Epiphany

Epiphany by Emvin Cremona (Għaxaq church, Malta)

Even though the liturgical celebration of the Epiphany will be tomorrow Sunday January 7, many countries still observe it on this day, January 6th, which is also considered as the 12th day of Christmas. Many beautiful paintings have been produced over the centuries to depict this scene of Gaspar, Melchior and Balthasar presenting the gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to the newborn Jesus. The gifts represent respectively the characteristics that Jesus had, as a King (gold,) as a God (frankincense,) and as a human being (myrrh.) The above painting is from the ceiling of St Mary's parish church in Ghaxaq, Malta, painted by Chev. Emvin Cremona, a Maltese painter and one of my favorite artists. The entire ceiling of the same church has other paintings representing scenes from the life of the Blessed Mother. It was in the 4th Century that December 25 was finally adopted by the Western Christian Church as the date Christ's birth date. While the Western Christian Church celebrates December 25th, the Eastern Christian Church to this day recognizes January 6 as the celebration of the nativity. January 6 is still considered in Italy and the Spanish countries as the day when the presents are open. In Slavic and eastern European countries, including Poland, there is a tradition that on the evening before the feast of the Epiphany, traditionally they recite prayers, blessed dried herbs would be burnt and their aromatic smell would fill the house. Doorways would be sprinkled with holy water and the head of the house would write with chalk C + M + B and the year above every door in the house door and say: "Caspar, Melchior, Balthasar, protect us again this year from the dangers of fire and water." C + M + B has traditionally been translated with Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar, however, there is a tradition that it stands for "Christus Mansionem Benedicat" (Christ bless this home).

The Lord thanks me

Today I heard the Lord say something unusual to me. At first I thought He as joking. Am I hearing correctly? I heard Him say to me ’Thank you, my little one, Thank you!’ When He realized I was confused, I asked Him ‘Why Lord are you thanking me today?’ And He continued, ‘I thank you for what you are to me. Thank you for accepting my love for you unconditionally. Thank you that you trust me. Thank you for receiving my infinite help, even though it was difficult to see it at first. Thank you for giving me your burdens, your struggles. Thank you for giving me your mistakes. Thank you for leaving the past behind you, and that you believe that I forgave you. Thank you for accepting the small gifts I daily share with you. Thank you for trusting me with your future.’

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

St Elizabeth Ann Seton (1774-1821)

Elizabeth Bayley Seton was the first native born American to be canonized. Born two years before the American Revolution, on August 28, 1774, Elizabeth grew up in the "cream" of New York society. She was a prolific reader, and read everything from the Bible to contemporary novels. In spite of her high society background, Elizabeth's early life was quiet, simple, and often lonely. As she grew a little older, the Bible was to become her continual instruction, support and comfort. In 1794, Elizabeth married the wealthy young William Seton, with whom she was deeply in love. The first years of their marriage were happy and prosperous. This time of Elizabeth's life was to be a brief moment of earthly happiness before the many deaths she was to suffer. Within four years, Will's father died, leaving the young couple in charge of Will's seven half brothers and sisters, besides their own 5 children, as well as the family's importing business. Both Will's business and his health failed. He was finally forced to file a petition of bankruptcy. In a final attempt to save Will's health, the Setons sailed for Italy, but he died of tuberculosis soon after they arrived.

Elizabeth's deep concern for the spiritual welfare of her family and friends eventually led her into the Catholic Church, thanks also to the influence of the Fellicchi family with whom they stayed while in Italy. Elizabeth was baptized in St Peter’s church, New York City in 1805. At the suggestion of the president of St. Mary's College in Baltimore, Maryland, Elizabeth started a school in that city. She and two other young women, who helped her in her work, began plans for a new order, which was to be named Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph. They established the first free Catholic school in America. When the young community adopted their rule, they made provisions for Elizabeth to continue raising her children. On March 25, 1809, the new Mother Seton pronounced her vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. Although Mother Seton was now afflicted with tuberculosis, she continued to guide her children. By 1818, in addition to their first school, the sisters had established two orphanages and another school. Mother Seton died in January 4, 1821 at the age of 46, only sixteen years after becoming a Catholic. She was canonized on September 14, 1975. On that day both Episcopalians and Catholics rejoiced. She is the patron of the Catholic schools in the USA.

