Well I hope everyone had a very happy and holy Christmas. I was fortunate enough to be able to spend Christmas in Malta which is quite a nice little place to visit – very historic. One of the things I was able to go see was the Hal Saflieni Hypogeum. I was quite looking forward to it and had booked the tickets way back in around September (only 80 people go through a day and by tickets I mean ticket as Mrs MB decided she would prefer to spend the morning in the hotel rather than underground) and it didn’t disappoint.
We can only guess at what the purpose of the Hypogeum was but the common consensus is that is probably some sort of ancient necropolis carved out between 3000 – 2500 BC by the temple building inhabitants of Malta at the time. The whole structure has been carved out of rock and it really is amazing what these stone / bronze age people were able to achieve. There are also still traces of their paintings (really just different spiral patterns) in red ochre on the walls. Around the Hypogeum and the various temples were also found various carvings of which the ‘Sleeping Lady’ is the most famous.
No one really knows what these carvings represent or who the temples were in honour of, but I guess it will be no different thousands of years from now when future generations uncover our churches, cathedrals (there is a proper plural for this I’m sure) and basilicas and wonder why they were built and who our statues are supposed to represent. It seems every culture has determined that having a sacred / proper place for worship is important and has buildings dedicated specifically to it.
Thinking about all the various Gods that have been and gone through the ages also has me thinking that maybe it’s just the same God through the ages, but choosing to manifest Himself differently to the different cultures / peoples of the time. Some stone age fat lady for the ancient Maltese, Jesus for the Christians, etc etc.
What a blasphemous and heretical way to close out the year – Happy New Year all!
Btw, the rumours are true about American coffee. It’s terrible. Anyways, the day it started to snow we ventured off the mass in Harlem. Harlem is so underrated. It’s a great place. Mostly friendly people, great American food and quite close to the city and the school my husband is attending in NYC. But let’s talk about the mass. This was the first time I have attended mass in Harlem and culturally it felt like the liturgy was transposed on some protestant gospel service with regard to the music and how the congregation acted throughout the service. I could certainly pray during the liturgy. The homily was lovely and thought provoking. All the parts of the mass meticulously stayed true to the rubrics, and the Church was beautifully decorated in the spirit of magnanimity. I must say, the music was a culture shock. I have never before experienced such music (whether in mass or in a secular setting). Think Sister Act without the nuns. I’m not yet sure if I could pray the mass well with this sort of music. Although, my hunch could be wrong as it was hard to separate myself from the spectacle element of the music. My preference has always been organ, full choir with traditional sacred music. As many of you know, I’m not musically inclide. Ironic considering I married an opera singer but I was wondering if anyone knows if certain music prompts certain responses in the brain? If there is research that has been done in this area, doesn’t it follow that some music would be completely inappropriate for mass? Off to the Caribbean on Saturday so hopefully I can find internet to get a post to you next week. Have a wonderful New Years’ everybody. 
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