Medieval hysteria at Borg in-Nadur
Will somebody get that nutter off me and take him to a psychiatrist?
This is the story of the apparitions at Borg in-Nadur. I am quoting verbatim from the official Borg in-Nadur apparition website – yes, there is such a thing – lest I be accused of manipulating the truth.
“On January 2006, Catherine Caruana bought a statue of the Immaculate Conception.” – I’m going to butt in here: a statue of the Immaculate Conception? – “On the early morning of January 23rd, blood materialised under the statue’s left eye. This phenomenon reoccurred on various other occasions. On September 2007, DNA results showed that the blood found on the statue of the Immaculate Conception matched that of her husband, Angelik.”
What the report doesn’t mention is that the statuette was seized by officials from the Archbishop’s Curia, who held it in quarantine for weeks, during which time no substance materialised on its face. Perhaps it was sulking because it wanted to go back home to Angelik? It was the Archbishop’s Curia which commissioned those DNA tests and found that the blood on the statuette was Angelik Caruana’s.
“After the publication of these results by a local newspaper” – as opposed, one would imagine, to The Washington Post – “the Caruana family was under attack by the media. Angelik was depicted as a trickster who was deceiving the public by putting his own blood on the statue. However, in similar cases around the world, the DNA of the blood found on statues frequently matched that of persons involved in the case.” Indeed, the mind boggles as to why.
“One of the most well-known cases is that of Akita (www.catholictradition.org/Mary/akita.htm) were it was established that the fluids that materialised on the statue in question belonged to three different blood groups. This indicates that any substance materialising on holy icons is merely a symbol. Therefore its origins are irrelevant.” Ah, such brilliant sophistry.
“To this day, blood appears frequently on the statue of the Immaculate Conception. Other materials that have materialised on the statue include salt and oil.” And anything else Angelik Caruana might find in the pantry.
“On 1st February, 2009, at around 12.15pm, Catherine Caruana noticed that the statue of the Immaculate Conception that they have at home had once again wept tears of blood from both eyes. This blood was fresh. At about 12.50pm, Angelik, who also was at home, underwent an attack by devils and was gashed on the face and along the arms. Much blood issued from these gashes.” And Mrs Caruana didn’t make the link between the gashes on her husband’s arms – caused by devils – and the fresh blood on her statuette.
“Just after this, Angelik received a message from his Guardian Angel that said that the Lady had wept because her heart is hurt due to the faults of priests who hide behind their priestly garb and also because of those priests who do not believe in these interventions of hers in today’s Church.”
“To date, fresh blood has been discovered on the face of the statue of the Immaculate Conception on: 23.01.06, 24.01.06, 17.04.06, 19.04.06, 20.04.06, 21.04.06, 18.06.06, 05.07.06, 26.01.07, 17.04.07, 12.06.07, 25.07.07, 21.08.07, 22.10.08, 23.01.08, 02.04.08, 13.05.08, 17.10.08, 20.11.08, 01.02.09.”
“Since 24th July, a substance resembling oil” – because it is oil – “frequently materialises from a photo of the statue of the Immaculate Conception kept at the Caruana residence. On 30th April 2007, salt (similar to that found on the statue) materialised for the first time on the photo.” Looks like Angelik is running out of ideas.
“Since 21st April 2006, Angelik has been having regular apparitions of The Lady. Most of the early apparitions occured at his home and during MIR prayer meetings – held in various parish churches around Malta. One 28th November 2006, The Lady told Angelik that the site she had chosen for future apparitions was Borg in-Nadur at B’Bugia – a historical site with megalithic remains inhabited by both the Neolithic and the Bronze Age population.”
“On 1st December 2006, Angelik had the first apparition of The Lady at Borg in-Nadur. Since that day the site has been erected as a sanctuary of prayer. Rosary on this hill is held every Wednesday eve” – what they mean is Wednesday evening, not Tuesday evening – “and on certain days indicated by The Lady. During the Rosary she appears to Angelik and gives him a message. On these occasions Angelik is accompanised by Theotokos.”
For those who are as mystified as I was, Theotokos is a ‘cenacle of twelve persons associated with the apparitions of the Mother of God at Borg in-Nadur.
“On the 26th of each month, a Marian walk called Anistemi is organised. On this day The Lady gives a message to the whole world.” And The Washington Post fails to report it. Here’s a sample message.
“God is sending me to Malta, to Birzebbuga on the hill of Borg in-Nadur. I want conversion! This place has been chosen by me! I wish that, in future, people will start coming to pray on this hill, because I will keep on coming here.” (The Lady of Borg in-Nadur, 1th December 2006)”
She not only speaks in ungrammatical Maltese English, but she uses lots of exclamation marks, too.
