The Shepherd

"The Good Shepherd" at St Stanislaus Kostka, Pleasant Valley, NY

At a gathering of poets, writers, actors and artists as well as some prominent religious figures, the Master of Ceremonies invited a famous actor to read Psalm 23 from the podium. He was of course very dramatic in his interpretation...”The Lord is my Shepherd, there is nothing I shall want. He makes me walk in fertile pastures.....” Everyone was impressed by what they just heard and the actor returned to his place getting praises from those around him. Then the MC noticed an elderly priest in the crowd and invited him to read the same passage. The elderly priest walked to the podium with his cane and with a soft but emotional voice started: “The Lord is my Shepherd, there is nothing I shall want. He makes me walk in fertile pastures, He refreshes my soul...” 
When he had finished, there wasn’t one dry eye in the hall. He went back to his place while the Master of Ceremonies came up, himself with tears in his eyes. Then with a broken voice he told the crowd, “Ladies and gentlemen, we witnessed something very special today. We heard the actor and the priest read the same passage of Psalm 23. As you could see the actor knew drama, he knew acting, he knew performance...but the priest knew the Shepherd himself!”

God will provide

There once was a man who had nothing for his family to eat. He had an old shotgun and three bullets.  So, he decided that he would go out and kill something for dinner.  As he went down
the road, he saw a rabbit and he shot at the rabbit and missed it.
Then he saw a squirrel and fired a shot at the squirrel and missed it.  As he went further, he saw a wild turkey in the tree and he had only one bullet, but a voice came to him and said "pray first, aim and stay focused."
However, at the same time, he saw a deer which was a better kill. He brought the gun down and aimed at the deer.  But, then he saw a rattlesnake at his feet, about to bite him, so he naturally brought the gun down further to shoot the rattlesnake.  Still, the voice said again to him, "I said, pray, aim high and stay focused."  So, the man decided to listen to the voice. He
prayed, then aimed the gun high up in the tree and shot the wild turkey.
The bullet bounced off the turkey and killed the deer.  The handle fell off the gun, hit the snake in the head and killed it and, when the gun had gone off, it knocked him into a pond.  When he stood to look around, he had fish in all his pockets, a dead deer and a turkey to eat.
The snake (Satan) was dead simply because the man listened to God.
The moral of the story: Pray first, before you do anything, aim and shoot high for your goals, and stay focused on God.  Never let others discourage you concerning your past. The past is exactly that -- "the past." Live every day one day at a time. And remember that only God knows our future and that He will not put you through any more than you can bear.  Do not look to humans for your blessings, but look to the Lord.  He can open doors for you that only He is able to do. Doors that you will not slip through, but doors that only He has prepared in advance for you, in your favor. Wait, and be still, be patient: Keep God first and everything else will follow.

Praying for those who serve us

These have been trying days for all police officers, firefighters, medical personnel, doctors and nurses, and other volunteers who went beyond their call of duty these past few tragic days. We remember and pray especially for those in Boston, Massachusetts and West, Texas, and everywhere else where conflict and danger has become so common. We offer this prayer in their honor and memory:
Living God,
We pray for police, firefighters, ambulance drivers, the frontline workers of our fraying society, dealing with panic and death.
Give them strength to bear the strain and still be human, just and fair.
God we dare to thank you for the work of traffic wardens:
We know we can't do without them, for our cities would seize up.
Yet many of us love to hate them.
Keep it in their minds, we pray, that they are loved.

God of power and might, we pray for people who have great power,
Those in charge of police and fire services, the armed forces, security organizations.
Let them use their power with humility and justice.
And when they feel vulnerable, lonely, when they have life or death decisions to make,
Or everyone seems out to get them, and nobody is there to help them.
God do not be far from them: be close in caring and love.

