Feb 2017 188 by EuropeAxess Media

St. Bernard’s Crib at the Cavalcade © Joseph Codali

Ca t h o l i c Tr a d i t i o n , i n co r p o r a t i n g Tex t a n d P h o to s of S t . B e r n a r d ’s Cr i b & Ca v a l c a d e by J o s e p h Co d a l i

Does the Cavalcade mark the end of Christmas?

s you read this it is likely that more than forty days have passed since the solemnity of Christmas. On the 2nd of February the Church prepares to celebrate the day on which Mary and

Joseph presented Jesus in the Temple. With that ceremony our Lord submitted himself to the prescriptions of the old law, he came to his people, who waited for him with faith. Guided by the Holy Spirit, an elderly couple, Simeon and

Upon this Rock magazine is published monthly by EuropeAxess Media, Gibraltar. Editor: Fr. S. Chipolina: editor@uponthisrock.gi. Production Editor: A. Sargent: angela@europeaxess.com. Upon this Rock magazine is entirely supported by advertising and donations. It is run in liaison with the Catholic Diocese of Gibraltar by EuropeAxess Media Ltd. as a not-for-profit project. For Advertisers: This magazine is handdelivered to homes, churches, hospitals and many businesses around Gibraltar every month. To discuss your advertising requirements, or promote your church group or charity, call Tel: +350 200 79335 email: angela@europeaxess.com. Editorial is selected by EuropeAxess Media in liaison with the Catholic Diocese of Gibraltar. Neither of these parties is responsible for the accuracy of the information contained herein, nor do the views and opinions expressed herein necessarily reflect the views and opinions of either party. Advertisers are not endorsed by virtue of advertising in this magazine. EuropeAxess Media Ltd. reserves the right to refuse space to any submissions or advertisements. Efforts have been made to establish copyright owners of images, but if we have used your material, and have not credited you, please contact us to discuss restoration. The magazine is online at uponthisrock.gi. You’ll find exclusive Christian gifts in the WebShop. Cover: wikimedia.org/commons: Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn, Simeon’s Song of Praise

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Mary’s eyes are filled with compassion as she sees the elderly Simeon coming to meet her in the temple © Life of Jesus Christ Bible Videos LDS.org

Why the Christmas Season isn’t over until Simeon sings.

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While tradition has it that Simeon was a man of extreme old age, which may give an insight into why he was so eager to be allowed to ‘go in peace’, the only things we are told about Simeon in the bible are those things which matter most to God—things which pertain to his faith and his character, things that tell us about his relationship with God. We are told that Simeon was righteous and devout, which speak of his personal walk with God and his integrity among men. He was a man of faith and hope, for he “looked for the consolation of Israel,” an expression which summarizes

St. Bernard’s Church Outdoor Crib © Joseph Codali

Anna also came to the temple; where, illumined by the same Spirit, they recognised the Lord and full of joy they announced who baby Jesus really was. The words Simeon sang became known as the ‘Nunc Dimittis’: “Now let your servant go in peace according to your word. “For my eyes have seen your salvation, prepared by you before all people. A light to illumine the people and the glory of your people Israel. Glory be the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever will be, world without end. Amen.”

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Ca t h o l i c Tr a d i t i o n , i n co r p o r a t i n g Tex t a n d P h o to s of S t . B e r n a r d ’s Cr i b & Ca v a l c a d e by J o s e p h Co d a l i

the faith of this Old Testament Saint, in the promises of God concerning the restoration of Israel through the coming of her Messiah. Finally, Simeon was a man who was filled by the Holy Spirit. It was the Holy Spirit who had revealed to Simeon that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Christ, God’s Anointed One, Israel’s Messiah. It was also the Holy Spirit that directed Simeon to the temple on the particular day that Jesus’ parents brought Him to be presented to the Lord. In some unspecified way, it was the Spirit of God who revealed to Simeon that this child was indeed the Messiah. The one destined to bring enlightenment to all people. As a symbol of this enlightenment, candles are blessed on this day, also known as Candlemass. In Gibraltar we must thank and support the parish of St. Bernard’s for each year they help to remind us all about the true reason behind the Christmas Season, in an act of evangelisation they take their nativity scene to the people. Joseph Codali takes up the story... “As is now the tradition, members of St. Bernard’s Church held an outdoor nativity play just before the commencement of the children’s Mass on the evening of the 24 December 2016. The children that participated had the opportunity to dress up, once again, in period costume for the nativity cavalcade float, under the banner of St. Bernard’s Church.

