And the winner is...

Frederick muscat

Aug 24th 2010, 22:13

Nirringrazzja lil Knisja Mgarrija li kull sena izomm din it-tradizzjoni biex flimkien naghmlu festa sabiha.

Imgarru u kburi

ray sacco

Aug 24th 2010, 21:13

jason borg:
i am not interested in wasting my money on some ancient useless stupid tradition! i would and i do spend money on other charitable things! regarding tradition, lots of traditions became extinct by time because they became ridiculous at a certain time and age. fighting gladiators in the roman coliseum was a tradition. hunting foxes in britain was a tradition.

Cassandra Miggiani

Aug 24th 2010, 21:10

What shameful comments. The money raised in this way goes to the most needy and desperate element of our society, as well as the upkeep of our churches. This is a good thing. All you naysayers, how much money do YOU give to charity every month? every year?

You're all hypocrites and I'm ashamed of the lot of you. Without our blessed Mother the Church, Malta would be just like the rest of Europe - in the depths of despair, lawless and perverse.

Joanne Camilleri

Aug 24th 2010, 20:08

Nixtieq inkun naf ghalfejn dan il fuss kollu li jinqala kull sena fuq l ghotja tal vara ta l Imgarr !! Jien nahseb li kull min ma jaqbilx ma din id drawwa ferm ghaziza ghalina l Imgarrin, hi kollha ghira ghax jarana tant maqudin fl Imgarr u li norganizzaw festa sabiha u minghajr glied ! Din id drawwa sabiha li ssir kull sena, hi tradizzjoni li gejja minn missierijietna u hadt m'ghandu dritt li jwaqqafielna. U kull min jsejjhila irkant tal vara, nixtieq nghidlu li dan mhux irkant ghax meta tirbah xi haga bl irkant, l oggett tiehdu mieghek u jkun tieghek ghall dejjem, filwaqt li f'dan il kaz, il vara tibqa ta l Imgarrin kollha!! Halluna bi kwietna halli niccelebraw il festa kif irridu ahna, ahna qatt ma nthallna lil haddiehor kif jiccelebra l festa tar rahal tieghu. Viva Santa Marija !!!

Christopher Grech

Aug 24th 2010, 15:18

Want to know about the truth on the Pharisees and who they are?

http://jahtruth.net/politics.htm

You might be very surprised!

Patrick Sacco

Aug 24th 2010, 14:46

Who said the Pharisees are extinct?

They are here with us!

They have read and studied the Sacred Scriptures and understood...NOTHING!

This is a perversion of the teachings of Jesus Christ!

Shame on the Church!

Christopher Grech

Aug 24th 2010, 13:09

@ Patrick Sacco

Well said! We are now living as in Noah's times (The End Times), and Judgment Day will soon be with us.

Catholics say that the soul will never die! Not true! See Ezekiel here:

18:4 Behold, all souls are Mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is Mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall DIE.

Now the Catholics (and other religious denominations) who practice idolatry is a MORTAL SIN, and their soul, not just their physical body will DIE. That is why it is called mortal!

Thus said the Lord, and much in advance for all of you to repent from your sins. It is never too late for priests to wake up and realize all of this.

Some priests who are coming in the light are realizing this, but they must put actions in favour of what Christ stands for, rather than to the contrary.

In order to understand the Bible, you need a key.

http://thewayhomeorfacethefire.net/

Your understanding of the Bible and "The Way" of Christ would never be the same again!

sandra pace

Aug 24th 2010, 12:19

dear melanie cassar you can do what you want with your money but do you think this is charity you can burn them if you want am not taking any of mine for sure:-) do you think you are going to book a seat in heaven weell i dont think soo:-) well you can see the results of the comments :-)

Patrick Sacco

Aug 24th 2010, 11:30

ebay@mgarr.com.mt

Shame on the Church!

No wonder a lot of people argue 'Kristu Iva (Yes to Jesus Christ), Knisja Le (No to the [Catholic] Church)'.

If voting in favour of divorce is a sin, idolatry and greed are mortal sins!

Abela J

Aug 24th 2010, 00:34

And all this with the blessing of the same Curia who declared voting for divorce as sin???

Are we talking about the same church founded by Jesus Christ?

Best said in Maltese:
Ghall-flus sallbu 'l Kristu, u jekk jerga' jigi jergghu isallbuh!