Our true heritage

Helping others in small simple random acts of kindness

God won't ask what kind of car you drove, but will ask how many people you drove who didn't have transportation.
God won't ask the square footage of your house, but will ask how many people you welcomed into your home.
God won't ask about the fancy clothes you had in your closet, but will ask how many of those clothes helped the needy.
God won't ask about your social status, but will ask what kind of class you displayed.
God won't ask how many material possessions you had, but will ask if they dictated your life.
God won't ask what your highest salary was, but will ask if you compromised your character to obtain that salary.
God won't ask how much overtime you worked, but will ask if you worked overtime for your family and loved ones.
God won't ask how many promotions you received, but will ask how you promoted others.
God won't ask what your job title was, but will ask if you performed your job to the best of your ability.
God won't ask what you did to help yourself, but will ask what you did to help others. 

"He ain't heavy.....he's my brother."

God won't ask what you did to protect your rights, but will ask what you did to protect the rights of others.
God won't ask in what neighborhood you lived, but will ask how you treated your neighbors.
God won't ask about the color of your skin, but will ask about the content of your character.
God won't ask how many times your deeds matched your words, but will ask how many times they didn't.
God won't ask how many friends you had, but will ask how many people to whom you were a true friend.

Adolphe Bouguereau

Adolphe Bouguereau - Holy Family

One of my favorite artists is the French Adolphe Bouguereau who painted a variety of paintings that include the Blessed Mother with Jesus and John the Baptist as infants. He has a lot of paintings with angels and naked cherubs in different postures. These three included in my post today show the Blessed Mother with Jesus and John, a domestic scene painted by many other artists.

Adolphe Bouguereau - Charity

Bouguereau, also known as William-Adolphe was born in La Rochelle, France in 1825 and died in the same place in 1905. He used mythological themes, making modern interpretations of classical subjects, with an emphasis on the human body. During his life he enjoyed significant popularity in France and the United States, was given numerous official honors, and received top prices for his work. By the early twentieth century, Bouguereau and his art fell out of favor with the public, due in part to changing tastes. In the 1980s, a revival of interest in figure painting led to a rediscovery of Bouguereau and his work. Throughout the course of his life, Bouguereau executed 822 known finished paintings, although the whereabouts of many are still unknown.

Mary, Jesus and John

Praying for the Boston marathon victims

The blast of the bomb at the finishing line at 4 hours 9 minutes into the race

It is a day of mourning for the three victims and the over 100 people injured in the bombings that took place yesterday at the finishing line at the annual Boston marathon.
We pray for the families of the victims and those searching for any motives or clues to arrest the perpetrators and bring them to justice. Let us pray for the security of our country, for the service men and women, FBI and police officers and all those searching for any clues that led to this heinous crime.

Getting older - or better

A note written by an elderly woman who is getting older, or should I say, getting better! “Remember, old folks are worth a fortune, with silver in their hair, gold in their teeth, stones in their kidneys, lead in their feet, and gas in their stomachs.  I have become a little older now and a few changes have come into my life. Frankly I have become quite a frivolous old gal. I am seeing five gentlemen every day. As soon as I wake up, WILL POWER helps me get out of bed. Then I go down the hall and see JOHN. Next CHARLIE HORSE comes along and takes a lot of my time and attention. When he leaves ARTHUR RITIS shows up and stays the rest of the day. He doesn’t like to stay in one place very long, so he takes me from joint to joint. After such a busy day, I’m really tired and glad to relax with BEN GAY. What a life ! The priest came to visit me the other day. He said at my age, I should be thinking about the “hereafter.”
I told him, “Oh I do, all the time. No matter where I am – in the parlor, upstairs, in the kitchen or down in the basement – I  keep asking myself, ”NOW WHAT AM I HERE AFTER?”