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These events require a considerable amount of time, preparation and organization. None of this would be possible without the skilful organization and coordination of Annabelle and her team. Margaret and Bianca who ably assist her with the play as well as Adrian and Theresa who helped with the cavalcade float, under the watchful eye of Fr. Ghio. The nativity float benefits everyone in Gibraltar by highlighting the real message of Christmas to all who watch the cavalcade. The real stars of the show were of course the children, who all had a great time and hopefully the nativity float was enjoyed by many. A big thank you has to go to Sergio Vila of Fill-A-Skip and his company’s generosity every year in lending us both their lorry, and the wonderful Juan who is not only our driver but also takes an active part in putting the float together.”

Jesus is now revealed as a light to the Gentile nations. Keep your Christmas decorations, especially your Christmas tree and lights, up at least until this day is over. The official end of the entire Christmas season on the new liturgical calendar is the celebration of the Baptism of the Lord, after which Ordinary Time begins. Keep your nativity scene displayed up until this day, or better yet, next year,

until the Presentation of the Lord on February 2nd which is a feast of the Baby Jesus. Even more important to pray about for next year, is to keep the Advent Season a Holy and chaste time of preparation right up to the 24th of December. Advent should be more akin to Lent, a time of fasting and prayer. That way even a modest period of feasting over Christmas will be even more appreciated.

SO, WHEN DOES CHRISTMAS END?

When Christmas ends depends on whether you’re looking for the end of the Christmas ‘feast’ or the end of the Christmas ‘season’. The Christmas feast proper ends on the final day of its octave, which is the feast of Mary, the Mother of God, on January 1st. The ‘peak’ of the Christmas ‘season’ is January 6th—Epiphany—the end of the 12 Days of Christmas.

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F o r t h co m i n g E v e n t s

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Fr. Mark back on the

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hrist the King Prayer Group will be holding their annual Life In The Spirit Seminar later this month. Joanna Lett said “We are very blessed to have Father Mark Condon travelling to Gibraltar from Ireland to deliver the talks, he visited us two years ago and we all received many graces and our spiritual lives were recharged. Father Condon is a witty, friendly and dynamic person and speaker and we are really delighted he can come to Gibraltar once again.” All are encouraged to take the step in faith, those who have previously attended a seminar are invited to encourage friends and family to join in, to relax, absorb it all and we trust Jesus will be waiting there to embrace you... “God Bless you all, Joanna.”

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Forthcoming Events: Steve Ray Conference

Building up our FAITH B

ishop Carmel is pleased to announce Steve Ray is to visit Gibraltar. He will be speaking at a public conference at Inces Hall in April. There is already a lot of interest on the Rock and Secular Franciscans from the UK are also planning to attend.

Sometimes we see our Rock more clearly through a fresh pair of eyes.

or several months now the various different Church Movements have been meeting to work on the logistics of the Conference, to be held in April this year, featuring this truly dynamic guest speaker who has a very special message. Just as it sometimes happens that those of us who have lived in Gibraltar for a long time, whether it be decades or generations, sometimes

see aspects of our homeland in a new light when we are showing guests around, so it is that Steve Ray, a convert to the Catholic Faith, brings special insights which help to enrich and deepen the Faith of those who hear his powerful testimony.