Malcolm Seychell

Aug 23rd 2010, 22:40

Alla ma jridx divorzju... imma milli jidher irid loghob tal-flus fuq min se jerfa l-istatwa... din hi il-knisja tal-fqir? ... x'ipokrezija! Ahjar 8,000 euro taghtuhom lid-dar tal-providenza, ghax dawk jaghmlu l-gid zgur.

Tscerri

Aug 23rd 2010, 19:06

Kollha tmaqdru l-knisja.. kemm hawn minkhom li taghtu donazzjonijiet lil foqqra? kulhadd idawwar il kliem t'Alla kif jaqbillu biex ikun komdu.. imiskhom tisthu!!

Joseph Bartolo

Aug 23rd 2010, 15:42

The Roman Catholic Church and all other Churches are The most wealthy societies on all the earth and out of their wealth they give very little while the loyal members of their so called faith, asks for other donations of money, food stuffs, medication and clothing, from the pulpit.
Do you think thats christlike ?

Please Read in your Holy Bible

Matthew Chapter:6:1 - 4 ( Giving to the Needy )

Matthew Chapter 6:19 - 24 ( Treasures in Heaven )

Matthew Chapter 6:25 - 34 ( Do not worry )

Matthew Chapter 7: 15 - 23 ( A tree and its fruit )

Above as you can cleary see is for sets of Holy Scripture, that our Lord and Saviour Jesus the Christ had preached to his followers on the Mount of Olives, also known as the Surmon on the Mount. Read very carefully with the help and guidance of the Holy Ghost and everything will be shown to you. God the almighty Creator and his beloved son Jesus Christ our redeemer in Union with the Holy Ghost help and guide you and your precious family and friends in eternal truth, life and happiness : )

Christopher Grech

Aug 23rd 2010, 14:59

@ C PACE

You write that everyone is twisting the Church's words according to his or her needs.

I am saying that the Church is twisting Christ's and God's Word in the Bible to her needs.

Christ's church is spiritual not in stone. Christ abhors statues, and idols and their worship, as can be seen below!

When are we to OBEY Christ as He says, rather than making up our own rules (be they the church's or by men)?

Steve Pace

Aug 23rd 2010, 13:07

" Stennejt hafna inqas minhabba is sitwazjoni ekonomika " ..... Prosit ... no other member of clergy could have said it better..... ISTHU !

Jason Borg

Aug 23rd 2010, 12:56

Every single day, hundreds of tourists are taken to Mgarr to see the church. The parish does not pocket a single cent from this trade, but Malta's economy benefits from the income. The church needs money for its upkeep and maintenance. Malta's economy and tourist industry do not fork out a single cent. The parish collects the money partly through this auction.

We should be grateful to this parish and community and not butcher them with unjust comments. Armchair critics please take note.

CPace

Aug 23rd 2010, 12:17

Paganism.....idolatry.......divorce.........evryone is trying to twist the Church's teachings according to his and her own needs. The Church is not a commodity but a guide to live a life where you will be at peace with yourself. The Church is love thy neighbour, its assisting the poor, its giving out what you have to those who have nothing. This is Christ's teaching

Christopher Grech

Aug 23rd 2010, 11:38

Paganism at large! Traditions of the fathers is STRICTLY prohibited by Christ!

Who are we to obey Christ or traditions of our fathers? Your choice.

Christ would uphold the Second Commandment, which says:

2. YOU shall NOT create an image or likeness of ANYTHING that is IN HEAVEN, or on earth, or under the sea and YOU shall NOT worship or BUY such things. YOU shall NOT bow down to them or serve them for I the "I AM" your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate (or disobey) Me; and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love (and obey) Me, and KEEP My COMMANDMENTS.

So, not ONLY they make statues, but honour them and SERVE them, and some even BOW down to THEM?!

Do you get the message?

In order to understand better this situation, please read my letter to the archbishop on how the Catholics (and other christians) break the Commandments!

http://100777.com/node/1931

d. borg

Aug 23rd 2010, 11:33

Shame, shame, shame. Il-knisja thanbaq fuq il-materjalismu, imbaghad anke biex terfa l-Madonna, irid ikollok il-flus. U min m'ghandux? Din issejhilha devozzjoni jew fanfarunati? Ghamlulna pjacir u sena ohra turuhiex fuq it-television.

