I Forgot Her Birthday

Catholic education and the act of remembering

8 September 2024 was a regular Sunday for me.

The liturgical calendar screamed “23rd Sunday in ordinary time.”

Even the Church was telling me “Chill, it’s just another Sunday of the year”.

I guess it was slightly different. The next day was the start of term 4. Exams are coming. I went for Mass with the family.

Thereafter I went to the gym.

I came back home and began finishing the setting of my history exam paper. It was 10pm. Time for bed… or maybe Facebook?

Scrolling…

“Happy Birthday Mary!”

Alamak! Donald Trump remembered that it was Mother Mary’s birthday. And I didn’t.

Did he remember because ahem… there were Hispanic votes to be won? Did I forget because… there was “nothing” in it for me?

Remembering is what I always hope my kids can do well enough.

After all, I teach history. And as the stereotype goes “history is all about memorisation.” But what makes something memorable?

And why are some things forgettable?

I guess the image of our lady of Guadalupe (which Trump shared) can give us a clue.

The image of Our Lady of Guadalupe was miraculous. Nevertheless, that was not what made it memorable.

Rather, it was familiar, but with a twist.

In 1531 (the year the image originated), our Lady had the dressing of a pagan Aztec (Mexican) princess.

But her head is bowed even as she was carried by an angel. Unlike the gods of the Aztecs who would look straight, she does not as she has her arms folded. And she is standing on the sun, indicating that she has defeated the dreaded Aztec sun-god who demanded human sacrifice.

Perhaps that is the key to the renewal of Catholic education in Singapore.

Take what is familiar, that is the curriculum, but give it a twist, give it the Catholic perspective.

The Holy Father Pope Francis, in his visit to Singapore, did that masterfully in his addresses to various audiences.

In his state address, he used what was familiar, our story line that we are proud of and which foreigners praise. “Singapore’s story is one of growth and resilience. From humble beginnings, this nation has reached an advanced level of development, which can only stem from rational decisions and not by chance.”

But then the Holy Father pivots. “In this regard, I would like to highlight the risk entailed in focusing solely on pragmatism or placing merit above all things, namely the unintended consequence of justifying the exclusion of those on the margins from benefiting from progress.”2

Your complacency is now disrupted. He is discussing familiar concepts, but letting you know the potential problems. Whether you agree or not, you are paying attention.

He did the same during his homily. Commenting on the skyscrapers in the CBD area, he praised the great and bold architecture, especially of the National stadium. But then added the twist.

“Dear brothers and sisters, if there is anything good that exists and endures in this world, it is only because, in innumerable situations, love has prevailed over hate, solidarity over indifference, generosity over selfishness. Without this, no one here would have been able to give rise to such a great metropolis, for the architects would not have designed it, the workers would not have worked on it and nothing would have been achieved.”

When I heard that, I can’t help but recall a famous national day song, written by someone who is also a Christian.

“So now we look around us and we see. A nation built with love by you and me. A land to treasure right down to the core. Our home, our heart, our Singapore.”

At my school, we have a statue of Mother Mary at the ground floor.

I have two choices once I arrive in school.

The longer route would bring me past her statue and up the stairs where I have to make a loop to the staff room.

The shorter route would bring me straight up the stairs and straight to the staff room.

If I am early, it’s nice greeting our lady before going to the staff room.

But if assembly is about to start, the shorter route will do. Saying “good morning” to Our Lady can be skipped.

But being late would be unprofessional.

I think after seeing the Pope’s tender love for Our Lady, when he prayed the Salve Regina, I think I should strive to remember to greet her every day.