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Il-Papa Piju XII ( 2 ta’ Marzu 1876 - 9 t’ Ottubru 1958 ) fl-14 ta’ Frar 1958 ]atar lil S. Klara t’ Assisi b]ala Patruna tat-televi\joni bl-Ittra Appostolika ‘ Clarius explendescit’

Pittura ta’ Salvu Mallia, li tinsab fil-monasteru tal-Klarissi f’ S. Giljan

OORDNIRDNI TALTAL--PPATRIJIETATRIJIET M MINURIINURI -- M A L T A M A L T A PPROROVINĊJAVINĊJA F FRANĠISKANARANĠISKANA TATA’ S’ SANAN P PAWLAWL A APPOSTLUPPOSTLU

http://www.ofm.org.mthttp://www.ofm.org.mt NNRURU. 175 F. 175 FRARRAR 12 12

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L-Ittra Appostolika Clarius explendescit

Tag]rif storiku Hekk kif intemmu `-`elebrazzjonijiet tas-7 anniversarju tal-mewt ta’ S. Klara (1253-1953), li qanqlu aktar studju\i biex jistudjaw l-persuna ta’ Klara, l-avukat Arnaldo Fortini – imwieled Assisi u g]ex Assisi (1889-1970), li kien il-president tas-So`jeta Internazzjonali tal-Istudji Fran-[iskani mill-1932 sa’ mewtu - kiteb ittra lill-Isqof t’ Assisi, Mons. Giuseppe Placido Nicolini O.S.B. ( isqof t’ Assisi mill-1928 sa’ mewtu 1973 ), li kien di[a ]adem biex S. Fran[isk ji[i pproklamat b]ala patrun tal-Italja, biex jie]u l-inizjativa ]alli Klara ti[i ddikjarata patruna tat-televi\joni. L-istess isqof, permezz tar-radju, nhar is-27 ta’ Di`embru 1953, tkellem fuqha. Huwa ressaq talba g]al dan l-iskop lil dik, li dak i\-\mien kienet tissejja] il-Kongregazzjoni tar-Riti. Huwa kellu l-appo[[ tal-isqfijiet Taljani, tal-provin`jali fran[iskani tal-Umbrija u tal-Ministri Generali Fran[iskani, spe`jalment tal-Ministru General fran`i\ P. Agostino Sepinski O.F.M. (Ministru General 1951-1965). Ta]t il-]arsien ta’ l-Ar`isqof ta’ Milan, il-Kardinal Giovanni Battista Montini, (il-futur Papa Pawlu VI), fid-29 ta’ Jannar 1955, il-fabbrika Marelli ta’ Sesto S. Giovanni iddedikat l-istabbiliment tat-televizjoni lil S. Klara. Fil-]arifa tal-1957 hija in]atret padruna tal-televi\joni spanjola. ———————————— B’ tifkira dejjiema tal-grajja. Fl-g]ola dawl jitla, mill-im]abba divina, il-mo]] tal-bniedem, li f’dawn l-a]]ar snin, wettaq bosta invenzjonijiet li \gur li jqanqlu l-ammirazzjoni ta’ kull wie]ed minna. Min-na]a tag]-ha l-Knisja, li mhijiex kuntrarja g]all-progress tal-kultura u t-teknika, mhux biss hija favur dawn l-g]ajnunijiet [odda tax-xjenza u tal-]ajja ta’ kuljum, sakemm jag]mlu l-[id, imma ukoll tinqeda bihom biex tkun tista’ tg]allem il-verita u jxxered mal-fruntieri kollha l-fidi. Fost l-akbar twettiq tat-teknika, \gur li l-ewwel post illum jie]du t-televi\joni. Dan il’ g]aliex permezz tieg]u ‘ l-ispettaturi jkunu jistg]u jisimg]u u jaraw il-[rajjiet li jkunu qed ji[u mwettqa fil-bog]od dak il-]in stess. B’ dan il-mod huma jkunu jistg]u j]ossuhom li qed jie]du sehem fihom b]allikieku huma pre\enti’ ( L-En`ilika, Miranda prorsus A.A.S., XXIV, 1957, p.800). Minn din il-]idma tant kbira - li \gur ma tistax ta]rab u li a]na stess i``elebrajna b’ mod sinifikattiv - jistg]u jo]or[u vanta[[i kbar jew ]sarat kbar. Dan l-aktar im]abba li g]andu l-kapa`ita li jisse]er il-qlub fl-istess ambjent tal-]itan domesti`i. G]alhekk ]assejna li wasal il-waqt li dan ix-xog]ol tat-teknika jkollu ]arsien tas-sema biex jiddefendih mill-]a\en u ji[i u\at b’mod [ust u rett. B]ala patruna tieg]u [iet mitluba li tkun S. Klara, li, skond it-tradizzjoni, fil-lejl tal-Milied, [ewwa Assisi, waqt li kienet mix]uta fis-sodda [ol-kunvent tag]ha, semg]et, b]allikieku kienet pre\enti, il-kant ]elu, li kien qieg]ed isir waqt i`-`elebrazzjonijiet [ewwa l-knisja fran[iskana u rat il-presepju li kien armat hemm. Jalla Klara, kollha dawl g]all-integrita tag]ha u g]ajn ta’ dawl fid-dlamijiet tant qawwija, t]ares lil dan il-mezz trasparenti biex permezz tieg]u jit]arsu l-verita u l-virtujiet, ]alli b’ hekk jinbena ordni `ivili. G]alhekk idde`idejna li, bil-qalb kollha, nilqg]u t-talbijiet li [ew mitluba minn ]una l-venerabbli Giuseppe Placido Nicolini, isqof t’ Assisi, mis-superjuri tal-erba’ familji fran[iskani u minn nies o]ra mag]rufin. Kif ukoll talbiet mill-Prelati tal-Knisja Rumana, ar`isqfijiet u isqfijiet.