The most recent bulletin from the Mother of God at Borg in-Nadur: she’s upset about the Nadur carnival
15 March 2009
“Some days ago on this island of Gozo, a desert was formed for some. Some went blind. They fashioned for themselves an ox, just as your forefathers had done in the past. It was not of gold, but made of masks and costumes. They ridiculed religion. My heart and the heart of my Son Jesus were badly hurt that day. That day, there wasn’t anything left for them to make a mockery of. They wanted to deride the Church and religion.”
“In a word, Satan surreptitiously worked through them. Some, at first, began to applaud them and laugh approvingly and carry long with them. They only realized later. But it was then too late, since Satan had already taken hold of them. Do not allow such things to happen again. Tell the people that my Son Jesus and I were hurt, seriously hurt. Inform them. Get this message through. Our hearts are hurt.”
“Precisely! This is what had happened – as they had done long ago. My own little children, be vigilant! Do not let Satan deceive you. Do not let him take hold of you or use you. Thank you for having listened to my call.”
What, did she use the telephone? And clearly, she has nothing more important to be getting on with on the world stage.
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The same website describes Angelik Caruana, a seriously obese man with the facial expression and comportment of the intellectually subnormal, as “a visionary and stigmatist”. Watching the videos after reading this, you just have to laugh. Not to put too fine a point on it, he looks like an attention-seeking village idiot who’s subliminating his sexuality, whatever that sexuality might be.
Even more amusingly, he suffers his stigmata by appointment, every Friday. “Gibli naqa te, Mer, ghax gej id-demm ghaxar minuti ohra.”
And here’s another little gem: “Since 4th June 2006, Angelik experiences physical satanic attacks on a regular basis. He is frequently attacked and viciously beaten by the devil.”
There’s a lovely video which shows this happening: he lies down on the ground ever so carefully, given his bulk and lack of physical fitness, with a bunch of assistants helping him attain a suitably comfortable prone position. He lies there for some minutes, completely still, during which time the audience is expected to use its imagination, and then the assistants help him back to his feet.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqlrGPzBNA4&feature=related
(Re the video in the link posted)
More shocking than what appear to be – seemingly – a group of adults taken in by a what, to me, looks like a man with psychological problems, is the fact that a woman took a child of not more than 5 years old along to witness it all (complete with lunch bag, naturally).
I have serious doubts as to whether people attending Borg in-Nadur believe Angelik is actually seeing things. I’m sure most people attend out of curiosity, for lack of anything better to do. Let’s face it: supernatural phenomena, obese people falling to the ground and attacked by demons, invisible virgins walking among the crowd, messages from God’s Mother “in persona” carrying a deep and intense message of reassurance and salvation, a sexually deprived guy waving his tongue out only to spit a thorn seconds after (Vanni Pule better be careful with this one)… Makes the perfect outing on a Wednesday evening, doesn’t it? Might even be more interesting than the Archbishop’s pilgrimage to the Holy Land.
Who’s that chap rigged out in a friar’s outfit – and that nosey person in a nun’s habit? They should both be hauled before a magistrate. And how about that irresponsible woman pushing her progeny forward for a grandstand view of the demons? What say you about this – Commissioner for Children?
Angelik Caruana, we are told, “regularly receives Holy Communion from his Guardian Angel” and that “this phenomenon has been observed by a number of people at Borg in-Nadur.” Curiously, I watched the video to see how this was stage-managed. Angelik kneels. His accomplice Fr Hayden Williams (thick Maltese accent) takes the host, places it in Angelik’s hands, and Angelik puts it in his mouth. Fascinating stuff.
If I put all my observations in the main post, it’s going to be too cumbersome, so I’m putting them down separately in the comments section. Why does The Lady of Borg in-Nadur speak ungrammatical, non-idiomatic English? Here’s the answer: “The Lady’s messages are a literal translation (where possible) from Maltese to English. The Lady speaks to Angelik in a way that is understood by him. Therefore grammatical errors may be present.”
Next time, she should pick somebody with a tertiary level of education as her intermediary. But funnily enough, she always seems to pick peasants.
The Lady of Borg in-Nadur is also what New Yorkers call a Jewish mother, what Europeans call an Italian momma, and what we Maltese women call a – well, never mind. She tells Angelik: “Do not let me allow my Son to exact justice from you. I am tired of holding back his hands! I am tired of holding back his hands!” Thank heavens Jesus was a bachelor, because she sounds like she would have been the mother-in-law from hell.