FROM THE FIRST TALK, STEVE SHARES INSIGHTS THAT HELP TO BUILD OUR FAITH, AND STRENGTHEN OUR FAMILIES Steve was raised in a devout, loving Baptist family. His father was a deacon and led Bible studies. Steve himself was very involved in the Baptist Church as a teacher of Biblical studies. Steve married Janet in 1976. When their two children were small, they moved to Europe for a year, travelling extensively and researching their Reformation roots in Switzerland, Germany, England and other countries. They also studied for six months at Lâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Abri in Switzerland with noted theologian and Evangelical thinker, Francis Schaeffer. Many of our readers have been to Rome and still more will know that the great river upon which Romulus and Remus founded the city is called the Tiber, and that St. Peterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Basilica and Vatican City are located on the opposite (west) side of the Tiber River from Rome (on the east) with its famous seven hills, where the classical

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sites like the Colosseum, the Forum, Pantheon, Imperial Palace and Circus Maximus are found. But how many have heard the phrase, ‘Crossing the Tiber’ as shorthand for when a person converts to Catholicism? When one of Steve’s best friends, an Evangelical pastor, said he and his wife were thinking of becoming Catholics, Steve and his wife Janet decided to persuade him against this course of action by investigating the claims of the early Catholic Church. This led them on a thrilling journey back in time that would eventually change their lives forever. After hundreds of hours studying the Bible and the writings of the early Church, they were convinced that the Roman Catholic Church was the Church founded by Christ, and they were received into the Church on Pentecost Sunday in 1994. In this Conference, with no rancour toward his Evangelical roots, Ray will share some of their

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exhilarating discoveries. He traces their initial hostility toward the Catholic Church, their passionate research and the discovery of the historical Church, quietly waiting to be rediscovered. He convincingly lays out the issues that carried them over the “uncrossable chasm” into the Catholic Church.

GAIN A PERSONAL INSIGHT INTO THIS PUBLISHED AUTHOR WHO’S BOOKS AND BLOGS WILL INSPIRE A DEEPER INNER CONVERSION TO OUR FAITH Steve and Janet now spend their time researching, writing and teaching about the Catholic Church. Because Steve loves defending and explaining Catholicism, he has conducted several highly successful conferences in conjunction with other Catholic converts. He is a regular guest on many radio and television programs,

including Catholic Answers Live, The Journey Home, Living His Life Abundantly, and Life On The Rock. He is a contributing writer to Envoy Magazine, as well as other Catholic publications, and teaches Bible study classes in his parish. Steve’s first book, Crossing The Tiber: Evangelical Protestants Discover the Historic Church, details his intellectual and spiritual journey into Catholicism. It became a best seller within one year. His second book, Upon This Rock: St. Peter and the Primacy of Rome in the Scriptures and Early Church, also became a bestseller. Steve went on to write a third book, St. John’s Gospel: A Bible Study Guide and Commentary.

Open to everyone The conference is open to everyone, the organisers hope that the decision to use Inces Hall as the venue will make it more accessible to the wider community. It is an opportunity for people who are curious about the Faith and who would like to find out more from a very knowledgeable and entertaining speaker. This is also the ideal ‘entry level’ experience for anyone searching for something they feel is missing in their lives, something to make them feel whole. Defenders of the Catholic Faith is the title of the blog Steve hosts, at http:// catholicconvert.com/ His books and writings can be found there, as well as videos which provide a taste of what to expect from this experienced and dynamic speaker. We are very fortunate to have such a talented and knowledgeable visitor upon this Rock.

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words by Johnnette Benkovic ©Women of Grace ©Living His Life Abundantly® she is scheduled to speak in Gibraltar this year.

L.E.N.T in the

desert T

he season of Lent is upon us. In the Catechism of the Catholic Church, we read “By the solemn forty days of Lent the Church unites herself each year to the mystery of Jesus in the desert” (§540, see Matthew 4: 1-11). In Matthew 4:1-11 we read the passage in which Our Lord fasted for forty days and forty nights in the desert, being tempted by the evil one. The devil strives to lure Him with three of the great temptations – pride, presumption, and lust for power – and yet, he is no match for Our Lord. Jesus defeats him by trusting God, knowing truth, and remaining steadfast – three counterattacks to temptation that lead to victory. Our Lord banishes the evil one and is ministered to by the angels. This account of Jesus’ temptation in the desert gives us much to ponder. But, its relevance to the liturgical season of Lent is especially poignant. Pope John Paul II stated, “It can be said that Christ introduced the tradition of forty days fast into the Church’s liturgical year, because he himself ‘fasted forty days and forty nights’ before beginning to teach. By this Lenten fast

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the Church is in a certain sense called every year to follow her Master and Lord if she wishes to preach his Gospel effectively” (General Audience, Feb. 28, 1979).

