Nov 2020 233

Teen Tech Carlo Acutis Patron Saint of the Internet?

I am delighted to once again offer you readers some thoughts that have been plaguing my mind.

I hope that it may benefit someone.

It is something that has caused much of my grey matter to work on overdrive.

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Uncloistered Faith

G. K. Chesterton once observed, “Christianity has not been tried and found difficult. It has been found difficult and left untried.”

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hristianity wasn’t meant to be safe and comfortable… it was meant to storm the gates of hell. “Cloistered Christianity” is faith tucked away somewhere safe and secure, faith shut off from the problems and dangers of the real world. My sense is that “cloistered Christianity” is faith based on fear rather than hope. The tendency to cloister our faith isn’t based on a love

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for our faith, nor upon love for the object of our faith. Rather, I think it is based on fear that our faith won’t hold up to the rough and tumble of the real world.

Cloistered faith has its biggest

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arguments over the smallest issues, it’s grandest victories over our foes.

Cloistered faith is neat, tidy, and polite but rarely noticed by those who are not practicing it.

At its best, cloistered Christianity misses out on the impact it could have building God’s kingdom, whether that be around the world, or down the street. At it’s worst, it’s primary objective of cloistered faith is to

defend the status quo, spending more and more of its time arguing over smaller and smaller matters, be they periphery matters of doctrine or the colour of the church carpet. While there is nothing wrong with tea parties, chance dinners and an attractive carpet, these should not be the focus of the church’s energy. True religion cares for widows and orphans, and dirties itself by following the example of the Good Samaritan, stopping along the roadside to rescue those brutalized by sin. Faith that is uncloistered is more about sacrifice than security, less about defending ours and more about being His. This reminds us that in this time of protecting ourselves: social distancing, face-masks, sanitisation, and so on…. we are not to become cloistered Christians. Jesus’ call to love and care is still in force! Faith cannot be interrupted or postponed.

The danger in these situations is that measures become the all important at the detriment of our faith. In a way, we cage in our faith! We say to ourselves that it’s okay to put aside our beliefs for now. But, is it really okay?

We Christians have a long history of responding to epidemics. This is not the first time that the world has had to deal with a pandemic that has no known vaccine or cure. Some of the Christian response to such plagues of the past that suddenly arose, like COVID-19, comes to us from the Sacred Scripture that we share, such as: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”; “Love your neighbour as yourself”; “Greater love has no man than this, that he should lay down his life for his friends.” In essence the Christian view is that during a pandemic plague, the life of our neighbour and their well being should come

before preoccupation with saving our own life.

In ancient times Christians were eventually admired in the Roman Empire for their fearless care for the sick. Some historians contend that during the horrible Antonine Plague of 165-180 AD, when soldiers brought back either smallpox or measles from the Near East which killed off a quarter of the Roman Empire, Christians were admired and many converted to Christianity because of their heroic outreach to the afflicted. Another outbreak in 250-270 AD, known as the Plague of Cyprian, originated in Ethiopia around Easter and spread to Rome, Greece and Syria. It killed more than 5,000 people per day in Rome. This plague was named for the great Saint Cyprian, bishop of Carthage, because he was a witness who recorded in great detail the spread of this pandemic influenza.

During this plague Saint Cyprian preached that Christians were not to waste their time grieving the death of the victims (who he preached were in heaven), but rather they were to redouble their efforts to care for the living afflicted. A fellow bishop of Saint Cyprian, Dionysius, wrote that Christians, “heedless of the dangers, took charge of the sick, attending to their every need.” The heroic ministry of Christians of the third century led to an explosive mass conversion to Christianity. A century after this pandemic, the pagan Emperor Julian noted that “the Galileans” cared not only for their own but even non-Christian people who were sick or in need of any kind. In fact, historians that study these episodic plagues throughout ancient times note that death rates in cities with large Christian communities had a death rate half the number of

cities that did not.

Moving closer to modern times we can look at the Christian response to what is known as the Influenza Epidemic of 1918-19, also known as the “Spanish flu” -the deadliest in human history.

This terrible pandemic killed over 50 million people around the world. In many parts of the world schools were closed and church services suspended, Many Bishops allowed diocesan buildings to be used as temporary hospitals, as a calling to all priests, non-cloistered nuns, and members of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul to minister to the victims of the Spanish flu.

