SENGLEA THROUGH THE AGES – 48 & 49

 

The title of Basilica and the privileges meted out for the first time

 

     There was great rejoicing in Senglea when two of the greatest events in the history of our city took place so close to each other. Our fore fathers foremost thoughts was the crowning of the statue of Marija Bambina because it was a statue which attracted great devotion for hundreds of years. The elevation of the church to the title of Basilica came as a surprise because they expected a lengthy procedure and they also did not except the type of pontifical document as issued.

 

The Apostolic Letters

 

     The year 1921, the year of the crowning of the statue of Marija Bambina began with the Basilica’s Apostolic Letter. This pontifical document was the first one issued by Pope Benedict XV in 1921. Therefore the Acta Appostolicae Sedis in Rome issued as its first document of the year the document about the Basilica of Senglea. This document was issued on the 3rd January 1921 but was published on the 4th April 1921 (AAS. XIII (1921), n. 5 pp. 190-191).

 

     The Benedictine Dom Mawru Inguanez already knew about this document as early as the 10th January 1921. He could not contain his joy and so he sent a telegram to inform his family who in turn informed the people of Senglea.

 

Ad Perennendam Memoriam (To be remembered forever)

 

     Pontifical documents are given as title the first words of that particular document hence the document about the Basilica of Senglea is called ‘Ad Perennendam Memoriam’. The Arch priest Canon Dun Guzepp Adami had this document in his hands by the 19th January 1921. This document is found translated into Maltese word for word in the History of Senglea (v. III, pp. 235-236).

 

     This document was for the elevation of Senglea’s church to the title of Basilica. This was the first time such a document which such wording had been issued for Basilicas in Malta and since then, has never been repeated. It is a unique document. The wish of the Holy See was obvious. It wanted to bestow on Senglea’s church a unique honour. It is also clear that the people of Senglea, with the help of those in Rome, made sure that they got the best result for their efforts.

 

Same honour like the Basilicas in Rome

 

     Cardinal Vico, the Prefect of the Congregation of Rites, was so much impressed by the arguments of Inguanez, that he made his utmost to put such a different statement in the Apostolic Letters.

 

     Usually Minor Basilicas are not granted any special precedence. During procession the Basilicas’ ceremonial umbrella is used. The clergy of the Basilica follow the same precedence form as before. In Malta this was common knowledge because the order of presence of the Dominican Friars and of the Carmelite Friars during processions in Valletta did not change even though their churches were basilicas.

 

     The Apostolic Letter which elevated Senglea’s church to Basilica had different wording and this to the great glee of the people of Senglea. The Church authorities in Malta were surprised with the introduction of this special clause and older Collegiate like that of St Paul in Valletta and that of St Helen in Birkirkara were irked.

 

     The bone of contention was the following sentence:

 

‘We bestow on this church, the same privileges which are enjoyed by the Basilicas in Rome’.

 

In 1921 many people in Senglea did not fully understood what was meant because many had their minds fixed on the crowning of the statue of Marija Bambina, for which preparations were in full swing.

 

The crowning of the statue of Marija Bambina in the Basilica’s documents

 

     The crowning of the statue of Marija Bambina was mentioned in the Apostolic Letters which proclaimed Senglea’s church as Basilica. The document acknowledged that this coronation was going to take place because of the great devotion there was in Senglea for this statue. It also said that the people of Senglea wanted to celebrate this occasion in a very solemn and orderly way.

 

     In the meantime many were trying to interpret what was meant exactly by the words of the Apostolic Letter which put the Basilica of Senglea on the same par as that of the Minor Basilicas in Rome. The Basilicas of Rome had precedence over all Collegiate. Apart from all this, the pontifical document also affiliated a Minor Basilica to the Major Basilicas of Rome. The major Basilicas of Rome are: St Peter, St John Lateran, Santa Maria Maggiore and St Paul. In the document about Senglea’s basilica none of these Basilicas are mentioned.

 

     It is also true that the Holy See gave all its support to the local authorities who felt that because of pastoral needs or to keep the diocesan calmness may not follow the Apostolic Letters to the letter. But it seems that the wording of the Apostolic Letter was put in such a way as to put the local authorities in a tight spot. The document said that no authority, whoever it may be, could go against the degree as issued in the Apostolic Letter. This was sure to create problems for the local church.

 

Glad tidings twice over

 

     The people of Senglea rejoiced immensely with the news of the elevation of their church to Basilica. The joy was compounded when they learnt that the Holy See showed appreciation for the magnificent temple and its artistic beauty. The Holy See also recognised that Senglea was renowned for the splendid way it organised its religious functions and for the great pastoral work which was carried out in this parish-collegiate.