Prayer to Mary for priests

1854 - Jean AD Ingres - Virgin adoring the Host

Parish Priest's Prayer to Mary Most Holy (quoted by Pope John Paul II in “Priest: Pastor and Leader”)
O Mary, Mother of Jesus Christ, crucified and risen, Mother of the Church, a priestly people (1 Pet 2,9), Mother of priests, ministers of your Son: accept the humble offering of myself, so that in my pastoral mission the infinite mercy of Eternal High Priest may be proclaimed:
O "Mother of Mercy". You who shared the "priestly obedience" (Heb 10, 5-7; Lk 1, 38), of your Son, and who prepared for him a worthy receptacle by the anointing of the Holy Spirit, keep my priestly life in the ineffable mystery of your divine maternity, "Holy Mother of God".
Grant me strength in the dark hours of this life, support me in the exertions of my ministry entrust me to Jesus, so that, in communion with you, I may fulfill the ministry with fidelity and love.
O Mother of the Eternal Priest, "Queen of Apostles and Help of Priests"
Make me faithful to the flock entrusted to me by the Good Shepherd,
You silently accompanied Jesus on his mission to proclaim the Gospel to the poor. May I always guide it with patience, sweetness  firmness and love, caring for the sick, the weak, the poor and sinners.
O "Mother, Help of the Christian People". I consecrate and entrust myself to you , Mary, who shared in the work of redemption at the Cross of your Son, you who "are inseparably linked to the work of salvation"
Grant that in the exercise of my ministry I may always be aware of the "stupendous and penetrating dimension of your maternal presence" in every moment of my life, in prayer, and action, in joy and sorrow, in weariness and in rest.
O "Mother of Trust". Grant, Holy Mother, than in the celebration of the Mass, source and center of the priestly ministry, that I may live my closeness to Jesus in your maternal closeness to Him, so that as "we celebrate the Holy Mass you will be present with us" and introduce us to the redemptive mystery of your divine Son's offering. "O Mediatrix of all grace flowing from this sacrifice to the Church and to all the faithful"
O "Mother of Our Savior". O Mary: I earnestly desire to place my person and my desire for holiness under your maternal protection and inspiration, so that you may bring me to that "conformation with Christ, Head and Shepherd" which is necessary for the ministry of every parish priest. Make me aware that "you are always close to priests" in your mission of servant of the One Mediator, Jesus Christ:
O "Mother of Priests" "Benefactress and Mediatrix" of all graces. Amen.

My two sisters

Left to right: Josephine, myself and Rosemarie

Going back in time today, I share with you a photo of myself with my two sisters from back in 1956. I was the third in the family after two sisters, Josephine, who will turn 64 on April 23 and Rosemarie who turned 63 yesterday, April 12. Since they were a year apart, they were always close to each other, even though with different personalities. Having a little brother in the family, and eventually two more younger brothers, they had the maternal sense of protection towards those younger than them. Even though they played with each other as young girls, while me and my brothers played also together, it was obvious that in a Catholic household they would play house, while the boys would play church. 

1957 First Holy Communion

Josephine stayed at home and helped faithfully my parents over the years until they left us in 2002 and 2010. Rosemarie got married in 1989 and widowed in 2001, but worked all her life at various jobs, mostly secretarial work. They were both very helpful to our mother, especially towards the end of her earthly life.

My mother Mary, Josephine and Rosemarie in 2006

Pieta' at Retreat Center

Pieta' by Michelangelo

All this week all the priests were on Retreat at the Powell Butte Retreat Center in Central Oregon. For this reason I could not post any photos during the past 4 days, but now we're back on track with reflections and pictures to embellish each post. This photo is actually a picture I took in the retreat center of the image of the Pieta' by Michelangelo. It is of course a replica, but a beautiful image nonetheless, mounted on a plaque. Incidentally April is the only month that the Blessed Mother does not feature in any liturgical feast, although the Pieta' or the Sorrowful Mother is frequently remembered on the Friday before Good Friday, which frequently falls in April. However this year another feast was transposed to April, which is the feast of the Annunciation, from March 25 (which was Holy Week) to this past Monday April 8. And of course the whole month of May is dedicated to Mary, as we crown her with flowers and say the Rosary daily in her honor.

Memories - part 3

Remember when the words "I do" meant that you really did, 

And not just temporarily 'til someone blows their lid.

 

T'was no such thing as "no one's fault; we just made a mistake," 

There was a time when married life was built on give and take.

 

There was a time when just one glance was all that it would take, 

And you would know the kind of car, the model and the make.

 

They didn't look like turtles trying to squeeze out every mile; 

They were streamlined, white walls, fins, and really had some style.

 

One time the music that you played whenever you would jive, 

Was from a vinyl, big-holed record called a forty-five.

 

The record player had a post to keep them all in line, 

And then the records would drop down and play one at a time.

