazareth, raising Jesus as a baby, a toddler, a young boy and as a teenager. A few questions come to mind:
- Was he obedient to you and his mother? Did he go to sleep on time? Did he get up on time? Did he say his prayers? Did he obey at home? Did he have any sleepovers? Did he have any girlfriends? Did his friends knew how special he was? It hurts me to read that the people of Nazareth threw stones at him when he visited them years later!
- Did he play any tricks on you and Mary? Since he was an only boy, he couldn’t blame his brothers and sisters if something went missing, if something broke. Did he always do his chores? Did he go to school, which were probably different from our schools? Did he do his homework?
- Dear St Joseph, we admire your kindness in dealing with other people. When a stressful situation appeared, you always let Mary handle it, like when Jesus was lost in the temple for 3 days, or like the wedding at Cana, when they ran out of wine. You always stayed in the background, and this also shows that you were respectful of others and avoided any quarrels and conflicts.
- I ask you finally St Joseph to keep our families in your prayers. Just as you protected your family from Herod, from harm and from those who hated you, your wife and your Son, please protect our families and children from danger. I beg you also, please pray for vocations to the priesthood and religious life. We need more priests and sisters to work in our parishes, schools, hospitals and other places. And I finally ask you to remember those who work, those looking for work, especially husbands and fathers who lost their jobs.

The gift of water

Seeing Jesus in today’s Gospel asking a Samaritan woman for water shows his humanity, yet His divinity shines through in this beautiful conversation between the two of them. He offers her special water that needs no replenishing. Whoever drinks of His water will never thirst.  We ask today for this special water that nourishes and cleanses at the same time. Water can also be destructive as happens during a flood, but it also destroys original sin when a baby is baptized. We appreciate the gift of Holy Water that is used so often for blessings of everyday objects. Just this past week, after one of my weekly Masses, I was asked to bless 8 fruit trees, an aquarium, a swimming pool and an architect’s office. The Samaritan woman could have reacted with fear. Yet she responded with courage, and brought the entire village to meet Jesus, who decided to stay with them for 2 days. So we thank you Lord today for this gift, and may we always feel nourished by Your life-giving water, and respond to your invitation with courage and gratitude.

Interesting Trivia

A Sumatran Tiger

Some interesting trivia for you today:

 - Tigers have striped skin, not just striped fur.
 - In England, the Speaker of the House is not allowed to speak.
 - There are 293 ways to make change for a dollar.
 - There are more chicken than people in the world.
 - The longest one syllable word in the English language is screeched.
 - On the Canadian two-dollar bill, the flag flying over the Monument is an American flag.
 - The Name for the Wizard of Oz was thought up when the creator, Frank Baum looked at a filing cabinet and saw the files categories in two batches A-N and O-Z, hence Oz.
 - The microwave was invented when a researched walked by a radar tube, and a
chocolate bar melted in his pocket.
 - The average person falls asleep in 7 minutes. 
 - 'Stewardesses' is the longest word you can type with the left hand.
 - How come “abbreviated” is a such a long word ?
 - Why do we put suits in a garment back, and put garments in a suitcase ?
 - Why doesn’t glue stick to the inside of a bottle ?
 - Rubber bands last longer when refrigerated.
 - Peanuts are one of the ingredients of dynamite.
 - A shark is the only fish that can blink with both eyes.
 - No word in the English language rhymes with month, orange, silver or purple.
 - Winston Churchill was born in a ladies' room during a dance.
 - Maine is the only state whose name is just one syllable.
 - There are only four words in the English language which end in "‑dous":
tremendous, horrendous, stupendous, and hazardous.
 - Los Angeles's full name is "El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora la Reina de
los Angeles de Porciuncula."

