Last month, Malta hosted the 25th International Convention of the Federation of European Carnival Cities.
Holland’s only Cardinal, Adrianus Johannes Simonis, was invited by the president of the aforementioned federation. This European association was holding its 25th International Convention in Nadur, Gozo. Cardinal Simonis sealed his participation in this International Convention by delivering a homily about the meaning of carnival. From this intriguing interview there emerged interesting points that can throw light on the way things are going in our country.
To begin with, the Cardinal has a positive vision towards carnival. He considers it as a Christian feast. He seems to suggest that there is nothing wrong in promoting native values as long as they are inspired by the principles of the gospel. Can we as Maltese consider carnival as a Christian feast? And if yes, what does it say to the way we are leading our lives?
Cardinal Simonis admits his distaste for liberalism. The troubling experience of his home country constantly shows him that liberalism leads to nowhere, other than superficiality and indifference.
In other words, it heads to a destructive and senseless life. Is not the liberal attitude taking root in our society? Are not our traditional and strong values of the family as well as the sanctity of life being assiduously threatened?
The Cardinal has words of hope for Malta and Gozo. What seems to be holding the two islands together is their orthodoxy. Simonis gives the impression that, by being orthodox in their values, our islands have a bright future ahead of them. It all depends on whether they maintain their indigenous values and believe in them in a Christian way. Are we ready as a nation to do everything possible to keep these traditional values intact?
In front of the ever increasing liberal attitude towards life in the European continent, Cardinal Simonis reminds committed Christians and people of good will that the best road to take is precisely that indicated by the gospel which is so faithfully reiterated by the newly elected Pope Benedict XVI: being the “salt of the earth”. To be real Christians in the present European secular society is not a joke. First of all young people are to be approached and talked about the real values of life.
Values such as honesty, being religious, being faithful, justice, real peace, purity and secularity give hope and life not only to the younger generation but to the older one too. Do the Maltese people receive adequate formation in these values from those who are responsible to form them? If formation is provided by the latter why aren’t people cooperating? What is keeping our youths away from committing themselves to Christ?
The Church is right in proposing these life values to Europeans. Countering the current tendency of opposition to any kind of authority, the Church has every reason to promote with persistence, persuasion and love these life giving values. She knows that Christ has entrusted to her the mission of evangelizing today’s Europe, bearing in her mind and heart those solemn words Jesus spoke to his apostles “hearing you is hearing Me”. Are all Maltese Christians aware of their call to evangelize other European brothers and sisters?
In being faithful to Christ, the Church can never be closed to change. No. She is in fact to change where it is possible. But she should absolutely not change where it is not possible for her to do so. For instance, how can the Church ever say that euthanasia is morally acceptable?
Since the Church is expert in humanity, she has every right to champion and protect the rights and dignity of the human person. Human experience is all the more showing how the Church is the moral voice which fully proclaims the eternal truths of being a human being. Are Maltese Christians convincing examples that following Christ’s gospel makes one more human, compassionate and loving?
While personally wishing Cardinal Simonis a long and holy life in the service of the Lord and his people, I also want to thank him for his simple yet deep and sound points for reflection. He has, in fact, left us as a faithful servant in the Lord’s vineyard.
May his valuable contribution be for all Christian believers and people of good will who inhabit the islands of St Paul, a stronghold and secure light amid the rampant moral relativism which is surrounding our ways of thinking and acting.
Fr Mario Attard OFM Cap