Certain dates in one’s life are so prominent that they become indelible memories. A date I shall definitely not forget is Friday 4 May. On this unforgettable day I suffered an unexpected mild heart attack.

After 30 minutes of retrosternal compressive chest pain associated with nausea and sweating, I had no option other than asking one of my Capuchin confreres to take me to Mater Dei Hospital. In fact, I was rushed to Mater Dei at around half past four on a sunny afternoon. The Emergency Ward staff promptly came to help in their usual outstanding fashion. From the earliest results of all sorts of tests I underwent it was clearly visible that I was suffering from fresh thrombus aspiration for both the distal right coronary artery (RCA) as well as from the mid left circumflex artery (LCX).

An angioplasty, the technique of mechanically widening a narrowed or obstructed blood vessel, was critically needed. Thanks to the expertise of our medical staff it was successfully and swiftly carried out. My life was saved from an eventual death! But the story goes on.

The Lebanese American artist, poet and writer Khalil Gibran once wrote: “Your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you as by the attitude you bring to life; not so much by what happens to you as by the way your mind looks at what happens”. Attitude is the key for shaping one’s living difficult situations into golden opportunities for growth. It is a known fact that some life situations are unchangeable. Nevertheless, their fixed and somewhat harsh nature can be eased by the way they are dealt with. The same happened to me.

I could never underestimate the seriousness of what I was going through.

Who can deny that my physical health has been impaired? Taking six pills a day for cure and prevention is not a joke! My heart had to pay a costly price! However, I was offered a choice.

All depended on the kind of option I was about to choose on how to handle, or mishandle, my precarious situation. Am I going to moan about it? Am I going to portray myself as the most unfortunate man on earth?

Or am I going to realise God’s unconditional love for me by giving me another chance to live fully for Him, genuinely serving Him in my brothers and sisters?

Unknowingly, the Mater Dei medical staff helped me a great deal in taking a positive attitude towards my new life story. I was deeply amazed by their silent yet powerful compassion with which they diligently served me. Their compassion made me realise that every person, irrespective of his/her life personal problems, has the potential to be a source of healing and restoration for other fellow human beings. Professionalism alone cannot effect this much-needed restoration. It needs to be supported and directed by humanity and compassion. The latter virtue makes us enter into the world of the other to empathise with his/her own fears and hopes. It relays the message that no matter the physical, psychological and spiritual calamity one faces, everything will be fine in the end. In Mason Cooley’s words, the wonder of compassion rests on the fact that it “brings us to a stop, and for a moment we rise above ourselves”.

In the homily at my dear brother and friend’s funeral, Fr Tonio Mifsud OFM Conv., Provincial Minister Fr Alfred Calleja dwelt on the old Latin adage Vox populi vox Dei. He mentioned how Fr Tonio recognised Christ’s voice in the people he generously and tirelessly served.

While thanking the endless flow of visitors who visited me in Mater Dei, I would also like to show my immense gratitude for the healing word these simple people communicated to me: “God left you alive because He still needs your service!”

I make this my life motto for its remaining second half, fully aware that by serving Him I live my life to its fullest! Praised be Jesus Christ!

Fr Mario Attard OFM Cap