John Guillaumier’s latest writing was directed against St Julian and his feast. Mr Guillaumier is right and even the Archbishop agrees with him.  His Grace has been on record as saying that “everyone has a right to have a party, a good party but I think there are excesses that do not give a good name to the parties we organise in honour of the saints.

It is concomitant that the divine becomes profane and the profane becomes divine instantly where and when strong religious traditions are deeply ingrained in local culture.

Some people’s faith does not go beyond carrying a statue, taking a bouquet of flowers to church, going to the band march or firing a petard but this is all due to our past Christian leaders who never lifted a finger to resist that laical radical moral freedom which has dented the religious vitality of a Christian community, endorsing the tiny wrinkles and warts which later dwindled into moral scandals that are damaging and even destroying the family.

This latter damage to the island’s moral fibre is of course being carried out by our parliamentarians, not Christian leaders, who should know better.

As regards politicians, the Archbishop has some encouraging words because he has not lost hope in those who are there today.

I must also admit that the man in the street, though having from birth the wings of Catholicism, never really took off from his material and visible sphere. But at this stage, being an optimist, I would like to see less crying and more contemplation on the triumph of Jesus and the stunning awakening of faith in the universe, currently being sidelined by Mr Guillaumier in other papers.

The Catholic population is definitely on the increase. I am proud to witness in my lifetime the greatness of Christianity.  “Aprite alla gioia le porte del cuor, Gioiate, esultate, laudate il Signor” as the hymn to St Helen goes.

John Azzopardi

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