Desert Dwellers

This first withdrawal of Jesus to a place of stillness was but the beginning of a life-long habit. At key moments throughout His life, the Son of Man retreated into the solitude (cf. Mt. 14:2324; Mt. 26:36, 42, 44; Mk. 1:35; Lk. 6:12; Lk. 9:28); there in the stillness of the wilderness, He communed with His Heavenly Father, and drew from Him the strength and the fortitude needed to fulfil His mission. In so doing, Our Lord teaches us much about conforming our lives to the Father’s will. In the early centuries of Church history, many holy men followed the pattern set by Jesus. For weeks or years -- a special few for a lifetime -- they went to the wilderness to detach themselves from the distractions of the world and enter the solitude of the heart. In the austere silence of the desert and amplified stillness of the soul, they sought communion with God: a continuous awareness of His presence about them, among them, and in them. Through this union, they yearned to make the whole of their being a conduit of the Father’s love, a receptive channel through which divine charity could flow into the lives of others. The “desert fathers,” as they came to be known, knew that the call to the desert was a radical call. The desert

Lent: A Desert Experience

would allow for no pretence or disguise, no haughtiness or pride, no shortcut or delusion. It was a call to radical simplicity and radical integrity. It was a call to hard living, self-restraint, and unyielding mortification. It was a call to fortitude and steadfastness, perseverance and strength. It was a call to vigilance, and a call to honesty, truth, and humility. The wilderness offered no hiding place. All lay bare and exposed in the barren desert. For the desert dwellers, the external perils of the wilderness were mirrors of their interior struggles. The barren environment represented man’s impoverished condition and need for a saviour. The wild beasts were reminders of unbridled passions and heinous sin. And the restless spirits who roamed the arid wasteland were Satan’s pawns, tormenting and tempting the beleaguered and the unaware. Yes, the desert offered countless opportunities to develop virtue while wresting vice. And, when God’s grace met with man’s cooperation, the desert became the furnace in which fire-tried holiness was forged. The desert experience, in all its severity and asceticism, was meant to do one thing and one thing alone: to bring all aspects of one’s life into union with God in Christ.

By virtue of our baptism, all of us are called to mission that has both an exterior and an interior quality. God intends for us to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. We are to bring His word, His love, His healing to His people. Each of us is called to be a conduit of the Divine Life in the world in which we live. That is the exterior mission we have been given. But, in order to accomplish this holy task, we need to bring everything within us into conformity with the Father’s will. Our words, our deeds, our actions, our attitudes, our hopes, our dreams -- everything needs to be brought into right order according to God’s holy plan for mankind. Our fundamental vocation as baptized Christians is to holiness of life. And, as Our Lord Himself shows us, this comes about through union with God. If He who was perfect went into the desert to be prepared for His mission of redemption, then how much more do we, who are imperfect, need this time of preparation as we seek to fulfil our mission as the sons and daughters of God? Few of us will be called to spend forty days and forty nights in the desert. And most likely none of us will be called to the rigorous asceticism

R E T R E AT

J ohnnette B enkovic and

Father Phillip Scott

4th & 5th March 2017

Catholic Community Centre, Gibraltar. Provisional Times: Sat 9:30 to 18:30Sun 9:30 to 13:30

All welcome (Men and Women) Bilingual Retreat (English and Spanish)

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editorial suggested by Dr. Monique Risso.

F our S teps The ‘Great Gibraltar Sand Dune’ is composed of the same sand that once formed part of a vast savanna of the late Pleistocene where Neanderthals hunted. Photo ScottWylie.co.uk of the desert fathers. But, through the liturgical season of Lent, all of us are called to a desert experience. In her wisdom, Holy Mother Church offers us this season to spiritually retreat from the distractions of the world and focus our attention on the great gift of our life in Christ Jesus. It is a time for each member of the Mystical Body to consider our holy union with Christ in the Father. It is a time to nurture our relationship with God even as we consider the treasure of our redemption. It is a time to face our own “wild beasts” of sin and vice and tame them with virtue and grace. And, it is a time to seek deliverance from the “spirits”

that plague us – self-indulgence, unhealthy habits, lustful passions, harmful attitudes, unchristian ways of thinking. It is a time to pray and fast and do penance. And, it is a time to be a conduit of the Father’s love in the lives of others. Lent is a season for renewal and rebirth, regeneration and recommitment. How, then, do we enter the experience?

