Light for the World

Who could have told Vincenz and Natalina Preca what their newborn child would one day become? Who could have foretold to his siblings the great works the Lord God would accomplish through their brother, George? Who could have imagined how many children, young people, and adults would be enriched by his spirituality? Who could have told the Maltese of his time that, at a quarter past eleven on the morning of 12th February 1880, a baby was born, whose first cries were but a faint echo of the powerful words he would one day proclaim in spreading the Word of God? God had a marvellous plan for this child. He willed for him to be sanctified so that he, in turn, might sanctify others. God chose this baby to become the founder of a society that would quench the thirst for the Word of God. How wondrous are the ways of the Lord! Who could have counted the countless souls who would come to hear the Word of God and seek advice from this child? We, too, are truly blessed because of this baby and the society he founded to spread the Gospel and inspire love for God. Let our hearts be filled with gratitude for all we have received through this child… St George Preca.

by Carmel G. Cauchi, SDC Member   Why is St Paul often depicted holding a sword in religious imagery? Saints who died as martyrs are frequently portrayed with the symbol of their martyrdom. However, there is another reason why we see St Paul with a sword in his hand. In the Letter to the Hebrews, it is written: "For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword" (Hebrews 4:12). St Paul was the apostle who strove tirelessly to proclaim the Word of God. He was the one who converted pagan peoples to the Christian faith by preaching to them. Yet St Paul did not spread the Word of God solely through preaching. He also did so through writing. He authored thirteen letters, continuing to proclaim the Word of God to those he had previously taught in person. This is why, in religious imagery, St Paul is often depicted holding a book in his other hand. The sword and the book symbolise the Word of God. The Word of God is also proclaimed to us during Mass, often through the letters of St Paul. But how often do we allow this sacred sword to penetrate our hearts and transform us for the better? It is true that the Word of God is alive and powerful, yet if we ignore it and fail to take it to heart, it will bear no fruit within us.

Adapted from Paragraphs on the Love of Neighbour and The Big Book by St. George Preca God is love, and the one who loves resembles the Lord God. But what should true love be like? And whom should we strive to imitate? Undoubtedly, the greatest model of love is Jesus Christ himself, for he willingly chose to suffer and die to save his human brothers and sisters from eternal damnation. In doing so, he demonstrated love at its highest level, that of laying down one’s own life for the sake of others. Anyone in need of your help, whether physically or spiritually, should be considered your neighbour. That is the neighbour you are called to love. Recognise in your neighbour, the person of Jesus Christ and treat them as if you were dealing with Jesus himself. Remember that the Lord God regards as done to himself whatever we do for our neighbour, and deals with us as we deal with our neighbour. In this way, when you call on him in your need, God will surely not turn his face away from you. Love should be: Sincere – expressed through works of mercy. Selfless – given without expecting anything in return. Universal – open to all. Thus, they truly love their neighbour who love every person without seeking personal gain and who help them, according to their abilities, through acts of mercy. Let every opportunity to help and love your neighbour bring genuine joy to your heart, not so much for the reward you may receive from the Lord God, but for the spiritual honour of resembling the Lord God himself.