G]alhekk A]na, wara li jkkonsultajna ru]na mal-Kongregazzjoni tar-Riti, b’ g]arfien `ert u b’ deliberazzjoni matura u bl-g]ola qawwa tas-setg]a appostolika, permezz ta’ dawn l-ittri u g]al dejjem, inwaqqfu, niddikjaraw lil S. Klara b]ala Patruna `elesti, ]dejn Alla, tat-televi\joni, bil-privile[[i u l-unuri litur[i`i li jixirqu lil din il-patruna. Minkejja kull o[[ezzjoni li tista’ tinqala’. Dan kollu [ie ppublikat u stabilt, filwaqt li niddekretaw li dawn l-ittri huma u jibqg]u definiti, validi u effika`i. Huma g]andhom ji[u u jil]qu l-iskopijiet kollha. Jg]-enu b’ mod komplut, issa u fil-futur, lil dawk kollha li g]andhom x’ jaqsmu mag]hom jew se jkollhom x’ jaqsmu mag]hom. B’ hekk g]andu ji[i ji[udikat u definit. Minn dan il-mument kull attentat, mag]mul minn min ikun, minn kull awtorita, b’ mod xjentifiku jew b’ injoranza, kontra dak li [ie stabilt, huwa invalidu u vojt.

Mog]ti f’ S. Pietru, Ruma, sotto l’anello del Pescatore, fl-14 ta’ Frar 1958, id-XIX tal-Pontifikat Tag]na.

Piju PP. XII

N.B. Din hija traduzzjoni mit-Taljan, li l-original jinsab fil-ktieb Santa Chiara e la televisione ta’ Carolina Bloise, Edizioni Porziuncola, 2005, p.

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{esu Bambin u S. Fran[isk

Fil-Quddiesa ta’ nofs il-lejl tal-MIlied, il-Papa Benedittu XVI, waqt l-omelija, qal fost l-o]rajn: “Christmas is an epiphany – the appearing of God and of his great light in a child that is born for us. Born in a stable in Bethlehem, not in the palaces of kings. In 1223, when Saint Francis of Assisi celebrated Christmas in Greccio with an ox and an ass and a manger full of hay, a new dimension of the mystery of Christmas came to light. Saint Francis of Assisi called Christmas "the feast of feasts" – above all other feasts – and he celebrated it with "unutterable devotion" (2 Celano 199; Fonti Francescane, 787). He kissed images of the Christ-child with great devotion and he stammered tender words such as children say, so Thomas of Celano tells us (ibid.). For the early Church, the feast of feasts was Easter: in the Resurrection Christ had flung open the doors of death and in so doing had radically changed the world: he had made a place for man in God himself. Now, Francis neither changed nor intended to change this objective order of precedence among the feasts, the inner structure of the faith centred on the Paschal Mystery. And yet through him and the character of his faith, something new took place: Francis discovered Jesus’ humanity in an entirely new depth. This human existence of God became most visible to him at the moment when God’s Son, born of the Virgin Mary, was wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger. The Resurrection presupposes the Incarnation. For God’s Son to take the form of a child, a truly human child, made a profound impression on the heart of the Saint of Assisi, transforming faith into love. "The kindness and love of God our Saviour for mankind were revealed" – this phrase of Saint Paul now acquired an entirely new depth. In the child born in the stable at Bethlehem, we can as it were touch and caress God. And so the liturgical year acquired a second focus in a feast that is above all a feast of the heart.

ikompli f’ pa[na 8

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Il-persuna ta’ S. Klara fil-films

Jekk S. Klara [iet dikjarata patruna tal-televizjoni, ma setax jonqos li l-arti `inematografika ma tag]milx il-parti tag]ha. Anzi nistg]u ng]idu li `-`inema, peress li n]oloq qabel it-televi\joni, kien ilu ]afna qabel jag]mel il-parti tieg]u. }afna mill-films klassi`i li jitkellmu fuq S. Klara huma films, li b’ mod jew ie]or, riedu jg]atu l-vi\joni tag]-hom tal-]ajja ta’ S. Fran[isk. Ftit kienu dawk li trattaw direttament il-persuna ta’ Klara. }awn se nag]tu lista tal-films famuzi, li b’ xi mod, il-persuna ta’ S. Klara [iet interpretata minn xi attri`i. S. Francesco il poverello d’Assisi. In]adem fl-Italja imma ]are[ g]all-ewwel darba fil-11 ta’ Di`embru 1911 fi Spanja. L-attri`i Fernanda Negri Pouget (1889-1955) ]admet il-parti ta’ Klara. Ir-re[ista kien Enrico Guazzoni. Kien film black & white u silent.

