The term ‘icon’ describes a sacred painting depicted on board. Actually, the word could be used for any image, regardless of materials and techniques that were used. But generally speaking, works on board produced in the Byzantine and Slavic cultures fall into this definition. The word ‘icon’ comes from the Russian “икона”, which in turn comes from the ancient Greek εἰκών -όνος, from the verb eikénai, which means ‘to like’, ‘to appear’. Another origin is from the Greek-Byzantine word eikón, which can be translated as ‘image’.

The icons are works that transcend their material and the deep symbolism they present. Every detail, even the most insignificant, expresses a concept and alludes to a superior meaning, a precious reference to an evangelical episode, or a spiritual message. The creator of the icon is more a writer than a painter, with a theological mission rather than an artistic one.

The rules that define the icons can be found in special manuals, called hermeneia, which the iconographer must observe strictly. Among the many traditional types of icons, those in Greek-Byzantine style are certainly the most fascinating.

These icons are often painted on both sides, or diptychs or triptychs that can be easily transported. Greek icons are related to some recurring subjects, and are characterized by common elements.

Icons of the Holy Mother of God, dedicated to the widespread love in the Byzantine world for the Mother of God (Yperaghia Theotkos); in this works the Virgin is usually represented as Mother, with the Son in her arms, wearing a a tunic and a mantle decorated with three stars that symbolize her everlasting virgin.

Icons of Saint Savior, where Jesus is represented half bust and with a book in his left hand, in the act of blessing with his right hand. He wears a dark tunic that recalls his earthly nature, while the blue mantle symbolizes his divine nature.

Melchite icons, Middle Eastern icons depicting Christ, angels and saints with Arab textures.

Moving Holiday icons, for celebrations that do not occur on a fixed calendar date but are linked to the Easter cycle. They are usually dedicated to the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Christ

Fixed Holiday icons, for celebrations fixed in the liturgical calendar.

We will always remember Mother Teresa of Calcutta for her untiring will to help the last ones, the deprived and poor. Today she is a Saint, celebrated all over the world, and surely one of the most important figures in modern history, awarded with the Nobel Peace Prize and countless other awards.

But we must not forget that she was first of all a woman: a simple woman who has consciously decided to devote all her life to others.

We should never forget this because it’s from this that we can find the will to imitate, in our small, such important and precious figures.

Santa Teresa of Calcutta (Anjezë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu) was born in Albania. After a difficult childhood with the premature death of her father, she shows an early interest in charity and mercy; she became nun at eighteen and, after a short stay in England and Ireland, she was sent to India. Since very young she showed her love towards this country in her close correspondence with the Jesuit missionaries in Bengal.

Since then, Saint Teresa lived between Calcutta and Darjelling, divided between prayer and charity, until in August 1946 when, while Calcutta was bloodied by independent fights, she was reached by the ‘call within the call’. She understood that she had to leave the quiet life of the convent to fully immerse in the poverty of those who lived in the street. Saint Teresa considered it as a precise order of God.

Since then, even by fighting the rejected of the Church itself, she began her true mission as the poorest among the poor. She abandoned the black veil and assumed citizenship in the newly independent Republic of India. Soon her example was followed by others. Around her began a bigger network of volunteers: their tasks ranged from distributing food, teaching, assisting the sick and dying.

In 1950, Mother Teresa founded the Missionaries of Charity, a congregation devoted to the mercy and care of the poor and those in need. As a robe Mother Theresa chose a white sari with blue stripes, the colors of the caste of the Untouchables.

Mother Teresa’s influence grew rapidly, also thanks to the worldwide media attention. With the help of local and foreign personalities, she opened reception centers and care for the poor, sick and lepers. She received the visit of heads of state, the most powerful men in the world, and had a long friendship with Pope John Paul II, who already considered her a living Patron of Hospitality.

She remained in charge of her congregation as long as health permitted her to, continuing to serve among her people, and died in her Calcutta the age of 87. John Paul II started a special beatification process for her, only two years after her death, to confirm the holiness that accompanied her throughout her life.

The role of the priest in the Communion’s preparations is important and complex in its gestures, words and symbols, defined since the origins of the Church in a precise and recurring ritual.

The purpose of this ritual is to prepare the group of Faithful to the moment when, by consuming Bread and Wine, the sacrifice of love of Jesus Christ will be renewed once again, and His promise of hope offered to all men of goodwill.

The priest who prepares the faithful to the Holy Communion becomes the guide and vehicle not just to the Eucharist, but to Jesus Himself represented by it. The common prayers, the Pater Noster above all, a sign of respect and solemnity, symbolize the path of faith, our internal journey together with the other faithful. The Eucharist is, above all, a moment of community and devotion, and needs to be celebrated as such.

Following the prayers and the exchange of the sign of peace, a gesture that confirms the will of communion and unity of the assembly, the priest breaks the bread, symbolized by the Great Ostia, eats a piece, raises the chalice and recites: “The Body And the Blood of Christ, together in this cup, are for us food of eternal life”. From that moment, the host and the chalice are in all respects the body and blood of Christ, with His blessing and grace.

Agnus Dei is also a time for meditation and community prayer, when the faithful are preparing themselves to accept Communion. The priest prays too, silently, and asks to be purified through the Body and Blood of Christ, which become for him and for all a protection for the soul. Communion is followed by a moment of silence: the immensity of the mystery, and the fact that we just received the body and blood of Christ, requires it even during a moment of community and devotion.