“They ridiculed religion. My heart and the heart of my Son Jesus were badly hurt that day. That day, there wasn’t anything left for them to make a mockery of.”
Good thing she doesn’t give further reason for ridicule.
“On January 2006, Catherine Caruana bought a statue of the Immaculate Conception. – I’m going to butt in here: a statue of the Immaculate Conception?”
Real popular over at the adult ceramic shop.
Does this woman actually have followers, or is she a lone deranged person (as well as her husband)? What is the url of the actual website – sounds like some decent comical relief.
[Daphne – The problem is the husband. The woman is nowhere to be seen.]
She’s the one in the red top and the bronze-coloured hair in the clip where he’s “attached” by devils.
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/1307146/bloody_mary_miracle/
If only it could, the Borg in Nadur statue would probably do the same to the Caruanas!
Here’s a description of a typical vision at Borg in-Nadur, though strangely enough, none of it was recorded on video.
“Just as the Lady said this, she opened her hands and her rosary-beads vanished. From her hands very powerful rays of light emerged penetrating into the gap between the cross and the bronze-age wall. All of a sudden, out of this light, raging fires came into view. Within these fires was a great crowd of huddled people, the flames reaching to their waist. They seemed to be blackened with soot. There were men and women, adults and youths. They were furious and enraged, damned and in despair.”
“Out of the fire came smoke and a strong stench resembling that of burning car-tyres.” A contemporary touch from the Maltese experience. “Within this fire and among the people were many devils that had terrifying ugly animal forms. Some of the devils began to jeer at the people, while other devils hovered above them. Some, from among the people, tried to climb onto the others so as to come out of the fire, but could not. The devils began to mock them and to stop them from this by pulling them down. Both the people and the devils were uttering foul blasphemies against God, Our Lady, the Eucharist and the Church.” It must have been like a trip on a Maltese bus.
“Angelik could not stand to look at this infernal vision any longer and shut hie eyes, but the Lady insisted that he continue to look. Angelik began to weep because of what he felt for these tormented souls and with tears in his eyes asked the Lady to give a powerful sign to the people, for them to believe in her apparitions and messages at Borg in-Nadur and thus to be converted. He also asked to endure sickness for the conversion of the world. He begged her to free us from the fire of hell.”
This man clearly needs a psychiatrist, and those who collude with him are perpetrating abuse on a psychologically vulnerable individual.
Angelik’s Lady then went on to threaten him. “Angelik, if you are not careful, you too could go there! I want a great conversion to come about! I urgently want conversion from the whole world! Angelik, tell the people what you saw. I want fasting, penance and sacrifices for the urgent conversion of the world, and in a special way for the five countries. You know full well what happens when countries turn against the Church. Pray that natural disasters, plagues, sickness, famine and wars will not come about.”
So that earthquake was Italy’s punishment for Silvio Berlusconi.
“All of a sudden, out of this light, raging fires came into view. Within these fires was a great crowd of huddled people, the flames reaching to their waist. They seemed to be blackened with soot. There were men and women, adults and youths. They were furious and enraged, damned and in despair.”
It sounds very much like a description of a picture depicting hell in a four-decade-old junior school religion book.
And I’m sure that is exactly the level of intellect that people believing Angelik Caruana profess. I am seriously considering visiting Borg in-Nadur for the entertainment aspect of it. Maybe I can even get the Virgin’s autograph when she passes through the crowd, but when I think of what a total waste of time it would be, I’d rather go for a walk or to the gym instead.
Your evening’s entertainment:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xojmtRxou0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeBU73YkWG0&NR=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blOVjRaaT08&NR=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuuR6jXB5p0&NR=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WQvLlozTn8&NR=1
attacked by 10 devils:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRpwq6RQjEE&NR=1
Examined by a ‘psychiatrist’, except that all the psychiatrist does is check his eyes and his pulse, just like any old GP:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDyXsmqCJMQ
Oh, I love this one: the conjuring trick with the tissue and the thorn:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzPrjZjuX8U&feature=related
An apparition by appointment:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yBmmrupYnI&feature=related
The man himself – the Madonna hasn’t told him to cut down on carbs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2RKn3VROJs
That’s what happens when one lives for his entire life on a rock or a small village – the mind starts making up things and fantasy becomes reality, I suppose as a means to alleviate the boredom. As a side note, I heard around that this guy has a criminal record, so if somebody can confirm this it might help to put things into perspective. Not that one actually requires any further evidence that this guy is nuts. Where were his wounds when he got “attacked by 10 devils” in front of hundreds of people? Or do these wounds conveniently just come about at his home, coincidentally right after the statuette of the “Immaculate Conception” starts weeping blood? Hilarious. Thanks for the links Daphne. Hope they include levitation and apparitions from hell, since that would really make them interesting, but I guess I’m asking for too much.