Religious sisters of numerous orders rose en masse to serve their brothers and sisters. These sisters bravely charged into the thick of the danger to minister the love of Jesus to the suffering, and many of them died from the same flu. Note that the medical services and resources available today did not exist at that time. Many noted, including government officials, the great work and sacrifice of these men and women who practiced an uncloistered faith.

Pope Francis sent a message to the priests of his diocese that is really pertinent to all Christians. He challenged them to “have the courage to go out and go to the sick … accompanying health workers and volunteers, in this work they are doing!” We Christians are challenged to bring the healing presence of Christ to the suffering as the sainted people of the past. May we have the courage to love without fear!

So as not to cloister our faith, but while following Government and Church guidelines on safe social interaction, we need to ask ourselves: what is more important for me today, a mask, a virus, fear, death, or could it be faith or even… Jesus?

We may not all be required to be on the front lines, yet, shouldn’t we have the same faith as if we were? At least, should not we share the same faith as those Christians who took care of so many throughout history.

Photo Credits: Gloucester Cathedral, Photo courtesy Nilfanion, wikimedia.org. G. K. Chesterton, wordonfire.org Masked 1915 epidemic religious medical staff, Sistersofmercy.org

Editor: Fr. S. Chipolina: editor@uponthisrock.gi. Interim Editor Fr. Michael Bonifacio. 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, many businesses around Gibraltar every month Covid-19 guidelines permitting.

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.

Cover: Blessed Carlo Acutis poster courtesy of carloacutis.com

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WHY DO MANY

Rev. Dr. Bernard Farrell-Roberts MA STL PhD Deacon

CATHOLICS

WANT TO GO TO CHURCH H

Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich, Archbishop of Luxembourg and President of the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union, recently stated in an interview in the Vatican newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano, that

“Many Catholics in Europe will not return to Mass or parish activities once the Covid-19 restrictions are lifted.”1 4

e went on to state that European culture continues to have “remnants” of the Christianity that formed it, a Christianity that can be seen in democracy, the defence of human rights, public policies of aid to poor countries, and social safety nets. However, as he said, “Sometimes secular or secularist Europe presents itself in Christian clothes, but they are just clothes”.

Is the Cardinal right? I would be surprised if any of us disagreed with him. We have all been witnessing the signs over the years, the decreasing numbers in churches, the parishes that have merged with each other, and seen our society becoming increasingly secular and materialistic.

He finished his interview by saying: “I think it will be a great opportunity for the church. We must understand what’s at stake, and we must react by deploying new missionary structures. And when I say missionary, I mean action and word at the same time.”

The Cardinal is right to see this as an opportunity for renewal in the Church, but I believe that such renewal will only happen if first of all Catholics understand what exactly we mean by our “Church”, when they

understand what a privilege it is to be a member of this Church, and change the question from “Why do I need to go to church?” to “Why would I not want to go to church?”

That some individuals might consider not returning to Church after lockdown is understandable. Practicing our faith during lockdown became so easy, as countless Church ministers did everything they could to enable us to practice our faith without leaving our armchairs. Whilst churches remained closed for weeks on end, Masses and other devotional activities were screened live on the internet, along with numerous reflections and sermons, and we even saw online prayer communities spring up. All of these were delivered to us on a plate, in our homes, without the “inconvenience” of having to journey to a church building and back. However, when we speak of “returning to Church”, we are not speaking about going to a building, we are speaking about something far more important than this. We are talking about the “Church” spelt with a capital “C”. By “Church” we mean the “Mystical Body of Christ” that we are all part of, united both physically and spiritually to Christ himself. We are speaking about a precious gift that God has given to each and every one of the Church’s members.

St. Paul often speaks of Christ as the Church, and us all as parts of his Mystical Body.

For example, he told us: “He is also the head of the body, which is the church.” Col. 1:18; and “I fill up in my flesh what is lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions for the sake of His body, which is the church;” Col.1:24; and then “Now you are the body of Christ and

individually members of it” 1 Cor. 12:27.

St. Paul also emphasised the nature and strength of the union that members of the Church enjoy with each other: “For as one body we have many parts, and all the parts do not have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ and individually parts of one another. Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us exercise them.” (Romans 12: 4-8).

