Saint John the Evangelist tells us that love of God can never be separated from love of neighbour. Where one is present there must also be the other.

We see this precisely in the great Patriarch Saint Joseph, as we read the revelations which Donna Maria Cecilia Baij, a benedictine nun abbess at the monastery of Saint Peter in Montefiascone, had.

"Love toward neighbour in Saint Joseph grew according to the growth of his love towards God. He used to feel his heart break in sadness if he knew that there were someone in need and he could not help him. So he would recommend him to God so that He would provide him. Many times he would diminish from his necessary belongings so as to help the poor. When he was paid for his work, he would quickly give away to the other poor the greater part of his earnings.

"He was very kind toward those who were sad and he would pray God with great eagerness to console them. He used to continue praying until God would receive his prayer. He wished to provide for the needs of every one; both spiritual and also temporal... God was very pleased with these feelings of his faithful servant; he never refrained from giving him what he used to ask with so much earnestness. Joseph showed himself grateful toward God by thanking him continually even for those who received some favour.

He used to do the same for the sick by praying continually for their health of their body and even more for the health of their soul. He visited them; he used to console them; he used to encourage them to bear patiently the sickness which God sent them. These would remain much consoled and strengthened to bear patiently the calamity which troubled them.

Finally Saint Joseph would increase his prayer when someone would be close to death. He would recommend his soul to God so that this soul passes from this earth to the bosom of its Creator in his peace."

This great Patriarch's love for neighbour did not end now that he is in heaven. Rather his love increased in intensity and strength for his prayer in heaven employs gentle force on the heart of Jesus. We see this from daily experience. How many graces are not given for the intercession of the Great patriarch. How many aids do we not also receive in our needs. For this love therefore let us be thankful by nurturing true devotion in our heart toward this great Saint. A sincere devotion which may always attract more his powerful protection.

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Father George Bugija

s.teresa

The word Indulgence comes from the latin verb Indulgere meaning to forgive. So we can say that indulgence is " forgiveness of the temporal punishment which we owe to God for our sins already forgiven, bestowed, for the application of the merits of Christ and of the saints".

We have said that through indulgence the temporal debt is forgiven because the eternal punishment meaning that suffering one must undergo eternally in hell because of mortal sin is forgiven through the sacrament of confession or through an act of perfect contrition together with the wish of a sincere confession. However, the temporal penalty is not always forgiven together with the eternal punishment; we can call the temporal penalty a debt one has with divine justice for sins committed. This debt with divine justice must either be paid in the fire of Purgatory or in this world through penance.

This forgiveness of the temporal punishment is bestowed for the application of the infinite treasure of the merits of Our Lord Jesus Christ together also with those of the B.V.M., of the saints and of our good works.

The Church controls also this infinite treasure of merits wherein lie all those satisfactions which Jesus performed for us through his passion and death and wherein also lie the satisfactions performed by the B.V.M, the Saints and by our good works.

The Church exercises her power on this treasure through her visible leader who is the Pope. From this infinite treasure of merits he distributes according to the needs of the church.

An indulgence can be Plenary. It forgives all the punishment fitting for our sins. It can be partial, that is it forgives just a part of the temporal penalty, as ,for example 40 days indulgence. These forty days are not to be understood as if one were to free himself or some other soul from 40 days in purgatory, but it is to be understood that for that good deed or penance set by the church, one receives so much merits as if one were to perform 40 days of penance according to the law. This shows us the advantage of indulgences and at the same time the suffrages we give to the souls in Purgatory when we apply those indulgences we can for their souls. We should therefore be very careful that we do not lose, through negligence, those indulgences which the church gives us. It is therefore better that every morning we make the intention that we want to win all those indulgences possible.

The plenary indulgence can also be solemn. It is therefore called Jubilee. Many say that the word Jubilee comes from the hebrew Gobel which means Fifty because the Jews had their Jubilee every fifty years.

For the old testament Jubilee, the Holy Church set the Jubilee first celebrated in Rome and then throughout the world. Pope Boniface VIII erected it and it took place every hundred years. Then Pope Clement VI made the Jubilee take place very 50 years through a 1343 Constitution. Through Urbanus VI's decree it was celebrated every 30 years; until Pope Paul II ordered that it be held every 25 years.

Therefore we can say that the Jubilee is a solemn plenary Indulgence that every now and then the Pope gives to all the christians on condition that they perform some good works.

Through God's mercy, this year Pope Pius XI held a holy Jubilee which commenced on last year's christmas. At present the jubilee takes place in Rome only; then after a year it will be held throughout the world.

If during this Jubilee one performs well those good works which the Pope commanded and performs all the other deeds one is obliged to perform. The good works the Pope commanded are receiving repentantly the Sacrament of confession and receiving devoutly the sacrament of the eucharist and visiting those churches appointed by the Superiors. It will therefore be a great grace if we receive from God to perform well these holy works and so receive the indulgence of the holy Jubilee which God's Providence gave us without our being worthy of it.

st.augustine

On the 30th November of last year Monsignor Apostolic Delegate blessed and placed the foundation stone of the Residence of the Apostolic Delegation on the beautiful island of Ghesireh on the Nile border.

