Order of charity newsletters 2015 by Charles Savona-Ventura

The Raoul Follereau Foundation (Malta) - The Order of Charity is a registered NGO [No. VO/0980] administered by the Grand Priory of the Maltese Islands of the Military and Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem Inside this issue:

Rendikont finanzjarju

L-istorja tal-lebbra f’Malta

Lebbruzi famuzi

Bible stories for children

Order of Charity Newsletter

RAOUL FOLLEREAU FOUNDATION (MALTA): NGO NO. VO/0980

Editorjal

April 2015

Editorjal—It-tfal tal-lebbruzi Il-pajjiżi bl-ikbar numru ta’ nies infettati billebbra huma l-Indja, il-Brażil u l-Indoneżja, kif ukoll f’ċerti pajjiżi Afrikani. Iktar minnofs tal-każi ġodda tal-marda huma fl-Indja fejn jgħixu terz mill-fqar tad-dinja. Hija marda krudili, iżda l-familji u t-tfal ta’ dawn innies m’għandhomx jibqgħu jbatu daqs kemm ibatu l-ġenituri tagħhom.

L-istigma soċjali li jbatu minnha l-lebbrużi hija ostaklu kbir għal uliedhom li jkollhom jittalbu fit-toroq biex ikunu jistgħu jgħixu. Il -missjonijiet li jaħdmu fost il-lebbrużi qed jagħmlu minn kollox biex jipprovdu taħriġ u edukazzjoni liż-żgħażagħ biex jirtnexxilhom isibu xogħol li jrendi għalihom u għallfamilji tagħhom.

Għall-grazzja t’Alla, it-tfal ta’ min hu infettat bil-marda tal-lebbra llum qed jiġu mgħejjuna biex imorru l-iskola bħal ħaddieħor biex huma wkoll jirnexxilhom jilħqu l-potenzjal tagħhom. Għaliex għandhom ibatu huma wkoll sempliċiment għax xi ħadd millġenituri tagħhom huwa marid?

Dawk iż-żgħażagħ li huma infettati bilmarda ftit għandhom opportunitajiet biex jaqilgħu x’jieklu jekk mhux billi jikinsu ttoroq u jagħmlu xogħol li ħadd ma jrid jagħmlu. Il-missjonijiet jgħallmuhom sengħa biex ‘il quddiem ikunu jistgħu jimpjegaw ruħhom f’xogħol iktar addatt għalihom bħala nies mekkaniċi, ħajjata, eċċ.

Ħafna nies fil-pajjiżi fejn il-lebbra taħkem bil-kbir huma bdiewa li jgħixu f’faqar kbir. L -edukazzjoni li tingħata lil uliedhom hija mod wieħed kif il-ġenerazzjoni futura tista’ tirnexxi u ma tibqax tgħix kif jgħixu lġenituri tagħhom. Mingħajr l-għajnuna tagħna, dawn qatt ma jista’ jkollhom prospetti ta’ xogħol tajjeb.

Chev. Tony C. Cutajar NIRRINGRAZZJAW LIL DAWK IŻŻEWĠ MEMBRI U BENEFATTURI LI BEJNIETHOM BAGĦTU €3,000 GĦALGĦAJNUNA LIL LEBBRUŻI U GĦAL RIĊERKA DWAR IL-MARDA. GRAZZI MINN QALBNA.

Rendikont Finanzjarju—2014 BILANĊ TOTALI fil-Bank sa Jannar 2014……….......€18,493.14

DONAZZJONIJIET MATUL 2014 Assoċjazzjonijiet:

DĦUL: Total: ……...….€60,253.21

Capuchin Fathers………………………... €14,000

 Maratona………...….... €40,717.00

Conventual Capuchin Fathers…………… €10,000

 Donazzjonijiet…...….... €19,536.21

Medical Missionaries of Mary....................... €10,010

HRUG MATUL 2014…...€41,529.09*

Helping Hands (Dr. Donald Sammut)........ € 2,530 Missjoni Filippini (Sr Ann Catania).............. € 1,000

BILANĊ TOTALI fil-Bank sa Dicembru 2015…….€37,217.26

Missjoni Nigerjana (Sr Maria Consaga)....... € 1,000

* HRUG MATUL 2014

Donazzjoni lil zewg lebbruzi Maltin……...€ 1,000

Total: ………………...€ 41,529.09



 Newsletter Posta/stamper... € 963.09  Stationary………………….€ 26.00  Donazzjonijiet………....…..€ 40,540.00