The prayer after the Holy Communion, and the Amen with which the faithful responds to it, brings the ritual of Communion back on a communal level and to its end.

During the Last Supper, Jesus offered his disciples bread and wine, celebrating therefore the first Eucharist. Bread becomes body, wine becomes blood, in a solemn ritual that transcends every human understanding, but which has been renewed every day for thousands of years, throughout the world, in the name of infinite love: a promise of hope, salvation and freedom from sins for all men. Beyond the theological and indisputable dogma which this statement is based on, there are some lovely human curiosities we would like to explore with you.

For instance, what wine is used for Mass?

A natural wine, produced according to Article 924 of the Code of Canon Law. It can be produced by a convent or by a laic business: the important thing is that it has received permission from the curia, and meets the chemical requirements. Wine can be either white or red. For example we suggest Martinez’s mass wine, a sweet and liqueur wine produced by the historic Martinez company under the supervision of the Vicar of Fornae, with the Bishop’s permission, or the Morreale’s mass wine, also produced according to the applicable Canon Law and with The bishop of Mazara del Vallo’s permission. The choice of liqueur wines is because they’re easier to preserve.

Is it correct to mix wine and water?

Absolutely yes. In addition to the fact that it was normal to dilute the wine with water at the time of Jesus, there is also a symbolic reason. Water symbolizes the human nature of Jesus mixed with the divine one, represented by the altar wine. Furthermore, mixing water and wine reminds of Jesus who, by taking our sins on him, erases them.

Bread and wine have the same importance in the Eucharist?

Yes. The Priest is obliged to consecrate both and consume them during the celebration. If he’s a non-drinker, it can be limited to a minimum quantity of wine, or even just dip the consecrated host. Instead, the priest can decide whether to give the faithful only one of the two elements or both, since Jesus is present in both bread and wine. The choice in this case depends on the priest.

What to do if the wine falls

Consecrated wine is, in all respects, the blood of Christ, and as such sacred. It can’t be poured in vain, it absolutely can’t be thrown away, and punishment is excommunication. If there’s wine left in the cup, the celebrant must drink it. Throughout the rite, wine must be covered by a small veil, because no external body can contaminate it. If it falls accidentally, it is necessary to wash the area with water which will then be poured into the sacristy of the sacristy.

And what if a non-priest drinks wine outside the Mass?

Well, it’s wine, which could be more or less nice. What makes it special is not the taste, but its consecration. If, however, it’s drunk outside the Mass with a blasphemous purpose, the punishment is excommunication.

The wedding day is a very important, precious, and unique moment. It definitely is so for those who get married and see their dream of love coming to life with the person they chose to be their companion or partner for life. It is also for relatives and friends who are invited to take part in the celebration and party that seals this union of love.

Like every celebrations, marriage is also characterized by the presence of gifts. Gifts for the spouses, who often choose to make a wedding list, to receive help from the one who love them to furnish and decorate their new home; but not everyone follows this path, leaving friends with the task of finding the right gift for the occasion.

Gift ideas for a wedding can be of many kinds, but always need to be really special. You can opt for jewels like rings, bracelets, pendants, crosses, crucifixes. There are also wonderful religious statues depicting happy couples, porcelain or silver bas-reliefs that can adorn the house of the newlyweds with solemn and valuable icons. However, even a simple greeting card if chosen correctly and written with love, can be a precious and welcome gift suitable for all pockets.

There are also the gifts that the bride and groom offer to their guests like the bonbonnieres, memories, small items, but that will leave a precious and imperishable memory. There are all kinds and materials, for all tastes and pockets, in a square shape to hang or lean, or in the shape of a heart, drop, or leaf. Gift ideas for the wedding day can be made with metallic and silver decorations, Murano glass, silver foil or crystal inserts. Even in this case, creativity and ‘feeling‘ always win: a card or a cardboard with words of poetry or a particularly significant song for the bride will have even more value than a precious metal object. In the end and from both sides, the important thing is to put our heart on it.

The cult of Divine Mercy started rather late. It was a cult started by Maria Faustina Kowalska, a Polish nun canonized in 2000 by Pope John Paul II.

A member of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Virgin Mary of Mercy, Sister Faustina showed mystical qualities since very young age. Her diary contains many dialogues that took place over the years between her and God. Thanks to this this connection with the Lord, in addition to graces, revelations, visions, stigmata and numerous other gifts to raise her to the role of Saint.

The cult of Divine Mercy started from a vision Sister Faustina had in 1931: Jesus appeared in his cell dressed in white, with one hand raised in blessing and the other resting on his chest, from which two protruding shining rays: one pale and the other red.

Jesus explained that the pale ray represented the Water which represents the souls, and the red the blood, which is life.

The Lord ordered her to paint Him in this way and make sure the image was revered around the world. He also said that the celebration during which the image was to be blessed should take place on the first Sunday after Easter. Pope John Paul II canonized Faustina, and decreed that the Feast of Divine Mercy was to be celebrated every year on that date.

In another appearance, Jesus dictated Sister Faustina the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, a devotional prayer that gives special favors to those reciting it, in particular the promise of a peaceful death. Even the worst sinners reciting once the Chaplet of Divine Mercy can find in it the last lifeline and the forgiveness of all sins. The prayer of the Divine Mercy is a heartfelt plea to Jesus, a merciful Father, ready to welcome at any time in His embrace the suffering children, ready to pick up and comfort all their troubles.

Simply recite the Chaplet of Divine Mercy to find relief from worries and a new intimate and profound joy to face life with.