Francesco giullare di Dio. In]adem fl-Italja u ]are[ fl-14 ta’ Di`embru 1950. Klara kienet Arabella Lemaitre u r- re[ista kien Roberto Rossellini. Wie]ed mix-xenegatturi kien Federico Fellini. Dan il-film kien ukoll black & white u s-sound mono. Il-Fjuretti ta’ S. Fran[isk u l-]ajja ta’ Fra Ginepru huma l-bazi tieg]u.

La tragica notte di Assisi jew Angelo di Assisi Dan il-film jitratta l-]ajja ta’ S. Klara. In]adem fl-Italja u ]are[ fl-1960. Leda Negroni ]admet il-parti ta’ Klara u r-re[ista kien Raffaello Pacini.

Francis of Assisi Dan il-film ]are[ fl-Amerika fil-11 ta’ Lulju 1961 u r-re[ista kien Michael Curtiz. Dolores Hart (Hicks) (1938 - ) interpretat Klara. Huwa film bil-kulur u n]adem [ewwa Assisi. Interessanti huwa l-fatt li din l-attri`i saret kattolika meta kellha 10 snin u meta kellha 25 sena da]let soru benedittina. Sa’ mis-sena 2001 hija prijura tal-monasteru tag]ha Regina Laudis. Dan l-a]]ar kienet l-unika soru li setg]et tivvota g]all-Oscars. Francesco d’ Assisi Dan il-film, li n]adem g]at-televi\joni, ]are[ fl-1966. Huwa l-ewwel lungomettragio tar-re[ista Liliana Cavani. Il-parti ta’ Klara ]admitha Ludmilla Lvova. Huwa n]adem black & white 16mn u kien l-ewwel telefilm tar-RAI b’ kummissjoni ta’ Paolo Valarmana. Il-pubbliku seta’ jarah fuq ir-RAI nhar is-6 u t-8 ta’ Mejju 1996. Jing]ad li rawh ma\- \ew[ miljuni telespettauri. Dan il-film reba] il-premju laboro d’ oro fil-festival Seminci fl-1967. Fl-2007 [ie restawrat minn Cinecitta Holding fl-istudios ta’ Cinecitta, bl-g]ajnuna tal-Ministeru tal-Beni Kulturali. }afna kienu dawk li kritikawh,

imma o]rajn fa]]ruh.

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Fratello Sole, Sorella Luna }are[ fl-Italja fit-3 ta’ Marzu 1972 ta]t ir-re[ista Franco Zeffirelli, li g]alih ir`ieva l-premju Davide di Donatello fl-istess sena b]ala l-a]jar re[ista. L-attri`i ingli\a Judi Bowker ( 1954 - ) ]admet il-parti ta’ Klara. G]alkemm g]amel su``ess kbir, imma hemm xi partijiet li mhumiex stori`i. Il-film jispi``a bl-approvazzjoni tar-regola ta’ Fran[isku. Huwa film bil-kulur u g]andu mu\ika sabi]a ta’ Ritz Ortolani.

Francesco Dan il-film ]are[ fl-Italja fl-1989 ta]t ir-re[ista Liliana Cavani. L-attri`i ingliza Helena Bonhaw Carter (1966 - ) ]admet il-parti ta’ Klara. Wara l-mewt ta’ Fran-[isku, s]abu u Klara jibdew jirrakontaw l-[rajjiet ta’ Fran-[isku. {ie ippre\entat fil-konkors tal-42 edizzjoni tal-Festival ta’ Cannes. Huwa reba] il-premju Davide di Donatello 1989 g]all-a]jar xenografija u 2 nastri d’ argento 1989 g]all-a]jar attur mhux protagonista (Fabio Bussotti) u l-a]jar xenografija.

Francesco Dan il-film, li n]adem g]at-televi\joni, ]are[ fl-2002. Ir-re[ista huwa Michele Soavi u l-attri`i fran`iza Amelie Daure interpretat Klara. Huwa deher f’ \ew[ puntati fuq Canale 5 fis-6 u s-7 t’ Ottubru 2002. Saret xi kritika fuqu m]abba li deher, li kien influenzat mill-films li n]admu qablu dwar S. Fran[isk u kien mistenni li jkun hemm nifs [did. Imma xi whud fa]]ruh b]ala ‘l-a]jar film li sar fuq

