The congregation at Our lady of Jesus church known as Ta' Giezu in Valletta, who on Friday were shocked to witness a crucifix being smashed before their eyes, were yesterday somewhat consoled as a restored crowd-pulling statue of Our Lady of Sorrows was put on display.
A 33-year-old Indian with a British passport who caused the desecration is being kept under observation at Mount Carmel Hospital after being restrained by members of the congregation.
He had climbed up the steps behind the main altar and toppled an old papier maché crucifix on a mother-of-pearl cross. It was badly damaged as it hit the altar steps. He also pushed over a number of large silver candlesticks, which sustained considerable damage.
Referring to the return of the restored statue of Our Lady of Sorrows, the provincial Fr Paul Galea said: "We are blessed with consolation after what happened on Friday".
The statue, sporting its original deep Azurite blue, a semi-precious mineral that was used in frescos by Michelangelo, stole the people's hearts yesterday and many of those present could not help but thank and congratulate Fr Charles Vella for the restoration job he performed.
Fr Vella has now been entrusted with the restoration of the damaged crucifix. The 200-year old crucifix is only exhibited at this time of the year and had been used in the Ash Wednesday ceremony, Fr George Aquilina said. Fr Aquilina was saying Mass when the incident occurred.
"I saw the man who toppled the crucifix among the congregation and as I had never seen his face before, I thought he had come to church for the first time, so when he moved to go behind the altar, I thought he might be going to confession in the sacristy and did not know the way. Little did I suspect what he had in mind," Fr Aquilina said.
The two priests looked at the mass of broken pieces of mother-of-pearl and papier maché.
What was once a large shell on which the Last Supper was intricately engraved, and which was stuck to the pedestal on which the crucifix stood, has been broken into 10 pieces.
"It won't be an easy job but I will try and piece together the parts, reinforce them as best as I can from the back.
"Putting together the old mother-of-pearl with its elaborate carvings is not easy either.
"It's a pity that such a work of art had to end up like this, not to speak of the symbolism involved," Fr Vella said.
An exhibition of works carved in beeswax and resin by Fr Vella, entitled Human and Divine - A Surge Of Passion, opened yesterday at St Catherine of Siena church, in Valletta.
The exhibition runs until April 16.