Step 1. Let go of Distractions

We are a distracted people; Lent invites us to detach. It invites us to come away for a while and listen for the Father’s voice. As

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we read in the Old Testament, God speaks in a “tiny whisper” (cf. 1 Kings 19: 11-13). We must slow down the tempo of our lives and tone down the volume of our days if we are to hear the voice of God. We must minimize the activity and noise and maximize the quiet and solitude. We must create a “desert” for ourselves – a quiet spot at home or in the back yard, a neighbourhood park, or before the Blessed Sacrament or the tabernacle in our parish. All of these may provide precisely the perfect place of retreat. We should seek the “desert” in the environment of our daily lives rather than searching out the unusual or special. As St. Teresa

of Avila writes, “We need no wings to go in search of Him, but have only to find a place where we can be alone and look upon Him present within us.” Our time of prayer will go much better and be more fruitful if we practice the presence of God on a regular basis. Turning off the television and the radio, pruning back some of the unnecessary activities of our daily lives, replacing recreational reading with inspirational reading, these are all ways we can “close out” the clutter and clatter and “close in” the reality of God’s presence within us. God desires to commune with us. But, the Continued on page 12

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Cursillo Team Leaders write...

t this time of year we try to convince ourselves to changing something in our lives. We commit to lose weight, exercise more, stop smoking, save for the future and spend more time with the family. We make resolutions because we want to bring change to bear on our lives. We want to improve ourselves

and our quality of life. Rarely does anyone commit to do something about their spiritual life, the top resolutions, for most people, tend to revolve around the same three topics, money, health and family. But what would a set of New Year’s resolutions look like for you and your spirituality?

8 Ways to nurture our spirituality Though many more could surely be added, we could commit to:

1. Pray more.

2. Invest more time in developing our spiritual life, our relationship with God.

The start of the New Year can be the perfect time to turn a new page in your life, which is why so many people make New Year’s resolutions. But why do so many people have a hard time keeping their resolutions? Researchers have looked at success rates of peoples’ resolutions: The first two weeks usually go along beautifully, but by February people are slipping. So why do so many people not keep their resolutions, are people just weak-willed or lazy? The main reasons tend to be that people at times set themselves unrealistic targets or are not in the right frame of mind to effect that change in their lives. To stand a chance of success you need to make the resolutions reasonable and achievable. If you have not prayed for a long time then don’t commit to pray three times a day, perhaps once a day would be more achievable. If you have not been to mass for a long time don’t commit to go to mass every day, perhaps once

a week on Sundays would be more realistic. Don’t look back and dwell in the past, focus on the present. Leave all your fears of the future, all thoughts of unkindness and bitterness, your resentments and sense of failure, your disappointments in others and yourselves in the year that has gone past. Enter the New Year with a sense of joy and optimism of your ability to effect that change in your lives knowing that the Lord is at your side. By developing your spiritual side you can unlock personal freedom and give yourself a sense of deep affirmation of God’s love for you and why you matter to Him. This love is something each of us wants, but many never find. All around us we can see an endless pursuits of love. We look for it everywhere, in our homes and families, friendships, dating relationships, marriage, but the best love of all is closer to us than we think, it comes from within us, it comes from developing our spiritual

3. Make the tough decisions we know are best for us but have lacked the courage to do in the past. 4. Confront patterns of sin that do you harm. 5. Commit to doing some of the hard work needed within the community to bring God into the lives of those who as yet have not opened their hearts to Him. 6. Read more of the Bible. 7. Give your family more of your time, attention and love. 8. Forgive those who have hurt you and aim to heal the wounds of those you have hurt. 10 www.uponthisrock.gi