Interestingly, six items down in the related videos section on the youtube page for the deeply anti-climatic “Angelik attacked by 10 Devils”, there is this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e25ohHyOxwY&feature=related
What is the link, I wonder?
One rumour has it that he has (had) some problems in his previous “non-holy” life, including owing monies to people, in which case this new lifestyle makes sense in terms of fund-raising and protection from people owed money. I beg to differ on the psychiatric help. I think it is a well-defined project to earn money from gullible people who visit Borg in-Nadur and donate for the Madonna. This is third-hand information, but I suspect there is some truth in it.
Why are you giving this man the importance and publicity he doesn’t deserve, Daphne? We have enough madmen running around this island without publicising the antics of yet another one. This guy’s top floor is clearly empty. Possibbli ma sibtx fuq xiex tikteb din I’ll gimgha?
[Daphne – I think it’s a very important thing to write about.]
“To date, fresh blood has been discovered on the face of the statue of the Immaculate Conception on: 23.01.06, 24.01.06, 17.04.06, 19.04.06, 20.04.06, 21.04.06, 18.06.06, 05.07.06, 26.01.07, 17.04.07, 12.06.07, 25.07.07, 21.08.07, 22.10.08, 23.01.08, 02.04.08, 13.05.08, 17.10.08, 20.11.08, 01.02.09.”
Pity the statue was not handed over to the Malta Blood Bank.
“So that earthquake was Italy’s punishment for Silvio Berlusconi.”
No…Silvio Berlusconi is god’s punishment to Italy.
This is a better site for some fun:
http://www.freewebs.com/maltakorea/
Oh Korea, the great necrocracy of the east.
What I can’t understand is that anyone can see that this man is totally out of his mind but the psychiatrist certified him as completly sane, ma nafx jien.
[Daphne – No, he didn’t. All he examined were his eyes and his pulse.]
Blasphemy.
It seems that the “Mother of God” is more concerned with what goes on during carnival in Gozo rather than with violence, wars, terrorism, world hunger, widespread disease in Africa, global warming, organized crime, human trafficking and exploitation of people, animals and the environment. The message we get is that a handful of people playing the idiots at Nadur is of far more serious concern than fundamentalists blowing up innocent people because of grudges created primarily using the excuse of religion itself.
This might work with people closed-minded enough not to know (or care) what is going on in the world around them, and who think Malta is at the centre of the universe just because it is at the centre of their lives, but, seriously, if this is the best that the “Immaculate Conception” can come up with, I’m terribly disappointed.
I would have expected some deeper, more profound revelation that would enable people to understand the nature of God better and which would hit you like thunder and leave you dumbfounded at the grandeur of the omnipotence and benevolence of God. But, rather, all we get is the same old story once again. Pretty boring stuff, and not too useful for those few of us who realise that the concerns of the Maltese are insignificant compared with the troubles and challenges which other bigger countries are facing.
Angelik, get a life and stop fooling yourself and wasting gullible people’s time! Take a holiday to go and see the truly amazing and beautiful things in this world. The Grand Canyon, Niagara Falls, the Norwegian fjords, the Scottish lochs, art museums in Italy, and whatever it takes to bring you to your senses and realise that only a deity with your level of IQ would take offence at a guy dressed up as Jesus, but not mention anything regarding the hatred the majority of Maltese people (in particular those living in Birzebbugia) have for the people they call “is-suwed”. For if your God is a racist, then I’d rather not be on his side at all.
S. Calleja – It looks like Angelik’s Theowhatsit pre-empted you on this one:
http://borgin-nadur.blogspot.com/2008/11/p149-message-of-28th-september-2008.html
“Are you aware that your seas are slowly turning into cemetries? Do you know or don’t you? Do you know that the dead bodies remain in the sea? Children too? There are babies and pregnant women also. The Pope spoke about them as well after Sunday’s Angelus.” – The Virgin Mary (aka Angelik Caruana)
Ah… now that the Lady speaks, I’m sure that’s really going to sweep out racism. But at least divine intervention does have its merits by keeping us updated with the latest news in case you miss the 8 o’clock bulletin.