Saint Patrick

St. Patrick was of Romano-British origin, and born about the year 389 AD. His father, Calpurnius, was a deacon, and Patrick's own full name was probably Patricius Magonus Sucatus. When he was 16, he was captured in Britain by Irish raiders and taken as a slave to Ireland. During six bleak years spent as a herdsman, he turned with fervor to his faith. Hearing at last in a dream that the ship in which he was to escape was ready, he fled his master and found passage to Britain. There he came near to starvation and suffered a second brief captivity before he was reunited with his family. Thereafter, he became a priest and eventually a bishop. He is credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland and probably responsible in part for the Christianization of the Anglo-Saxons. In a dream vision it seemed “all the children of Ireland from their mothers’ wombs were stretching out their hands” to him. He understood the vision to be a call to do mission work in pagan Ireland. Despite opposition from those who felt his education had been defective, he was sent to carry out the task. He went to the west and north, where the faith had never been preached, obtained the protection of local kings and made numerous converts. 

Because of the island’s pagan background, Patrick was emphatic in encouraging widows to remain chaste and young women to consecrate their virginity to Christ. He ordained many priests, divided the country into dioceses, held Church councils, founded several monasteries and continually urged his people to greater holiness in Christ. He suffered much opposition from pagan druids and was criticized in both England and Ireland for the way he conducted his mission. Patrick died about 461, and was buried in the vicinity of the future Cathedral town of Down. 

Legends about Patrick abound; but truth is best served by our seeing two solid qualities in him: He was humble and he was courageous. The determination to accept suffering and success with equal indifference guided the life of God’s instrument for winning most of Ireland for Christ.

One of his famous quotes is called the Breastplate of St. Patrick:
“Christ shield me this day: 
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, 
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, 
Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie down, 
Christ when I arise, Christ in the heart of every person who thinks of me, 
Christ in the eye that sees me, Christ in the ear that hears me”

The Passion Flower

Known also as the passion flowers or passion vines, Passiflora is a genus of about 500 species of flowering plants, the namesakes of the family Passifloraceae. They are mostly vines, with some being shrubs. In the 15th and 16th centuries, Spanish Christian missionaries adopted the unique physical structures of this plant, particularly the numbers of its various flower parts, as symbols of the last days of Jesus and especially his crucifixion:
The Blue Passion Flower (Passiflora Caerulea) shows most elements of the Christian symbolism
The pointed tips of the leaves were taken to represent the lance that pierced Jesus’ side.
The tendrils represent the whips used in the flagellation of Christ.
The ten petals and sepals represent the ten faithful apostles (excluding St. Peter and Judas Iscariot)

The flower's radial filaments, which can number more than a hundred and vary from flower to flower, represent the crown of thorns.

The chalice-shaped ovary with its receptacle represents the chalice or the Holy Grail.
The 3 stigmas represent the 3 nails and the 5 anthers below them the 5 wounds (four by the nails and one by the lance).
The blue and white colors of many species' flowers represent Heaven and Purity.
I took the above photos in Malta, where the Passion flowers grow profusely, especially in the spring.

Infiorata

Just a few days after the Azure Window disappeared, and when people were afraid that interest in our sister island of Gozo will start to decrease, another beautiful display of craftsmanship was held this past weekend. It was a floral extravaganza called Infiorata, whereby colored flower petals were placed on the ground to create various designs, as seen from these photos. This needed a lot of planning, and lots of prayers for a calm windy-less few days. The street that led to the Cathedral church in Victoria, Gozo was literally painted with floral designs. Another design to celebrate Malta’s present Presidency in the European Union was held further up the road. 

Something similar to this is held in Spain on the feast of Corpus Christi and in many Central American countries during Holy Week. Infiorata comes from the word fiore, meaning flower, and this display once again shows the craftsmanship of many Maltese and Gozitan enthusiasts, who will further show their Holy Week statues and other passion artifacts over the next few weeks. Stay tuned for much more to come.

The Crucifixion

This is one of the earliest known depictions of the Crucifixion in Christian art. It was made in Rome about AD 420‑30, at a time when the Roman empire in Western Europe was fragmenting. The panel is one of four, originally mounted on the sides of a small ivory casket, each carved with a scene from Christ’s Passion. This panel is exhibited at the British Museum in London.