St. Paul refers here to the ‘gifts’ that we each have, the skills, talents and vocations each of us has been gifted with, or called to, that differ from the gifts that others may have received. We are all unique and have a unique role to play in God’s Body on earth. All God wants is for each of us to say yes to this role, participate fully, and use our uniqueness in the way that He desires.

St. Paul made it very clear that each and every one of us is given these gifts, and is called to use them towards one unique goal: the praise, glory, worship and honour of God. Just like cells in a human body, it is through being united to the body, and thus united to each other, that each one of us is able to fulfil his or her objective of serving the entire body.

St. Paul said: “… to him who is the head, Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, with the proper functioning of each part, brings about the body’s growth and builds itself up in love,” (Ephesians 4: 15-16).

In order for the Church, the Body of Christ, to bear the fruit that God wishes it to bear, each of us is called to

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JESUS’ IMAGE IS A COLLAGE OF PEOPLE’S FACES REPRESENTING THE WAY WE ALL MAKE UP THE BODY OF CHRIST IN OUR COMMUNITIES use our special gifts. Jesus told us “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers”. (John 15:5). With our gifts, and our membership of the Church, comes great responsibility. In order to be fruitful we must be united with our Church community, united with Christ and with each other, both spiritually and physically.

We must work with our fellow Church members in worldwide harmony.

However, in order to bear fruit, we need to be nourished, just as the vine needs nourishment in order for its branches to bear fruit.

And where do we receive the spiritual and physical nourishment that we need?

The answer is simple, we do so through the celebration of the Eucharist and the Sacraments in our churches. So why wouldn’t we wish to return to our Church in our church buildings – after all, our own

salvation is intrinsically linked to receiving this nourishment. I do not believe that any Church member wants to be a branch that does not bear fruit, that is only fit to be thrown away. Or that any Church member wants to deprive himself or herself of the grace and nourishment that they require to bear fruit, and gain their salvation.

Always remember then that the Catholic Church is not simply Christ’s representative on earth, it is Christ Himself, living an incarnate life in the bodies of His members, in us, and together with Christ we are the Mystical Body of Christ on earth. The Church is the body in and through which Christ continues to live and love and speak and will do so until His Second Coming. Christ is present among us in his Church just as truly as when He lived

and loved and spoke in the Holy Land two thousand years ago.

Through the Eucharist and the sacraments, our faith and life in Christ is nourished, giving us the strength we need to use our gifts, and take Christ to others. In this way we are able to produce the fruit that He wishes us to, fulfil our purpose as parts of His body on earth, and secure our eternal salvation.

What a wonderful opportunity He gives us – and all we have to do is go to Church to meet and be nourished by him! Why wouldn’t we wish to?

Of course, our merciful God

understands when, through frailty, ill health, or other such reasons, we are unable to join our Church community in our churches. At such a time we are called to fulfil our role in the Mystical Body through our prayer and willing acceptance of that frailty or suffering, uniting it as St. Paul did with the suffering of Christ for the salvation of humanity. This, in these cases, becomes the role in the Mystical Body that we are called to take up. The role by which we bear fruit. tinyurl.com/UTR-church Accessed 06.10.2020

FUNDING AVAILABLE

The Christian Mission Trust provides local Christians with donations for evangelistic 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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Rebuilding Beirut

Maria Lozano, John Pontifex and Fionn Shiner report on how Bishop Carmel Zammit’s Lenten appeal

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atholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) has announced another massive programme of aid to help Beirut rise up from the ashes following the explosion in August.

The latest grants by the charity for persecuted and other suffering Christians mean that in total ACN has committed £4.53m in the wake of the 4th August 2020 blast, which killed more than 200 people, with at least 6,000 injured and more than 300,000 made homeless.

The aid, announced on the 15th October, mostly provides repairs for church buildings in the immediate vicinity of the blast which caused particularly serious damage to an historic Christian quarter of the Lebanese capital.

The charity is helping to reconstruct the iconic Maronite Cathedral of St. George, which was badly damaged by the blast, and repair St. Saviour’s Melkite Greek Catholic Church.

Other buildings ACN will be helping to repair are Sisters’ convents including one at the hospital of the Sisters of the Holy Rosary and the Mother House of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary.