Fran[isku’ u li hu ‘strument kbir ta’ kateke\i’. Chiara d’ Assisi Dan il-film ]are[ fl-2003. Ir-re[isti huma Alessandro Siena, Giovanni Pescio u Luca Ghigliotti. Klara [iet interpretata minn Chiara Sessarego. Il-kur\ita ta’ abbati tg]enna biex nid]lu fil-]ajja ta’ S. Klara, mill-ewwel laqg]a tag]ha ma’ Fran[isku sal-vestizzjoni, mill-mirakli sal-mard. Don Mario, kappillan tal-Oratorju ta’ S. Klara [ewwa Bogliasco (Genova) jirrakonta dawn il-fatti. Huwa sar bl-inizjativa tal-Konfraternita ta’ S. Klara ta’ Bogliasco fl-okka\joni tas-6 `entineraju mit-twaqqif tag]ha

Chiara e Francesco Dan il-film ukoll in]adem g]at-televizjoni mir-RAI Fiction, Lux Vide Spa u Rai Trade. Huwa ]are[ fl-2007 u r-re[ista huwa Fabrizio Costa. L-attri`i Maria P. Petruolo (1989 - ) ]admet il-parti ta’ Klara. Il-mu\ika [iet komposta minn Mons. Marco Frisina. L-lingwa ori[inali kienet bl-ingli\. Deher fuq ir-RAI

fis-7 u t-8 t’ Ottubru 2007. Huwa kkalkulat li rawh f’ dawk il-jiem mal-7268000 ru]. Dan kien l-ewwel film li pprova jg]amel konfront bejn dawn i\-\ew[ qaddisin.

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S. E[idju Marija ta’ S. {u\epp minn Taranto O.F.M. Din is-sena ja]bat il-200 anniversarju mill-mewt ta’ S. E[idju Marija ta’ S. {u\epp minn Taranto O.F.M. Hawn se nag]tu ftit ]jiel fuq ]ajtu. 16 ta’ Novembru 1729 - Twieled f’ Taranto fil-Puglia minn Cataldo Pontillo u Grazia Procaccio. Fil-mag]mudija tawh l-isem ta’ Francesco Antonio Pasquale. Il-familja tieg]u kienet fqira ]afna u beda ja]dem sa minn kmieni billi jg]amel il-]bula u espert b]ala felpaiuolo. 1747 - Peress li mietlu missieru, kellu jbati aktar, g]ax hu kien il-kbir fost ]utu. Imma ommu re[g]et i\\ew[et u t-tieni missier ]allih jwettaq dak li xtaq - li jsir reli[ju\. F’ ]olma li kellu, ra \ew[ patrijiet Alkantarini, wie]ed sa`erdot u l-ie]or ajk. L-g]ada mar il-kunvent, li kellhom Taranto, biex jipprova jfittex dawk il-patrijiet imma ma sabhomx. X’ ]in da]al fil-knisja ra \ew[ pitturi li kienu juru lil S. Pietru t’ Alkantara u lil S. Baskal Baylon. Hemm g]araf li kienu dawk il-patrijiet li dehrulu fil-]olm. 27 ta’ Frar 1754 - Da]al mal-Alkantrini tal-provin`ja ta’ Lecce, b]ala ajk, u ha l-isem ta’ Fra E[idju t’ Omm Alla. 28 ta’ Frar 1755 - G]amel il-professjoni reli[ju\a fejn beda jissejja] Fra E[idju Marija ta’ S. {u\epp. Wara mar fil-kunvent ta’ Squinzano b]ala kok. Mejju 1759 - Huwa nbg]at fil-kunvent ta’ S. Pasquale a Chiaia [ewwa Napli. Hemm baqa’ sakemm miet i.e. g]al 53 sena. Qeda l-uffi``ji ta’ kok u `irkatur (g]al 50 sena) - jittallab bieb bieb fit-toroq tal-belt u jfarra[ lil kul]add. Ta’ purtinar, li skond ir-regoli tal-Alkantarini ried ikun l-a]jar ajk, ]adem bil-bosta ma’ tant fqar li kienu ji[u jittalbu u wettaq ukoll xi mirakli, tant li ]afna bdew jsejj]ulu ’il Consolatore di Napoli’. Fuqu dejjem kien ikollu relikwa ta’ S. Baskal Baylon. Kien i]obb jirrepeti: “}obbu lil Alla, ]obbu lil Alla”. Kellu devozzjoni spe`jali lejn l-Ewkaristija, il-Madonna ta]t it-titlu ta’ Madonna del Pozzo u S. {u\epp. 7 ta’ Frar 1812, il-{img]a - Fl-12.00 am, waqt it-talba tal-Angelus, huwa miet. L-urna b’ [ismu nkorott tinsab fil-knisja ta’ S. Pasquale a Chiaia f’ Napli. 5 ta’ Frar 1888 - Il-Papa Ljun XIII iddikjarah beatu. 2 ta’ {unju 1996 - Il-Beatu Papa {wanni Pawlu II iddikjarah qaddis. Il-festa tieg]u ti[i ``elebrata fis-7 ta’ Frar. Huwa patrun tal-belt ta’ Taranto.