And to think that someone as influential and powerful as the mother of the omnipotent Himself could make sure all these immigrants arrive safely. No. Instead, she lets them die so that she can then appear to Angelik and ask him to tell the Maltese that the water around us is turning into a cemetery, and that we should be doing something about it. Hey Missus, if you’re so concerned, we could bloody well use some of your son’s help by keeping the damn waters calm when 300 people packed on a 30-foot boat are desperately crossing the Mediterranean in search of a better life. But oh, I realise that this fits in with the grand scheme of things, so that the sacrifices of these people cause a spiritual conversion in Zeza tal-Brokkli who has recently been quite naughty with Gamri ta’ Zokklu, who has recently become quite fond of her cauliflower.
So, as I see it, it’s one of the following:
1. I’m missing something important;
2. God is a jerk;
3. God does not exist (at least not in the traditional sense);
4. Angelik is schizophrenic and should be stopped from further damaging the Catholic religion.
Take your choice, since I’m fine with them all.
@S. Calleja
I’d say it’s a close call between option 2) and 3). Can I go 50:50 ?
Compare and contrast:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blOVjRaaT08&NR=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2qJA63EcAg
The thorn could have been easily placed in the tissue by an accomplice, or hidden behind his upper/lower lip. The reaction of the people is hilarious: “Ommmmiiii, madooonnnnaa!” It’s funny though how some people want to believe at all costs, and are programmed to consider doubt as bad and punishable, rather than as a search for the truth and a means of survival. They might fear too much that their invisible voice is just a figment of their imagination and maybe nothing more than self-conversation.
On a separate issue, I find the presence of children at such places a case of child abuse. Children should NEVER be made to believe something as true unless they are old enough to be able to make an informed and intelligent decision for themselves. Unfortunately it looks like many people who attend these “shows” have been subjected to that kind of abuse themselves in their tender and most vulnerable years.
Some interesting comments from youtube:
Dexter1966 (3 days ago)
Dak ma hawnx ragel iehor fid dinja jiegdeb iktar minnu jien nafu min meta kien ghadu tifel immur l-iskola taz Zejtun ghax dak min hemm ja giddieb li hu
cosmicwonderer (3 months ago)
Jien ukoll rajt ix xjaten. kienu il Marsa u Hal Far.
cosmicwonderer (4 months ago)
Mhux ostja bela, Bela trip tal ostja.
Trust the Gozitans to think what he’s doing is special.
Peppi should show these videos below on Xarabank
What does the psychiatrist have to say about this?
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/yt-Ofmf0QyjT_Y/black_magic_telanjang_veggie_festival_phuket_thailand_3_3/
Something more impressive than a tiny thorn:
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/yt-g9unSktNWs4/mouth_coil/
I think we found his long lost Muslim brother:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJRG-iyOchs
I believe Phuket was one of the villages that suffered worst damage and loss of life during the 2004 tsunami. Maybe that was God’s punishment for the involvement of these crazy people with competing and more impressive gods.
As regards to the Turkish guy going mad on TV, maybe he was simply overjoyed after getting to know about Gonzi’s support for Turkey joining the EU?
Here’s a link to some more Medieval hysteria : http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090403/local/our-lady-of-sorrows-celebrated
1 I remember on Xarabank a forensic officer saying it is all a farce…. ‘dak it-tidlik ma’ wiccha, zejt ta’ l-ikel, melh etc…’ and the church does nothing to stop him ‘making fun’ of the blessed virgin.
[Daphne – Actually, the Archbishop’s Curia has pronounced itself on the matter, but appears to have given up.]
2 Since this sightings began, the man had lots of debts, which he now managed to pay off, when he is redundant.
3. I can’t believe the priest plays along with him. If it were another priest, speaking on behalf of prisoners, then it would be another matter.
And Xarabank will be showing this farce on Good Friday.
“I wish that, in future, people will start coming to pray on this hill, because I will keep on coming here” – I wonder… if people do listen to Our Lady of Nadur’s wishes She’d probably want a place to be built so that her followers can pray and buy refreshments or blood/oil-soaked relics.
Shame on Xarabank for giving this charlatan the oxygen of publicity, as a different Iron Lady (though not necessarily immaculate) used to say. What on earth is Peppi Azzopardi thinking of? It’s pandering to the local populace’s instinct for superstition and need to believe in magic.
[Daphne – Yes, it should have been a documentary, exposing him and that Hayden Williams for what they are.]
Next thing we might encounter would be a hot dog van outside the field, a stall selling statues of the Immaculate Conception, T-shirts with Angelik’s face on them and perhaps the ubiquitous “My neighbour went to Borg in-Nadur and all she got me was this g+~@#*$n keychain.
….instead they condemned a harmless plastic willie. Here’s the real insult to the Catholic religion.
The guy must be smoking some pretty potent weed … could the Madonna share this secret with the rest of us, too?
