Appreciation - Fr Michael Attard
- Rev. Dr Joseph Bezzina
writes from Victoria, Gozo:
Bearing
the cross forms a necessary part of the daily life of every Christian
man and women. Every one of us can give up something for the good of
others. Fr Michael Attard, who passed away on Friday evening, gave up
everything.
Born on October 1, 1933 in Nadur to Coronato Attard and Anna Tabone, a
staunch Christian family, he decided, when still a teenager, to dedicate
his whole life to Christ and to his followers. He was ordained at the
Gozo Cathedral on April 12, 1959.
He dedicated his life to prayer. Bearing one's cross means true
Christian living and true Christian living is, above all, a life of real
Christian prayer. He understood at a very early age that training in a
spirit of prayer is the most important part of Christian education. He
brought prayer into every colloquy and conference, into every lesson and
sermon, often explicitly, always implicitly. In a few words he
continually encouraged his listeners to strive to unite themselves
inwardly with God, that is, to pray. Dun Mikiel's prayerful life brought
him very close to the Blessed Virgin Mary. The humble consent of the
Virgin accepting to become the mother of Christ, her great part in this
greatest work of God, Incarnation and Redemption, filled him with utmost
reverence towards the Immaculate Virgin. He venerated her especially at
Ta' Pinu - Gozo's doorstep to heaven, so to speak. He promoted devotion
to her at this shrine wherever he happened to be evangelising, in Gozo,
in Malta, or in the missions, where he spent long periods in the last
years of his active life.
Years ago, Dun Mikiel founded two prayer groups at Ta' Pinu basilica -
Grupp Talb Madonna Ta' Pinu for adults, and GymTalb for the young. With
the help of several benefactors, he also founded a contemplative order
of Dominican nuns in Gozo. Its failure, due probably to abortive actions
when one could have waited longer, was, I believe, a hidden wound that
hurt him till the end. Dun Mikiel was above all an excellent spiritual
director, exercising this mission at the Gozo Seminary, with members of
several religious orders, and with an innumerable number of pious men
and women. His direction - and I can personally vouch for this - had a
Christ-like character, "as I have loved you" (John 13, 34). He
succeeded to convey Christ's eternal love to those who sought his
counsel. His spiritual direction was Christ-like in motive, that is for
the sake of the Father who loves us as His children; Christ-like in
intensity, prepared to suffer with you; Christ-like in universality,
extending itself to friends and strangers alike; Christ-like in
endurance, persevering in spite of injuries, annoyances, and the basest
ingratitude.
No matter how great one's difficulties, no matter how complicated one's
problems, a chat with him allowed one to see the light at the end of the
deep tunnel of life's darkness.
To his four brothers - Pietru, Emmanuel, Fredu, and Mgr Joseph Attard of
Ciampino, Rome, and to his five sisters, Guza, Karmena, Rita, Doris, and
Giovanna, Minister for Gozo, and all their families, my sincere
condolences and prayers.
There
is nothing so sad as parting. The heart is overcome with such a feeling
of loneliness that one almost does not know where to turn for relief. I
am sure Dun Mikiel reminds us at this moment that the day will come when
we will meet him again. God will bring us together again on the
everlasting morning, when as the Canticle of Canticles (2,17) assures us
"the day breaks and the shadows flee away".