Feast of the Name of Jesus

Today the Church celebrates the feast honoring the Holy Name of Jesus. Medieval Catholicism, and many other Christian churches to the present day, celebrated this feast along with the Feast of the Circumcision of Christ, usually on January 1st. St Bernardino of Siena placed great emphasis on the Holy Name, which he associated with the IHS Christogram, and may be responsible for the coupling of the two elements. The feast of the Holy Name of Jesus was moved around over the centuries, and in 2002, it was re-inserted in the Roman calendar to be celebrated today, January 3. The name of Jesus is frequently shown as a Monogram of IHS, the first three letters of the Greek name IHSUS. St. Bernardino of Siena and St. John Capistrano, along with St. Bernard spread the devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus throughout the centuries. The name of Jesus is offered in a variety of forms, as you can see from this short list of languages:                               
                                                                  Albanian - Jezusi
                                                                  Bosnian -  Isus
                                                                  Czech - Ježíš
                                                                  Filipino -  Hesus/Hesukristo
                                                                  Hawaiian - Jesu
                                                                  Hungarian – Jézu
                                                                  Maltese - Gesù
                                                                  Polish -  Jezus
                                                                  Ukranian - Icyc
                                                                  Vietnamese -  Chúa Giêsu

God’s gift every morning

We often take it for granted that so many gifts are given to us without any gratitude from our part. One such gift is presented to us every morning, and a similar one in the evening, our sunrises and sunsets. Not one of them is ever the same, just like snowflakes and fingerprints. I’m always looking for unusual sunrises or sunsets, and occasionally I miss some spectacular ones as I’m saying Mass at the same time. But once in a while, I am lucky, or at the right time at the right spot. 

Creating a good photo requires also finding the right spot, perfect angle and with an appropriate foreground and foliage that is available. These two photos happened this morning, 2 minutes apart and I share them with you, hoping that your sunrise is just as beautiful. If not, wait for tonight’s sunset or tomorrow’s timely gift from heaven.

Mary, Mother of God

We start this year with a special feast in honor of Mary, Mother of Jesus, Mother of God, and Mother of us all. January 1st, since 1968 has also been considered as the World Day of Peace, and I dedicate this year to the Blessed Mother as she blesses us with her protection and love. May she always protect our families, those still hurting with recent tragedies, those thousands killed in the Middle East and Ukraine wars, those who lost loved ones, and those who seem lost or disoriented in life. As she knows the pain and anguish of losing a child, may we look towards her for direction, for motivation, and consolation.  May Mary, the Queen of Peace and her Son, the Prince of Peace bless the world with peace and harmony, the poor with care and prosperity, the despairing with hope and confidence, the grieving with comfort and gladness, the oppressed with freedom and deliverance, the suffering with solace and relief. 

One of my favorite artists is Giovanni Battista Sassoferrato (August 25, 1609 – August 8, 1685) who has given us some of the most beautiful paintings of the Madonna and the child Jesus. There are over three hundred works by Sassoferrato in public collections in 2006 throughout the world. Enjoy today just two of his paintings reproduced in this first post of 2024.

Wishing every visitor to this blog, a healthy and peace-filled 2024.

