Renato Agius Muscat

Mgr Charles Vella writes:

When news reaches you in a few days that three friends have passed away, you meditate on your future journey,but with hope in the Lord.

These three friends are former minister Mario Felice, Cesare Catania, who for over 30 years lived in Milan, and former MP Renato Agius Muscat.

I will write about the latter, but what I write applies also to the other two long-time friends.

I knew Renato for over 40 years and later got to know his wife Anna. Both of them were hard-working council members of the Cana Movement.

They helped very much with the preparation of engaged couples for marriage, especially in the area of Żabbar.

They understood the ideals of the Cana Movement and in their married life they embodied these values – so much so that they brought up a very happy and good family.

Knowing Renato’s personality, humour and wit, I invited him to start presenting a series of weekly programmes on TVM calledStudio għat-Tfal. With his team, which included David Azzopardi and Ċensu Arrigo Azzopardi, he became a popular figure among children.

Though an excellent teacher by profession, from the Studio he did not teach or talk dawn to children. He had a very human, lively and humorous approach. I am sure many people remember this programme, for which, as religious broadcasting organiser, I was responsible.

These experiences and some coaching made him a political leader. I encouraged him to go into politics as he was the kind of person who could live politics as a service to the people.

As a Whip of his party he was always able, though with a majority of one, to ensure unity. One of his fellow MPs, Frans Bonnici, also ex-Cana, quite rightly wrote that “he had a difficult time as a Whip with one majority”.

Renato was a man of all seasons and a friend to all. To the people of Żabbar and many other areas he was generous with his advice and help to all people who sought it.

As a member of the board of Mount Carmel, I am told he not only left a professional impression, being also the son of an excellent father and former Minister of Health, but also some wit and cheer.

What was his secret and, I might add, that of Mario and Cesare? The secret is in what Blessed Cardinal John Henry Newman said: “Before being a Christian, you have to be a gentleman.”

Newman then applied the words of St Paul in the Hymn of Love when he wrote, “Love is patient, love is kind, it does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices in truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”(1 Cor.,13, 4-7)