Cefalu, simply between heaven and the sea ...

Set like a noble and gentle jewel among the rugged local geography, the ancient town of Cefalu enhances with grace the splendid northern Sicilian coast.

Its name, which comes from ancient Greek (Κεφαλοδιον Kephaloidion), relates to the presence of a huge promontory made of rock (Κεφαλ) overlooking the wonderful ocean panorama and paternally protecting the charming and friendly village which stands at its feet.

Since the dawn of time -already the Carthaginians mention its name in 396 BC-Greeks, Byzantines and Normans left in Cefalu indelible marks of their presence. But it was precisely the Normans who handed down for us an extraordinary masterpiece of piety and devotion in the imposing cathedral famous for, among other things, the huge Christ Pantocrator, one of the most outstanding mosaics in the world.

Facing the adversities of history as well as the storms and winds of the sea, Cefalu continues to this day to be one of the most beautiful jewels of the Tyrrhenian Sea.

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Rocks, storms, sky and sea are powerful elements, full of allegories and meaning, not only for the material world but above all for the spiritual realities that enlighten the skies of faith.

Indeed, we can assume that God Himself desired to create those elements with the intention to illustrate His own Gospel and to help us to understand some aspects of his Church. " And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it."(Mt 16:18)

On another occasion, during a bad storm on the unpredictable Sea of Galilee, the Savior surprises his disciples by dominating winds and waves just with His word, making them to exclaim: "Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?" (Mark 4:41)

How many times, dear reader, in our own lives, should not we have to face storms, winds and waves of menacing, terrible and stormy seas, which seem to be discharged upon us in the form of dangers, difficult situations and unexpected setbacks?

It is then that we must keep our gaze on the Lord Jesus Christ, the True Rock of Salvation "... For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus has freed you from the law of sin and death." (Rom 8: 2)

If we do this, our soul will become a reliable portrait of the "true rock" which is the Savior himself. For nothing is impossible for a soul who, strengthened by grace, knows how to face the storms and winds of many oceans, on its journey towards eternity. Like the apostles, carried by the wind of Grace; or like that solid Rock which is the Church, or perhaps, just like Cefalu: simply between Heaven and the sea.