The New Year

Ever since a 1947 Gallup poll listed the 10 most popular resolutions in the US, the top 10 have scarcely varied. Today, these resolutions repeat themselves almost word for word: lose weight; quit smoking; don’t drink as much; embark on self-improvement; get organised; manage finances better; spend more time with family and friends. Others differ in wording, reflecting the fads of the day, but differ little in substance. In 1947, it was “go to Church more regularly”. Today, it might read “practise self-care” or even “explore new places” Many of our resolutions today involve going on a “digital diet” and cutting down on the hours we spend sitting at a computer screen. The ancients – among others, Greeks, Romans, Chinese, and Indian; Jews, Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, – had an alternative solution. Do not focus on goals and well-thought plans, they said, because life is too uncertain. Do not commit to changing your life by a set date. Instead, learn to make do with less. Do not resolve to bend reality to your will; learn how to respond to surprises and disorder. Do not fixate on dates; embark on a lifetime project, one step at a time. Maybe we should try to slow down and give a little time for introspection, meditation and speaking to the Lord. He’s always available, no appointments required, just go to a church and look at the tabernacle. Look at Him, and remember that He’s looking at you. Happy New Year.

How Band Clubs decorate

Every town and village in Malta has a Band Club, marching band clubs that participate in their local village festa and other functions. They are usually brass bands with woodwind instruments and some percussion. They attract many followers who attend their clubs which have large halls for meeting and concerts, some playing stations like snooker and darts as well a card-playing. And of course a bar which attracts many people to socialize...and drink. Then there is the façade which is always an attraction in itself, and is decorated profusely during village feast in the summer months, and during the Christmas season, as you can see from these two photos of the local Band Clubs in Naxxar. The first one is the Victory Club and the second one is the Peace Club, and they obviously compete against each other as to who will decorate the best.

More Nativities

I cannot let go another day without sharing with you some more Nativities I saw over the last few days. They are so well crafted, as the quality of these creations are like little masterpieces, all of which are the result of hard work, inventive ideas and sheer joy in presenting Christmas as truly the birth of Jesus Christ. There is a sense of affection and care in the way St Joseph is seen protecting Mary, the way Mary receives the message from God and hints of closeness to the Almighty.

Celebrating with Gratitude

The birth of Christ has changed the course of history and because of his presence in our lives, history is still changing. We have now 1.3 billion members in the Catholic church. Many of them on Christmas day were in one of the thousands of churches around the world to celebrate in prayer. The sang quietly ‘Silent Night’, while others proclaim ‘Joy to the world,’ and ‘ O come let us adore Him.’ Still others stayed from churches and simply they sang ‘Deck the Halls,’ ‘I Dream of a White Christmas,’ and rang their ‘Jingle Bells’ and ‘Silver Bells.’

But above everything, at this festive season, let us look around us and say Thank you....

Look at a sunset and say Thank you for Beauty.

Look at the birth of a baby and say Thank you for the gift of Life.

Look at two world leaders signing a ceasefire during war, and say Thank you for Peace.

Look around you and be thankful for your friends and family.

Look at a computer and say Thank you as to how the world has become a global village.

Look at schools and say Thank you to teachers who feed us with so much knowledge.

Look at the church, and be thankful for the power of prayer.

Look at the stable of Bethlehem and say Thank you that Jesus came among us to save us.

Gingerbread houses

The Florence Cathedral as a gingerbread church

Going a little bit profane for once during this Christmas season, I share with you some very crafty gingerbread houses I came across. They are becoming quite popular, even in Malta, where chefs combine their efforts to create large structures as seen in the last photo.

One beautiful house

Undoubtedly one of the most beautiful houses decorated for the festive season, with an accent on the religious aspect of Christmas. This house is located next to the parish church in Lija, Malta, and is just spectacular to behold. Its owner had it extended from last year, adding some more characters. The lights inserted in the back of the images create a silhouette effect that is truly mesmerizing to reflect and meditate upon. Please do click on each photo to get a bigger image.