 

Oh sure, we had our problems then, just like we do today,
And always we were striving, trying for a better way.

 

And every year that passed us by brought new and greater things, 

We now can even program phones with music or with rings.

 

Oh, the simple life we lived still seems like so much fun,
How can you explain a game, just kick the can and run?

 

And why would boys put baseball cards between bicycle spokes, 

And for a nickel red machines had little bottled Cokes?

 

This life seemed so much easier and slower in some ways,
I love the new technology but I sure miss those days.

 

So time moves on and so do we, and nothing stays the same,
But I sure love to reminisce and walk down memory lane.

Memories - part 2

Then there were the picnics at the peak of summer season,
Pack a lunch and find some trees and never need a reason.

 

Get a baseball game together with all the friends you know,
Have real action playing ball -- and no game video.

 

Remember when the doctor used to be the family friend,
And didn't need insurance or a lawyer to defend?

 

The way that he took care of you or what he had to do,
Because he took an oath and strived to do the best for you.

 

Remember going to the store and shopping casually, 

And when you went to pay for it you used your own money?

 

Nothing that you had to swipe or punch in some amount,
Remember when the cashier person had to really count?

 

Remember when we breathed the air; it smelled so fresh and clean, 

And chemicals were not used on the grass to keep it green.

 

The milkman used to go from door to door, 

And it was just a few cents more than going to the store.

 

There was a time when mailed letters came right to your door, 

Without a lot of junk mail ads sent out by every store.

The mailman knew each house by name and knew where it was sent;

There were not loads of mail addressed to "present occupant."

 

To be continued......

Memories - part 1

Remember when....
A little house with three bedrooms and one car on the street,

A mower that you had to push to make the grass look neat.

In the kitchen on the wall we only had one phone, 

And no need for recording things, someone was always home.

 

We only had a living room where we would congregate,
Unless it was at mealtime in the kitchen where we ate.

We had no need for family rooms or extra rooms to dine,
When meeting as a family those two rooms would work out fine.

 

We only had one TV set, and channels maybe two, 

But always there was one of them with something worth the view.

 

For snacks we had potato chips that tasted like a chip,
And if you wanted flavor there was Lipton's onion dip.

 

Store-bought snacks were rare because my mother liked to cook, 

And nothing can compare to snacks in Betty Crocker's book.

 

The snacks were even healthy with the best ingredients,

No labels with a hundred things that make not a bit of  sense.

 

Weekends were for family trips or staying home to play,
We all did things together -- even go to church to pray.

 

When we did our weekend trips depending on the weather,
No one stayed at home because we liked to be together.

 

Sometimes we would separate to do things on our own,
But we knew where the others were without our own cell phone.

 

Then there were the movies with your favorite movie star,
And nothing can compare to watching movies in your car.

To be continued.......

 

Tit-bits for the week

During this week, I will be on Retreat and so it will not be easy to add posts, but I will do my best. I will ad some tit-bits to reflect on and think about, but probably without any photos or pictures.

Boogie through life

Don't cry because its over, smile because it happened.
Pain and Suffering is inevitable but Misery is optional.
A good exercise for the heart is to bend down and help another up.
Life is what you make of it...kinda like Play-Doh
The bubbling brook would lose its song if you removed the rocks.
Happiness comes through doors you didn't even know you left open.
Everything is always okay in the end, if it's not, then it's not the end.

 

If all my friends jumped off a cliff, I wouldn't jump with them.
I would be at the bottom to catch them.
A girl on the street is pointing up at the sky.
'Look an Angel!' she yells.
Passerby laughs, 'You fool, that is only a cloud.'
How wonderful it would be to see Angels where there are are only clouds. How sad it would beto see clouds where there are Angels.
Here is a test to find whether your mission on earth is finished:
If you're alive, it isn't.
So be happy!
Don't let anything burst your balloon!
Boogie through life!

Jack Hoffman - a touching story

Jack Hoffman scrambling with the football

Jack Hoffman just might go down as the biggest star of the Nebraska spring game. And he's only 7 years old. Hoffman, of Atkinson, Nebraska, has won the hearts of fans and everyone in the football program for his courageous bout with brain cancer. Star running back Rex Burkhead befriended Jack last year and is the captain of the support network known as "Team Jack."

