From air hostess to nun

Singapore Airlines lost one of its pretty hostesses and the Dominicans of Segovia gained her in their monastery. The community of Santo Domingo el Real in Segovia did not have a single vocation in 30 years, until Sister Evelyn of Baby Jesus showed up. She used to spend many of her holidays in Rome, and often she used to attend the church where St Catherine of Siena is buried, Santa Maria sopra Minerva. She eventually joined the community in Segovia as a Dominican novice, and now she is fully professed. Her family were upset that she changed her career so unexpectedly, but once they saw how happy she was as a Dominican nun, they were also very happy for her.

The Pope on old age

                         
Pope Francis gave this message about senility, in view of Grandparents Day which was celebrated on the last Sunday in July:

Undoubtedly, old age imposes on us a slower pace. But these are not times to just relax and lead a lazy lifestyle. The depth of these lifestyles help us to understand the meaning of life, of which the obsession of speed does not comprehend at all. If we lose touch with the slow pace of old age, we feel like being cut off from humanity. It is in this spirit that I would like to celebrate the feast of grandparents, on the last Sunday of July. The connection between the two generations that are at the beginning and the end of our life, that is childhood and old age, eventually helps the other two ages, youth and adulthood, to make everyone’s life richer in its humanity. We need a constant dialogue between the generations. Otherwise old age, adulthood, youth and even childhood remain isolated in a world all to themselves. A young person who is not connected with his roots, that is his grandparents, remains powerless. And like any tree which receives its strength from its roots, he will then grow healthy and strong, with a valid point of reference. Disconnected from its roots, he will grow weak, fragile and inadequate. So dialogue between the generations is essential in this day and age. And this connection is most important between the two extremes, grandparents and grandchildren. It’s a shame that society is looking at older people as useless, worn out, with nothing else to give, almost to be disposed of. This is not right, and we should forever appreciate the experience and the wisdom of our senior citizens.

Saint Clare

St Francis with St Clare welcoming a novice.

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 had 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.

Saint Lawrence

Fra Angelico - St Lawrence helping the poor.

Saint Lawrence was one of seven deacons in Rome who were in charge of giving help to 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: "This is 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.

St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross

St Edith Stein (1891-1942)

With the addition of St Titus Brandsma to the hall of Saints in heaven, we now have at least two Carmelites who were killed during the World War II in the concentration camps. St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross was a German-Jewish philosopher, nun, a martyr and a highly unusual saint of the Catholic Church. Born into an observant Jewish family in Breslau, a German province of Prussia on October 12, 1891, she was named Edith and her family name was Stein. Edith was a very gifted child who enjoyed learning. She greatly admired her mother's strong faith; however, by her teenage years Stein had become an atheist. In 1916, she received a doctorate of philosophy from the University of Göttingen, and soon afterwards became a member of the faculty in Freiburg. While Stein had earlier contacts with Catholicism, it was her reading of the autobiography of the mystic St. Teresa of Ávila on a holiday in Göttingen in 1921 that caused her conversion. She was eventually baptized on January 1, 1922, gave up her job at Freiburg and started to teach at a Dominican girls' school in Speyer from 1922 to 1932.

Edith Stein before she entered the Carmelite convent

In a letter to Pope Pius XI, she denounced the Nazi regime and asked the Pope to openly denounce the regime "to put a stop to this abuse of Christ's name.” Although she never received an answer, in 1937, Pope Pius XI issued an encyclical written in German, "Mit Brennender Sorge," in which he criticized Nazism, and condemned anti-semitism. I’m sure her letter had some influence on this. She entered the Discalced Carmelite monastery Our Lady of Peace at Cologne in 1933 and took the name Teresa Benedicta of the Cross. Although she moved from Germany to the Netherlands to avoid Nazi persecution, in 1942 she was not safe there. The Dutch Bishops had a public statement read in all the churches of the country in July 1942, condemning Nazi racism. In a retaliatory response a few weeks later, the Reichskomissar ordered the arrest of all Jewish converts, who had previously been spared. Sr. Teresa Benedicta and her sister Rosa, also a convert, were captured and shipped to the Auschwitz concentration camp, where they were gassed on August 9, 1942 when Edith was only 50. Edith Stein was canonized as Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross by Pope John Paul II in 1998; however, she is also often referred to as "Saint Edith Stein".