 

SENGLEA THROUGH THE AGES – 49

 

The crowned statue of Marija Bambina at St Philip also known as Save Haven Church

 

 1943: the feast of Marija Bambina in Senglea

 

     While we are celebrating the 75th anniversary* since the crowning of the statue of Marija Bambina in 1921, our minds go back to times of sorrow, of comfort and of joy at the same time. What we are celebrating now is a repetition of what was celebrated in 1943, when Senglea, once again, started to celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Victories on the 8th September. As from 1939, the feast of Our Lady could not be celebrated with the same solemnity as in previous years. In 1940 the statue was not even put up in the church but remained locked, for safe keeping, in the sacristy. Air raids had already begun and by 1941 great part of the church was destroyed. The statue of Marija Bambina was taken to Birkirkara for safe keeping and feast of the 8th September of 1940, 1941 and 1942 were celebrated in the Collegiate of Birkirkara and the statue was put up in that church too.

 

     By February 1943 Malta was starting to feel less and less the effects of war. Once the danger of any air raids were over the wish of the people of Senglea was that the feast of Marija Bambina is celebrated in Senglea once again. During a Capitulars Meeting held on the 26th July 1943 at St Joseph Home in St Venera, the Canons decided to celebrate the feast of Our Lady in Senglea but they did not wish to take the risk of bringing the statue of Marija Bambina to Senglea, at least for the time being. But the Arch priest Brincat was adamant that the statue be taken brought back to Senglea and he was ready to shoulder all the responsibility for this decision. He was absolutely determined that his wish becomes reality and a favourable decision was finally reached on the 30th August 1943.

 

Pilgrimage from the Parish Church to the church of St Philip/Save Haven

 

     This month (May 1996) a pilgrimage is being organised from the church of Safe Haven or St Philip as it is more commonly known to the parish church. In September of 1943 the pilgrimage took the opposite route. Time was not ripe enough for the statue of Marija Bambina to take its rightful place in the parish church. The church was still extensively damaged. The chapel of the Immaculate Conception was completely destroyed. In this chapel, on top of the altar there was the niche where the statue of Marija Bambina was kept for the devotion of the faithful.

 

     It was decided that the statue be taken to the church or what was left of it and from than start a pilgrimage to the church of Save Haven. The statue of Marija Bambina was placed in a room by the sacristy after it was brought over from Birkirkara by the soldiers of the KOMR. It was a badly hit sacristy but the novena was held there. The sermons during the nine days of preparation were said by Can Gorg Sciriha.

 

     In 1942 one of Senglea’s citizens was appointed Auxiliary Bishop. He was Mons Emmanuel Galea. He always made it a point to be at Senglea for the feast of Our Lady and 1943 was no exception. A solemn devoted pilgrimage was held on the 7th September 1943 so as to carry the statue to its new temporary abode at the church of Save Haven.

 

The first feast from the church of Save Haven

 

     On the 8th September 1943 the first feast of Our Lady of Victory was celebrated from the church of Save Haven. Pontifical Mass was said by Bishop Galea. The panegyric was said by another Senglean the Franciscan Conventual P. Bonaventura Fiorini, a renowned orator. The orchestra was directed by Master Diacono. Bands from Paola, Zabbar and Zejtun accompanied the local band Queen’s Own as they marched through the ruins of Senglea. The Works Department sent its people to create a passage through the ruins. The weather was beautiful. It was a great enjoyable feast and made more so when while the procession was passing through Senglea’s marina official announcement was made that Italy had surrendered unconditionally. Therefore the remaining part of the procession was turned into a pilgrimage in thanksgiving to God for delivering the islands from the terrible tragedy of war.

 

Fourteen feasts of Marija Bambina from the church of St Philip

 

     By an official degree issued by the Arch bishop Michael Gonzi on the 6th March 1944 all official ceremonies of the parish were being carried out at St Philip’s church. Among these celebrations was the feast of Our Lady and continued so until the church was rebuilt once again.

 

     The feast of Marija Bambina in 1944 was organised with all pomp and ceremony as befitting such an occasion. Holy Mass was celebrated by the Arch bishop Michael Gonzi and the panegyric was said by Bishop Emmanuel Galea. It was an unusual panegyric. It only took ten minutes and Bishop Galea in his own inimitable way talked about some reflections about Our Lady which he compared to gold dust.

 

     In 1947 Arch priest Brincat was replaced by Canon Gwann Karlu Burlo’. The feast of Marija Bambina was celebrated at St Philip’s church for fourteen years, from 1943 till 1957.

 

     The Basilica was rebuilt and consecrated again on the 24th August 1957. The first consecration was carried out on the 20th October 1743 by Bishop Alpheran and this time Arch Bishop Michael Gonzi consecrated the newly built edifice.

 

Another pilgrimage with the statue of Marija Bambina

 

     The pilgrimage of 1943 was a mixture of sadness and joy but the one which took place on Sunday 25th August 1957 was one of great rejoicing. The statue was carried from St Philip to the Basilica so that on the 8th September 1957 the procession could come out once again from its rightful place, the Basilica.

 

     The pilgrimage being held this May (1996) is a reminder of the other two pilgrimages, held in very different circumstances in 1943 and 1957.

 

    (*this article was written in May 1996 )

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