A Blessed Christmas

Sharing with you Christmas greetings in various languages:

Arabic: Idah Saidan Wa Sanah Jadidah
Argentine: Feliz Navidad
Armenian: Shenoraavor Nor Dari yev Pari Gaghand
Basque: Zorionak eta Urte Berri On
Croatian: Sretan Bozic
Danish: Glædelig Jul
Dutch: Zalig Kerstfeast
English: Merry Christmas
Esperanto: Gajan Kristnaskon
Finnish: Hyvaa joulua
French: Joyeux Noel
Gaelic: Nollaig chridheil agus Bliadhna mhath ùr
German: Froehliche Weihnachten
Hawaiian: Mele Kalikimaka
Hindi: Christmas Mubarak Ho
Hungarian: Kellemes Karacsonyi unnepeket
Icelandic: Gledileg Jol
Indonesian: Selamat Hari Natal

Iraqi: Idah Saidan Wa Sanah Jadidah
Irish: Nollaig Shona Dhuit
Italian: Buon Natale
Japanese: Shinnen omedeto. Kurisumasu Omedeto
Latin: Descendit de coelis Salvator mundi. Gaudeamus
Lithuanian: Linksmu Kaledu
Maltese: Il-Milied it-Tajjeb u s-Sena l-Gdida mimlija risq u hena
Norwegian: Gledelig Jul 
Peru: Feliz Navidad y un Venturoso Año Nuevo
Philippines: Maligayan Pasko at Manibagong Bagong Taon
Polish: Wesotych Swiat Bozego Narodzenia
Portuguese: Feliz Natal
Rumanian: Sarbatori vesele
Russian: Pozdrevlyayu s prazdnikom Rozhdestva is Novim Godom
Slovakian: Vesele vanoce
Spanish: Feliz Navidad
Swahili: Heri kwa noeli na baraka nyingi kwa mwaka mpya
Thai: Sawadee Pee Mai
Turkish: Noeliniz Ve Yeni Yiliniz Kutlu Olsun
Vietnamese: Chung Mung Giang Sinh
Welsh: Nadolig Llawen

My parents’ masterpiece

Over the years my parents have always decorated our home with Christmas symbols, including a large presepio, a Nativity display that my father created for us, the whole town of Bethlehem. They also set up a canopy with baby Jesus and two angels in the entrance of our house, something which I refer to as a masterpiece, because they put so much love and attention to it. The above photo shows my parents next to it, back in the 1990s. 

Surrounding baby Jesus are pots of grown vetch, a seed that grows very white, as long as it is grown in the dark. It is usually planted in early December and watered every few days, until a few days before Christmas. It may look similar to alfalfa, but it’s used frequently by many families and churches for the Christmas season. The presepio my father used to create was another masterpiece with beautiful figures from Italy. All I have left of these two memories are these photos which I share with you today.

The presepio my father used to create for us every Christmas

The entire entrance to our old home

100 years ago

It was exactly 100 years ago today that my great-uncle Fr. Paul Galea was ordained a priest in the Cathedral  of Notre-Dame d’Afrique in Algiers. I inherited his chalice which I still use daily. On it is inscribed the date of his ordination 23-12-1923 and donated by the Meilaq family, relatives who lived in Algiers at that time. He was born on August 26, 1899 in Nadur, on the sister island of Malta called Gozo. By 1926, Fr Paul was back in Malta when the bishop asked him to become chaplain of the Blue Sisters Hospital in St. Julian’s. Later on he became also chaplain of the Poor Clare, a monastery of cloistered Franciscan nuns. In 1927, together with my grand-father Joseph Cassar he opened the new St. Julian’s Band Club which is planning its centennial in 2027. Until 1951, he also served in the parish of St. Julian’s. In 1951, he became parish priest or pastor of the Mount Carmel parish in Gżira, where he stayed until 1966. During those years, he was instrumental in raising funds to buy the new set of bells, which for many years, they used to ring every 15 minutes. After he retired he used to celebrate Mass at the St Julian’s parish as well as at the Poor Clares Monastery, where I helped him as an altar boy, just before I entered the Seminary. He actually died on October 29, 1970, the same month I started my journey for the priesthood.