Gesu fil-Proxxmu (Fr Gorg Grima )........... € 1,000 Total.....................................................€ 40,540

Page 2

ORDER OF CHARITY NEWSLETTER

L-istorja tal-Lebbra f'Malta It-tieni Parti: Zmien il-Kavallieri ta' San Gwann Prof. C. Savona-Ventura

L-istorja tal-Lebbra f’Malta

Il-Kavallieri ta' San Gwann waslu Malta fis-sena 1530 wara li dawn kienu mkeccija minn Rodi mis-Sultan Suleman. Waqt li kienu f' Rodi fi zmien ilGranmastru Emery d'Amboise, il-kavallieri kienu ifformulaw serje ta' regolamenti sanitarji li kienu wkoll jindirizzaw illebbra. Fuq basi ta' dawn irregolamenti, il-lebbruzi kienu jircievu benefficji specjali millfondi karitatevoli ta' l' Ordni. Imma, dawn il-morda ma setghawx jkollhom xi forma ta' kuntatt socjali ma' dawn li kienu f'siektom. Ma setghux jghatu xi haga jew oggett li xi hadd f' siektu kontra pieni horox. Kienu resstritti wkoll fit-tip ta' xoghol li setghu jaghmlu u kellhom bzonn il-permess ta' l-awtoritajiet sanitarji biex jaghmlu xi tipi ta' xoghol. Dawn ir-regolamenti iddahhlu u gew addottati f' Malta. L- ewwel kaz ta' lebbra li nafu bija f'din l- epoka kien kaz ta' patri Dumnikan fil-kunvent tarRabat f' 1629. Il-kunvent xtara skjav specifikament biex jdur b'dan il-patri, li miet f' April 1630. Fis-sena 1659, il- Gran Consiglio ta' l-Ordni wera ilpreokkupazzjoni tal-infettivitá tal-marda tal-lebbra u anke wera il-preokkupazzjoni ta'

x'jigri mill-morda. Fis-sena 1679, l-Ordni holqot kummissjoni biex tistudja ilkundizzjoni ta' dawk affetwati mill-lebbra. Din issugerrit li dawn ilmorda kellhom jigu ittrattati fid-djar taghhom u mghotija sapport finanzjarju. Dawn il-barranin morda billebbra kellhom jigu ikkurati fissezzjoni tal-Falanga fis-Sacra Infermerija. Fis-sena 1725, isSacra Infermerija kienet tiehu hsieb ghal bzonnijiet ta' kuljum ta' dawn jsofru mill- lebbra. Matul din l-epoka, kazijiet tal-lebbra kienu jezistu. It-tabib Giuseppe Zammit, li kien l-ewwel professur tal-kirurgija u anatomija fl- iskola medika ta' Malta, anke iddeskriva hames kazijiet lil ghaqda Akademja Medika. Fissena 1702, il-barbiera li dak izznien kienu wkoll jghatu kura medika bazika, kienu mwissija li sahhithom kienet f'periklu meta jattendu ghal-kura tal-lebbruzi. L-interess akademiku fil-marda baqghet, u fissena 1764 ittabib Giuseppe Demarco kiteb tezi intitolata

Lebbruzi famuzi fl-Istorja

"Tractus affectuum cutaneorum" dwar il -kundizzjoni. Din ghada tezisti bhala manuskrit fil-Bibljoteka Nazzjonili. Kaz specifku iehor li nafu bih huwa ta' soru mil-Monasteru ta' Santa Katarina fil-Belt Valletta li fis -sena 1770 "zvillupat ulceri u deni u saret lebbruza". Fis-sena 1771, nafu li wasal f' Malta tifel lebbruz ta' ufficjal Tork li kien sejjer lejn Marsilja biex forsi jsib kura hemm.

Matul il-perjodu taht il-kavallieri ta' San Gwann jidher li l-attegjament lejn il-nies morda bil-lebbra kienet ta' sapport socjali u mediku b'element ta' biza’ mill-infettivitá talmarda. Dan ta' l-ahhar imma ma kienx jfisser li l-morda kienu b'xi mod izolati f' centri specifici ghalihom kif kienet id-drawwa fizzmien Medjevali. Dan l-attagjament baqa matul is-snin tas-seklu 19 waqt il-perjodu Ingliz. Issitwazzjoni tbddilet ghall-ahhar tasseklu 19 meta ligijiet gew imfassla biex il-lebbruzi jigu issegregati milgdid.

