Maria Lewis, secretary, Xirka ta' l-Isem Imqaddes t'Alla, Guardamangia
An open manifestation of reparation for blasphemy
A while back I was conversing with a foreign resident in Malta and was very happy to hear him praise our island for its natural beauty, its abundant historical sites and its warm and generous people.
But, I must say, I was greatly shocked when he suddenly said: "But the people's cursing and blasphemous words are unbearable and most humiliating".
At first I could not utter a word but then I plucked up courage and endeavoured to defend my fellow countrymen by saying that, although he was right in saying that swearing is a Maltese evil curse, yet there are many Maltese who shun this habit, that there are many Maltese who are ready to point out the ugliness of swearing, that there are many Maltese who praise God with words and song and others who spend time in front of the Blessed Sacrament adoring God by their presence and prayer.
The well-known Xirka tal-Isem Imqaddes t'Alla (The Society of the Holy Name of God) strives hard to promote awareness of this horrible vice and to instil in the people's heart a burning love for God our Creator.
It is indeed a shame that one hears men, women and even children, swearing against God, the Blessed Sacrament, Our Lady and the saints.
But while we condemn this act, we must be on our guard not to condemn the blasphemer. We must be ready to pray for such a person, to try prudently and lovingly to bring to his or her attention the horridness of this habit and to give a good example by uttering words of praise and thanksgiving to God and the saints.
Every year the Xirka tal-Isem Imqaddes t'Alla organises its national congress during which there is a Walk of Faith as an open sign of reparation for blasphemy.
After the walk the people gather in church to pray, to listen to some short speech and a presentation and, lastly, to hear the message of our Archbishop.
This year the national congress is being held at the parish church of Safi.
This parish, dedicated to St Paul, was chosen because the society wishes to combine this congress with the Pauline year when we are commemorating the 2,000th anniversary since the birth of the great Apostle Paul. It will be held on Pentecost Day, May 31, and starts at 5.45 p.m.
We cordially invite everybody, especially those who hold the name of God dear to their heart, to participate in this blessed event.
Rather than talk about blasphemy and the blasphemer, which in the long run will not change things for the better but might, in fact, do a lot of damage, it would be a good idea to actively take part in this congress and by prayer and song and by listening to the messages that will be delivered we would be giving praise and glory to God as is befitting.
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Joe Xuereb
May 3rd 2009, 11:46
Dr. Cassia, please! To me these days, swearing is like adding condiments to a favourite dish (and painful toes). Absolutley nothing to do with inadequate vocabulary. Forget your class, your education and your pedestal high status once in a while. You will feel so, well, uneducated and humble I guess. So what?! We are all that to begin with. Some graduate to educated and arrogance. Some graduate to educated and prefer to remain humble. So many permutations on a theme. One picks the best, the least hypocritical, the most honest.
The best. If it is good, it is worth repeating. Like New York, they named it twice (in the song).
I am musical. What a gay day!
Joe Xuereb
May 2nd 2009, 10:17
Time was when I would not swear to save my life. It was not the done thing. I was reasonably religious. Blasphemy, in an otherwise imperfect family, was taboo. Off the menu. We were decent folk, holding decent jobs and status. We had a reputation to safeguard. In other words, no swearing. Just uprightness. And hypocrisy.
Then came the enlightenment, MY age of reason. Otherwise known as atheism. As William Flynn says, atheism and blasphemy are like oil and water, totally separate, totally pointless. The power of taking it or leaving it. But I too, like the Pope, knock my toe against my lowly stool or my ceramic throne, in urgency standing too close. Then I let rip. It sounds almost sweet not least because it has no repercussions beyond letting off steam. I am getting a taste for it. Creativity comes into play when blaspheming I've discovered. This is why the play Stitching, and its controversial banning, is to me water off a duck's back.
It is called getting a life. Liberating. I recommend it (the atheism). Thence, swearing is just an option. Just make sure the Pope is not within earshot. We must not hurt sensitive hearing organs.
Kenneth Cassar
Apr 28th 2009, 08:50
@ Joe Portelli:
Before dismissing Mr Flynn's comment as useless (if you read it again you will find that it makes perfect sense) without bothering to explain what is wrong with it, you would do good to consider your own argument's flaws.