Good, better, best, Never let it rest. Until your good is better, And your better is best. St Jerome saluted the transforming power of love in these lines. The natural experience of fair love is always good. A committed and magnanimous love is better. The best is redeemed love – liberated from sinfulness and sustained by the Sacraments, in accord with Jesus’s mandate, “Love one another, as I have loved you.” St John’s Gospel reveals this expansive and elevated dimension to natural affection. Through Jesus’s power of transformation, chores can become “laughing places”; sickness, loss, and adversity can likewise become moments of heaven – or at least Purgatory – when Grace is allowed to enter our human realm. February was named for Februa, the ancient Roman festival of purification. Before Jesus Christ’s sending the Holy Spirit, the pagan world had only intimations of the sovereignty of love’s well-spring and dominion. In the Christian life, even amidst decay and suffering, our natural longing for love is invited to partake of something greater: perpetual and sustainable Grace infused in Love passed along from one generation to another. In the bleakness of February, the mystery of suffering hides the very seed of love with recurring events of heart-wholeness and health restored. Things are transformed for those who make God’s will for His kingdom their first concern. St Raphael, whose name means “God heals,” can be our guide to understanding this journey of transformation. This great archangel was sent by God to heal the earth after it was defiled by the fallen angels. February opens with the Presentation of the Lord Jesus; simultaneously, Foundation Day of the SDC is 2 February; then follows St George Preca’s birthday on 12 February. Usually, the purification of Ash Wednesday and Lent begins in February. Signals of recovery and cleansing from sickness permeate the dates of the month. Now a shrine of healing miracles, the Lourdes apparitions began on 11 February 1858. Also celebrated in February is the shipwreck in 60 AD of St Paul, St Luke, and their companions in Malta. The most popularised date is St Valentine’s Day on 14 February, when happiness is activated by the exchange of candy hearts and loving words. Regrettably, its more commercialized version devolves into triviality, but it need not do so. All our human loves, relationships, and states of being can find peace and happiness, as at the first miracle of water changed to wine. Whatever our state in life, the natural loves are transformed by our blessed Lord Jesus, who saved the best wine to be served last at the nuptials at Cana. The 18th century English poet and visionary, William Blake wrote of the interconnection of all our human loves in these few poetic lines: I sought my God and my God I couldn't find; I sought my soul and my soul eluded me; I sought to serve my brother in his need, and I found all three; My God, my soul, and thee. Ruth D. Lasserter Friend of the SDC Indiana, US

For the Maltese, February is closely associated with the feast of the apostle St Paul. On February 10, they commemorate the event when St Paul brought the Catholic faith to Malta in 60 AD. St George Preca’s deep devotion to St Paul is evident, so much so, that he considered him the founder of the SDC. One might ask: wasn’t St George Preca the one who founded the SDC? While it is true that Preca established the SDC, it is equally true, that he was profoundly inspired by St Paul’s words to Timothy: "And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also" (2 Tim 2:2). As a thoughtful and prayerful priest, St George Preca took these words to heart. He gathered young people, taught them the truths of the faith, and encouraged them to pass on what they had learned. This is why he always regarded St Paul as the true founder of his society. His writings, prayers, and celebrations stand as a testament to his unwavering devotion to this great apostle. St George Preca closely linked St Paul with Christian teaching and faith. In his book The Echo of Friends, he imagines St Paul urging us to listen to the Catholic Church, the firm pillar of truth, and to spread its teachings through both word and example, as they are the very teaching of Jesus. He reminds us that those who contribute to the spread of good instruction and help others avoid sin, will surely receive God’s mercy and blessing. Together with St George Preca, we pray: We greet you, St Paul; you are a light for the world; you are a chosen vessel; We ask you to pray Christ for us.

In earlier times, a window was simply an opening in the wall, designed to allow air and light into a room, let odours escape, and provide a view of the surroundings; or an early warning if an enemy approached. The Bible references windows on numerous occasions. The first mention appears in the instructions for building Noah's ark (Gen 6:16). Ezekiel describes the temple and its windows in detail, and in the Book of Kings, we learn how many windows Solomon included in the temple he built to honour God. The prophet Jeremiah vividly personifies death, saying, “…death has climbed through our windows and entered our palaces” (Jer 9:21). In Daniel’s house, the windows faced towards Jerusalem, where he would kneel three times a day to pray and give thanks to God. In the Acts of the Apostles, we read about a young man named Eutychus, who was sitting on a windowsill as St Paul preached. He fell asleep, tumbled out, and died from the fall; only for St Paul to bring him back to life. The final reference is found in the Second Letter to the Corinthians, recounting how St Paul escaped from Damascus by being lowered in a basket through a window, evading the guards. In biblical language, clouds are metaphorically described as "windows of heaven," through which the Lord pours out his blessings. Like these biblical figures, we too use windows for a variety of purposes: to welcome fresh air, to show hospitality and readiness to assist others, to protect ourselves from rain and cold, or even to pass something to someone in a basket, sparing the stairs. How you choose to use your window is entirely up to you! Tanja Cilia Friend of the SDC