In this image the Crucifixion is combined with another scene of death: the suicide of the disciple Judas after he has betrayed Jesus. The stiff, clothed body of Judas pulls down the branch of a tree, and a spilled sack of coins lies at his feet. In contrast the exposed limbs of Christ still appear vigorous, and he gazes at the viewer, triumphant in death. A plaque over Christ’s head is inscribed REX IUD (King of the Jews). The Virgin Mary and John the Baptist stand to the left of the cross, while on the right Longinus steps from beneath the arm of the cross, just before he pierces Jesus’ side with a lance.

Miniature churches

Presently an interesting exhibition is taking place in Malta, in preparation for Holy Week and Easter. Enthusiasts of miniature churches, statues and other religious artefacts are exhibiting their craftsmanship and artwork. More photos will appear over the next few weeks, even from past exhibitions, but these are just three photos from the present exhibition. 

One can see miniature altars all dressed up for the special occasion of their particular feast, the first one being St Helena and the second one St Dominic. The exhibits are complete with candlesticks, credence tables, floral bouquets, chairs and statues. The third photos shows the entire exhibition on display. 

Why people pray

A minister dies and, resplendent in his clerical collar and colorful robes, is waiting in line at the Pearly Gates. Just ahead of him is a guy dressed in sunglasses, a loud shirt, leather jacket, and jeans. Saint Peter addresses this guy, "Who are you, so that I may know whether or not to admit you to the Kingdom of Heaven?" The guy replies, "I'm Joe Green, taxi-driver, of Noo Yawk City." Saint Peter consults his list. He smiles and says to the taxi-driver, "Take this silken robe and golden staff, and enter into the Kingdom." So the taxi-driver goes into Heaven with his robe and staff, and now the minister is at the first of the line. He stands erect and, without being asked, proclaims, "I am Joseph Snow, head pastor of Saint Mary's for the last forty-three years." Saint Peter consults his list. Looking up, he says to the minister, "Take this cotton robe and wooden staff and enter the Kingdom of Heaven." "Just a minute," says the minister. "That man was a taxi-driver, and you issued him a silken robe and golden staff; but I get wood and cotton. How can this be?" "Up here, we work by results," says Saint Peter. "While you preached, people slept; while he drove, (recklessly, fast and carelessly,) people prayed."

For this I thank you, Lord

Unto You, my Lord, I pledge my feeble body. 

Not to be healed but to be forgiven. 

Not to be recreated in my own image, but to be created in your own image. 

Not to grieve but to have hope. 

Not to have questions but to have answers.

Not to have anger but to have understanding. 

Not to have fear but to have commitment. 

Not to have ideals but to have concrete ideas. 

Not to be ruled but to rule myself. 

Not to have love, but to be love and give love to others.

Not to take but to share.

Not to critique but to know.

Not to complain but to be thankful for each day You give me.

For this and all things I say thanks.

The Azure Window

An iconic part of Malta’s heritage is no more. The Azure Window on the western side of the island of Gozo, the sister island of Malta collapsed on Wednesday March 8^th at 9:40 AM. It is situated in the area called Dwejra. Yes, we were experiencing a severe storm when it happened, but obviously the collapse was the result of years of erosion, sea water splashing on the massive boulder that created such a scenic view for tourists and locals alike. The natural arch was photographed millions of times by photographers from around the world, and 80% of the visitors to the island of Gozo, made sure to visit the Azure Window. They posed in front of it, while a few others ventured to walk on it, something was prohibited over the past few months. 

The Azure Window used as a backdrop for the 1981 movie "Clash of the Titans"

From the photos one can see that it was much fuller in size, as was the case when it was used as a backdrop for the movie “Clash of the Titans,” filmed in 1981. Recent photos show the horizontal part crumbling piece by piece. The window was used as a backdrop also in the movies “The Odyssey” (1997), “The Count of Monte Cristo” (2002) and HBO’s TV series “Game of Thrones.” The Azure Window was created after two limestone sea caves collapsed. Researchers say that it was created around the 1870s. The flagship of the Gozitan touristic sites has sunk in its same birth place from where for many decades, it stood high and proud heralding one of the natural beauties the little island is endowed with. 

All Gozitans as well as Maltese were saddened with this loss. Although Dwejra had been "orphaned" with the loss, the tourism community in Gozo believed Dwejra would continue to attract thousands of tourists every day.