Antônio Francisco Lisboa, the Aleijadinho

Lebbruzi famuzi

Antonio Francisco Lisboa, l’ Aleijadinho jew kif maghruf ‘il-maghtub’ kien artist Braziljan prominenti, mwieled fl-1738. Huwa miet fil-Brazil stess fl-1814 fejn halla xi xoghol minn tieghu li kien relattivament maghruf. Aleijadinho halla warajh arti relatata mar-religjon, skulturi u disinji arkitettonici fil-knejjes, kunventi u monasteri, filwaqt li kien principalment rapprezentant tal-Barokk Braziljan. Hadem hafna taht kundizzjonijiet severi minhabba l-fatt li kellu deformitajiet fizikali minhabba l-lebbra u kien ikollhom jorbtulu l-ghodda ma jdejh biex jahdem.

Ezempji ta skulturi famuzi minn tieghu jinkludu it -tnax il-profeta f’qies ta bniedem, mwaqqfin fittarag tal- Knisja ta Bom Jesus de Matosinhos, filbelt ta Congonhas do Campo. Il-knejjes ta San Frangisk ta Assisi, f’ São João Del Rei u fil- Ouro Preto, hemm ukoll l-arkitettura tieghu.

APRIL 2O15

Page 3

Bible Stories for Children: Jesus heals the Man with Leprosy By Sharla Guenther

The Story Today's story can be found in the first three books of the New Testament in the Bible. This story is about a man with leprosy. So what is leprosy? Leprosy is a disease that is caused by an infection. It looks very bad, even gross. It can make a face look bumpy and can completely change the way a person looks. Some people get it on their hands or feet and loose their fingers and toes from it. This isn't everything leprosy is, but you get the picture. On top of it all, during the time when Jesus was around people thought leprosy was caused by people's sin. So, if someone had leprosy it was because he had done something wrong. For all these reasons the 'lepers' as they were called, were kicked out of the city and had to live outside of it. They weren't allowed in stores or churches or any public place so many times Stories for Children they went to live in the dumps where the garbage was, to find food and other things they needed. No one wanted to see them for fear of touching them and catching the disease or becoming 'unclean' because of their sin.

Jesus was going around at this time healing people and telling stories. Word got around about Jesus, so people would follow him because they wanted hear what he said or to see a miracle. While Jesus was walking and talking with people a man with leprosy approached him, fell to his knees and put his face to the ground and begged him, "Lord if you want to, you can heal me and make me clean."

Jesus, he reached out his hand and said to the man, "I will heal you. Be clean." And right in that moment the leprosy left him.

Something amazing happened next. Like it was no big deal Jesus just reached out and touched the man. This was not allowed then and now Jesus would be unclean...besides this man looked really bad and was sick! But none of this mattered to

Instead the man was too excited and told everyone he saw what had happened. This made it hard for Jesus to walk around in the cities because large crowds would flock to Him and the Jewish leaders started to go against Jesus because they didn't believe that he was sent by God. Jesus would often go off by himself and pray but people kept coming to see Him from everywhere.

Jesus then asked the man to do one thing. He asked him not to tell anyone what just happened and to go to the priest to be checked out. This would show that he was cleansed and he would leave an offering. Then the priest would give permission for him to come back and live with the people again. By going to priest the healed man would send a message that Jesus had a special power from God. The people were waiting for a Messiah (someone that would come and save them) and the priests and Jews believed that only God could cure leprosy. This was supposed to be a sign that the Messiah had come.

The message that I want you to take from this story is that it doesn't matter to Jesus what you've done, how you look or what other people think about you. He made you and he loves you no matter what! Everyday Jesus is trying to reach out and show His love to you but sometimes we're too busy to notice. Start taking notice of the beautiful things outside (a butterfly, flowers, or a sunset), the love from a parent or a friend and even kindness from a stranger. All these things are ways God is trying to show his love for you.