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Mulej {esu, qawwi u sa]]a] fil-fehma tag]hom, lil dawk li qed i]ejju ru]hom g]all-ministeru sa`erdotali u l-]ajja konsagrata

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Ir-rabta storika tal-Maltin mal-Libja

N.B. Fil-]ar[a tal-Le]en is-sewwa tas-26 ta’ Novembru 2011, deher artiklu b’dan l-isem, li nkiteb minn Mons. Philip Calleja. Hawn se n[iebu xi siltiet minnu, fejn jitkellem mill-patrijiet tag]na. …….. Xi [img]a wara li l-Interpol u l-Interpol Criminal Court ]ar[u l-mandat ta’ arrest tal-Kurunell Muammar Gaddafi, nhar is-27 ta’ {unju (2011), Patri Gorg Aquilina O.F.M. rregalali kopja tal-ktieb Il-Fran[iskani Matin (Ta’ {iezu) - 1482-1965 ta’ 773 pa[na li g]adu kemm ]are[. F’ dan il-ktieb hu damm l-istorja tal-Patrijiet Fran[iskani fil-Libja f’ medda ta’ 25 pa-[na, li jiena ]adt gost naqra. Fost il-]afna Patrijiet li semma - u li jiena naf ]afna minnhom – semma lil Patri Tonin Bajada, li kien l-a]]ar Patri Fran[iskan li mar jipprietka l-e\er`izzi spiritwali lil Maltin ta’ Tripli qabel il-Gwerra fl-1937. Lil Patri Tonin, li kien Provin`jal u li l-familja tieg]u kienet toqg]od Strada Sant’ Ursola quddiem il-bieb tal-Oratorju tal-Kur`ifiss, konna ng]inuh fil-Quddiesa tas-6.30 am fl-artal ta’ S. Fran[isk, jiena u l-]abib ta’ tfuliti Natolin ( illum Mons. Fortunato Paolino) Mizzi - hu j\ommlu l-ktieb u jiena l-bu[ija bix-xemg]a tixg]el.

Kien minn fomm Patri Bajada li bdejt nisma’ fuq il-Libja l-ewwel darba. Niftakru jirrakonta fis-sagristija (i) li l-Knisja Katidrali ta’ Santa Marija tal-An[li ( ara r-ritratt ) fi Tripli hi mag]rufa b]ala l-knisja tal-Maltin u li hi mibnija mill-Maltin b’[ebel me]ud minn Malta; (ii) li l-ewwel kappillan tal-emigranti Maltin fil-Libja, meta din g]addiet f’ idejn it-Taljani, kien il-Patri Fran[iskan Dijonisju Buttigieg. Kien wara li qaddist u ltqajt ma’ Patri Dumink Coppola u Patri Wistin Portelli f’ Londra u smajt minn fommhom dwar il-faqar li kienu waslu fih il-Maltin emigranti fil-Libja wara l-Gwerra li [ag]luni ninteressa ru]i nsir naf dwar l-istorja tal-Maltin emigranti tal-Libja. Patri Dumink \ied jg]idli li fl-1949, l-Ar`isqof Mikiel Gonzi kien ordnalu jibqa’ Tripli u ma

jitlaqx mill-Libja qabel tasal it-tag]bija ta’ ]wejje[ mibg]utin mill-Matin tal-Amerika g]all-Maltin ta’ Tripli u jqassamhomlhom. Aktar tard hu flimkien ma’ George Dougall, li kien jmexxi programm fuq il-BBC f’ Londra, laqqg]uni ma’ g]add ta’ Maltin ta’ Tripli li [ew ja]dmu hemm. ………………….. |mien Ottoman ……….. P. Gorg i\id jikteb li fis-sena 1653, \mien li fih il-Patrijiet Fran[iskani kienu jie]du ]sieb madwar 2,500 skjav fil-Libja, Patri Gwann Battista de Pont Canvasse [ie maqtul u g]all-martirju tieg]u kien pre\enti l-Malti Dun Pasquale Chetcuti. …………………….

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Fl-1928 inbnew mill-[did il-knisja antika ta’ Santa Marija tal-An[li u l-kunvent. Il-knisja nbniet minn [ebel Malti u minn Maltin u baqg]et mag]rufa, sakemm ing]alqet fi \mien il-Kurunell Gaddafi, b]ala l-knisja tal-Maltin.

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This has nothing to do with sentimentality. It is right here, in this new experience of the reality of Jesus’ humanity that the great mystery of faith is revealed. Francis loved the child Jesus, because for him it was in this childish estate that God’s humility shone forth. God became poor. His Son was born in the poverty of the stable. In the child Jesus, God made himself dependent, in need of human love, he put himself in the position of asking for human love – our love. Today Christmas has become a commercial celebration, whose bright lights hide the mystery of God’s humility, which in turn calls us to humility and simplicity. Let us ask the Lord to help us see through the superficial glitter of this season, and to discover behind it the child in the stable in Bethlehem, so as to find true joy and true light. Francis arranged for Mass to be celebrated on the manger that stood between the ox and the ass (cf. 1 Celano 85; Fonti 469). Later, an altar was built over this manger, so that where animals had once fed on hay, men could now receive the flesh of the spotless lamb Jesus Christ, for the salvation of soul and body, as Thomas of Celano tells us (cf. 1 Celano 87; Fonti 471). Francis himself, as a deacon, had sung the Christmas Gospel on the holy night in Greccio with resounding voice. Through the friars’ radiant Christmas singing, the whole celebration seemed to be a great outburst of joy (1 Celano 85.86; Fonti 469, 470). It was the encounter with God’s humility that caused this joy – his goodness creates the true feast.