Dr. Thomas Heine-Geldern, ACN (international) Executive President, said the charity’s priority “is to provide the necessary funds to complete the essential emergency repair

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work before the arrival of winter in order to forestall still greater damage, caused by the winter rains for example, and at the same time to make these buildings usable”.

He stressed the importance of providing help, given Lebanon’s economic and healthcare crisis which predates the explosion and which has caused the Lebanese pound to lose 80 percent of its value against the US dollar.

Dr. Heine-Geldern said: “The Christians of Lebanon feel very much alone at the present time and are considering emigration as a solution to their problems.

“Pope John Paul II said that Lebanon has a special mission in the Middle East. ACN will always remember it. We will therefore continue to support the Christians in this country and [the charity is] not going to leave them to face this task alone.”

This latest grant from ACN comes on top of aid approved within days of the blast, providing emergency support for 5,880 homeless families.

Last month, ACN carried out a fact-finding and projectassessment trip to Beirut led by Reinhard Backes, the charity’s project coordinator for the region.

Background Image: Repairs to a church in Beirut © Aid to the Church in Need. Top Left: Hospital of the Sisters of the Holy Rosary – praying for a nurse killed in the explosion in Beirut on 4th August 2020 courtesy of Fr. Samer Nassif.

Left: the blast © ACN/Saglietti

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fun

eal

funds are used to help Christians around the world.

A benefactor of leading Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) has raised more than £2,700 for the people of Beirut by walking 100 kilometres (62 miles) in three weeks.

A

nnie Martin, 68, from the Ealing Abbey ACN parish group in west London, told the charity that she embarked on her challenge after being horrified by the explosion in the Lebanese capital.

More than 200 people died following the blast in early August, at least 6,000 were injured and more than 300,000 were made homeless.

Mrs Martin said: “It was the Holy Spirit that gave me the idea because I was moved by what happened in Lebanon.

“Social distancing ruled out what I would usually do to raise funds but I thought to myself, ‘I can go for a walk, that won’t hurt anyone.’”

Mrs Martin started her series of walks on 14th September and finished at 6:08pm on 4th October – exactly two months after the explosion in Beirut.

While on her walks, Mrs Martin prayed the Rosary, which she said helped her connect with the people of Beirut and their suffering.

She said: “I wasn’t quite sure how it would go but each day I was walking, most of the time I managed to say a decade of the Rosary.

“I would select a particular

She walked 100kmfor 300,000 people made homeless in Beirut blast

mystery to help me understand the situation in Beirut.

“The habit has stayed with me. This morning I meditated on the scourging of the pillar and it made me think of all those shards of broken glass after the explosion, and the dreadful injuries they caused. I don’t want to boast but praying as I walked really helped.”

Following the explosion, ACN provided emergency aid, including a £226,000 food package targeted at poor families.

Mrs Martin said: “The family packs in particular were a good motivator for me to do the walk and they attracted a lot of donations.

“The donors I talked to trust ACN and felt that the funds would be used wisely.”

ACN is preparing a new wave of aid of £1.8 million, which involves the restoration of several churches as well as monasteries, presbyteries, catechetical centres and convents.

Neville Kyrke-Smith, National

The world is largely silent in the face of Christian persecution. The scale of the problem is so great, silence is no longer acceptable. Persecuted Christians need YOU - and all of us! Together our prayers and actions can make a difference.

You can PLEDGE YOUR SOLIDARITY by: • Praying ACN’s Prayer found in leaflets in your local Church, or your own prayers for Persecuted Christians in danger.

• Sharing this article and Christian Persecution facts with others so that all understand the need.

Following the Beirut explosion, ACN provided emergency aid, including a £226,000 food package targeted at poor families, please help us to help them!

Set up a monthly gift:

Bishop Carmel Zammit Lenten Appeal for‘Aid to the Church in Need’, Gibraltar International Bank, Account Name: ‘Trustees RCC/CAN’ Account Number: 00812022, Sort Code: 60-83-14.

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Director, ACN (UK), said benefactors – like Mrs Martin – have responded generously during the coronavirus pandemic.

He said: “Annie has gone the extra mile – in fact, an amazing 100 kilometres – to help those in such dire need in Lebanon.

She stepped out in faith, hope and charity, as a friend of the suffering.