Adrian Archer

Aug 23rd 2010, 10:58

Din mhix kwistjoni ta kemm titma tfal u nies b'8100. Min offrihom sinjal li ghandu u biex il-bid tibda minn 2000 Euro, sinjal li hemm min jista' jaghti.

Il-bicca hi li ssir auction biex tintrefa l-vara...din bis-serjeta. Jekk il-flus jinghataw lill- Karita jew ghall-familji fil bzonn, naccetta.

Pero tad-dahk il-bicca...jew tal-biki...ghax ma jitfghuhix ebay ukoll.

Irrelevanti fejn qed imorru l-flus ta don...is-sabiha taf x'inhi...li l-knisja qed tafghas certi regoli fuq min jorganizza l-festi...u fuq l-affarijiet li jaqlghulha l-flus, m'hemmx kontrolli.

Joyce Cassar

Aug 23rd 2010, 10:43

This practice is an emabarrasement for me as a Catholic. There is no justification which can found in the Gospels for this and I wonder why those involved in the discussions on feast on behalf of the Church declare this practice as sinful!

P. Borg

Aug 23rd 2010, 10:34

Have you ever heard of when Jesus destroyed all the stalls set up in the temple? This is what our church has set up in the place were we are supposed to meet god. The church sees only money.

I suggest that instead of this bid, the names of people interested should be written on a paper and placed in a box and random selection done. Those who have been selected the previous year would not be allowed to present their name to give a chance to everyone. At least in this way there wouldn't be any money involved. But no, our church is not capable of doing so because it is so fond of money that has lost all its' values. It's not a surprise it has it's own bank.

M.gale

Aug 23rd 2010, 09:51

this is all new to me!!!...how sad!! this is all i hv to say "money talks nd' bullshit walks".VIVA L KAPILLAN!

joe black

Aug 23rd 2010, 09:50

Well I can't understand why the church and authorities made such a fuss about games rooms or out lets and allow this shameful practise. It's still BETING isn’t it?

Maybe next year they get a sponsor too since the media is giving it such importance.
This is pure discrimination a restricted club.

Only god knows how many would like to have and not GAINS the honour of carrying the statue during the procession.

Maybe someone from the church big heads would like to comment and tell us if we have to BID to be in God’s favour and if cash counts to have a place in Haven

Ernest Vella

Aug 23rd 2010, 09:45

mhux veru paganizmu sfrenat....din hija tradizzjoni ta post partikolari li minflok jonqfu l-flus f'certu affarijiet iwarrbuhom ghal xi haga li huma jhobbu....din ghira ghal gid li ghandu haddiehor...veru hawn il-faqar imma dawn in-nies kapaci jgahtu

J Deguara

Aug 23rd 2010, 09:38

People do whatever they want with their own money - totally agree.
However, when you think of families in poverty, disabled or taking care of disabled children and they you hear the church collecting money through BIDDING from feast fanatics then you feel anger and frustration.

We already have too many riches in our churches, we do not want to see any more competition between parish feasts, we want a stop to all this fanatism. Make good use of your money please.

Stephen Baldacchino

Aug 23rd 2010, 09:02

Paganismu sfrenat

joe borg

Aug 23rd 2010, 08:46

bejgh kollox u imxi warajja ?????????????????

dak bis-serjeta kien qed jghid jew xi cajta?

ghamiltu d-dar t'alla post tan-negozju!!!!!!!!!!!

din zgur cajta ohra!!!!!!!

ara dan kristu veru kien bniedem ihobb idahhak jew inkella hawn min ghawweg kollox kif jolqot lilu biex jistghana min fuq dar hadd iehor.......................