Today, anyone wishing to enter the Church of Jesus’ Nativity in Bethlehem will find that the doorway five and a half metres high, through which emperors and caliphs used to enter the building, is now largely walled up. Only a low opening of one and a half metres has remained. The intention was probably to provide the church with better protection from attack, but above all to prevent people from entering God’s house on horseback. Anyone wishing to enter the place of Jesus’ birth has to bend down. It seems to me that a deeper truth is revealed here, which should touch our hearts on this holy night: if we want to find the God who appeared as a child, then we must dismount from the high horse of our "enlightened" reason. We must set aside our false certainties, our intellectual pride, which prevents us from recognizing God’s closeness. We must follow the interior path of Saint Francis – the path leading to that ultimate outward and inward simplicity which enables the heart to see. We must bend down, spiritually we must as it were go on foot, in order to pass through the portal of faith and encounter the God who is so different from our prejudices and opinions – the God who conceals himself in the humility of a newborn baby. In this spirit let us celebrate the liturgy of the holy night, let us strip away our fixation on what is material, on what can be measured and grasped. Let us allow ourselves to be made simple by the God who reveals himself to the simple of heart. And let us also pray especially at this hour for all who have to celebrate Christmas in poverty, in suffering, as migrants, that a ray of God’s kindness may shine upon them, that they – and we – may be touched by the kindness that God chose to bring into the world through the birth of his Son in a stable. Amen.”

F’ dan ir-ritratt jidher il-kwadru titulari li kellha l-imsemmija knisja, u li issa qieg]ed fil-knisja ta’ S. Fran-[isk al Dahra)

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INDIRIZZ TA’ MER}BA LILL-E``. TIEG]U MONS. MARIO GRECH, ISQOF T’ G]AWDEX

FL-OKKA\JONI TA\-|JARA TIEG}U F’ADELAIDE (IT-TIENI PARTI) Knisja Parrokkjali ta’ Kristu Re, Lockleys, 25.10.2011

…... G]andna \ew[ sa`erdoti o]ra Maltin, Fr Charles Gauci u Fr Alfred Farrugia M.S.S.P. li qed ja]dmu f’din l-ar`idjo`esi imma huma impenjati bi s]i] fil-parro``i li fihom qeg]din ja]dmu u f’ka\ ta’ b\onn dejjem tawni l-appo[[ u l-g]ajnuna tag]hom. F’Jannar ta’ din is-sena kellna Vi\ta Provin`jali mill-Provin`jal u l-Vigarju, P. Sandro u P. Richard, li raw b’g]-ajnejhom kif inhi s-sitwazzjoni attwali. Fil-Komunità Maltija hawn fis-South Australia minbarra l-grupp li, kif semmejt qabel, jg]-inni fil-qadi ta dmirijieti u li l-lejla re[g]u qeg]din hawn - min jie]u sehem fil-kor u min jip-prepara s-sala g]ar-ri`eviment ta’ wara l-Quddiesa, g]andna g]aqdiet u so`jetajiet li ja]-dmu bi s]i] fost il-komunità, u nibda biex insemmi lis-So`jetà tal-M.U.S.E.U.M., lil Maltese Queen of Victories Band , li din is-sena qeg]din ji``elebraw it-30 sena mit-twaqqif tag]ha, lill-G]aqda ta’ Santa Katerina, li fost attivitajiet o]ra, jorgani\\aw il-festa tal-qaddisa fix-xahar ta’ Novembru, lill-Maltese Guild, lis-Seniors, l-RSL, \ew[ gruppi li jag]mlu program-mi bil-malti fuq \ew[ stazzjonijiet lokali, lill-MACASA, li jie]du ]sieb l-anzjani, billi jipprovdul-hom ikel u servizzi fid-djar, u anke l-Iskola tal-Malti. E``ellenza, din hi fil-qosor l-istorja tag]na l-Maltin u G]awdxin hawn fis-South Australia w il-]idma li l-Fran[iskani Minuri (f’ Malta mag]rufin b]ala Ta’ {ie\u), irnexxielhom iwettqu hawn [ewwa Adelaide, f’din il-g\ira kontinent, li a]na l-kattoli`i nsej]ulha l-ART TA’ l-ISPIRTU S-SANTU, u li jien, bis-sa]]a u bil-g]ajnuna tieg]u, g]adni nwettaq. Hemm ]afna aktar x’jing]ad fuq l-emigranti G]awdxin u Maltin hawn fis-South Australia, li ]admu u so-frew biex jakkwistaw mantiment xieraq g]alihom u g]al-familji tag]hom hawn fl-Awstralja w anke lura f’Malta, fosthom, fost l-o]rajn insemmi lil missieri l-g]a\i\, li flimkien ma’ ]amsa o]ra mir-ra]al `kejken ta’ San Lawrenz, li [ie hawn fl-1922 u min]abba l-big de-pression kellu jitlaq min hawn, mar Brisbane u minn hemm re[a’ lura lejn Malta fl-1924. Ng]idlek il-verità, li hu ja]ti li jien qieg]ed u g]adni hawn, g]ax meta kont \g]ir kien dej-jem jirrakkontali kemm hi sabi]a l-Awstralja u b’mod spe`jali l-belt ta’ Adelaide. Nieqaf hawn. F’ismi u f’isem dawk kollha li qeg]din jg]inuni f’din il-]idma fost ]utna l-Maltin, ]afna min-nhom hawn pre\enti fostna l-lejla, nawgura lilek, g]a\i\ Isqof Mario, rag]aj spiritwali mag]\ul minn Alla, biex tindokra l-mer]la afdata f’idejk u lil dawk kollha li qeg]din jikkumpan-jawk, li din i\-\jara fl-Awstralja tkun ta’ sodisfazzjon g]alikom u tisfa’ ta’ memorja sabi]a u ta’ [id spiritwali g]all-]utna kollha l-emigranti Maltin u G]awdxin hawn fl-Awstralja. E``ellenza, nitolbok tberikni. P. Gabriel S. Micallef O.F.M.

