This was the triumphant ending of that outstanding homily which Blessed John Paul II delivered on May 9, 2001 at the Floriana “Granaries” on his second pastoral visit to our country. On that occasion the Polish Pontiff beatified Dun Gorg Preca, Ignatius Falzon and Maria Adeodata Pisani.
On Monday 1 July the Church in Malta jubilantly celebrated the feast of Blessed Nazju Falzon. Although 143 years passed from his death, which occurred on July 1 1865, precisely on his 52nd birthday, Blessed Nazju is still attracting huge number of people from various walks of life to his tomb which is situated at the Franciscan Church of Saint Mary of Jesus in Valletta. Why are so many people asking for his powerful intercession before God’s throne?
Blessed Nazju’s prophetic life speaks volumes to us Maltese. The challenge that modern culture is posing on our Catholic faith impels us Catholic believers to revisit his holy life to retrieve from it the hope and strength we need in our daily witness to Jesus Christ. This holy Maltese countryman dedicated his life to impart religious instruction to children and adults alike. He even extended his catechetical ministry to British servicemen who were in Malta in that period. His inspiring biography informs us that he carried out this important and delicate apostolate for 20 whole years or more.
In his homily Blessed John Paul depicted Nazju as having “a great passion for preaching the Gospel and teaching the Catholic faith”.
Animated by Saint Paul’s advice to the Corinthian community, Blessed Nazju struggled to be “a cheerful giver” (2 Cor 9:7) in all sorts of ways. In fact, as the Holy Father beautifully explained, “Ignatius Falzon … put his many talents and his intellectual training at the service of catechetical work. … Blessed Nazju was one who gave abundantly and cheerfully … He renounced the worldly success for which his background had prepared him, in order to serve the spiritual good of others, including the many British soldiers and sailors stationed in Malta at the time. In his approach to them, few of whom were Catholic, he anticipated the ecumenical spirit of respect and dialogue, which is familiar to us today but which was not always prevalent at that time”.
Are we, as Maltese Catholics, putting our best talents in order to spread the Good News of the Gospel wherever we go? Do we share our faith with others including the nonbelievers? If we feel discouraged let us promptly keep in mind what Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI said in his video message to the Courtyard of the Gentiles at the Paris headquarters of UNESCO on March 24, 2011. “Those of you who are nonbelievers challenge believers in a particular way to live in a way consistent with the faith they profess and by your rejection of any distortion of religion which would make it unworthy of man”. Thus, are we unworthy Catholics because our personal lives contradict what we are supposed to be living? But if we want to be faithful to our faith what should we do?
According to the Holy Father Blessed Nazju’s resources for holiness were “prayer before the Tabernacle, devotion to Mary and the Rosary, and imitation of Saint Joseph. These are fountains of grace from which all Christians may drink”. Can I spend more time adoring the Eucharistic Jesus, praying the Rosary in my families and modeling my life on God’s Word?
Like Blessed Nazju, you and I are called by the Lord to be the servants of “his steadfast love [and] his wonderful works” (Ps 107:15). Why not using my Facebook, mobile phone, twitter, email, skype and other social networks to help other users getting to know Jesus Christ?
Fr Mario Attard OFM Cap
San Gwann