The Raoul Follereau Foundation [Malta] - Order of Charity is a nonprofit organization set up in Malta in 1967 with the goal of collecting monetary support for the assistance of lepers throughout the World. It forms part of the international Raoul Follereau Foundation established in 1946 by the world famous anthropologist who died in 1977. The main aims of the Foundation are: - to encourage social help to those suffering from leprosy; - to ascertain that these people are treated as they should; R ao u l Fo lle r e au Fo und atio n [ M alta]

Order of Charity, Catholic Institute, Floriana - Malta

- to help lepers find their place in society; - to give financial help to leprosaria and missions working with them.

E-mail: tcutajar36@gmail.com http://stlazarusmalta.org/aff_OoC.html

Kif tista int tghin ix-xoghol tal-Ordni tal-Karitá 

Billi issir membru tal-ghaqda—dan jiswa biss is-somma ta’ €5 fis-sena. Li tkun membru jfisser li tircevi in-newsletter regolari b’moghod elektroniku jew pubblikata.



Billi taghti donazzjoni b’kull ammont li tixtieq int. Sintendi kull donazzjoni tigi rikonnoxuta b’rcevuta



Billi tixtri il-ktieb Il-Patri Lebbruż li jippreżenta storja ta’ kuraġġ , dedikażżjoni u qlubija tal-qaddis li gie ddikjarat il-patrun tal-presuni morda bil-lebbra.Il-Patri Lebbruz Damjan ta’ Molokai kien mar jaħdem f’kolonja tal-lebbruzi abbandunati minn kulħadd. Ġħalihom kien sacerdot, tabib, bennej, mexxej, ħabib, missier. Fi ftit kliem kien l-għajn tas-salvazzjoni u t-tama tagħhom. Jum fost l-oħrajn, beda lomelija tiegħu bil-kliem: “Ġħez iez ħuti lebbruzi...” biex hekk qasam malkompatrijotti tiegħu fuq il-Ġz ira ta’ Molokaj, l-aħbar li hu wkoll kien ittieħed mill-marda. Miet ta’ 49 sena. Huwa u gie ddikjarat Help us help fight the qaddis sitt snin ilu mill-Papa Benedittu XVI. Il-Ktieb jinbiegħ scourge of leprosy €6.00 biss inkluss il-posta. Ibgħat cekk pagabbli lill-Ordni talKarita.

Offerta mill-qalb Jiena __________________________________ Nru tal-ID _____________ li noqgħod _____________________________________________________ Kodiċi Postali _________, Email: __________________________________________________________________  qed nibgħat ċekk nru _________ bhala donazzjoni bis-somma ta’: €

€



Nixtieq insir membru ta’ l’Ordni tal-Karitá u nibdha nircevi in-newsletter regolarment….€  Lest nircevi in Nippreferi in-



Nixtieq nixtri il-ktieb Il-Patri Lebbruz…………………………………...….€

€___

Settembru 2015

Inside this issue:

L-istorja tal-lebbra f’Malta

Famous Lepers

Leprosy in the Bible

Order of Charity Newsletter

RAOUL FOLLEREAU FOUNDATION (MALTA): NGO NO. VO/0980

Editorjal

Editorjal – IL-LEBBRA SPIRITWALI Il-lebbra hija marda kerha hafna li taffettwa lil eluf ta’ nies b’mod specjali fil-pajjizi fqar tat-tielet dinja. Hija marda li tattakka l-gilda, lghajnejn, il- griezem u l-pulmuni. Meta l-marda tidhol ‘il gewwa sew, ilmorda spiss ma jibqghux ihossu jdejhom u saqajhom. Ma jindunawx li jkunu harqu subghajhom jew iweggghu qiegh saqajhom. Hija marda li thallik paralizzat jekk ma tinqabadx mill-ewwel. Gesù mess b’idejh u fejjaq nies b’din il-marda ghax dawn tradizzjonalment kienu jigu mwarrba mill-familji u l-girien taghhom. Gesù kisser din ittradizzjoni ghax mhux talli kien imiss lill-imgiddma talli kien ifejjaqhom. Ahna wkoll, flimkien mal-benefatturi taghna, qed nippruvaw nghinu biex intejba lhajja tal-lebbruzi u biex din il-marda tinqered ghal kollox. Il-lebbra spiritwali wkoll taghmilna nies paralizzati. Dawk minna li ghandhom din il-marda spiritwali jitilfu l-kapacità li jhossu l-ispirtu ta’ Alla. Ma nibqghux nindunaw meta Alla jkun qed jahdem f’hajjitna u f’hajjet dawk ta’ madwarna. Nitilfu kull kuntatt mar-realtà spiritwali u nsiru nsara indifferenti. Hafna drabi, il-lebbruzi spiritwali ma jkunux jafu li ghandhom din il-marda kerha ghax ma jkunux kapaci jaraw ir-realtà spiritwali u jahsbu li kollox sejjer tajjeb. Mela, ha nahsbu sewwa fuq iddmirijiet taghna bhala nsara genwini. Chev. Tony C. Cutajar