7 year-old Jack Hoffman with his parents in the hospital

Wearing a miniature Burkhead uniform complete with a No. 22 jersey, Jack ran onto the field late in Saturday's scrimmage. The Cornhusker fan and friend of the football team led the Huskers in rushing yards on the day. “Obviously, Jack’s a young man who has touched the hearts of a lot of people,” coach Bo Pelini said. “Our football team and the student body have gotten behind him, and he’s become a big part of the team. We weren’t sure if he was going to want to do it. We brought the idea to his dad, and I thought it was a pretty special thing.”
Hoffman scored on a 69-yard run for the Red team. Taylor Martinez and Joe Ganz drew up a play with him on the sideline. “That was awesome for the team and for Jack,” Martinez said. “He’s going to remember that for the rest of his life and so will I. It was awesome for him to score that touchdown.”

Jack Hoffman scoring a touchdown for the Nebraska football team

The play call was spontaneous according to senior fullback C.J. Zimmerer, but the Red team put some serious thought into giving Hoffman a clear path to the end zone and letting him run. Zimmerer said. “I was telling some of the other reporters that he did a great job. We wanted to get him around the edge, giving him a nice lane to the end zone. He did a great job running his little legs there. He’s fast for a little guy. He did a great job for the pressure of 60,000 fans. I’m sure it was not very easy for a 7-year-old.”

Rosary Beads at Baptism

The above photo shows the moment a baby is being baptized. We had three baptisms last Saturday at the Easter Vigil, and I'm sure hundreds more were baptized around the country as new converts were received into the Catholic church. I have three more baptism today and a few others coming up in the next few weeks. I always encourage the parents to take seriously the commitment of raising their children in a healthy religious environment. Unfortunately it happens often that parents never return to church, at least not before their children are 7, and want them to receive their First Holy Communion. I will never refrain from challenging parents to live up to their responsibility, especially since they teach best by example.I've always said that children have never been known to obey their parents, but they never fail to imitate them.
Going back to the photo accompanying this post, you may notice that the trickle of water is in the form of a Rosary beads. And so we pray that the Blessed Mother also protects these children being baptized, and may the Rosary be an important part of their religious upbringing.

Women in the church

Ever since Vatican Council II, the role of women in the church has gained ever more importance. Obviously in our own Cathedral, we see women serve as Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, Cantors, members of the Folk Group, Religious Ed coordinator, Secretaries, assistants to sacristans, Religious Ed teachers, serving in the Hispanic Ministry, as sanctuary decorators, altar-servers and other roles, not to mention the work that the Altar Society does in so many areas. These are positions one sees in just about every Catholic church nowadays. Other parishes involve women in social work, hospital work and many other areas. We are blessed to have women serve in so many ministries, and our community is richer because of their presence and their involvement.
Pope Francis three times hinted at the valuable role women have in our churches, and on Holy Saturday he dedicated his Easter Vigil Homily to the women as the first witnesses to the novelty of the Resurrection. During Easter week he spoke of the tears of the Magdalene and how we should follow her example of faith in our life’s journey. On Wednesday’s audience he expanded his reflections to the women of the world, whom he said have a special and fundamental role in the Church and the transmission of the faith . Departing from his scripted text, as is now his very own tradition, he appealed: “Mothers go forward with this witness to the Risen Christ!”
Pope Francis continues: “This tells us that God does not choose according to human criteria: the first witnesses of the birth of Jesus are the shepherds, simple and humble people, the first witnesses of the Resurrection are women. This is beautiful, and this is the mission of women, of mothers and women, to give witness to their children and grandchildren that Christ is Risen! What matters to God is our heart, if we are open to Him, if we are like trusting children. But this also leads us to reflect on how in the Church and in the journey of faith, women have had and still have a special role in opening doors to the Lord, in following him and communicating his face, because the eyes of faith always need the simple and profound look of love. The Apostles and disciples find it harder to believe in the Risen Christ, not the women however! Peter runs to the tomb, but stops before the empty tomb; Thomas has to touch the wounds of the body of Jesus with his hands. In our journey of faith it is important to know and feel that God loves us, do not be afraid to love: faith is professed with the mouth and heart, with the word and love.”

