On Sardines and Saints

Today June 13^th is St Anthony's Day here in Lisbon. And it’s a public holiday as well, though just here within the city limits, not in the rest of Portugal. Anthony of Padua is the patron saint of Lisbon and a hugely popular saint – somewhat on a level with how St Patrick is regarded in Ireland.

His feast is being celebrated here in style!! We went down yesterday evening to the City centre which was jam packed with people celebrating through the evening. The smoke of barbecued sardines filled the evening air. The sangria was flowing and people were dancing in the streets. And everywhere you went, you would see little figurines of this humble monk holding a child. It didn’t seem to blend in too easily with all the partying going on. I decided to do a little bit of research myself and it seems to me that when you peel away all the hagiography, there’s a true man of God behind the legend, a Preacher of the Word, a Disciple of Jesus, a Missionary of the Gospel.

Born into a wealthy family in Lisbon in 1195, Anthony rejected the opulent life he’d inherited, entered a monastery in Coimbra, where he also became uncomfortable with the complacency he encountered in that academic world. When a group of five Franciscan monks passed through on their way to Morocco, and when their martyred remains were returned to the monastery a short time afterward, he felt irresistibly drawn to a path of simplicity, of missionary outreach, and of devotion to Christ. That path took him to Morocco, Sicily, Italy and France, eventually dying in Padua after only 10 years of active ministry. He was renowned as a Preacher and a man who could open up God’s word and who was not afraid to challenge unbelief and hypocrisy wherever it was found.

........................................................................Hmm I think I’d like to be someone like that.

Oh, and by the way, about the sardines. Well, legend has it that, once when his preaching was not being received by the people of the city, that he went out and preached at the side of the sea. No sooner had he spoken a few words when suddenly so great a multitude of fish, both small and great, approached the bank on which he stood. All the fish kept their heads out of the water, and seemed to be looking attentively on St Anthony's face; all ranged in perfect order and most peacefully, the smaller ones in front near the bank, after them came those a little bigger, and last of all, were the water was deeper, the largest. The people of the city, hearing of the miracle, made haste to go and witness it. I'd say that is more about the hagiography and less about the man!!

About his preaching, St Anthony had this to say

"I ask that if you find anything edifying, anything consoling, anything well presented, that you give all praise, all glory and all honor to the Blessed Son of God Jesus Christ. If on the other hand, you find anything that is ill composed, uninteresting or not to well explained, you impute and attribute it to my weakness, blindness, and lack of skill."

Teamwork

Portugal v Czech Republic

Last night we (1) made it through to the second phase of Euro 2008 soundly defeating the Czech Republic 3-1

When Cristiano Ronaldo lined up the third of the three goals, there was only one man between him and the open goal. He‘s widely acknowledged as one of the best strikers in the world. He would also have a personal ambition to be top goal scorer in the competition. But he gave the goal away to someone else. Ricardo Quaresmo was hovering to his left unmarked and in front of an open goal. A quick pass, and the ball was in the net. And so it ended up 3-1.

Now there’s teamwork, I thought to myself. How tempting to try and tackle the obstacle yourself, because you know you have the ability, because you secretly would like the glory for yourself, and because you’re not sure you have faith in your mates to finish the job. No game is ever won that way. As in football, so in life

The battle’s won when you intimately know and can trust the others on your team.

The battle’s won when you’re thinking abut the end result of bringing people to Christ and glory to God and not thinking about your own reputation or what people will think of you.

The battle’s won when you remain highly aware of others around you, their potential and their positioning and you encourage someone else into a place of victory, while staying in the background yourself. Hmmmm, Wonder what other lessons in life this championship will bring forth for me….

(1) Hey, It’s hard not to be influenced by the infectious and enthusiastic nationalism on every side with red and green flags flying from every building and vehicle, and not to feel as much a part of this wonderful nation as everyone else around us!

Unfurl the unconquerable flag
In the bright light of your sky!
Cry out to all Europe and the whole world
That Portugal has not perished.
Your happy land is kissed
By the Ocean that murmurs with love.
And your conquering arm
Has given new worlds to the world!

From the Portuguese National Anthem!