I thought gluttony was a sin? Maybe that’s why he’s being attacked by demons. Hah.
[Daphne – He strikes me as somebody who has a penchant for perverted-sex porn, but don’t ask me why. Call it a woman’s intuition.]
He definitely has the face of a pervert, and, just my opinion, must probably see something sexual in all this. Just to mention the blood and the oil he put on the statue of the Madonna, and the face of an idiot he wears when he’s in ecstasy (you see exactly the same face in porn when some perverted nerd finally gets fellatio). This guy need to get laid. If I were the Madonna, I would appear to the guy just to tell him that.
I have just realised that the bloody field in which these people are congregating belonged to my mum’s family. Bloody hell! I was the part-owner of a holy piece of ground and I didn’t know it.
Try cashing in on that one, Fijs!
We did, with the valued help of PCG……alias the husband of this site’s owner. Some years back.
If this stuff was really shown (or will be shown) on Xarabank, then all that’s happened is that my distaste for the programme has been well and truly justified.
Xarabank simply provides people with what they want to see. Peppi Azzopardi is a very intelligent person who feeds on sensationalism and people’s need to confront each other in street debates, as an extension to what they discuss at the grocer’s. Half of the population is below average IQ due to intelligence being normally distributed, and someone has to cater for this huge market segment of intellectual abilities (or lack thereof). If you want further evidence of this just watch the adverts running during the programme, which always reflect the type of audience expected.
One of the few sensible things Sant ever said was that Xarabank is a Maltese Jerry Springer (or something to that effect).
Do you mean a dolled-up brainless twit with perfect (fake) nails, harsh make-up, hairstyle to match, kcina ta’ nhar ta’ Hadd, speedboat ta’ l-ostra, u bilhaqq, cruise – fejn it-tfal imorru b’xejn u l-ikel ikun b’xejn il-hin kollu (u ma’ jimpurtax fejn imur il-vapur – ghax nistghu nibqghu fil-port il-kbir, basta l-ikel ma’ nhallsux ghalih).
The demons who have been attacking Angelik are as hopelessly inept as the one portrayed by Sammy Davies Jr. in Poor Devil.
Excuse me but how is this different from the Archbishop’s pilgrimage to the Holy Land (for the all inclusive price of €795 each). At least Angelik is doing his pilgrimage for free. In my opinion the only fundamental difference is the different scale of these scams.
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090407/local/curia
At least with the Archbishop you get to do some sightseeing. At Borg in-Nadur, all you see is a pile of rocks and a clueless crowd expecting to see something out of the ordinary.
I’m one of those who was wearing the gold costume which, presumably, emulated some sacred gold ox … …. the last thing on our minds was religious symbolism.
I am Catholic and I feel we don’t need ‘apparitions’ to believe in God. I don’t think that Borg in-Nadur is just a pile of rocks. I hope that this archaeological site will be protected like Mnajdra and Hagar Qim. I really laugh when I hear Peppi on TVM: “sar delitt fuq Xarabank……..” , “Angelik Caruana ……. qed isehhu dehriet f’Borg in-Nadur”. Peppi uses these kind of programmes as “fillers”. He advertises Angelik and you get Eddie on Friday.
@Certain Lino : are you expecting that one goes for an all inclusive holiday for free? How do you know that Angelik’s pilgrimages are for free? Have you ever gone there to pray?
Borg in-Nadur may have archaeological significance, but I’m sure the people who flock there on Wednesday evenings are not there to appreciate the menhirs. The site is open only by appointment: http://www.visitmalta.com/borg-in-nadur. Maybe they should open it on Wednesday evenings so that while Angelik is busy fighting off his demons, one can at least visit something of cultural value and learn something new related to Maltese ancient history.
If this man is in need of medical help/ treatment, whatever, then why is he being exposed by the media? If he is simply inventing all this then why is he being given the time of day? I think that programmes like Xarabank should concentrate on less sensational subjects (there are a myriad to choose from), although everyone knows that it is the sensational (the more the better) which attracts a certain type of audience. The million dollar question is: is Xarabank aiming to give us a serious, intelligent discussion every time or not?
He is being exposed because there are plenty of other people (including clerics and nuns) who are “in need of medical help/treatment” who seem to be latching on to his every blasphemous word. Let’s pray he’s not contemplating exposing himself.
I have no doubt that you are right about all these other misguided people, including clerics and nuns. However, I feel that this type of attention-seeking behaviour should be handled in ways other than this, and allowing this man to hog the lime-light on prime-time TV is not one of them.
I proudly declare I once watched 5 minutes of an episode of Xarabank, was appalled, and could never bring myself to try and sit through it again.