Fractio Panis

'Fractio Panis' fresco at the catacomb of Priscilla in Rome (2nd Cent AD)

Fractio Panis (Latin: Breaking of Bread) is the name given to a fresco in the Greek Chapel in the Catacomb of Priscilla, situated on the Via Salaria Nova in Rome. The fresco depicts seven persons at a table, six men and a woman. Like the whole of the decorations of the chapel, the fresco dates from the first half of the 2nd century. This is the earliest depiction of the way a Mass was celebrated in the first centuries. By chance this particular fresco, having been covered by a thick crust of stalactites, escaped the notice of the early explorers of the catacombs. In 1893, Jesuit art historian Joseph Wilpert, one of a band of young scholars, arrived at the conclusion that the roof and arches of this chapel were decorated with frescoes. Chemical reagents were used to remove the crust which covered the surface, and by the patient care of Wilpert this delicate operation was attended with complete success.
The earlier origin of the Mass was called ‘Breaking of Bread’ or Fractio Panis, as Christians gathered underground to celebrate, to sing hymns, to pray and share their wealth with the poor of their community. This was done mainly in catacombs, for fear that the Christians would be arrested if found by the Romans and other antagonists. 

One of the most meaningful parts of the Mass is just before communion, when the priest breaks the host, then shows it to the people as he says “Behold the Lamb of God....” It is a re-enactment of what Jesus did at the Last Supper when He gave the bread to the apostles, symbolic of His Body, and likewise the wine, symbolic of His Precious Blood.

He is Jesus

The Risen Christ by Emvin Cremona, St Gregory's church, Sliema, Malta

Who is he?
In Chemistry, He turned water into wine.
In Biology, He was born without the normal conception.
In Physics, He disproved the laws of gravity when He ascended into Heaven.
In Economics, he disproved the law of diminishing return by feeding 5,000 men with two fishes and 5 loaves of bread.
In Medicine He cured the sick, the lame and the blind without administering a single dose of drugs.
In History He is the beginning and the end.
In Government, He said that He shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Prince of Peace.
In Religion, He said no one comes to the Father except through Him.
So, who is He? - He is Jesus Christ.

The Greatest Man in History
Jesus had no servants, yet they called Him Master.
Had no degree, yet they called Him Teacher.
Had no medicines, yet they called Him Healer.
He had no army, yet kings feared Him.
He won no military battles, yet He conquered the world.
He committed no crime, yet they crucified Him.
He was buried in a tomb, yet He lives today.
I feel honored to serve such a Leader who loves us!

Noli Me Tangere

"Noli Me Tangere" by Ciro Ferri

These are the words Jesus spoke to Mary Magdalene when He appeared to her after His resurrection. In fact at first she thought He was the gardener, because the new image of the Risen Christ was now different from what He looked like before. But after calling her name, she recognized Him and responded by the affectionate words “Rabbouni” (Teacher - Rabbi.) Many artists painted this touching scene, and in every one of them I noticed that Jesus is seen pushing Mary away from Him, thereby the title and the words He uttered to her “Noli me Tangere” - Do not touch me, because I have not as yet gone to my Father. 

"Noli Me Tangere" ivory sculpture from Spain 1090

Mary Magdalene was honored that she was the very first person to whom Jesus appeared. He could have waited to show himself to Peter or John who were running towards the empty tomb together. He could have even chosen to show Himself to His mother Mary, who was probably with the 11 apostles, waiting to hear any further news of his disappearance. But instead, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, the woman disciple who loved Him so much, because He had forgiven her so much of her past.