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A NEW YEAR

... AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A FRESH START

life with God. This love comes from a decision to consider the needs of others ahead of your own needs, to live sacrificially, to give without demanding a return, to overlook an offense, most of all it comes from a decision to receive and respond to God’s love. For all our efforts to love others will not bear fruit unless we are responding to His love. As the Bible says, “We love, because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). We often find it difficult to overcome barriers to love. These barriers often arise from our experiences in the past, the hurts, wounds, rejections and disappointments that left us unable to give or receive true love. The key to overcoming the barriers of the past can be summed up in one word, forgiveness. By asking the forgiveness of those we have offended, beginning with God, and then forgiving those who have offended us, we move beyond the cycle of bitterness and enter into the realm of

R ISTI A

God’s love. Our own self-centred desires, pride, envy, jealousy and conceit -- often separate us from God’s true love. This barrier of self can be overcome only through repentance, by turning away from sin and asking God’s forgiveness for selfish desires and actions. As we humble ourselves before the Lord and receive His forgiveness, we will find freedom to look beyond our own needs and reach out to those around us.

With this New Year you have an opportunity to turn your lives around and experience this perfect love from God. Rather than focus on material things, focus your New Year resolutions on developing your spiritual life. The Cursillo Movement offers you an excellent opportunity to do this by inviting you to attend one of their Cursillo weekends, why not make this one of your New Year resolutions. The next Cursillo weekends are being

held at the Retreat Centre from the 30th March till the 2nd April 2017 for women and from the 18th till the 21st May 2017 for men. If you are interested in attending please contact us on 58008885 or send us an email on cursillogibraltar@ gmail.com and we shall send you an enrolment form, we look forward to seeing you there. God Bless Cursillo Team Leaders

FUNDING AVAILABLE

MIS

The Christian Mission Trust provides local Christians with donations for evangelistic SI O N TR initiatives and outreaches. The Trust is ecumenical and has provided money to many groups, individuals and churches during the last 12 years. It is run by a Board of Trustees.

We invite applications for funding from anyone who wishes to launch an evangelistic initiative or who needs support for an existing Christian missionary activity. Please write to: The Chairman, Christian Mission Trust, 4 South Pavilion Road, Gibraltar.

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Anne Mesilio

Healing an

Heart

ive days before Christmas a newspaper headline screamed at me; CHRISTMAS TERROR. I was shocked, since when do we associate Christmas with terror? If you think about it, acts of terror can be traced back a long, long way. Consider the biblical story of Herod’s massacre of the innocent because he feared for his throne. Love, peace, joy and goodwill seem to have been obliterated by terrorist acts against humanity in many parts of the world. Will it ever stop, are we living a relentless Groundhog Day of the slaughter of the innocent? There is another kind of terror, one which strikes fear into the hearts of those diagnosed with cancer and of course their immediate families. Just the word cancer makes you want to run for cover, but to the person diagnosed it becomes a real mortal enemy that must be faced every single day and often for an unspecified time. Life changes for everyone as

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the battle commences to curb or defeat this evil invader. Cancer is not the only illness to change the course of lives. Stroke does this too, often leaving the life once known totally changed and learning a new way to continue with an empty heart. I’ve chosen cancer in memory of our friend Jane who died a year ago, not yet fifty three years old and very definitely leaving empty hearts. Her loss was difficult to deal with. Her diagnosis stunned her family and those who called her friend. This beautiful woman came from a loving family, her parents and two brothers. She in turn created a loving family of her own with her husband and two sons. As a friend she was perhaps different things to all of us but the common denominator was this; a friend is someone you look forward to seeing and vice versa, someone who will always try to help, even not knowing how, and this is how in her hour of need, we her friends saw her through the last three months of her life. Terror breathes fear, whether

it be on a global scale of heinous acts against humanity, or closer to home facing challenges hitherto not encountered. So it was with us, as we faced into this unknown road to accompany Jane on her journey through her cancer. Simply put, we did not know how to do this. So, we came with smiles, jokes, encouragement, love ‘n’ laughter and so often she joined in and it was heart warming to catch a glimpse of the friend we knew and loved, and were losing, day by heart breaking day. There were no rules here, we made it up as we went along. When she needed a shower we were there, we became self styled experts at washing her hair in bed, then blow dried and styled amongst much banter and girl talk. Looking back these are moments to treasure. Sometimes it was just to sit quietly flicking through a magazine as she slept. We played cards, read poetry, admired some spectacular sunsets from her hospital bed, and so it went on.