“We have been so encouraged by the wonderful response of our friends and benefactors, especially during this difficult time.

“Thank you, Annie, and all the faith-filled friends of ACN.” ACN is looking for people to take on a personal challenge for the charity. Please contact Dr. Caroline Hull, the charity’s community outreach manager: caroline.hull@acnuk.org on +44 (0)781 553 8425.

Image Annie Martin: © Aid to the Church in Need

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Teen Tech Maria Fazio Associated Press writes…

a hero for our times I

n many ways, Carlo Acutis was a typical teenager. He loved his PlayStation and making videos of his dogs.

He favoured Nikes and jeans, had a mobile phone and an email address.

But in one significant respect, Carlo — who was just 15 when he died of leukemia in 2006 — stands out from his peers: he is on his way to becoming the first millennial to be recognized as a saint in the Roman Catholic Church.

Carlo, born in London but who lived in Milan, was beatified, or declared “blessed” by the pope, on Saturday 10th October after

CNS photo | Junno Arocho Esteves

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Carlos Acutis | courtesy Acutis Family

Carlo Acutis died when he was only 15 years old in 2006, an early adopter of the internet, he built beautiful database driven websites with ‘Exhibitions’ of, for example, Eucharistic Miracles and Marian Aparitions.

a miracle was attributed to him earlier this year. The ceremony, in Assisi, Italy, was the secondto-last step before Carlo can be canonized as a saint.

Since his death, Carlo has become known, in some Catholic circles, as the patron saint of the internet. Due to his facility with computers and early and enthusiastic embrace of the web, which he used as an expression of his Catholic faith.

His mother, Antonia Acutis, shared in a phone interview that when he was 9, Carlo began studying computer science textbooks and taught himself computer programming and graphic design. In the months

before his death, he created a website that cataloged miracles.

“Carlo was the light answer to the dark side of the web,” his mother said, adding that some admirers have called him an “influencer for God.” Her son’s life, she said, “can be used to show how the internet can be used for good, to spread good things.”

After his death, the Diocese of Assisi, where his family had a second home, petitioned the Vatican to recognize Carlo as a saint. The diocese dug into his emails and computer search history, and interviewed witnesses. Then they waited for miracles.

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h

r s

One of hundreds of web pages by self taught Carlo Acutis’ from the multi-language database driven website http://www.themarianapparitions.org

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Blessed Carlo Acutis, a teen tech hero for our times.

Carlo’s mother, Antonia Acutis, said her son’s life “can be used to show how the internet can be used for good, to spread good things.”

Ms. Acutis said that people from all over the world had told her about medical miracles, including cures for infertility and cancer, that happened after they prayed to her son.

In February, Pope Francis attributed the unexplainable healing of a boy with a malformed pancreas to Carlo after the child came in contact with one of his shirts.

Now that he has been beatified, Carlo could become a saint if a second verified miracle is attributed to him and is recognized by the pope. A formal canonization ceremony would follow.

If that happens, Carlo would be joining an elite group. Among the more than 10,000 saints recognized by the Roman Catholic Church, just 120 died as children or teenagers, the National Catholic Register reported in 2017.

The time between beatification and sainthood varies widely, and sainthood might not happen at all, said Kathleen Sprows Cummings, a professor of American studies and history and the director of the Cushwa Center for the Study of American Catholicism at the University of Notre Dame.

For some saints, including Joan of Arc, who died when she was about 19, centuries pass between death and canonization.

Hundreds of masked devotees,

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including Carlo’s parents and siblings, gathered in Assisi on Saturday for his beatification ceremony, which was postponed from March because of the coronavirus. Many watched on screens that were spread throughout the town’s piazzas as a church official read a letter from Pope Francis that declared Carlo “blessed.”

“Already Carlo, he’s only just been beatified, but already he’s a worldwide phenomenon,” said Fr. Will Conquer, a Catholic priest and missionary in Cambodia who has written about Carlo’s path to sainthood.

“What makes it so extraordinary is that he was ordinary. We’re telling people the guy you should be following is a guy very similar to you.”

Carlo’s body, which was exhumed for veneration this

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month, was displayed in a nearby church with him wearing his Nikes, jeans and a sweater.