8100 euro taf kemm idumu jieklu nies bihom go pajjizi inqas ixxurtjati minna ................ jekk u meta jaslu hemm .............. ghax mid-dehera il-flus li jingabru ghal karita kolla jinqabdu f'xi tip ta burokrazzija u ma jaslu qatt ma jaslu fid-destinazzjoni

J simpson

Aug 23rd 2010, 08:39

All these negative comments....do you know that the money raised also goes to charity!!!! Kulhadd jitkellem minn ghajnu l'aqwa li maqdru!!!

gcForte

Aug 23rd 2010, 08:28

@ All.......I wish to ask....If somebody left hundreds of acres of land, kilos of gold, lot of buildings, and money to the church, so he /she will have a guarantee place in heaven, would it be a sin ? In this matter of Mgarr, the way I look at it , is that they are bidding TO CARRY the statue of the Madonna, and not buying the statue, or the Madonna herself. Besides everybody can buy a statue of any patron saint. The size depends of how much you want to spend. Because of our catholic believes, nobody is going to give you anything for nothing, not even a small picture of a saint. Besides if my favourite football team wins a cup, I will be the first one to pay ,so I will have the chance to lift it and take some pictures holding it. The clubs can do it, to fork some money, why not the church ?

Andrew Scicluna

Aug 23rd 2010, 08:13

what s wrong helping the church , all those who disagree do they help someone with there money ?
Keep it up Mgar and never mind the negative comments said by those who diagree for helping the needs of the church.

Joe E Galea

Aug 23rd 2010, 08:09

Anke lil Madonna jirkantaw dawn il-kattolici. Il-kilba ghal flus mill-knisja hi inkredibbli.

Orazz Vella

Aug 23rd 2010, 04:15

Kulhadd jinterpreta kif jaqbillu hu. Pero hadd ma qall minn fejn hu ghax kulhadd jaf f'hafna festi ohra xi jsir.
Fl-Imgarr l-ispejjez tal-festa jithalsu mill-irkant u min jofri l-aktar jerfa il-vara, mhux veru li min ma jistax ihallas ma jerfax ghaliex tista terfa ukoll minghajr ma thallas l-ebda penny. U jekk tridu titkazaw ghax intefqu €8,000 bl-irkant araw kemm jintafqu flus f'festi ohra.
Fl-Imgarr il-festa kull sena issir minghajr l-ebda glied ta' baned u l-anqas tghajjir.

Frances Abela

Aug 23rd 2010, 03:52

You cannot stop this long traditon. Maybe the money raised is going towards their Fireworks, Fiestas etc. as well, & some to the poor.
...loved Mgarr last year on holidays from OZ.

E Camilleri

Aug 23rd 2010, 00:14

To better understand this "tradition" or "auction"... (call it whatever you like, no problem!)... one has to accept the fact that a certain amount of fundraising is needed for a feast and other church-related activities. This is just another way how a group of people VOLUNTARILY donate a sum of money to the parish. In other parishes there are other ways of deciding who will carry the statue; some bind themselves to put up & then remove the street decorations etc... I also heard of instances when individuals DEMANDED money to carry a statue! (how is that for some cheek?!) In some of the comments below I seem to detect a tinge of envy towards our lovely village :-)

jcamilleri

Aug 22nd 2010, 23:37

Dejjem ghandhom xi jghidu...basta kontra l-Knisja.
Issa m'hemmx tradizzjonijiet,... l'aqwa li niskreditaw.
Issa m'hemmx spejjes,... l-aqwa li l-qerrieda jgawdu minn fuq dahar haddiehor.
Huma biss jifhmu.. taghhom biss tajjeb.
Halluna.

Falzon G

Aug 22nd 2010, 21:04

Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. "It is written," he said to them, " 'My house will be called a house of prayer,' but you are making it a 'den of robbers.'" ------ Mathew 21:12-13

John AZZOPARDI

Aug 22nd 2010, 20:55

Mind your business people who are against those people who made a bid to honor their village feast. I ask you doomsayers. Is it your money. If not, take a hike and mind your business What these people want to do with their money is their business and no one else. Where do you think we are lliving in a communist country. Why don't you go after the government for giving your money to people on social welfare.

John AZZOPARDI

Aug 22nd 2010, 20:48

Mind your business people who are against those people who made a bid to honor their village feast. I ask you doomsayers. Is it your money. If not, take a hike and mind your business What these people want to do with their money is their business and no one else. Where do you think we are living in a communist country. Why don't you go after the government for giving your money to people on social welfare.

J Pace

Aug 22nd 2010, 20:23

What's next?....highest bidder is guaranteed a place in heaven????? I believe that such proceedings are totally against church teachings, but hereagain, as long as the church is not at the wrong end of things, everything goes!