Page 2

ORDER OF CHARITY NEWSLETTER

L-istorja tal-Lebbra f'Malta – Żmien l-Ingliżi—1 Prof. C. Savona-Ventura

L-istorja tal-Lebbra f’Malta—Zmien lInglizi

Din l-attitudini bagħqet ukoll matul il-biċċa kbira tas-seklu 19. Diversi tobba Maltin iddiskrevew każijiet ta’ din ilmarda. Fl-1803, it-tabib Saydon iddiskriva tlett każijiet ta’ baħħara – wieħed minnhom Malti. Fl-1835, il-Professur Schinas ukoll iddeskriva kas, waqt li fl-1837 it-tabib Gravina iddeskriva żewg każijiet oħra. Każijiet oħra gew irraportati mit-tobba Gulia u Sammut. Ħadt mil-professjoni medika ma kien partikolarment allarmat u b’risposta għar-rapport mitlub mil-Kumitat Speċjali talKulleġġ Rejali tat-Tobba fil1862, ġie irraportat li l-lebbra ma kienetx teżisti fil-Gżejjer Maltin. F’rapport ieħor ftit wara, fl-1874, ġie rraportat li waqt li l-lebbra kienet preżenti filGżejjer Maltin, din ma kienetx kommuni. Fl-1883, il-awtoritajiet f’Malta ħatru kummissjoni ta’ sebgħa tobba biex jistudjaw ilproblema f’Malta u jissuġġerixxu kif din il-marda infettiva setgħat tiġi ikkontrollata. Dawn it-tobba identifikaw u studjaw 30 lebbrużi Maltin. Irraportaw li l-marda kienet żdiedet minħabba grupp ta’ suldati Indjani li kienu ġew stazzjonati l-Imrieħel fl-1878.

jgħixu f’Għawdex. Ħafna millkażijiet Maltin kienu minn Ħal Qormi jew il-Mosta. Fuq bażi ta’ dan is-servej, l- Kunsill talGvern ippublika Ordinanza Numru VII b’attentat li jwaqqaf it-tixrid tal-lebbra. Din il-ligi pprovdiet għal notifikazzjoni kompulsiva ta’ kull kas li jiġi identifikat u ħatret Board ta’ ħames tobba biex jeżaminaw il-każijiet suspettużi u jikkonfermaw id-djanjożi. Il-pazjent lebbruż kellu jigi immedjatament issegregat malli iddjanjożi tiġi ikkonfermata. Waqt li l-liġi issa stabilixxiet li llebbrużi kollha kellhom jiġu issegregati, dan ma setgħax jsir għax ma kienx hemm lok adekwat fejn wieħed jżommhom.

Il-kummissjoni issuġeriet li lmorda kellhom jiġu isseggregati. Fl-1890, sar servej nazzjonali biex id-daqs tal-problema jiġi verament identifikat. Instabu 69 każ lebbruż fil-Gżejjer Maltin bi prevalenza ta’ madwar 1 kull 2400 fil-popolazzjoni. Ħdax il-kas kienu fi stat ħażin ħafna u kienu miżmuma flImgieret. Tmien każijiet kienu

n-nisa lebrużi setgħu jiġu ammesi wkoll. F’dik is-sena, dan l-isptar għal-lebbrużi kien jżomm 73 pazjent irgiel. Fl1914, in-numru ta’ lebbrużi identifikati kien ta’ 107 nisa u irġiel, jew prevalenza ta’ 1 kull 2000 tal-populazjoni. Il-pazjenti kienu jiġu ammessi go l-isptar b’mod sfurzat u miżumin hemm fi stat ta’ arrest millpulizija.