Those signs of modernity resonated with many young people who see themselves in him, said Paul Jarzembowski, who leads the U.S. Council for Catholic Bishops’ youth and young adult ministries. Carlo was not a theological writer or world leader, he said, but rather an ordinary young person with compassion, a drive to integrate faith into his daily life and “a dedication to make the world a better place.”

“He is truly a patron for our self-isolating, digitally reliant times, and for other young people who are now accompanying all of us as we enter more fully into this new normal,” Mr Jarzembowski said.

Born in London to Italian parents, Carlo moved to Milan with his family as a child.

He enjoyed soccer and video games, including Pokémon and Mario Kart, limiting himself to one hour a week with those games, his mother said.

He was inquisitive about

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Catholicism from a young age, inspiring his mother, who was not a practicing Catholic at the time, to return to the faith. He attended daily Mass from the time he was 7, never missing a day, she shared.

Carlo sought ways of helping poor, older and disabled people, and refugees. On the way to school, he would stop to chat with people about their problems, she said. He took meals and sleeping bags to homeless people and knew many by name.

At Carlo’s funeral, the church overflowed with people whose lives he had touched.

“People are gravitating to the idea of a young person becoming a saint at a time when young people are leaving the church, becoming disenchanted with the church,” Professor Cummings said.

And, as people worry about the corrosive effects of social media on young people, it is notable, she said, that the Church is recognizing a person who used the internet to promote the faith.

Pope Francis has embraced the internet and called it a “gift

Songs For Worship & Praise | YouTube

from God.” Writing to young people last year, he commended Carlo as an example for his use of the internet and quoted him as saying, “Everyone is born as an original, but many people end up dying as photocopies.”

The pope added, “Don’t let that happen to you!”

On Monday, the pope wrote on Twitter that Carlo’s example showed that “true happiness is found by putting God in first place and serving Him in our brothers and sisters, especially the least.”

Pope Francis, who has been known to embrace the internet — notably with Twitter and Instagram accounts — has been outspoken about the harmful effects of social media and the depravity of internet culture.

Carlo’s beatification comes at a time when technology has been integrated into religion as never before, as online streaming allows the faithful to participate in services under coronavirus restrictions.

Carlo’s life has inspired hundreds of social media pages as well as books and documentaries. YouTube videos show him as a young boy, sticking his tongue out at the camera and goofing around, playing air guitar and singing.

“There’s really nothing extraordinary about his life,” Fr. Conquer said of Carlo.

“Everything that he did you can do, honestly. And that’s what gives us all a lot of hope.”

Associated Press

By Marie Fazio, find the full article tinyurl.com/UTR-carlo From the official website of the Carlo Acutis Association and the Cause of Beatification of the Venerable Servant of God Carlo Acutis we publish

two forwards, one foreword by Cardinal Angelo Comastri: “To always be close to Jesus, that’s my life plan”. With these few words Carlo Acutis, the boy who died of leukaemia, outlines the distinguishing feature of his brief existence: to live with Jesus, for Jesus, and in Jesus. “…I’m happy to die because I’ve lived my life without wasting even a minute of it doing things that wouldn’t have pleased God”. Carlo also asks the same thing of us - to emulate the Gospel with our life, so that we can be a beacon lighting the way for others.

On one page of the official website there is ‘Carlo Acutis ‘Live’’ a webcam focused on his tomb, where prayer requests can be left on the web page the Association “Amici di Carlo for Acutis” so people can ‘benefit every day from Masses and prayers that are celebrated by some cloistered monks and the family of the Venerable Servant of God Carlo Acutis’

Sponsored by

One of Carlo’s websites www. themarianapparitions.org/ is a beautifully constructed database with Apparitions and Marian Shrines from around the World, see previous page.

Another is the “EUCHARISTIC MIRACLES” Exhibition featuring Eucharistic Miracles created and designed by the Servant of God Carlo Acutis: www.miracolieucaristici.org It is amazing that this young man has dedicated so much time to this work. It must have taken him thousands of hours to collate and present the data online in the database pages he called exhibitions, it is a true labour of love by a hybrid technical and artistic genius.

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Are you feeling S.A.D?