Geoffrey Mifsud Farrugia

Aug 22nd 2010, 19:48

dont blame these poor gamblers who dont know any better. this is how they were brought up and their ancestors before them. blame the church authority that came up with these schemes, and for centuries has kept the control over the local populace by ingraining in the society and the people, certain cultural and folkloristic events such as feasts and what comes with them but not only as a form of social alienation. it makes sad reading indeed. money donated to church should be done in privacy and not by gambling who will carry the village statue. this is idolatry at its best and nothing else.

m vella

Aug 22nd 2010, 19:17

Money money money must be funny in a rich mans world PAGANISEM AT ITS BEST

Carmel Garcia

Aug 22nd 2010, 19:01

Jekk il-knisja ghanda bzonn l-ghajnuna titlob lil-Fidili u dawn zgur jghinuha. Mela naghmlu irkant jew lotterija minn statwa li qed tirraprezenta lil-Ommna Vergni Marija mtella s-sema? Dan x'paganizmu hu?

M. Vella

Aug 22nd 2010, 18:35

Yes, some less fortunate people will never have a change to carry this statue, which in a way is unfair, but don't think that the bidders are all well off people. For them it is an honour to DONATE the sum of money to the church (and here I mean Mgarr Parish Church - and not the church in general). Many of the bidders have ancestors who built and donated time and money for the building of the first parish chuch of Mgarr. The bidders are now following in the footsteps of their ancestors to make sure that they contribute to the upkeep of the church and its treasures. There is not much difference in this donation, than the "traditionally" envelope, that is distributed in every parish during the festa season. It is up to the individual person how much he wants to donate. Happy Feast everyone!

David Aquilina

Aug 22nd 2010, 18:30

I was somewhat surprised and disapointed with this story. Only this year whilist on holiday in Malta my son Thomas who is 12 was asking me how people are choosen to carry the statues. I explained that i beleived that people were selected on merit on thier contribution to the church activities and thier village and what a great honour if you were selected. To read that you have to pay quite honestly disgust me!

azzopardi joseph

Aug 22nd 2010, 18:23

Min jaf kemm hawn familji fil bzonn,ahjar taghtu donazzjoni lill karita milli toffru l flus biex terfaw statwa!!!! Issa taf x jonqos? Nibdew naraw il vari ta Malta fuq E-Bay.....

David Hill

Aug 22nd 2010, 18:01

I would have thought it would be better to award the honour of carrying the statue to the group of people who did the most for the Parish over the course of the preceding year, not just who can pay the most. A saying involving Camels and the eye of a needle comes to mind

R.Borg

Aug 22nd 2010, 17:34

Can I suggest something to the Reverend Parish Priest of Mgarr? From next year, please, do not invite the press for such an occasion. There is so much ignorant interpretation around about this tradition. Having it indoors with the interested members of the parish community present as witnesses would be far better. The occasion is intimately connected with a very important Marian Liturgy and the Church should not allow 'malicious' interpretation.

m.ellul

Aug 22nd 2010, 17:28

totally and utterly disgusting !!! ... this week the curia's pro-vicar said that who voted in favour of divorce would be going against Christ’s teachings and this was a sin. Is this so called "tradition' against Christ's teaching, NOT TO GAMBLE, or what.

Dr. Kevin Mompalao

Aug 22nd 2010, 17:21

And where are the church authorities? Don't they see anythig wrong in this? Why don't they take any action? Or is this something 'worth it'?

J Brincat

Aug 22nd 2010, 16:57

OIM (Only In Malta)

Jesmond Micallef

Aug 22nd 2010, 16:49

Money collected goes towards the upkeep of the church. And so it should, with all God's blessings, no doubt. !!

Should people here want to consider a serious argument towards values, well may I suggest the imposition of Church Tax then. In Germany, Church Tax is obligatory and there is only one way not to pay such tax and that is to renounce your belief officially. Indeed, most Christians celebrate Christmas and Easter, as well as other Christian celebrations and tend to think that they do enjoy the complementary holidays associated woth such feasts.

By the way, what about today, Sunday !!. Are there financial allowances that are paid when people work on Sundays, and during the above mentioned Christian feasts ? Why do people sit down and relax reading the news here on this day ? Maybe, its about time people reconsider their "values" indeed.

Awguri lill Mgarrin kollha min gewwa il Germanja.