Fifteen Seconds of Fame

Portugal v Turkey

Andy Warhol said once that in the future everyone will be famous for 15 minutes.
Well Anna had her 15 seconds of fame Saturday last night outside the Irish Pub down on the river front of Parques das Nações where we live.

It was approaching half time in the opening match of Euro 2008, and Portugal were playing Turkey and it was still a goalless draw. We were watching on the big screen with our friend Maria, and there was a TV camera there doing some shots of the supporters watching the match. As the whistle blew for half time, all of a sudden the TV presenter swung round to her and asked what she thought of the match so far. In moments like those you hardly know what to say, especially when you’re being asked in Portuguese. "Apparently I said that I loved Portugal, and that the atmosphere along the waterfront was brilliant. So I hope I got it right!! You can see for yourself if you follow the link below (you have to cut and paste into your browser to watch it). My bit comes about 5 mins into the news bulletin" (1).

And the atmosphere was really good. It helped that Portugal won 2:0, and even though there was plenty of alcohol flowing, somehow there wasn’t that belligerent intimidating atmosphere you often get with crowds of football supporters. It was fun to be out that evening. There's been a lot of negative news about, and most people are struggling financially, with the economy the way it is. So the huge interest in Portugal's fortunes as the Championship progresses is a way of thinking positively and taking your mind of your situation

June marks the beginning of the festive season here in Lisbon. Portugal Day happens tomorrow, 10th June. But St Anthony’s festival happening on 12^th and 13^th here in Lisbon is the BIG ONE. The city centre will be packed, we’re told, on the evening of the 12th. On our way back from watching the match, we bumped into St Anthony’s Day marchers which was very interesting. Every district of the city spends the whole year previous designing costumes for the grand parade through the city. Men, girls, little children - they all get involved. And the costumes and designs are all judged in a contest to see whose display is the best. That was what was happening on Saturday evening at 11pm, when we met the marchers from Alcantara District.

(1) http://sic.aeiou.pt/online/scripts/2007/videopopup2008.aspx?videoId={155D0A81-2B7B-4B6F-82C0-B07428291B68}

Knights of the Order of the Holy Cross?

Last weekend we had a totally refreshing and inspiring weekend in the small town of Tomar, about 2 hours away from Lisbon.

We had just finished language exams the previous week, and we just needed to get away and get our heads cleared. Some friends from the Lisboa Matrix, an Englsih language fellowship based in Cascais, were going there on a prayer retreat so it seemed like a great opportunity to join them there.

Quiet and sleepy, and steeped in history, the narrow streets of Tomar are overshadowed by a majestic medieval castle that stretches across the skyline. It's chief claim to fame is that it was the last stronghold of the Order of the Knights Templar before it was disbanded in 1314. My curiosity aroused, I had to research more on this mysterious medieval order, and found it to be formed as a band of brothers dedicated to the protection of the honour of Christ against the forces of darkness. At the time throughout Europe, of course, the struggle was between Christianity and Islam. The town of Tomar stood near the frontier in Portugal between the area controlled by the Christian King Afonso and the region controlled by the Muslim Moors.

Walking and praying through the cobbled streets and in the well laid out parks, brought to mind the fact that in the spiritual realm, we belong to a kind of Order of Knights as well. Maybe we're not out doing battle on silver steeds and in shiny armour but, we are, in a sense, a worldwide community of brothers and sisters dedicated to upholding the honour of the name of Christ and pushing back the darkness wherever it is to be found. And the Bible backs this idea up. Having already rescued us from the kingdom of darkness, and transferred into the kingdom of His son, (1) God has given us spiritual authority and power to tear down strongholds, and break down every proud argument that keeps people from knowing God in a fully personal way (2) . And to do is in the spirit and gentleness of Christ himself

Interestingly it was that old hymnwriter Saint Bernard of Clairvaulx who was one of the chief exponents and defenders of the military activity of the Knights Templar. In his writings, he can at one and the same time write of these knights as "truly fearless and secure on every side, for their souls are protected by the armour of faith just as their bodies are protected by armour of steel. Doubly armed and neither fearng demons nor men" and yet at the same time was able also to pen such words of gentle comfort as these

"Jesus, the very thought of Thee
With sweetness fills the breast;
But sweeter far Thy face to see,
And in Thy presence rest."


(1) Colossians 1:13
(2) 2 Corinthinas 10:4