Maybe sometimes we have doubts and SO MANY questions - why God? - and i think often we do not understand.
Maybe sometimes we think that God has forgotten us or that He does NOT love us - but even when we think that: it doesn't change the fact that God DOES love us with an unending and immeasurable love!
Sometimes we won't understand and maybe sometimes we are afraid but when we are, then like Peter we need to believe and like John we need to rest our heads on Jesus' shoulders:
Peter didn't understand Jesus' words and John had a heart full of sorrow and questions when he learnt that Jesus would soon die - but both believed and both found comfort in God: despite their lack of understanding.
During today's Mass we prayed the following - and i'm putting it on the blog because it has been my prayer - as i am certain that of many others - and i will continue to pray it with the Church:
We pray for all those people who, feel unwelcome in the Church. We pray for them so that they may see that God has a special love for those who feel rejected and we pray that these brothers and sisters may listen to God’s call and return to His Fold.(2nd Prayer of the Faithful for the 21st Sunday of ordinary Time, Cycle B – Malta Diocese.)
Holy Mary, Mother of Jesus,
please lead each one of us to God in the Holy Catholic Church.
St.Michael, Brave Archangel
please defend us against the wickedness and snares of the devil.
Our Parish is dedicated to Our Lady, Queen of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and so the church is full of paintings depicting moments or events in the life of Mary. Although there are several paintings depicting Mary on the clouds and/or in heaven, only one is actually "The Assumption"
This would be the one found on the ceiling of the main altar. Below it - ie on the wall of the main Altar - is a picture of Mary in heaven but that is the "Immaculate Conception". And yet below that is a huge "frame" which portrays Mary holding Baby Jesus. Mary is depicted sitting on her throne and wearing a crown: Our Lady, Queen of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
The other two paintings, seen above and found on the side-chapels of the Main alter of the church too represent Mary: in one Mary is portrayed as the New Eve and in the other Mary is depicted as Mother of the Church.
In all of these pictures Mary is in heaven or on the clouds: reminding us of the Assumption.
...Clouds apart, today is a big feast for us Catholics but especially for Maltese Catholics.
In our church is a piece of a bomb which fell during the war. Besides it is a marble slate with a long list of names of the people who died whilst at Mass, during the war.
Near the police station is another marble slate - with another list of names of people who died.
At the strand is a monument - with i would say a few hundreds of names of other people who died during the war.
As one goes into Valletta one sees what is now simply "remains" of the majestic theatre/opera house which the British people had built.
...and on and on: all over Malta are reminders of the war...
The Maltese people suffered a lot especially during the 2nd World War yet they - we - kept the faith: perhaps even strengthened it. Despite so many hardships, the Maltese people trusted God. They would go to Mass and pray each day. They would pray Rosary after Rosary in the shelters they had dug and kept believing.
Malta always had a devotion to Our Lady
- and in turn Our Lady never stopped caring for us.
The 8th September is the day whereby Catholics celebrate the birth of Our Lady. On this day of the year 1565 Malta won the Great Siege against the Turks - who had they conquered us - would have used this country to invade the rest of Europe, persecuting Christians and/or forcing them to become Muslims.
In 1942, during World War Two, most resources were depleted and Malta would have had to surrender. On the 15th of August, feast of Our Lady's Assumption, 1942, the Ohio (see picture below) came in providing supplies! For the Maltese it meant life - they would not have survived without these supplies. Once again Mary had defended us and today, so many years later, we still refer to it as "Il-Konvoy ta' Santa Marija".
The picture links to a great site which provides a brief audio history of the Convoy.
WWII ended on the 8th September 1943 in Malta:
again a feast of Mary! :-)
...so, very simply today is a HUGE feast for the Maltese. 7 Parishes have their parish feast today and every practicing Catholic - and many non-practicing people too probably - thanks Mary for Her intercession.
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All of that aside...
This is a ppt of today's readings:
this is a beautiful you tube on Mary:
and these are the words of a beautiful Maltese hymn:
(below the Maltese words is my translation of them in English)
Ħallini llum, ħelwa Marija, Nersaq f’riġlejk sabiex nitolbok Titlob għalija ‘l Ġesu’ Ibnek. Għax jien naf żgur li jisma’ minnek!
Jien naf ukoll li Inti tħobbni, Għax għażlek Hu sabiex tkun Ommi. Għalhekk bil-qalb ser intennilek, Ave Marija!
Kull fejn ħarsti ddur, lilek nilmaħ żgur. Fuq l-art u s-smewwiet, jidwu l-innijiet. Biex nurik il-ferħ kbir Li bih il-qalb tkun trid ittir Infaħħruk u inqimuk, bħala Sultana!
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Let me today, sweet Mary, Come near your feet so as to ask you To pray for me to your son Jesus For I know for sure that He will hear you!
I also know that You love me, For He chose you to be my Mother! So from my heart I shall sing Ave Maria!
Wherever I look, there you shall I see. On earth and in heaven, songs echo (your praise) To show you this great joy With which our heart now wants to soar: We praise and honour you, as Our Queen!
Stevesilvia has made another lovely you tube and it is very appropriate for these days when we think about and thank God for the Holy Eucharist. I think it's marvellous - as are all his videos of course!
This is another video i love (i believe i had embedded in some other post - it's a favourite of mine too:
On a "harsher" (but true) note:
And the last for today: (i love this one)
if you have liked this last then you may like to check out
Catholic!!!
26 years old and Maltese.
Thankful to be Catholic,
i ask God that i may continue to
cherish and love the Catholic Faith.
I ask Him to help me be Faithful
to the Catholic Teachings.
Meantime i'll continue being me:
...enjoying walks (when i have time) and reading a couple of good books. (and i like Donald Duck)
My Bible comes in Maltese YET this is the ENGLISH version i love best ...and it's all online too!!!!! Just click the picture and you'll go to this MARVELLOUS site! :-)
"He explained to them everything in the Scriptures" (Lk 24:27)
Catholics, at the Holy Eucharist, read through the ENTIRE Bible over a period of three years. Click picture to go to Today's Mass Readings.
The One True Faith!
Based on Sacred Scripture and Apostolic Tradition, these very EXCELLENT talks (by Micheal Voris) are truly enjoyable! Click the picture to access, listen to &/or download :-)
Hear Ye! Hear Ye!!!
A link to an interesting and/or good news article. (well you might not agree, but i'd have found it to be so anyway! ;-) Click picture to access.
Using Scripture and Music, 'Pray-as-you-go' is pleasant to listen to and pray at any time of day! Click the picture to access this Jesuit site and download :-)
if you too love and cherish the Catholic Faith, then i'd love to hear and learn! :-)
thankful2bcatholic@gmail.com
Want to play?
"According to the United Nations, about 25,000 people die each day from hunger or hunger-related causes, most of them children." This EDUCATIONAL VOCAB GAME, through sponsors, donates 10 grains of rice for each correct answer. Its a small amount BUT thousands of people are playing at the same time! Click picture to play. Njoy! :-)
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