Fl-1900, sptar ddedikat għallebbrużi irġiel, ġie mibni lImgieret. Is-sezzjoni tan-nisa ġiet mibnija fl-1911 u għalhekk

Dawn ir-restrizzjonijiet ġabu magħhom rewwixti u xi lebbrużi anke ħarbu mill-isptar. Bil mod il-mod, il-kundizzjonijiet tal-lebbrużi ġewwa l-isptar tjiebu tant li eventwalment kienu jitħallew jmorru għal mixjiet fil-kampanja b’kuntrast ta’ l-ewwel snin fejn kienu miżmuma fi stat ta’ arrest preventiv. Fl-1916, ġie maħtur kumitat ieħor biex jistudja ilkundizzjonijiet tal-lebbrużi f’dan is-sptar. Dan l-istudju ġab bidla fil-liġi li kienet tirrigwardja il-kontrol ta’ din ilmarda. L-Ordinanza ta’ 1919 għarfet li l-lebbruż seta’ ma jibqax infettiv. Għaldanstant dawn il-pazjenti setgħu jiġu meħlusa mill-isptar jew aħjar mill-‘ħabs lebbruż’. Fl-1937, lisptar tal-lebbra ġie msemmi lIsptar San Bartolomew f’attentat biex titneħa l-istigma assoċjata miegħu. Fl-istess sena infetaħ sptar għal-lebrużi f’Għawdex.

SEPTTEMBRU 2O15

Page 3

Lebbruzi famuzi fl-Istorja Hàn Mặc Tử

Famous Lepers

Il-poeta Vietnamiż, Nguyen Trong Tr, imlaqqam bħalha Han Mac Tu t wie le d f’Settembru 22 tal-1912 u miet fil-11 ta’ Novembru tal1940. Huwa kien l-aktar figura Vjetnamiża Kattolika magħrufa matul il-Kolonja ta’ dak iż-żmien. Twieled fiddistrett Dong Hoi, fil-Provinċja ta’ Quang Binh. Kien magħruf bħalha Minh Due, Phong Tran, Le Thanh u mbagħad finalment bħalha Han Mac Tu kif inhu magħruf illum. Trabba ġewwa familja fqira u missieru miet meta hu kien zgħir. Minn tfal wera l-ħila tiegħu bħalha poeta. Meta ltaqa ma Phan Boi Chau, irċieva kurraġġ u tifħir li għamlitu magħruf. Il-poeżiji tiegħu kienu ndirizzati lin-nisa veri jew fittizji, fil-mod ta Giacomo Leopardi fil-Punent per eżempju.

Huwa popolaru u jibqa magħruf bħalha l-poeta talimħabba fil-Vjetnam. Poeżiji tiegħu b’tema folkloristika huma wkoll magħrufa. Il-poeżiji tal-bidu ta’ Han Mac Tu kienu famużi għal purita ta’ ġurisdizzjoni u forma u juru wkoll li kellu interess qawwi fuq suġġetti realistiċi. Warajhom, il-poeżija tiegħu wriet ukoll linfluwenza ta’ simboliżmu Franċiż u wara li marad, din saret aktar vjolenti u bdiet turi wkoll nuqqas ta’ tama. Iktar minn poeta tal-imħabba, Han Mac Tu kien modernista u jfittex li l-poeżija tiegħu jkunu bllingwaġġ ġdid u bi tradizzjonijiet u esperjenzi differenti. Il-bidu tal-poeżiji tiegħu kienu aġġornati bi tradizzjonijiet klassiċi u spiċċaw assorbew linfluwenza Franċiża li wassluħ f’taqliba tal-istorja ta’ ħajtu. Il-lingwa tiegħu ħraxet u baqgħet klassika u innovattiva l-ħin kollu, u għalkemm kien Kattoliku, għamel użu ta spiss bi xbihat u idejat Buddistiċi. Fl1937 ħa l-marda tal-lebbra u finalment spiċċa flIsptar ta Quy Hoa fejn miet xaharejn wara fl-1940 fl -eta ta’ 28 sena.