With my uncle's chalice on my ordination 1977

3 Christmas memories

I want to take you back over the last 10 years in my last 2 parishes in Baker City and Bend in Oregon. The first photos shows the beautiful Fontanini Nativity I bought for the parish of St Francis of Assisi in Bend. My intention was to buy the Holy Family one year, and then add the other pieces over the next 4 to 5 years. But the response was overwhelming. I first bought the Blessed Mother in memory of my mother, and then I asked parishioners if they would like to sponsor any other characters. Believe it or not, within 24 hours, I had all the 26 pieces purchased, and paid for by various parishioners. We set it up in front of the altar, and has been set there ever since.

The second photo shows the Christmas Eve Mass at the Cathedral in Baker City, just after a Nativity play by the children, when Santa came up to adore baby Jesus, and then, accompanied on my flute, we taught the children how to sing a Maltese carol, ’Ninni la tibkix izjed.’ In 2008, which was the centennial of the building of the Cathedral, as a parish we sponsored a tree for the Festival of Trees held annually by the local St. Elizabeth Hospital. Of course we called it the Centennial Tree, and it was adorned with ornaments made form photos of the history of the Cathedral. After it was auctioned, the tree was given back to me, and I used to set it up in the Rectory every year, for everyone to admire. (click on each photo to enlarge)

Pageants and Recitals

This is the season of concerts and recitals as well as pageants usually presented by young children. All choirs start from September rehearsing their Christmas music, especially carols, which they would also perform during Christmas services in churches. Miniature oratorios or selections from Handel’s ‘Messiah’ are often performed at this time of the year. Children’s choirs are also becoming quite popular, and they frequently participate in the Novena (9 days) leading to the celebration of Christmas.

On the other hand, Pageants are presented in halls and churches, often with a commentary and music, while the children act the part, without any speaking parts. The main characters are Mary and Joseph, the three Kings, of course baby Jesus, usually a doll wrapped up in clothing, while those with no part are dressed as angels, if they are girls, and as shepherds, if they are boys. This means there is usually a multitude of angels with feathered wings and plenty of shepherds holding a walking stick. Two boys are usually chosen to be a donkey and a cow, and a few little ones become lambs to complete the symmetry of the Nativity.

Christmas Stamps

Malta Christmas stamp set designed by Emvin Cremona

Just about every country issues a special set of stamps for Christmas. Looking at the various stamps from years past, you can also notice the increase in postage over the years, and especially since the introduction of emails, the prices have sky-rocketed exorbitantly. Maltese stamps have always been particularly beautiful, mainly because my favorite artist Emvin Cremona was responsible over 30 years to design the stamps. In this post you can see two particular sets, plus another set that shows old images of baby Jesus made from wax. 

Old images of baby Jesus, made from wax.

Just about every parish church has a vintage baby Jesus which is carried in procession and placed at the center of the main altar for veneration throughout the entire Christmas season. All of Emvin Cremona's stamps were done before 1985, since he died in 1987, and he was at his best between 1955 and 1983, painting also many ceilings in parish churches. (click on each photo to enlarge)

Another Christmas set by E. Cremona

Lit-up houses

My time in the USA has provided me with plenty of opportunities to enjoy houses decorated for the Christmas season. These are lit-up for the entire month of December, often even until January 6, the traditional feast of the Epiphany and the end of the Christmas season. The New York houses were at times overcrowded with images and symbols, crammed into a limited front lawn, but the Bend, Oregon homes, having more property, the lights are more spread out, and are more visible, allowing the owners to be more creative. 

Here you have the contrast between a Bend, Oregon house and a New York house. While the first photo is a digital photo, and so is much sharper than the second one taken with a conventional camera, and this is a scanned copy of a printed photo. Neighbors are usually very unhappy as hundreds of people gather to enjoy these houses, while they park their cars in the limited space available.