The Bishops of Egypt the patriarchal Vicars, many clergy the representatives of the Religious Institutes and many others belonging to the diverse latin and oriental communities were present.

The broad strip of land on which the new residence is to be erected was adorned with many arabic style huts. Flags of various Nations and especially the Papal Flag were fluttering from these huts.

A very beautiful piece of pergamena paper which Msgr Nutti Vicar Apostolic of Egypt read in Latin and which Msgr Azir Bishop of Chalden read in french was closed in the stone, together with other souvenirs.

Surrounded by Bishops, clergy and people, Msgr. delegate Apostolic addressed with great emotion those present, after the foundation stone was blessed. His speech left a very beautiful impression on everybody.

When the ceremony was over the bishops, clergy and faithful left that beautiful river side with a great wish in their hearts to finish as soon as possible that work begun in such a beautiful manner and bring it to an end. This wish will surely be completed if the good souls unite in thought and contribute generously.

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saint gregory

Undoubtedly one of the most beautiful events that the Institute of the Mission may mention is the visit paid him by the arm of Saint Francis Xavier, Apostle of the Indies while it was on the Island.

It was the 27th of May when the miraculous arm of Saint Francis Xarier was taken to the Cathedral. The feast there was very beautiful and uplighting. Afterwards this Relic had to be carried to nearby places and in some establishments and institutes. The Institute of the Missions was included amongst these institutes. So we set up a small altar adorned with flowers and surrounded by carpets all around. The place was much embellished by some damask strips. Which were hung on the wall. Candles were lit on the altar; by their weak light they created an atmosphere of devotion on the place.

At 9.30 the superior together with the Rector of the Jesuits was entering the institute with the Relic in his hands. Many people followed him; they stayed outside so that from there they could assist the short function which was to take place. As soon as the superior arrived on the spot prepared, he placed the relic on the altar and the prayer of grace started to be recited with great devotion. All the missionaries were there, waiting around the altar.

After the prayer the Superior gave a blessing with the holy relic and continued on his way to other places.

Everybody was filled with joy and happiness by the visit of this miraculous relic and everybody thanked God for the great favour he bestowed on the Institute.

But divine Providence was preparing to do a much greater favour with our institute. Without our ever thinking it, the Rector wanted that the Relic be left in our custody until it would be time to be carried again to the Cathedral for the procession. In this way the arm of Saint Francis Xavier spent about an hour and a half in the silence of the Institute. This second visit of this apostle in our house caused no small joy in the missionaries who did not miss to take advantage of that beautiful occasion and say some special prayers for their needs and for the needs of all the other missionaries who toil in the mission fields.

The missionaries were lucky to meet again this relic at the Institute of Saint Joseph, Hamrun, again for the third time. Here thank God some missionaries are working for the good of souls. Here again they gathered together around the holy altar to assist at th function which was continued in the chapel of this Institute with the participation of many people, as the picture here published clearly shows.

These visits of the miraculous arm of Saint Francis Xavier consoled greatly everybody and they encouraged greatly each one of us to work harder always for God's glory and for the good of souls

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In the Chapel of "St. Joseph's Home".

st.augustine

st.augustine

So full of zeal for the conversion of the infidels, Pope Pius XI yearned that an exposition in the Vatican be opened as a preparation for the year of the holy Jubilee. And so three days before the opening of the sacred Door through which one passes for the tomb of the first Pope the great Apostle Saint Peter, large crowds of people who came from all over the world to receive heavenly forgiveness, were already prepared, blessed and consecrated by the presence of the Pope. Such a wonderful wish of the Pope was fulfilled completely! The universal exhibition of the missionary undertaking is a proof of the work which the defenders of the name of Christ from the ends of the world gave in Rome, centre of the Catholic Faith.

The Pope had hardly expressed his wish for this missionary exposition when the missions were all set alight like an immense flame of enthusiasm and noble and attractive competition to present the best there is in all the missions of the world in Rome, in the house of everybody's father.

This missionary exposition was opened last year on the 22nd of December.

Through a really wonderful speech Cardinal William Van Rossum, the Prefect of the Congregation of Propaganda Fide, presented the finished work to the Pope. The Pope answered with a no less beautiful speech for the beautiful expressions of the Cardinal. In his discourse the Pope expressed his joy for the good news that the Missionary Exposition was ready to be inaugurated by him. He also spoke about the aim for which this missionary exposition was set up, namely in honour and glory of almighty God whose name all the missions bear; for love of our Lord Jesus Christ whom all missions daily recognize. This missionary exposition was held also in honour and glory of the Catholic Church which the missionaries always enlarge; it was held also, in honour of the Holy Congregation of Propaganda Fide which is the Pope's right hand in the missionary enterprise; finally (it was held) in honour of the missionaries who for love of truth are in continuous battles on the missionary field. After finishing his discourse, the Pope blessed this great missionary exposition, however not before imparting his Benediction to all those present and to all those who in one way or other took part in this such a wonderful work.

Those who were lucky to see this exposition were amazed by its beauty. We are overjoyed to hear that this Exposition will remain opened throughout the year of the holy Jubilee; not only (that) but it should be destined to remain permanently open for God's glory and for the glory of Roman Pontificate and for the spiritual and temporal importance which the missionary work will gain.