If this was a new road for us, imagine how unknown it was for Jane, who had no choice but to travel it. Any of us could have opted out at any time, but to our credit we struggled along as best we could. Sometimes, standing at the ward door the last thing I wanted to do was to go in and face the reality of her dying. It became emotionally difficult to watch her once vital body begin its natural process of slowing down its functions and the physical changes this evoked. All we could do was let her know we loved her and comfort her as best we could. We knew her end was near and when the time came, she went peacefully. Her suffering was over but ours was about to begin. Life became unreal with times of sadness, pain and helplessness which would wash over us like unexpected waves. We had to learn to surf these and often it was scary but somehow we washed up on shore, a little battered maybe but ready to go on, however shakily. “Therefore encourage one

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Coping with personal loss.

A year has gone by but she lives on in our hearts.

It is well to step gently on the road to recovery. Again there are no rules, making this a very difficult route to follow. If I have learned anything, it is that there is no way round it, only through it. Standing amidst the desolation of this personal loss, I have to acknowledge that the dimension of loss, of those left devastated by terrorist acts, defies understanding. Standing, literally,

amongst the rubble of destruction of homes, livelihoods, lives lost, it is beyond my comprehension how human beings can ever hope to heal their empty hearts. Somehow, we go on. The human heart is resilient and stronger than supposed. It has been said;

“Death leaves a heartache no one can heal but Love leaves a memory no one can steal”. Love you Jane.

215 main street

The Serenity Prayer God grant me the serenity To accept the things I cannot change; Courage to change the things I can; And wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time; Enjoying one moment at a time; Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; Taking, as He did, this sinful world As it is, not as I would have it; Trusting that He will make all things right If I surrender to His Will; So that I may be reasonably happy in this life And supremely happy with Him Forever and ever in the next. Amen.

A prayer to comfort

another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing”. (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

tel 20071717

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words by Johnnette Benkovic ©Women of Grace ©Living His Life Abundantly® she is scheduled to speak in Gibraltar this year. the grace; we need to cooperate with it. Seek the spiritual and emotional help necessary.

F our S teps

Step 3. Nurture the interior life.

of L ent

... continued from page 9 clutter and the clatter can crowd Him out. Lent provides us with opportunities to develop a contemplative attitude toward our lives. Our “desert” should include a time of reflection that looks back over the day, in light of God’s word, to see what He may be revealing. Attention to the liturgical readings of the Lenten season provides an ideal framework in which to contemplate the movement of God in the midst of our life’s events.

Step 2. Examine ourselves

Mother Teresa of Calcutta said, “We cannot decide to become saints without a great effort of renunciation, of resisting temptations, of

combat, of persecution, and all sorts of sacrifices. It is not possible to love God except at one’s own expense.” How this wisdom contrasts with the tenor of today’s culture, which urges us to have it all, do it all, and pursue it all! But, Mother Teresa’s words state what Jesus Himself instructs us to do: “Pick up your cross and follow me” (Luke 9:23). Like the wilderness provided for the desert fathers, our Lent provides us with the opportunity to confront ourselves, and everything within us, that needs to be renounced, converted, changed and sacrificed. We must ask the Holy Spirit to illuminate our darkness that we might submit it to the mercy of God. In this way, we come closer to Him who is All Holy. Therefore, part of our l Christian Literature l Papal Encyclicals l Lives of the Saints l Apologetics l Catholic Catechism

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nighttime reflection should be an examination of conscience based on the Ten Commandments, the teachings of the Church, and the Beatitudes. In light of these holy mandates, we should look honestly at our actions, our thoughts and attitudes, and the words we have spoken throughout the day. Our Christian call is to be a conduit of the Father’s love. How nearly have we conformed to this ideal through the course of our day? Be on the alert for any repetitive weaknesses, tendencies, or sins. When we err in a certain way on an on-going basis, it is time to wage a holy war against that particular vice or weakness. Lent is the perfect time for the struggle, and the desert fathers give us good instruction on how to do it – practice the virtue opposite the vice. If the struggle is with avarice or greed, practice generosity. If the struggle is with gossip and criticism, restrain the tongue. If the struggle is with sins against purity (pornography, unclean thoughts or desires, immodest dress), clean house: replace indecent thoughts with holy thoughts, change the wardrobe. Lent offers us the opportunity to put these debilities of the spirit to rest once and for all. At the end of forty days, we will have overcome a bad habit with a good one and Christ will be victorious in us. Finally, make Lent an opportunity to confront some of the major obstacles and hindrances in our lives. Through the light of grace, face the truth of our situation. If we have an addiction to any substance or behaviour, if we are living in a relationship that is outside of God’s laws, if we are abusive in word or deed, if we need inner healing, if we have been caught up in the occult, now is the time to break with it. God is giving us

