Crux et Gloria

“Even now, declares the Lord, return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning; rend your heart and not your garments.”  (Joel 2:12-13) As we enter the season of Lent, let’s focus on fasting, silence, and reading. These practices aren’t meant to bring us down; instead, they help us connect with our true selves and understand our deepest needs. In a world filled with distractions, fasting clears out the noise and allows us to find joy in simplicity. It reminds us to appreciate life’s smaller pleasures and acknowledges our reliance on God for strength. By letting go of little comforts, we build resilience and prepare ourselves to face challenges more effectively. Fasting is a prayer that says: “I trust you, God, to send me what I need in life”. Silence is another important part of this spiritual journey. Taking time away from distractions helps us hear our inner thoughts and feelings more clearly. Silence can reveal significant truths about us and thus it introduces us to ourselves, to what we’re really thinking, feeling, and fear. Dedicating a day to disconnect from technology can lead to meaningful reflections and a deeper understanding of our relationship with God. In these quiet moments, we can listen to our hearts and find guidance. Silence is an act of creation of the self because out of it comes newness of soul. Reading also plays a crucial role during Lent. St. Benedict, in particular, encouraged more reading to fill our minds with new ideas that nourish our souls. Exploring new spiritual books provides insight and inspiration, encouraging personal growth. Lent is a time for change, not to become someone else, but to become more of who we truly are. Lent is always a call to conversion. By embracing fasting, silence, and reading, we can renew our spirits. Fasting leads to almsgiving, reading leads to growth and silence leads to change. Let Lent be the springtime of your self!

In Solomon's Temple, there were two altars. On the outer altar, animals were offered as sacrifices to God, while on the inner altar, perfumes and incense were presented. Likewise, the Christian is a temple, a living temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 3:16). Just as in Solomon's Temple, the Christian must offer himself to God, both externally and internally. The Christian life should be one of unceasing penance. Penance is a difficult undertaking, yet it remains essential. Jesus Christ, the spotless Lamb, ascended to glory following His suffering. The servant is not greater than his Master; if Christ endured suffering, we too cannot enter heaven without penance. The Divine Master had nowhere to lay His head, and all the saints followed his example by embracing penance. This was not only practised by those who had lived sinful lives, such as Mary Magdalene, St Augustine, and St Jerome, but also by innocent saints like St Aloysius, St Peter of Alcantara, and many others. Thus, St Augustine himself advises: "Do penance because you have sinned, and do penance so that you do not sin". The Catholic Church encourages us to practise penance in a special way during Lent. We should not fear penance, remembering that through it we can atone for some of our failings and prepare ourselves for eternal glory. Choose to guard your eyes, filter your words, or forgo certain comforts as you deem appropriate. Accept your daily burdens with patience and choose not to grumble. It is wise to deny ourselves now, so that a measure of present suffering may spare us from far greater torment in the future. Penance is also recommended by Our Lady at Lourdes and Fatima as a means for the conversion of sinners. We have all sinned; hence, we must perform penance.  For if not by virtue of innocence, then certainly by penance.

Luis Antonio Tagle’s The Risk of Hope is a guiding light in today’s confusing world, helping us see what it means to be fully human. As one of the most well-known Catholic leaders, Tagle connects the wisdom of the Bible with everyday experiences to show how God speaks to us. He shares stories from his encounters with young people, his conversations with the faithful in Manila, and even a casual interview on a flight. Through these moments, he reminds us that hope is still alive, and that Jesus’ resurrection can shine through even the darkest times. Using storytelling instead of complicated explanations, he helps us understand the meaning of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Tagle challenges the Church to follow Christ’s example of humility and service, caring for the poor and those in need. He calls us to see the presence of the Risen Lord in our daily lives, even in simple and ordinary events. His reflections encourage us to trust in God’s love and to live with faith and compassion. As we celebrate the Jubilee of Hope, this book is a great read, inspiring us to recognise God’s presence in daily life and to share His love with others.

"Tonight, the door of hope has opened wide to the world." This is what Pope Francis said in his homily at the Christmas Eve celebration. A little while before, the Pope had just opened the Jubilee Door of St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican as a start to a special year focused on the holy virtue of hope. During this Jubilee Year, Pope Francis wants every Christian to rediscover the power of the great gift of hope in God. The Pope assured: "Hope is not dead; hope is alive and embraces our lives forever. Hope does not disappoint!” "Tonight, God is speaking to each one of us and says: 'There is hope for you too!' There is hope for all of us. And don't forget, my brothers, that God forgives everything, God always forgives." The Pope calls us to learn from the shepherds of Bethlehem, who on the news of the angel left immediately to see. In the same way, the Pope tells us that every Christian is called to quickly recover the hope he has lost, renew the hope in his heart and then sow the seeds of hope wherever he is. "There is so much desolation in our time. We think of wars, of children being shot at, bombs on schools and hospitals. Do not delay, do not sit back, but let yourself be led by the Good News." Pope Francis continued: "Brothers, this is the Jubilee. This is the season of hope in which we are invited to rediscover the joy of meeting the Lord. The Jubilee calls us to spiritual renewal and commits us to change our world for the better, so that this year will truly be a time of jubilation." The Pope does not mince words too much and tells us that we have a big task ahead of us. "All of us received the gift and the commitment to bring hope wherever it was lost, where life was broken, promises were not kept, dreams were shattered, and hearts were conquered by difficulties." "Dear brothers, the holy door of God's heart is open before you. Jesus, God-with-us, was born for you, for me, for us, for every man and woman. And don't forget that with him, happiness flourishes; with him, life changes; with him, hope does not disappoint."

Erik Varden’s The Shattering of Loneliness explores how remembering God can help us overcome loneliness. He draws on his own experiences, as well as stories from the Bible and Christian tradition. Varden explains that memory is a vital part of the life of faith. His writing is insightful yet easy to follow, using examples from history and literature. The book invites readers to reflect on their own struggles with loneliness and discover how God’s love brings healing. Varden’s words offer wisdom and encouragement, highlighting the importance of faith and community. Ultimately, the book reassures us that we are never truly alone. For anyone feeling isolated or seeking deeper faith, this book is a source of comfort and inspiration. Available from Librerija Preca.

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