This might help explain some things we see in the clips: http://joelsundertheradar.blogspot.com/2009/01/too-much-caffiene-can-cause.html
Great analysis Daphne! And to think I gave up ridiculing the ultra faithful since the age of 12! So much fun and so easy. It does suit you to analyse the obviously ridiculous. You wouldn’t be doing the same to the Lisbon treaty because all you know about it is what the likes of Ivan Camilleri cut and paste in their reports from Bruxelles. And before you try to ‘explain’ – yes, Angelik is either fraudulent or mad, but then all religions are. Nothing nice about what he’s doing, but it’s like writing about Konsu tal-Bir eating cockroaches for breakfast.
It’s been a long year, Daphne. Let this be my closing comment. Time is too dear to waste.
[Daphne – That’s true. Time paid by the EU tax-payer is better spent working on your wife’s campaign.]
In fairness, someone should point out that Angelik has been followed by a psychiatrist for at least a year. It is not true that the psychiatrist – who has gone public and said that he ruled out psychosis and affective illnesses – has limited himself to checking the pulse and eyes. Psychiatric clinical assessments are not normally uploaded on Youtube for general delectation and titillation.
[Daphne – And this psychiatrist is – who, exactly? And if his diagnosis is not in the public domain, then how do you know about it?]
Could those who contend that the whole business is a money-generating exercise please point out where the money is being collected and by whom? I’ve followed this story since it surfaced, and I have never come across even one appeal for funds or any evidence that any “sacred” artifacts connected with the alleged apparitions are being sold.
[Daphne – In a situation like that, you don’t need to make a public appeal for money. People just hand it over.]
Angelik’s behaviour prior to the commencement of the alleged apparitions raises questions and personally I’m far from convinced that this is a genuine apparition. [Daphne – Really, you don’t say….] That does not mean all sorts of slanderous accusations can be bandied about with abandon, without anybody pointing out the need for all facts to be clearly stated and weighed up.
[Daphne – Have you watched those videos? Does that look to you like a man being attacked by 10 devils? And what about that conjuring trick with the ‘thorn’?]
Anyway, why 10 devils? Did he count them after being carefully “thrown” to the ground?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UoeYZwM-wdo
Sharon’s sLaP on the wrist!
http://www.maltarightnow.com/?module=news&at=Sharon+Ellul+Bonici+ma+tit%26%23295%3Balliex+mill%2DMLP+tipparte%26%23267%3Bipa+fi+programm+televi%26%23380%3Biv&t=a&aid=99811396&cid=19
Actually, Daphne, I am not a parliamentary ‘civil servant’ (God forbid), but employed by a political group, which is a different piece of nugget. And to make this sound more official, while competing with RMTT, I’m using my fullest name possible. You should add one or two – say, Caruana Galizia Vella Lollobrigida.
[Daphne – I thought you were staying away.]
Dr. Mark Xuereb, an English-trained psychiatrist. He made those pronouncements on Xarabank.
[Daphne – Oh, and very serious and professionally credible he looked, too. I wonder what his peers thought about that exercise.]
How do you know that people just handed over money? Any evidence that it happened in this case?
[Daphne – The evidence that he looks incredibly well fed with no visible source of income. Aside from that, I would say that I’m going on rather a strong knowledge of human nature.]
[Daphne – Have you watched those videos? Does that look to you like a man being attacked by 10 devils? And what about that conjuring trick with the ‘thorn’?]
There could be psychological phenomena at play – which do not amount to pathology or trickery. I’m in no position to make judgments….and therefore abide by what independent experts have to say.
[Daphne – Oh, grow up.]
Dr. Mark Xuereb is fully-qualified, works in the State Health services, and like virtually all other psychiatrists, also has own private practice. I haven’t read anywhere that his Professional Association has ticked him off for bringing the profession in disrepute. If you do know – rather than surmise – that his judgment is being derided by his peers, please let us know.
Do you bother to check facts before spouting off? Angelik has been in regular employment (with the government-run Adult Training Centres) for many years.
[Daphne – Ahem.]
I’m rather long in the tooth, so growing up further is not something I would deliberately strive for. By the way, please note I wrote ‘psychological’ and not ‘para-psychological’ phenomena. Science may very well get to the bottom of these phenomena one day – if indeed they are not pure and simple trickery, which I cannot in fairness rule out. However, always assuming the negative – pathology or trickery in this case – and dismissing all facts which militate against those hypotheses grates on one’s teeth.
[Daphne – I mean it, grow up. Anybody can wake up one day and decide they’ve seen a vision. And it’s not a coincidence that they’re always peasants or people suffering some form of deprivation which makes them attention-seeking.]