The barrenness of the desert produced great spiritual fruit in the lives of the desert fathers. So, too, our Lenten “desert” can yield an abundant harvest for us as well. Daily prayer and a regular examination of conscience should lead us to the sacraments, to pious devotion, and to works of mercy. In her wisdom, Holy Mother Church instructs us to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation during the season of Lent. It is through this sacrament that we receive the grace necessary to overcome the tactics and wiles of the evil one, to gain ground in our battle against personal sin, and to deal a mortal blow to particular weaknesses and failings. But, the Sacrament of Reconciliation does more besides. “The Lord Jesus Christ, physician of our souls and bodies, who forgave the sins of the paralytic and restored him to bodily health, has willed that his Church continue, in the power of the Holy Spirit, his work of healing and salvation, even among her own members. This is the purpose of … the sacrament of Penance (CCC #1421). Through the grace of regeneration available in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, our sins are forgiven and health is restored. Once again, our souls become a fertile garden, capable of producing the sweetest of fruit. Such an interior disposition of heart leads to a deeper devotion to the things of God. Reception of the Eucharist becomes what Our Lord intended it to be: a moment of union with His Real Presence; the liturgy becomes an opportunity to enter more deeply into the Sacred Mysteries; recitation of the Rosary, the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, private prayer, and other pious devotions work within the receptive soul to produce abundant fruit. Like a garden irrigated by natural springs, grace bubbles up in the devout soul from the Fountain of Life Who is the Holy Spirit.

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And, as the springs prepare the soil for new growth, the grace in a holy soul enriches the lives of others through works of mercy and charitable acts. “All that we do to transform and improve our souls serves the divine cause” (Elisabeth Leseur). And that divine cause is the salvation of souls. Our life in Christ, nurtured through the sacraments and pious devotion, becomes a source of new life for others.

Step 4. Treasure the gift of redemption.

Through His act of total selfdonation, Jesus pours out His most precious blood that we might be saved from the evils of sin and death. The Cross of Christ becomes the tree of life and all who embrace it find salvation. To cultivate reverence and gratitude for the passion of Jesus, we must enter into it. We must allow ourselves to meditate upon the great mystery of our salvation and the love which informed it. We must sojourn with Jesus along the Via Dolorosa uniting to His passion our weaknesses, our frailties, our sufferings, our struggles. We must keep watch at the foot of the cross with Mary, our mother, and St. John – silent witnesses to the most important moment in human history. We must hold Our Lord’s tortured body in our arms, as did our Mother. And, we must lay Him to rest in the dark tomb, anticipating what Mary and John may only have known by faith, that Jesus will rise, and sin and death will be overcome. The Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary and the Stations of

editorial suggested by Dr. Monique Risso. the Cross will lead us into the passion. A prayerful reading of the passion accounts in the Gospels will cultivate gratitude for our redemption. Fruitful meditation of the passion will stir holy devotion and reverence for the wounds of Christ. By entering the Paschal Mystery our own sufferings will become a source of grace for ourselves and others as we unite them to the passion of Jesus Christ. Our retreat to the Lenten Desert can be a source of abundant life for us and for others. God is always giving us the grace to grow in holiness and relationship with Him. We have only to cooperate with it. Through prayer, meditation, repentance, conversion, reception of the sacraments, pious devotions, works of mercy, and loving reflection on the paschal mystery, our “desert” will produce much fruit and yield a great harvest. Let us seek to make this Lent, then, a time of discovery. As we retreat into our “desert” may we find there the love of God, the courage of Christ, and the perseverance of the desert fathers so that we might be the salt of the earth and a light in the world today.