Why is leprosy talked about so much in the Bible?" http://www.gotquestions.org/Bible-leprosy.html In the Bible, the word leprosy is mentioned upwards of 40 times, depending on the Bible version being used. Leprosy was common in Bible times, and the many references to it were well understood by those who lived in unsanitary conditions. The main reason why leprosy is talked about so much in the Bible is that it is a graphic illustration of sin’s destructive power. In ancient Israel leprosy was a powerful object lesson of the deLeprosy in the Bible bilitating influence of sin in a person’s life. God had given the Israelites very specific instructions on how to deal with leprosy and other skin infections (Leviticus 13). Anyone suspected of having this disease had to go to a priest for examination (Leviticus 13:2-3). If found to be infected, “the leprous person who has the disease shall wear torn clothes and let the hair of his head hang loose, and he shall cover his upper lip and cry out, ‘Unclean, unclean.’ He shall remain unclean as long as he has the disease. He is unclean. He shall live alone. His dwelling shall be outside the camp” (Leviticus 13:45-46). The leper then was considered utterly unclean—physically and spiritually. Incurable by man, many believed God inflicted the curse of leprosy upon people for the sins they committed. In fact, those with leprosy were so despised and loathed that they were not allowed to live in any community with their own people (Numbers 5:2). Among the sixty-one defilements of ancient Jewish laws, leprosy was second only to a dead body in seriousness. A leper wasn’t allowed to come within six feet of any other human, including his own family. The disease was considered so revolting that the leper wasn’t permitted to come within 150 feet of anyone when the wind was blowing. Lepers lived in a community with other lepers until they either got better or died. This was the only way the people knew to contain the spread of the contagious forms of leprosy. The Bible records the story of a leper who was the first to be healed by Jesus (Matthew 8:2-4). The key lesson to be learned from this incident is that sin defiles us in the sight of God, but through Christ, we can be healed of the plague of sin that separates us from God. God loathes sin; it is repulsive to Him. Sin bans us from the presence of God because God will not allow sinful man in His sight and presence (Psalm 5:5; Habakkuk 1:13; Revelation 21:27). This is not only true of sins with a sexual connotation that are normally regarded as filthy and repulsive, but it includes all forms of disobedience and rebellion (1 Samuel 15:23; Proverbs 15:9). All sin is abhorrent to God. But those who have been redeemed from sin by grace through faith in Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9) can stand in God’s presence in full confidence that we are accepted “in the Beloved,” and we praise Him for the grace He extends to us for that purpose (Ephesians 1:5-7). When we’ve captured a glimpse of the holiness and purity of God, we have to exclaim as did the prophet Isaiah, “Woe to me … I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty” (Isaiah 6:5). Our attitude toward sin in the light of our Saviour should echo the words of Peter: “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” (Luke 5:1-8). Another key lesson we learn from the leper in Matthew’s Gospel is that just as the leper did, we can confidently approach Jesus in all our need, with all our sin and defilement. When we plead for cleansing and forgiveness, He will not turn us away (Hebrews 4:16; Psalm 103:12).

R ao u l Fo lle r e au Fo und atio n [ M alta]

The Raoul Follereau Foundation [Malta] - Order of Charity is a non-profit organisation set up in Malta in 1967 with the goal of collecting monetary support for the assis-

Order of Charity, Catholic Institute, Floriana - Malta

tance of lepers throughout the World. It forms part of the international Raoul Fol-

E-mail: tcutajar36@gmail.com http://stlazarusmalta.org/aff_OoC.html

in 1977. The main aims of the Foundation are:

lereau Foundation established in 1946 by the world famous anthropologist who died

- to encourage social help to those suffering from leprosy; - to ascertain that these people are treated as they should;

Help us help fight the scourge of leprosy

- to help lepers find their place in society; - to give financial help to leprosaria and missions working with them.

The treatment of leprosy 

Leprosy is a curable disease using the highly effective multidrug therapy.



In 1981, a World Health Organization Study Group recommended multidrug treatment with three medications: dapsone, rifampicin (Rifadin), and clofazimine (Lamprene).



This long-term treatment regimen cures the disease and prevents the complications associated with leprosy if started in its early stages.



These medications have been distributed free to all patients with leprosy since 1995, and the WHO distributes the medications in convenient monthly calendar blister packs.



After the first doses of these medications, patients are no longer infectious and they do not transmit the disease to others.



In spite of the medications being available freely, it has not been as yet possible for the medication to reach all sufferers and the disease persists in a number of underdeveloped countries.



The Order of Charity strives to help organizations in their quest to distribute the necessary medication.

€



Nixtieq insir membru ta’ l’Ordni tal-Karitá u nibdha nircevi in-newsletter regolarment….€  Lest nircevi in Nippreferi in-



Nixtieq nixtri il-ktieb Il-Patri Lebbruz…………………………………...….€

€___