Risen Christ - modern images

Marco Cremona's Resurrection at St Julian's church

As we continue our celebration of Easter, the image of the Risen Christ is presented to us in various forms. Unlike Christmas where the nativity is painted, sculptured and created in so many various forms, the Resurrection has a limited palette so to speak, and other than the empty tomb, Christ with the visible wounds, a few surprised soldiers and Mary Magdalene greeting him hesitatingly, not much more can be portrayed to symbolize this miraculous event. However, various churches have a clever way of depicting this image. My home native parish of Saint Julian’s in Malta has a fibre-glass bronzed representation of the Risen Christ behind the main altar. This was designed by Marco Cremona, the son of Emvin, the famed Maltese artist. It was set in place in the late 1970s, to complement the stations of the cross encircling the same church. Three years ago I took the picture below of the white wrappings around the cross, and the just yesterday, another way of wrapping was employed as you can see in the above photo from the parish Facebook page. Either way, it describes the verse from the Gospel of St John, chapter 20, ...”John and Peter arrived and saw the burial clothes there, and the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place.”

The Risen Christ at St Julian's church, Malta in 2010

Alleluia

'Resurrection' by Perugino

"Why do you search for the living among the dead? He is risen - he is not here!"
May the Easter blessings come upon all of you who visit this blog, and may the joy we experience today, remain with us all year long, especially with those who have suffered so much in their lives. May the Light of Christ illumine their every way, and lead them to happier days ahead.
                             Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

More Last Supper displays

Plates created by colored salt for Holy Week in Malta

Once in a while I receive a nice e-mail or comment on one of my posts, which are now reaching close to 150 hits a day. I received a comment from a Karoline from Germany, and I would love to send her more photos from my collection, but I don't have her e-mail address. So if she is reading this post, could you please send me your e-mail address and I will be very happy to send you more photos I took 3 years ago. Send a brief note to my e-mail julianmlt@sfdsc.org Here are some more photos from Last Supper displays exhibited in Malta - a true work of art, wherever you look.
                      A Blessed Easter to everyone reading my blog.

A Grand Master plate created with pasta and rice

Archbishop Cremona's coat-of-arms created with rice

More paintings created from colored salt at Cospicua, Malta

Good Friday

14th century Crucifix at the Barberini Museum, Rome

A sermon from the 2nd century by St Melito of Sardis: He was led forth like a lamb; he was slaughtered like a sheep. He ransomed us from our servitude to the world, as he had ransomed Israel from the hand of Egypt; he freed us from our slavery to the devil, as he had freed Israel from the hand of Pharaoh. He sealed our souls with his own Spirit, and the members of our body with his own blood.

Pieta at the Barberini Museum, Rome

He is the One who covered death with shame and cast the devil into mourning, as Moses cast Pharaoh into mourning. He is the One who smote sin and robbed iniquity of offspring, as Moses robbed the Egyptians of their offspring. He is the One who brought us out of slavery into freedom, out of darkness into light, out of death into life, out of tyranny into an eternal kingdom; who made us a new priesthood, a people chosen to be his own for ever. He is the Passover that is our salvation. 

Crucifixion at Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica, Rome

It is he who endured every kind of suffering in all those who foreshadowed him. In Abel he was slain, in Isaac bound, in Jacob exiled, in Joseph sold, in Moses exposed to die. He was sacrificed in the Passover lamb, persecuted in David, dishonored in the prophets.
It is he who was made man of the Virgin, he who was hung on the tree; it is he who was buried in the earth, raised from the dead, and taken up to the heights of heaven. He is the mute lamb, the slain lamb, the lamb born of Mary, the fair ewe. He was seized from the flock, dragged off to be slaughtered, sacrificed in the evening, and buried at night. On the tree no bone of his was broken; in the earth his body knew no decay He is the One who rose from the dead, and who raised man from the depths of the tomb. (St Melito of Sardis)

Holy Thursday

Last Supper tapestry at the Vatican Museums

Another beautiful and ornate tapestry this time of the Last Supper, in a photograph I took last year at the Vatican Museums. On Holy Thursday or Maundy Thursday, Jesus instituted the Eucharist during the meal He hosted with his 12 apostles. It is strange that on the occasion of giving them his most precious gift, He also revealed that two of his apostles were not faithful to the end. Peter denied Him, while Judas betrayed Him. Peter at least had the opportunity to redeem himself, but Judas hug himself in desperation. 

