Jan. 19, 2012 Thursday: 2nd Week in Ordinary Time (B)
Jesus withdrew toward the sea with his disciples.
A large number of people followed from Galilee and from Judea. He had cured many and, as a result, those who had diseases were pressing upon him to touch him. (Mk 3:7-12)
Fr. Rafaeli Mallena, 70 yrs old Catholic chaplain aboard the sinking Costa Concordia rushed to consume the Eucharist in an attempt to protect it as the cruise liner began to sink on Friday night.
He said as he realized the ship was in serious peril he had two things at the forefront of his mind: protecting the valuables, which the staff had entrusted to him, and protecting the Blessed Sacrament.
When the first explosion was heard during dinner, Fr Rafaeli said, “he felt immediately that something was very, very wrong”, according to Fr Giacomo. He immediately went to the chapel to pray and 40 minutes later, when he realized the “abandon ship” alarm was sounding, he consumed the Eucharist and locked the staff’s valuables, including jewellery and money, in a safe.
As chaos ensued among the 4,200 passengers aboard, the priest tried to stay aboard in an effort to help but he was persuaded by crew members that it would be better if he boarded a lifeboat and left the sinking ship.
Fr Rafaeli was, “very upset because as the first interviews came out, everyone was saying that the crew was not taking care of passengers and so on. But I am a personal witness of people leaving their families and children and I saw personal sacrifice. There was a staff captain, for example, who saved three or four people who could not swim.”
Fr. Rafaeli heard from survivors about a hotel director who remained bravely until the very end. He was going to take the very last lifeboat when he fell down the stairs and broke his leg. He remained inside the ship floating in cold water for 36 hours before he was discovered. Most people were totally dedicated to saving others.
Just as Jesus had a great heart to heal, cure, and help others, he desires that we have that same heart as his, just as those brave men and women tried to save the lives on the cruise ship. -Fr. Paul
From:
http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/news/2012/01/16/chaplain-helps-survivors-of-cruise-ship-disaster/
A large number of people followed from Galilee and from Judea. He had cured many and, as a result, those who had diseases were pressing upon him to touch him. (Mk 3:7-12)
Fr. Rafaeli Mallena, 70 yrs old Catholic chaplain aboard the sinking Costa Concordia rushed to consume the Eucharist in an attempt to protect it as the cruise liner began to sink on Friday night.
He said as he realized the ship was in serious peril he had two things at the forefront of his mind: protecting the valuables, which the staff had entrusted to him, and protecting the Blessed Sacrament.
When the first explosion was heard during dinner, Fr Rafaeli said, “he felt immediately that something was very, very wrong”, according to Fr Giacomo. He immediately went to the chapel to pray and 40 minutes later, when he realized the “abandon ship” alarm was sounding, he consumed the Eucharist and locked the staff’s valuables, including jewellery and money, in a safe.
As chaos ensued among the 4,200 passengers aboard, the priest tried to stay aboard in an effort to help but he was persuaded by crew members that it would be better if he boarded a lifeboat and left the sinking ship.
Fr Rafaeli was, “very upset because as the first interviews came out, everyone was saying that the crew was not taking care of passengers and so on. But I am a personal witness of people leaving their families and children and I saw personal sacrifice. There was a staff captain, for example, who saved three or four people who could not swim.”
Fr. Rafaeli heard from survivors about a hotel director who remained bravely until the very end. He was going to take the very last lifeboat when he fell down the stairs and broke his leg. He remained inside the ship floating in cold water for 36 hours before he was discovered. Most people were totally dedicated to saving others.
Just as Jesus had a great heart to heal, cure, and help others, he desires that we have that same heart as his, just as those brave men and women tried to save the lives on the cruise ship. -Fr. Paul
From:
http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/news/2012/01/16/chaplain-helps-survivors-of-cruise-ship-disaster/