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Talbiet g]all-Vokazzjonijiet Fran[iskani

Dan huwa t-titlu tal-ktejjeb li tqassam lill-a]wa kollha biex jinag]du mat-talbiet tat-Tif]ir il-Jum u l-G]asar

Grazzi mill-qalb lil P. Anton u P. Marcello

Dan il-jum jibqa’ imfakkar fl-istorja tal-knisja tag]na ta’ S. Antnin, f’ G]ajnsielem, G]-awdex, peress li fih saret il-konsagrazzjoni solenni tal-knisja. Irsista ]afna g]aliha l-Gwardjan P. Pierre Battista Demicoli O.F.M. (1879 - 1923). Il-jum kien il-}add in Septuagesima u mexxa r-rit solenni Mons. Giovanni Maria Camilleri O.S.A., Isqof ta’ G]awdex ( li ried li l-patrijiet tag]na f’ dan il-post), l-istess isqof li fit-28 t’Ottubru 1906 kien bierek din il-knisja. Barra mil-komunita fran[iskana li kienet imexxija mill-Kustodju Provin`jali P. Seraphim M. Scerri O.F.M., kien hemm [emg]a nies. F’ nofs wie]ed mill-pilastri ewlenin, hemm lapida tal-ir]am li tg]id hekk: ‘Dan it-tempju f’[ie] Sant’ Antnin ta’ Padova, mibni minn flus {u\eppi Sultana, [ie solennement ikkonsagrat mill-E``ellenza Tieg]u Reverendissima Fr. Giovanni Maria Camilleri, Isqof ta’ din id-djo`esi ta’ G]awdex, nhar l-4 ta’ Frar tas-sena 1912’ - din hija traduzzjoni tal-kitba ori[inali li hija bil-latin. Fil-lapida kien xieraq li jisemma s-Sur {u\eppi Sultana, g]aliex g]alkemm ma l]aqax ra l-knisja, la imbierka u lanqas ikkonsagrata, huwa kien benefattur kbir tag]ha. Infatti ta]t il-gallerija tal-orgni tqeg]det l-arma tal-kunjom tal-familja tieg]u. Kien il-Kanonku Dun {wann Borg li ]ajjar lin-negozjant {uzeppi min-Nadur biex jg]en ]alli tinbena din il-knisja minn butu. Fost l-opri li nsibu f’ din il-knisja: Lazzru Pisani pitter il-koppla, l-erba’ lunetti u l-kwadru titulari; il-Profs. {u\eppi Briffa pitter is-saqaf u l-arzelli, barra dik ta’ fuq il-kor li pittira il-Kav. Pawlu Camilleri Cauchi; Fortunato Venuti pitter il-kwadri tal-altari u dawk ta’ ma[enbhom, u l-istatwa titulari ma]duma mill-Kav. Luigi Gucci minn Lecce. Ma\-\mien din il-knisja, permezz tal-]idma ta’ bosta patrijiet, li g]amlu parti minn din il-komunita’ u permezz ta’ bosta voluntiera u benefatturi, kompliet tisbi], tant li nistg]u ng]-idu li g]alkemm mhijiex tant kbira, imma hija wa]da mill-isba] knejjes li hemm G]awdex. Grazzi g]all-]idma g]aqlija, fost l-o]rajn ta’ P. Anton M. Cesal O.F.M. (1841-1915), Missier il-Provin`ja tag]na, il-pre\enza tag]na [ewwa G]awdex kompliet isa]]a] dak li nbeda f’ dak i\-\mien. Id-dar tal-irtiri Padova u l-eremita[[ Montepaolo komplew il-]idmiet ta’ tant patrijiet, li lkoll taw jew qed jag]tu s-sehem tag]hom g]all-[id tal-G]awdxin kollha.