You said he ruled out psychosis and affective illness, which leaves us with the apparitions being either truth or trickery. As you say it’s most likely nothing paranormal about it, are you also agreeing that it’s probably trickery, or what are you trying to propose?
I have it on good authority that Angelik does not work for Adult Training Centres anymore (for the past several months). Why doesn’t this guy get a life, start really working to take care of his family and last but not least pay off his debts? He is a fraud. I am saying this because members of my own family are victims of this confidence trickster.
Manuel, with respect, the fact that the DNA of this man’s blood matched exactly the DNA of the blood on the statue’s face (and placed there rather messily I must say), says rather a lot. My Dad says that many years ago, in Valletta, there was another case of a weeping Madonna. She, too wept blood. These were also the days before DNA tests were available. People queued to see the weeping statue until it was found out that she was weeping blood containing a high level of glucose, just like that of her owner. In other words, she was a diabetic statue.
I’ve always thought it would be fascinating if there was a genuine case of a weeping madonna. Would the DNA be the same as that of Jesus? Some kind of holy parthenogenesis – immaculate conception – no knowledge of man and all that? But no- it couldn’t be- she didn’t have a Y chromosome. Food for thought.
The funny thing is that after parading their son on ‘Xarabank’ (or some other show) as a Macaulay Culkin look-alike, daddy seems to want some of the attention too. And talking of limelight – just come over to the gym I’m at and hear that psychiatrist train… it’s like hearing someone giving birth to twins simultaneously. Talk about a symbiotic relationship.
Daphne,
You think you are managing to ridicule Angelik and the happenings – and prompting many others to follow your example – but with all respect, I feel that at the end of the day you are only but ridiculing yourself and making other follow.
It seems to me that you – and others – fail to understand the core of the messages (did you ever try to??).
The world is changing rapidly and unfortunately faith is diminishing in many countries (Malta is one of them) at a steady rate. With that, the love and respect for Jesus and His blessed Mother are also diminishing.
And where there is no love for Jesus, there can be no love for His will.
S. Calleja asks why Mary does not talk about world problems such as terrorism, famine, etc. Well she does (I invite to read all the messages and not just some extracts).
Jesus never spoke about sins but about one capital sin. That is having a heart of stones (lack of love). Disobeying the ten commandments is the effect of lack of love.
It is clear that Mary talks mainly about the root of the world problems, lack of love and respect.
Where love grows, abortion, famine and all other worldly problems diminish. And we can only achieve this through prayre, penance and leading with example.
Thanks to Angelik and Fr. Hayden’s (many) sacrifices, many people have taken the right path again, Including me and beleive me , I am not insane.
The messages teach us how we to live as true Christians that is how Jesus wants us to live and not our own opinion of how it should look like.
A comment on the thorn in his mouth. Is it strange that some do not believe? No, not at all.
When Jesus lived, people Saw with their own eyes how he made crippled people walk, blind men see, how He rose people form the death. But desopite this, many did not beleive. Why? Because they did NOT WANT to beleive. So they said it was all deceit.
If you do not want to beleive, you will not beleive, no matter what.
Belief does not come through seeing but through your heart. He who loves does not need any proof. You feel the presence of the living Jesus in your heart.
What about the psychiatrist? Don’t you think that he’s playing a double role? Playing the saint, defending a lunatic, and who knows how much medication he’s giving him on a daily basis.
I think Dr Mark Xuereb is as attention seeking as Angelik himself. This is definitely cheap publicity to make him look like a professional but it takes much more than that to deserve the honour of being called a professional.
Daphne
Just came across this blog. Let us not pass judgement before the Church pronounces itself. No one has the right to decide whom God will use as His intermediary. Reading the Bible, it results that in the vast majority of cases, God uses simple people, for the simple reason that they are simple, and not proud. Again, those that try to redicule the works of God because of their unbelieve,or because of their agenda, are only harming themselves. I sincerely hope that you do realise that we must never question the ways of God.
I have read all the comments and i must say that you were all disguisting. 1.if you do not want to believe nobody is forsing you too.2.it seems that you are short of material to write on 3. if he needs treatment is not your risponsibility. 4.abide with the regulations of gurnalesem. and if who ever believes is nuts like him thank God that you are not.
Daphne,
I appeal to you, as a journalist, to attend one of the Borg In-Nadur assemblies, every Wednesday at 7.15 p.m., but with an open mind.
Then, would you please let us have your comments.
The same applies to all those that have genuine doubts. At least they should give themselves the benefit of witnessing at first hand.