G Falzon

Aug 22nd 2010, 16:31

What a pity! The Roman Catholic Church selecting a group of people (statue bearers) on the value of who can pay most money. Unbelievable. This is a replica of procurement by public tender where funds are the baseline. And Christ overturned the tables of the money changers when he visited the temple 2000 years ago....

victor caruana

Aug 22nd 2010, 15:59

And when we have all this saintlyhood, we want divorce!!!!!!

renald williams

Aug 22nd 2010, 15:56

assumption? according to papal history... may those who love Jesus read His Gospels and the rest of the New Testament... peace and health wishes to all...
New Catholic Encyclopedia admits that the beleif, that not only Jesus went to heaven with body and soul, does not originate from New Testament, but from forged writings of the 4th century (De Transitus Mariae).
Pope Gelasius 1, in 495, condemned this book, as forged and heretical.
papal quote- Dawn il-kotba miktuba minn eretici… Il-Knisja Kattolika u Appostolika Rumana bl-ebda mod ma taccetthom (De Transitus Mariae) … u l-Kattolici ghandhom jevitawhom. … dawn il-kotba… miktuba mill-eretici… nistqarru li gew mhux biss michuda, imma wkoll mwarrbin mill-Knisja Rumana u Appostolika kollha, u kkundannat ghal dejjem, taht ir-rabta li ma tinhalx tas-sahta (anathema), lill-awturi taghhom, u dawk li jaccettawhom.
Pope Harmisdas in 6th century, reconfirmed this condemnation.
Pope Nicholas 1 (865) also quoted this papal decree in a letter he wrote to the Bishops of Gaul.

victor pulis

Aug 22nd 2010, 15:53

@A Callus
Values?! You must be joking!

renald williams

Aug 22nd 2010, 15:52

assumption? according to Jesus and the New Testament
Only Jesus ascended to heaven, with soul and body.
U l-ebda bniedem ma tala’ fis-sema, hlief dak li nizel mis-sema, Bin il-bniedem… John 3:13.
Il-Mulej irtafa’ fis-sema u qaghad fil-leminija t’Alla. Mark 16:19.
U gara, Hu [Kristu] u jberikhom, illi nfired minnhom, u rtafa’ fis-sema. Luke 24:51;
U huma u jharsu fiss lejn is-sema waqt li kien (Gesu’) tiela’. Acts 1:10.
Dak [il-Mulej] li nizel hu dak stess ukoll li tala’ wisq ‘il fuq mis-smewwiet kollha, biex jimla’ kollox. Ephesians 4:10.
Gesu’ Kristu…Li mar fis-sema, u qieghed fil-lemin t’Alla. 1 Peter 3:22.
Only the body of Jesus, did not remain in the grave, and did not turn to dust.
Kristu, li ruhu ma thallietx fl-imwiet, u lanqas gismu ma ra t-tahsir. Acts 2:31.
Imma… ma rax (Gesu’) it-tahsir. Acts 13:37.
Dan nghidilkom issa, huti: Il-laham u d-demm ma jistghux jirtu s-saltna t’Alla; lanqas it-tahsir ma jiret in-nuqqas ta’ tahsir. Ara, sa nghidilkom misteru: Ahna mhux ilkoll immutu, imma LKOLL nitbiddlu. F’waqt wiehed, f’hakka t’ghajn, mad-daqqa ta’ l-ahhar tromba: ghax iddoqq it-tromba, u l-mejtin iqumu bla tahsir, u ahna nitbiddlu. 1 Corinthians 15:50-52.

renald williams

Aug 22nd 2010, 15:50

assumption? according to New Testament and early church history
Some Christians try using Revelation/Apocalypse 12, to teach that not only Jesus,
went to heaven with body and soul. But this also is against Christian teachings...
Kindly note Tghajjat bl-ugigh u t-tbatija biex tehles: a Scriptural sign of sin.
U sinjal kbir deher fis-sema, mara mlibbsa bix-xemx, u l-qamar taht riglejha, u fuq rasha kuruna ta’ tnax il-kewkba: U billi kienet tqila, kienet tghajjat bl-ugigh, u bit-tbatija biex tehles. Revelation/Apocalypse 12:1-17.
Qal [il-Mulej Alla] lill-mara [Eva]: Nkattar qatigh it-tahbit tieghek, u l-hbiela tieghek; bl-ugigh tiled ulied. Genesis 3:16.
Ippolitu-(it-tielet seklu) - Il-mara mlibbsa x-xemx, hu car li ried ifisser il-Knisja."
Victorinus - Il-mara hi l-Knisja; il-profeti, il-qaddisin, l-appostli.
Methodius - Il-mara li dehret fis-sema mlibbsa bix-xemx, u nkurunata bi tnax-il stilla, u ghandha l-qamar b’mirfes riglejha, u ghandha tifel, u qed tbati biex twelled; hi zgur li l-profeti xi drabi sejjhu Gerusalem, kultant Gharusa, kultant muntanja Sijon, kultant it-tempju u t-tabernaklu t’Alla. Hi l-Knisja.