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4 ta’ Frar 1912

A}BARIJIET TAL-PROVIN~JA TAG}NA

Fl-a]]ar jiem ta’ Di`embru 2011 il-[enituri ta’ Fra Andrea u Fra Clive tellg]u Ruma biex jaraw lil uliedhom. Hemmhekk il-[enituri ta’ Fra Andrea ``elebraw il-25 anniversarju mi\-\wie[ tag]hom. Kif kien xieraq, huma [eddew il-weg]diet tag]hom quddiem il-Gwardjan P. Antonio Riccio O.F.M. fil-kappella tal-kunvent stess. Wara sar pranzu spe`jali tal-okka\joni. L-istudenti bg]atu l-isba] xewqat lil kul]add. P. Marcellino Micallef, f’ isem il-Provin`jal, mar Assisi biex jqatta’ ftit jiem man-novizz Fra Gerald Xuereb. Huwa sejjer tajjeb ]afna u bg]at ukoll l-isba] xewqat lil kul]add. Nhar l-1 ta’ Jannar re[a’ tqieg]ed stellarju [did, xog]ol Malti, madwar ix-xbieha tal-Immakulata, it-titular tal-knisja ta’ Benghazi (ara r-ritratt). G]al din l-okka\joni kien hemm pre\enti, fost l-o]rajn, P. Marcello Ghirlando, li tela biex i\ur il-komunitajiet tal-patrijiet u sorijiet tal-Vigarjat ta’ Benghasi u ta’ Tripli. Nhar is-6 ta’ Jannar saret il-festa tal-Epifanija tal-Mulej fil-kappella tal-monasteru tal-Klarissi. Il-Provin`jal mexa quddiesa kon`elebrata u wara sar festin mal-Klarissi. Fis-7 tax-xahar [iet i``elebrata l-festa ta’ {esu l-}abib fil-kappella ta’ Triq P. Marjan Vella, Tas-Sliema. Il-Provin`jal mexa quddiesa kon`elebrata flimkien ma’ P. Richard u P. Stephen Magro, li kien qieg]ed jie]u ]sieb il-kappella sakemm dam Malta sal-20 ta’ Jannar. Il-[abra, li jsir kull nhar ta’ }amis, flimkien ma’ xi g]otijiet o]ra la]qet is-somma ta’ € 2495. Din se tmur g]alL-missjoni ta’ ]una Mons. J. Bonello. Giet inawgurata website [did tal-G]aqda Vokazzjonijiet Fran[iskani tal-Provin`ja tag]na. Prosit tassew lil P. Stephen Sciberras - www.ivokofm.org Ara p.12 Fost il-persuni li g]amlu u\u mid-Dar tal-Irtiri Porziuncola matul ix-xahar ta’ Jannar, kien hemm il-Kardinal A. Bagnasco, li [ie Malta flimkien ma’ xi sa`erdoti mill-ar`idjo`esi ta’ Genova, g]all-pellegrina[[ pawlin. Din hija turija o]ra ta’ livell g]oli li qed til]aq din id-dar, tant li mhux l-ewwel darba li persuni barra minn Malta qeg]din ji[u biex jag]mlu u\u minha. Nhar id-19 ta’ Jannar beda kors, miftu] g]al kul]add, dwar l-evan[elizzazzjoni ta’ S. Pawl, organizzat mill-Kummissarjat tal-Art Imqaddsa fil-Belt Valletta. Il-kors, li se jie]u 9 laqg]at, huwa jmexxi minn P. Marcello Ghirlando. Huwa se ji[i mibni fuq l-Atti tal-Appostli, l-Ittri ta’ S. Pawl u d-DVD tal-flim Paulus.

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FESTI MARZU 2012 BIRTHDAYS

19. P. Guzepp Vella 11. P. Joseph Magro P. Guzepp Camilleri 15. P. Paul Attard P. Joe Caruana 21. Fra Walter Vassallo Mons. Jose Bonello 24. P. Gabriel Micallef Fra Guzepp Debono 29. Fra Clive Camilleri P. Joseph Magro P. Joseph Ciappara 31. P. Benjamin Galea

Xewqat qaddisa !!!!!!

WERREJ

Clarius expendescit 2 - 3 S. Klara u l-films 4 - 5 S. E[idju minn Taranto 6 Ir-rabta storika tal-Maltin mal-Libja 7 - 8 Id-diskors ta’ P. Gabrjel 9 4 ta’ Frar 1912 10 A]barijiet tal-Provin`ja tag]na 11

OFM - LINK

L-Editur P. Alexander Borg O.F.M.

Patrijiet Fran[iskani Triq Dun Pawl Vella Tas-Sliema SLM 1184

Tel. 21 33 11 83 E-mail : fralex@maltanet.mt

G]all-a]]ar aggornamenti hhtp://www.ofm.org.mt

Grazzi lil P. Joseph Magro O.F.M.

Website [did tal-G]aqda

Vokazzjonijiet Fran[iskani

www.ivokofm @gmail.com