Saint Dominic

Along with the Franciscans and the Jesuits, the Dominicans are probably the most popular religious order, both for men and women, priests, brothers and nuns. The son of Felix Guzman and Bl. Joan of Aza, Dominic was born at Calaruega, Spain. The story is told that before his birth his mother dreamed that a dog leapt from her womb carrying a torch in its mouth, and "seemed to set the earth on fire". That is why in many of the statues of St Dominic, a dog carrying a torch is placed near his feet. He studied at the University at Palencia , was probably ordained there while pursuing his studies and was appointed canon at Osma in 1199. There he became prior superior of the chapter, which was noted for its strict adherence to the rule of St. Benedict. In 1203 he accompanied Bishop Diego de Avezedo to Languedoc where Dominic preached against the Albigensian heresy and helped reform the Cistercians. He preached to the heretics but with no great success. In 1214 he was given a castle at Casseneuil and Dominic with six followers founded an order devoted to the conversion of the Albigensians; the order was canonically approved by the bishop of Toulouse the following year. His new order received its approval from Pope Honorius III in 1215 , and the Order of Preachers (the Dominicans) was founded. Dominic spent the last years of this life organizing the order, traveling all over Italy, Spain and France preaching and attracting new members and establishing new houses. The new order was phenomenally successful in conversion work as it applied Dominic's concept of harmonizing the intellectual life with popular needs. He convoked the first general council of the order at Bologna in 1220 and died there the following year on August 6, after being forced by illness to return from a preaching tour in Hungary. He was canonized in 1234. Dominicans today number 6,500, not counting many nuns who work as teachers, in social work and in hospitals. 

A Happy Jesus

We always imagine Jesus as very serious, demanding, challenging and at times even a little stern. But I am sure he had his happy moments too. Just looking at the photo above gives you the idea of how entertaining he must have been with children. We don’t hear many projects he did with them, but I am sure he had his bag of tricks every time he saw children. No wonder he was a little upset when the apostles were turning them away from Him. ‘Let the children come to....’ was his prompt remark. We can only imagine how happy He was when visiting Martha, Mary and Lazarus, munching on some freshly-baked bread and figs and sipping some of Lazarus’ home-made wine. Who knows how much fun He had with the apostles, swimming at the Sea of Galilee, or even when visiting Peter and playing with his children, letting them jump all over Him, as many children love to do with their fathers and older siblings. Too bad that the evangelists never reported any happy and cute incidents in the life of Jesus. Who knows how many tricks he played on his parents when He was being raised in the home of Nazareth. And they could not blame anyone else for being tricked, as He was the only other person in their household. It’s so great to see Jesus laughing, being happy, smiling, having fun.

The Transfiguration

Raphael - The 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? 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! Good thing that God gave us 2 ears and one mouth, so that we should listen twice as much as we talk.

The 4 Blessed Looks

Look back and thank God.

Look forward and trust God.

Look around and serve God.

Look within and find God.

I asked God,  ‘How do I get the best out of life?’

God said, ‘Face your past without regrets.

Handle your present with confidence.

And prepare for a future without fear.’

Without God, our week is Mournday, Tearsday, Wastedy,

Thirstday, Fightday, Shatterday and Sinday.

Remember that one week without prayer make ‘one weak.’

So, allow him to be with you every day!

Life is short – so forgive quickly.

Believe slowly. Love truly. Laugh uncontrollably.

Never regret anything that makes you happy.

St John Baptist Vianney

My all-time favorite Saint is not just the patron saint of priests, but also the patron saint of all those who find learning and going to school tough and hard. The Cure of Ars’ life is itself a miracle. Jean-Marie Vianney was born on May 8, 1786, in the French town of Dardilly and was baptized the same day. His parents had six children of which Jean-Marie was the third. He grew up on his family's farm in a very devotional environment. His parents frequently helped the poor and gave hospitality to many pilgrims. By 1790, the French Revolution forced many loyal priests to hide from the government in order to carry out the sacraments in their parish. The Vianneys continued attending Mass, even though it was illegal. In order to attend Mass, they traveled to distant farms where they would pray in secret. Since the priests would risk their lives day by day, Jean-Marie began to look upon priests as heroes. During the Mass, the windows were covered so that the light of the candles could not be seen from the outside.

The body of the Cure of Ars, in the Basilica of Ars, France

By 1802, peace was re-established, and Jean-Marie wanted to start studying, but he still had to serve in the army. He was 19 when he started school, while his classmates were all 11 or 12, but he persevered, even though he found the study of Latin very hard. He gave up many times, but he was eventually ordained a priest on August 13, 1815. He was sent as Assistant to his sponsor, Father Balley in the parish at Ecully. Three years later he was made parish priest of Ars, a remote French hamlet, where his reputation as a confessor and director of souls made him known throughout the Christian world. His life was one of extreme mortification. Accustomed to the most severe austerities, beleaguered by swarms of penitents, and besieged by the devil, this great mystic manifested tremendous patience. He was a wonder worker loved by the crowds, but he retained a childlike simplicity, and he remains to this day the living image of the priest after the heart of Christ. He heard confessions of people from all over the world for 16 hours each day. His life was filled with works of charity and love. It is recorded that even the staunchest of sinners were converted at his mere word. He died August 4, 1859, and was canonized May 31, 1925. In 2009, Pope Benedict XVI proclaimed him as the patron saint of all parish priests, during the Year of the Priest. 