N

ovember has arrived and with it the spectre of shorter days, longer nights, and as Thomas Hood (English poet, 1799-1845) would have it, “No shade, no shine, no butterflies, no flowers, no leaves, no birds, November”.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that’s related to changes in seasons. SAD begins and ends at about the same times every year. If you’re like most people

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with SAD, your symptoms start in the autumn and continue into the winter months, sapping your energy and making you feel moody. OK, not everyone will succumb to this of course but I fear there is a more insidious sadness out there. Winter has arrived in the northern hemisphere and nature prepares to make her winter bed, often a white silent one where life can huddle till the coming of spring. The once colourful vibrant life of the trees now stand stripped and bare making me ache for them, all this as the impressive V shaped migratory wild geese, wings beating across a pale washed sky of grey head south for the winter. I admit to being a bit whimsical here, and maybe nostalgic. Often as a youngster I watched in awe, alerted by the plaintative honking as these

geese flew over, a true herald of the cold months ahead.

Often at this time of the yearly cycle a brooding loneliness would overcome me. Now I understand the vulnerability of this moment, living in the country we were often cut off from others by heavy snowfalls flooding from ferocious storms.

We had to be sufficient unto ourselves. A scary place to be.

That same feeling haunts me now as we turn our faces towards a winter that could be like no other, as so far this year, 2020, has proved. Covid-19 still stalks, ready to pounce on the unwary, bringing suffering and sadness on a global scale. In a new encyclical, “Fratelli Tutti” (“All Brothers” in Italian) Pope Francis encourages “political leaders to work actively for the common good, to provide the means and resources to enable

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November everyone to lead a dignified life and when circumstance allow, to assist them in resuming their normal daily activities”. He goes on to share the conviction that we are one single human family, “there is no room for the globalisation of indifference”.

Most will be aware of the parable of the Good Samaritan: The parable of the Good Samaritan is told by Jesus in the Gospel of Luke (Lk 10:25– 37). It is about a traveller who is stripped of clothing, beaten, and left half dead alongside the road. First a Jewish priest and then a Levite comes by, but both avoid the man. We live in a world so fast paced sometimes that we have no time to look out for others needs.

Now, and I speak for myself, I do not go around carrying a medical kit in case I come

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Anne Mesilio writes… ©Telescope Paul | apertureastronomy.wordpress.com

across some poor suffering soul in need of help, but I assume few would pass by someone in trouble at the roadside and not stop to offer help. Well, according to the parable that is what happened so we must take cognisance of this fact and become aware of those around us, be ready in fellowship with our suffering brother to try and make his lot easier. According to the Pope if we do not “Any other decision would make us either one of the robbers or one of those who walked by without showing compassion for the sufferings of the man at the roadside”. He goes on: “we must regain the conviction that we need one another, that we have a shared responsibility for others and the world, and that being good and decent are worth it”.

That shared responsibility must rest heavy on our shoulders as winter sets in and we become, and remain, Covid Aware. This virus has the attention of the whole world yet, the pandemic is disrupting every aspect of people’s lives in an unprecedented

manner. We must not forget that beauty surrounds us, even in November. This is rather poignant: “the month of crimson sunsets, parting birds, deep, sad hymns of the sea, passionate wind songs in the pines” (Anne of Green Gables).

It will of course be possible to spend time outdoors too as we live here on the Rock in a benign climate. Protection starts with me, observing the safety protocols means I am then protecting you, and so on, we

can and must do it. Life is and can remain good to be enjoyed as long as we all play our part, looking out for each other.

Came across this quote recently, it made me smile, hope it will you too: “A grey day and a sad morning, tea and chocolate in the evenings, and warm memories for dessert” There is always something to be thankful for.

“There is no room for the globalisation of indifference.”

FACT: When a goose gets sick or is wounded and falls, two geese fall out of formation and follow him down to help protect him.

They stay with him until the crisis resolves, and then they launch out on their own or with another formation to catch up with their group.

Truth: We must stand by others in times of need.

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13

Nuestra Señora de E

The hermitage of

Manolo Galliano’s serialisation of the History of the Churches of Gibraltar.

Continuing a series of articles especially edited for Upon This Rock readers, dedicated to the history of Gibraltar’s many churches and chapels – not only those which are in existence in the present day, but also the very many religious establishments which were the centre of daily life on the Rock since the early 14th century.

I

n the 12th and 13th centuries, a small Muslim settlement, the Corral de Fez [Market of Fez], was established on Europa Flats; this is corroborated by the subterranean cistern, popularly known as the Nun’s Well, constructed circa 1160.