Altar of Repose in Rabat, Malta

A tradition that started with St Philip Neri in Rome is the visit of the 7 churches on the evening of Holy Thursday. Churches in Malta are very frequent so people could walk from one to the other or at least drive a short distance. However in some countries like Oregon, one has to drive a thousand miles to get to 7 Catholic churches, since we are so spread out. Yet the Maltese churches decorate the Altar of Repose with a beautiful display of flowers, candles, angels and other Eucharistic symbols, a seen in these photos I took 3 years ago.

Altar of Repose, St Julian's Lapsi Church, Malta

Chrism Mass

Diocese of Baker priests with their Bishop during the Chrism Mass

The traditional Chrism Mass is held on Holy Thursday morning in most dioceses. However, in our Baker Diocese, since we are so spread out, with some priests having to travel close to 400 miles one way, the Chrism Mass is held a week earlier. This was held in our Cathedral parish on Thursday March 21, with Bishop Liam Cary leading the concelebration with just about all the priests concelebrating with him. 

Bishop Cary mixing the chrism with the oil

These photos show the priests gathered around the altar with their Bishop as the blessing on the Oil of the Sick, Oil of Catechumens and the Sacred Chrism is invoked. All the priests collected their bottles of oils after the Mass was over, to be used for their sacraments in their respective churches.

A group photo of all the priests with their Bishop

Into Holy Week

"Arrest of Jesus" tapestry at the Vatican Museum

This beautiful and ornate tapestry is displayed at the Vatican Museum, in a photograph I took last year and it shows the moment of the betrayal of Judas. However a few other scenes are visible in the tapestry, including the agony in the garden, Peter’s severing the ear of Malchus, and the mob pushing around Jesus being arrested. 

"Entry into Jerusalem" tapestry at the Vatican Museum

The left side of the tapestry show the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem as he is welcomed with people waving palm branches and shouting “Hosanna to the King.” These tapestries are of infinite value and along with the Last Supper which I will share on Holy Thursday are some of the priceless artifacts displayed at the Vatican Museums. The readings at Mass during the three days before the Holy Triduum hint at the betrayal of Judas and the denial of Peter, which eventually led to the arrest of Jesus, his trial, and crucifixion.

Last Supper displays

 An elaborate Last Supper table is displayed every year in Valletta, Malta, seen here in photos I took 3 years ago. A horse-shoe shaped table is covered with intricate plates decorated with various designs using simply rice, pasta, salt, beans and other colored grains. 

The table is exhibited during Holy Week and thousands of people visit this display, which is set up every year with new designs of plates, including coat of arms of prelates, bishops and Popes. None of the food is wasted, because after the exhibition is over, the rice, pasta and beans are distributed to various orphanages, homes of the elderly and other places. Notice up close the detail and the precision in which the beans and pasta are strategically placed to create the beautiful designs.

Hosanna to the King

Jesus entering triumphantly Jerusalem.

As we celebrate Palm Sunday today, we honor Jesus as he is welcomed into Jerusalem before his passion and death. This was the Palestinians' way of giving a ticker-tape parade to their hero whom they have listened to, followed and saw performing many miracles among them. Many of those people healed by Him were there waving palm branches and laying down their cloaks on the road. Others were still suspicious of him and soon will shout "crucify Him!" or "release Barabbas!" And as Holy Week starts today, we focus on the last few days of Jesus among us, and be prepared to follow in his footsteps during the Last Supper, his trial, his crucifixion, and his eventual Resurrection.

Holy Week displays

During this coming week, many places in Malta will showcase their craftsmanship in presenting various exhibitions connected to the celebration of Holy Week. While visiting my home in 2010, I was able to take many photos of such exhibits, including the ones you see in my post today. 

Some churches and organizations display a Last Supper table complete with colorful plates made from salt, semolina, rice, pasta, beans and other edibles that can add to the attractiveness of the display. A variety of biblical and religious symbols are created by placing strategically colored rice or salt to create a veritable paintings. The displays are put on show for the duration of Holy Week, but nothing is wasted because all the pasta and rice is distributed to orphanages and old people's homes after the exhibition is over. And next year, they start all over again.