Keeping your mouth closed

The fish were worried. Too many of them were getting caught. And so they decided to discuss the situation. Thousands of them met in the deepest part of the sea to see why so many of them were getting tricked and caught by the destructive hook they come across while swimming. Some claim that curiosity gets the best of them. Others say the hook tricks them because often it is hidden. Yet others complained that they never foresaw the consequences that would follow by giving into the temptation the hook offers them. Finally one of the older fish proclaimed: ‘Brothers and sisters, I think all that you are saying is true, but I believe that none of our missing fish would be caught if they simply kept their mouth shut!’ Who knows how many times we were disappointed when we talked too much, instead of keeping quiet. How better off we would have been if we listened more often instead of opening our mouths to say something that is hurtful, obnoxious and critical. Yes, I guess even the fish can teach us a practical lesson.

St Peter Julian Eymard

Born in France in February 1811, Peter Julian Eymard worked at his father's trade as cutler until eighteen when he went to the seminary at Grenoble. In spite of his poor health, he was ordained a priest in 1834. He served as a parish priest for several years, then in 1845 he joined the Marists where he worked as a well-respected spiritual advisor with seminarians and priests. He worked with  other lay organizations promoting devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and to the Eucharist. He rose to the position of Provincial of the Marist Society at Lyon in 1845. In 1856, due to disputes with the Marists, Eymard left them and founded the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament and 2 years later founded the Servants of the Blessed Sacrament, a congregation for women. The Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament began working with children in Paris to prepare them to receive their First Communion, even though this custom was only approved in 1909 by Pope Pius X. It also reached out to non-practicing Catholics, inviting them to repent and begin receiving Communion again. Eymard was a tireless proponent of frequent Holy Communion, another idea approved by Pope Pius X in 1905. Eymard overcame a number of difficulties to reach his goals, including poverty in his family and in his community, his father's opposition to his only son’s desire to be a priest, years of serious illness and pain, and the difficulties of getting diocesan and papal approval for his new Order. Eymard was a contemporary and a friend of other saints including Peter Chanel, John Vianney and Marcellin Champagnat, the founder of the Marists.

Eymard's bust done by Rodin

The French sculptor Auguste Rodin received counsel from Eymard when Rodin entered the Congregation as a lay brother in 1862, having giving up art after the death of his sister. Eymard recognized Rodin's talent and advised him to return to his vocation. Rodin later produced a bust of Eymard. St. Peter Julian died on 1 August 1868. He was beatified in 1925, and canonized by Pope John XXIII on 9 December 1962. His Order runs a church in New York City where they have perpetual adoration of the Eucharist.

The people who really matter

A group of students were asked a series of questions. However they were told they didn’t have to answer them. The questions were:

1.Name the 5 wealthiest people in the world.  2. Name the last 5 Superbowl winners. 3. Name the last 5 Miss World contest winners. 4. Name 10 people who have won the Nobel Peace prize. 5. Name the last 10 Oscar winners for the best movie. 6. Name the last 10 Grand Prix Formula 1 winners.

The point is: few of us remember the headlines of yesterday. We heard of all these great achievers when they won something. The are the best in their fields. The applause dies away, The achievements are forgotten. Accolades and certificates and trophies are buried with their owners. But here’s another quiz – see how you do on this one. You have to answer this time.

1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school. 2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time. 3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile. 4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special. 5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with. 6. Name half a dozen heroes whose stories have inspired you.

Easier? The lesson is simple. The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with most credentials, the biggest bank account or the most rewards or trophies. They are the ones who care, who left an impact in your life, who were there when you needed them the most.

St Ignatius of Loyola

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

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

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

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

40 years ago

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

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

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

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

St. Martha, St. Mary, St. Lazarus

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

Learning from the dogs

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

The Rosary instead of poison

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

St Joachim and St Anne

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

The oldest woman alive

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

The oldest man alive

Juan Vicente Perez Mora, aged 113.

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

St. Bridget of Sweden

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

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

St. Mary Magdalen

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

Digital Peace

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

A Pope’s blessing –maybe a miracle

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

Pope Benedict XVI blessing Peter Srsich.

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

Nadal’s gesture

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

What’s in a name

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

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

Martha and Mary

Martha, preparing the meal, by herself!

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

Our Lady of Mount Carmel

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

Maltese furniture

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