Stefan Sacco

Aug 22nd 2010, 15:49

P.S Lill Fr Antoine Borg....Fr ghati telefonata illejla lill kappillan ta Rahal Gdid u jurik kif tlehhaq mal ispejjez u kif jirnexxilek tirrestawra u iggib knisja titaxxaq tidhol fiha imma minghajr ma zzeffen u tirkanta statwa !! Irid biss ikollok rieda soda u kuragg kbir biex dak li hu hazin tnehhih darba ghal dejjem

renald williams

Aug 22nd 2010, 15:48

assumption according to old testament?
Some Christians, to teach that not-only-Jesus-went-to-Heaven-with-body-and-soul,
try to use Genesis 5:24, Hebrews 11:5, for Henok, and 2 Kings 2:11-12 for Elijah.
But we use, till this day, the words ‘God-took-him’, as meaning one died,
and not went to heaven with body and soul.
But we use, till this day, the words ‘saw death’, as meaning facing a fearful experience.
So ‘did not see death’ means did not face death, in a fearful experience.
Even Paul says he ‘saw-drowning-three-times’ 2 Corinthians 11:25,
but does not mean he litteraly-drowned-three-times,
because obviously he would be dead-by-the-first-drowning.
As for Elijah they did not see him, not because he went to heaven with body and soul,
(an this is even confirmed by Catholic Encyclopedia),
but beacause he was taken somewhere else on-earth, 1 Kings 18:12 and Acts 8:39-40.
Heavens in Hebrew, samayim, means also to be just feet upon the ground,
even by being on a horse and/or on a tree, 2 Samuel 18:9.
Paul explains there are three Scriptural heavens,
birds and clouds are in first heaven Genesis 8:2,
sun and stars are in second heaven Genesis 1:14,
heaven where God is third Heaven Deuteronomy 10:14, 2 Corinthians 12:2-4.

robert micallef

Aug 22nd 2010, 15:41

so much money to go round in Gozo.... i wonder how much of it comes back in income tax and vat.....from what i hear not alot

Stefan Sacco

Aug 22nd 2010, 15:29

Dokumenti kemm trid....diskussjonijiet u polemiki fuqhom kemm trid....imma kollox jibqa l-istess....Paganizmu 1st class....imma basta tradizzjoni....ma tistax tmisshom hux ghax ilhom min 1920's !!!!

M. J. Mallia

Aug 22nd 2010, 15:12

Am I missing something here? If money is to be collected, why is it not put towards a more deserving cause, rather than the upkeep of the church (for which, no doubt, there are probably enough funds)?

Ronald Debattista

Aug 22nd 2010, 15:08

@Maria..Have a break.have you got nothing else to do.
Your comment is digusting and yes I agree with A Callus,please do go to the Curia tomorrow and resign as being a member of our Church.
Please let people do what they want with their money and don't complain about peoples desicions. SHAME ON YOU.

roderick farrugia

Aug 22nd 2010, 15:04

so those people who do not afford to make a bid because of their respective finances cannot lift there patron at anytime............pajjiz u knijsa tal mickey mouse

Maria vella

Aug 22nd 2010, 14:26

Shame on the church to allow such practices. Is this not taking money from a family in favour of the church? Are these the same people who complain about the high utility bills, is this the same church that complains about poverty on the island yet allows such shameful ignorance in its favour? where is the curia? where are the priests who tell us about sinful decisions? I am ashamed to have been baptised into this organisation. Sometimes Ifeel I am living in a country ruled by the Mullahs against whom many of our belief take up. I wonder who is the worse of the two.