The Christmas Cactus

I’d like to introduce you today to a plant that usually flowers at this time of the year, thereby being called often the Christmas cactus. Scientifically, it is called Schlumbergera, a small species of cacti with six to nine species found in the coastal mountains of south-eastern Brazil. These plants grow on trees or rocks in habitats that are generally shady with high humidity, and can be quite different in appearance from their desert-dwelling cousins. Most species of Schlumbergera have stems which resemble leaf-like pads joined one to the other and flowers which appear from areoles at the joints and tips of the stems. In Brazil, the genus is referred to as Flor de Maio (May flower), reflecting the period in which they flower in the Southern Hemisphere. Most of the popular houseplants grow with flowers in white, pink, yellow, orange, red or purple. The plants are offered for sale under a variety of common names. The earliest English common name was "Christmas cactus". In Europe, where plants are largely produced for sale in the period before Christmas, this remains the most widely used common name in many languages (e.g. Weihnachtskaktus in German, cactus de Noël in French, and cacto de Navidad in Spanish). This is also the name used in Canada. In the United States, where plants are produced for the Thanksgiving holiday in November, the name "Thanksgiving cactus" is also used. 

It was named after Frédéric Schlumberger, who had a collection of cacti at his chateau near Rouen. It was originally discovered in 1837 and named Epiphyllum russellianum. The plants need some light, cooler temperatures and occasional watering. Too much light causes stems to take on a reddish colouration; however, very low light levels will prevent flowering. Day length is important in controlling flowering; continuous darkness for at least 12 hours is necessary to induce bud formation. A period of about 8 days with 16 hours of darkness at 16 °C (61 °F) has been shown to cause flower buds to form.

Happy Birthday Pope Francis

Happy Birthday Pope Francis. He turns 87 today. Born in Argentina as Jorge Bergoglio. Ordained a priest on December 13, 1969. Consecrated Bishop June 27, 1992. Created as Cardinal February 21, 2001. Elected Pope on March 13, 2013. 

Just this week he announced that he would like to be buried at St. Mary Major’s basilica, close to his favorite image of Salus Populi Romani. Maria Salus Populi Romani (Saint Mary, Health of the Roman People) is an ancient icon measures five feet in height and three and a quarter feet in width (117 x 79 cm). It arrived from Crete in 590 AD during the Pontificate of Pope Gregory the Great and was placed in the Roman Basilica of Saint Mary Major. 

He has visited this church over 100 times so far, every time he travels, before and after his trip. 6 other Popes are buried there, including Pope St. Pius V, the Dominican Pope who introduced the white cassock of a Pope, especially after a few hot summers 400 years ago, and since the Dominicans wear white, he felt it was a little bit cooler than the black cassock that priests use. Pope Francis hinted that he may be able to visit his homeland of Argentina sometime next year, besides a few other places he mentioned in various interviews. Ad Multos Annos Papa Francesco !

Vatican Nativity

On the 800th anniversary of St Francis of Assisi setting up the first Nativity scene, the creche in St Peter’s Square in 2023 will come from the Diocese of Rieti, Italy, in paying tribute to the scene set up in the diocese in 1223. St Francis’ Nativity scene in a cave in Greccio featured live animals, but the one unveiled in St Peter’s Square on December 9 will not. But the scene still will be very simple: Mary and Joseph and the baby Jesus, some shepherds and figures representing the nobleman Giovanni Velita, his wife Alticama, and three Franciscan friars who, at St Francis’ behest, put a hay-filled manger, an ox and a donkey in a grotto where the local faithful could come to pray and to imagine the poverty and simplicity into which Jesus was born. The crib is accompanied by a 25-metre (80-foot) fir tree from the Piedmont region.

Nativities Exhibition – part 3

A few more nativities from the Exhibition being held at the President’s Palace in Valletta. The first one is one of my favorites as it shows a very intimate moment between Mary and her baby as she nurses him in her humble home, probably somewhere in Egypt, as they spent 2 years as refugees, escaping from Herod’s wrath. The next one is the Presentation at the temple, as Simeon welcomes them and blesses the child Jesus after he is circumcised. A Nativity in a wintry setting gives us an insight into what it would have been like if Jesus was born in Sweden or Mongolia or Canada. The last one is another modern setting of a nativity.

A Nativity in a wintry setting