Prayer vigil at Ta' Pinu Sanctuary

Hundreds of Maltese and Gozitans gathered for a prayer vigil, on Ta' Pinu Sanctuary Square on the eve of the feast of the Assumption of Our Lady, yesterday week.

An aux flambeaux procession with the titular painting of Our Lady was held from the church to the sanctuary parvis.

A mime, entitled Omm Kollok Hlewwa, produced by Frances Zammit and Simone Grech, and another one, O Madonna Ta' Pinu, by a number of children, during a concelebrated Mass, led by Bishop Nikol Cauchi. Various charismatic groups also took part.

In his homily the bishop said that although feast celebrations are good things in themselves, it is far more important to live a genuine Christian life.

Comparing Our Lady to a vine which produces plenty of grapes, he said that during her life, without doubt, she performed a great number of good deeds and that we too should strive to make ours a full life and prove our faith by showing our love towards God and mankind.

Bishop Cauchi said that we are living at a time marked by lack of discipline at all levels in the way children obey their parents, or how citizens obey the laws of the land or how Christians obey the Church authorities. Every Christian, has the right to express an opinion and even criticise.

However this should not destroy but rather build and strengthen the love of God, the Church and people.

When laymen express their matters concerning the Church they should discuss subjects in which they are competent and should do everything with devotional respect towards the Church.