Vincenzo Labini, an Italian Theatine priest, become Bishop of Malta in 1780. He was an intimate friend of St Alphonse Mary de' Liguori, Bishop of St Agata dei Goti, and founder of the Redemptorists.

It was during his episcopate that the Cathedral Church of Malta was elevated to the Archiepiscopal dignity, since our Bishops became "Archbishops of Rhodes, and Bishops of Malta".

Mgr Labini consecrated many of our churches, transferred the procession of St Gregory from March 12 to the Wednesday after Easter, ordered daily Sacramental Benediction in all parish churches, and that bells must be rung every Thursday, an hour after sunset, in memory of the institution of the Eucharist.

After leading the diocese under the Knights, the French and the British for 27 years, Archbishop Labini died on April 30, 1807 - 200 years ago - and lies buried in the Cathedral at Mdina.

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