For instance, how is blasphemy racist? And how is "salam alikhom", which means peace be with you, considered blasphemy in "Muslim countries" if uttered by a non-Muslim? Do I smell prejudice?
But perhaps, to follow your suggestion, we should take heed of St Paul, and "do not engage in useless arguments with those that have no intention of knowing the truth".
Dr Paul Sant Cassia
Apr 28th 2009, 01:58
Mr Flynn,
You seem to be both a literalist and a believer of the Old Testament's veracity whilst actually being a sceptical anti-clerical. I suspect people blaspheme because of a lack of education and an impotence in self-expression. It also has shock value which people sometimes put to effect, demeaning them. Whether one is a believer or not, the fact is that blasphemy is unbecoming and frankly ugly ("brutta figura"); it is not so much a matter of faith or not but rather of style. The inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah were not pulverised for not paying tithes (as you seem to suggest), but rather for two diametrically opposed sexual proclivities: the first for sodomy, the second for unbridled heterosexual promiscuity. Hence the origins of the words: sodomy (Sodom), and gonorrhea (Gomorrah). Reparatory Prayer would do no harm; and education in self-expression would be even better. You have turned the issue of blasphemy from one of education and self-expression into an attack on religion and faith, which is unbecoming.
Joe Portelli
Apr 27th 2009, 18:04
@ Maria Lewis, well done and keep it up. Blasphemy is in addition, racist and uncivilised and most people may be uncivilised, angry or stupid some 10% of the time, but in Malta blasphemy is 25% of the time. Visiting the cemetery to commemorate a loved one's anniversary, we hear the grave diggers,swearing. There is no control and sorry to say for some people in Malta this is a culture they embrace. Freedom of speech stops well before blasphemy, its a courtesy. Blasphemy can also be innocent. In some Muslim countries, shouting 'Salam alikhom' is considered blasphemy if utterd by a non muslim. Which brings us back to Tolerance. St Pauls, says " do not engage in useless arguments with those that have no intention of knwoing the truth" so let flynn thin away on his own.........
Peter Sammut
Apr 27th 2009, 13:25
I agree with this writer, not many realise that blasphemy is not only practised in the Maltese environment, it is widespread on this planet by the self appointed environmental "climate changers", and "planet savers" who have dedicated their lives "to building these towers of Babel", with their agenda of destroying Man`s Faith in Providence and in giving themselves the Power of the Almighty.
"Save the planet" indeed.
William P Flynn
Apr 27th 2009, 11:28
Atheists don't blaspheme - it's a waste of time. Agnostics wouldn't blaspheme as they'd likely judge it a bad investment of energy. Would people of other faiths care to?
That leaves us with the so-called faithful. Why would the faithful blaspheme if they believe?
No believer in their right mind would upset an omnipotent god who, it is written, had no qualms about drowning millions of men women and children (and all the innocent animals) in Noah's time, turn Sodom and Gomorrah into a nuclear-type firestorm, and causing people to drop dead just for not tithing.
Maybe it's the by-product of many forced conversions in Malta in the times of the knights. And what about the Moslem slaves? The Inquisitors didn't make many friends. Paedophile priests are now exposed; in years gone by, no one except the victims and the perpetrators knew.
I wonder how many blasphemies were invented; not specially to offend god but as revenge on the clergy, inquisitors and so-called holy knights at whose hands they suffered.
This would make a great subject for priests to research. For once the customary and vacuous "research shows..." would be credible and involving something in which they are eminently qualified.
Ramon Casha
Apr 27th 2009, 11:06
Swearing is a perfectly natural way of letting off steam. I don't think there's much to prevent this phenomenon - every country has it. Probably even the Pope has some choice words in Latin that he utters when he stubs his little toe against his throne. What one might do is to encourage the use of other expletives that are not blasphemous to your ears.
Joe Xuereb
Apr 27th 2009, 10:41
Thought for the day (Monday, 27th April, 2009).
Swearing and calling the name of the Lord in vain, or Pietru down the road, is abysmal. The hallmark of lowlife. But in the wider scheme of things, there are matters of infinitely greater importance. Like getting to grips with reality. For instance.