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Part one

It is likely that a small mosque, later forming part of the original hermitage, might date from the late 14th century, possibly constructed under instructions of the Nasrid Sultan Abu Abdallah Muhammed V of Granada. The mosque with its mihrab [prayer niche] inserted in the quibla wall [direction of the Kaaba in Mecca] would probably have had attached to it a small square manāra [minaret]; it is unclear whether the mosaic style paving, to the north of the building, actually dates back to the Moorish period.

It is said that this Islamic place

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of prayer was converted into a small chapel, following the capture of Gibraltar by Castilian forces on 12th September 1309, although there is no valid documentary evidence for this.

Furthermore, during the short period of 24 years of Christian occupation of the Rock, until its recapture by Muslim forces on 17th June 1333, this building was located in an isolated and insecure area. It would therefore always have been susceptible to constant attacks by the enemy, especially from Algeciras, Ronda, Castellar and Estepona, all in Muslim hands.

On 20th August 1462, Gibraltar was recovered from the Muslims and, in due course, the small mosque would have been ceremoniously purified and consecrated to the Virgin Mary under the title of Nuestra Señora de Europa [Our Lady of Europe]. This was very much in consonance with that of another image of the Virgin Mary, venerated in Ceuta across the Straits, under the title of Santa María de Africa [Our Lady of Africa] which was presented to that City by the Infante Dom Henrique of Portugal [Prince Henry the Navigator] in 1421.

As was often the case during the Late Medieval period with other Marian shrines, an element of an attributed apparition and the miraculous discovery of a holy image also manifested itself on the Rock. In this particular case, it was said that the Virgin Mary

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appeared to a poor shepherd, when he was tending his sheep in the vicinity and was told to inform the regiment and the priest that She wished a hermitage to be erected in Her honour at that spot. As proof of Her apparition, the shepherd’s maimed hand was miraculously made whole again in the presence of the authorities and when the whole City went in procession to the site, an image of the Virgin was discovered and subsequently venerated in the hermitage.

On 10th September 1540, a horde of Turkish pirates, under the command of Ali Amet

de Europa Left: 1154 map of Europe

by Muhammad Al-Idrissi and Caramani, arrived in the vicinity of the Bay of Gibraltar and proceeded to attack the City, in the process sacking the Hermitage of Our Lady of Europe. It is not known whether the original image of the Virgin and Child was destroyed or damaged in that fateful event.

Following the pirate assault of 1540, it was finally decided to make the hermitage more secure by creating a walled enclosure and by the construction of a smaller defensive tower in the northwest corner, adjacent to a fortified gateway. The southern side was taken up by

another single-storied building, measuring some 80 feet by 20 feet, which would have contained the living quarters of the resident hermit or keeper. In November 1602, the Presbyter Gutierrez Plaza, in his Last Will and Testament, made a substantial monetary provision to the hermitage: ‘I remit to Our Lady of Europe, whose abode is situated in the said City of Gibraltar, one hundred ducats in Reales so that in Her holy house and tower be placed a lantern on stormy nights so that people traversing the sea may see it properly and be able to enter the port, and if for this

reason should it be necessary to raise further the height of the tower, let it be so raised…’

This rudimentary beacon, the original forerunner of the Europa Lighthouse, would become a boon to all the many seafaring ships sailing past the Rock and would warn them of the treacherous rocks near the coastline.

To be continued.

This history of Gibraltar’s churches is comprised of extracts from the following series of books, written by the author of these articles and published by the Gibraltar

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Above: Depiction of Europa Point showing the location of the hermitage in 1608. Detail of drawing

by Cristobál de Rojas Heritage Trust - ‘Under the Shadow of the Crescent and the Cross’, ‘The Franciscan Monastery of Gibraltar’, ‘Of Monks and Nuns’ and ‘Mirrors of Sanctity’. The photographs and illustrations in these articles are by Victor M. Hermida L.R.P.S. These books are available at the Gibraltar Heritage Trust Shop.

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The Cornerstone Bookshop is a Catholic/ Christian bookshop.

We stock religious books for children and adults, booklets, CDs, DVDs and Nativity sets.

We also sell Gift Vouchers!

For opening hours please call: 200 50795

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