Feast of St Paul, Patron of Malta

Today the Church in Malta celebrates St Paul the Apostle, patron of the Maltese islands. The day’s celebration is rooted in the New Testament’s account (Acts 27- 28) of the shipwreck of St Paul and his companions off the coast of Malta and his subsequent stay on the island. February 10 is observed as a holy day of obligation in Malta and it is also a public holiday. Mass at St George’s basilica is celebrated throughout the day according to the festive schedule.

The archpriest, Mgr Joseph Farrugia, presided concelebrated High Mass at 9.00am with Latin chant. In his homily he spoke of St Paul as "a special birthright" of Christian Malta. He said that it is not enough to consider St Paul as a kind of "national heritage". We need to turn it into "personal heritage" by renewing our commitment to St Paul's mission, teaching and example.

St Paul is venerated as the most important patron of the Maltese islands and a, apart from the local church's festivity, number of traditions have served to keep alive his memory. These traditions are often tied to colourful legends and beliefs associated with the conversion of these islands to the Christian faith.

During his stay here St Paul is believed to have spent much of his time in prayer in a small grotto, situated in Rabat, Malta. St Paul's Grotto is a traditonal place of pilgrimage. The house, where he was welcomed by Publius, governor of the island, was probably sited on the spot where the cathedral church of Malta was eventually built. St Publius is venerated as the first bishop of Malta.

The island of Gozo also has its Pauline traditions. The small church of Marsalforn commemorates the visit that St Paul was believed to have paid to the Gozitans. Bishop Grech celebrates Mass there, today. Another Gozitan tradition states that St Paul was heard, preaching from Malta, at Mgarr ix-Xini, near Xewkija.

It is no wonder that St George’s basilica, being the earliest parish of the island, has an altar dedicated to the apostle of the Maltese islands. A 17th cent. painting by Stefano Erardi hangs above the altar which has been decorated for today's feast. Giovanni Battista Conti, who painted the ceiling of St George's basilica, did not fail to include Cornelio A Lapide's account of the protection that the Maltese Christians enjoyed from St Paul - together with St George and St Agatha - when they were being constantly besieged by the Moors in the early centuries of the second Christian millennium. Another painting of St Paul’s shipwreck was recently commissioned from Italian contemporary painter Mario Caffaro Rore. This now hangs in the Green Room of the new Parish House.

Gozo has a parish dedicated to St Paul Shipwrecked, that of Munxar. A annual parish pilgrimage is organized to the church and it is led by Mrs Antoinette Frendo.

Thanks to Joseph Zammit for his 'Pauline' photos!

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