My experience at the Vatican

I still remember the day, about six years ago, when I asked Mgr Joseph Carabott, then archpriest of Mosta, whether I could become an altar boy. He encouraged me to join, and from that time on I started helping regularly during Mass and attending altar boy meetings.

For the last three years I have also served at the Cathedral in Mdina. When I asked whether I could one day serve at the Vatican, Mgr Carabott replied that if I worked hard and prayed, my wish could come true.

Fr Francis Bonnici (Dun Frans), the priest in charge of planning and organising the groups of Maltese altar boys to serve at the Vatican, encouraged us to study and pray during the series of meetings which led to the day when he finally read out the names to make up each group.

Our group was made up of 14 boys, including four Gozitans. We left Malta on August 9. Besides Fr Bonnici, the group - wearing our uniform and red ties - was accompanied by Fr Robert Gauci and seminarian Gabriel Gauci.

At Rome's Fiumicino airport we were joined by eight Spanish altar boys, led by Don Salvador Cristau-Coll. We all boarded a coach, which took us to the Pre-Seminario San Pio X; this was to be our home inside the Vatican City for the next fortnight.

After we settled down, Dun Frans presented each of us with a special identification card we had to carry with us during our stay and that we would have to show to the Swiss Guards to let us inside the Vatican.

Dun Frans accompanied us to the sacristy of St Peter's Basilica where he explained our daily duties in detail. We were shown how to help priests prepare for Mass, prepare altars, and prepare chalices and the cruets for water and wine. We had already practised these tasks in Malta but doing it inside St Peter's was different. We were also given our own purple cassock and white surplice. After this, we were taken on a tour of the basilica, noting the various altars to be used for the celebration of Mass.

The following morning we all woke early and were at the basilica by 6.30 a.m. We started the routine that we were to follow every day: removing altar cloths, preparing missal stands, opening the missals at the right page, preparing the containers of hosts and lighting the altar candles. By seven in the morning we would all be ready and waiting to lead priests into the basilica and serve Mass. The first Mass I served was in the Lithuanian chapel in the crypt of the basilica. This was also the first time I saw and prayed at the tomb of Pope John Paul II.

We followed this pattern every morning except on Sundays, when our duties were more intense and included taking part in the High Mass celebrated on the Altare della Cattedra. We also participated in the sung vespers.

The feast of the Assumption of Our Lady, celebrated on August 15, is a very special occasion in the basilica. After the morning prayers sung in the Cappella del Coro, the whole group of 22 altar boys took part in the High Mass. The archpriest of the basilica officiated, assisted by Fr Bonnici among others. We wore a special surplice on this occasion. All the High Masses were accompanied by beautiful choir singing.

During vespers, as soon as the Magnificat was sung, the dome and roof of the basilica were lit up brightly. This was a wonderful sight. During the processions to and from the sacristy we used to be photographed by hundreds of tourists, who were kept under control by the San Pietrini.

Each day, after finishing our duties at the basilica, Dun Frans had a full programme of activities prepared for us. We visited the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel, the fantastic dome of St Peter's, the Vatican gardens, St John Lateran, the Scala Santa (which some of us climbed on their knees), St Paul outside the Walls, the Trevi fountain, Piazza Navona, Piazza di Spagna, the Colosseum and the church of San Andrea della Valle.

Dun Frans also included fun activities - we visited the zoo, the luna park, played football in the Vatican yards, and table soccer at the Pre-Seminario. There was some rivalry between the Maltese and Spanish altar boys, for example, during the football matches.

The afternoons were mostly dedicated to rest and prayer. Each boy in the group prepared an assignment on a different topic. The topics ranged from historical, such as the one I prepared on the building of St Peter's Basilica, to spiritual themes, such as meditation. Both Dun Frans and Fr Robert had a great spiritual influence on the group.

On most evenings Dun Frans took the whole group for walks in the streets of Rome and to taste delicious Italian ice cream (This reminds me of all the pasta and pizza we ate at the Pre-Seminario).

The highlight of the trip was reached on August 17 when we had our formal investiture as Vatican altar boys, and Bishop Vittorio Lanzani presented us with the official red sash. This took place in the Cappella del Coro, where my father (Dr Hugo Agius Muscat) played the organ. Many relatives, who flew over from Malta to share with us this wonderful experience at the Vatican, were present on this unforgettable occasion.

On August 22 we took part in the Papal audience at the Sala Nervi, dressed in our altar boy robes. We felt very proud when the priest announcing those present mentioned "a group of Maltese altar boys currently serving at St Peter's Basilica". This audience was transmitted live on Sat2000 TV.

One evening, Mgr Lanzani joined our group for supper and presented us with certificates and medals. He thanked us all and explained that the medal marked the 500th anniversary of the construction of St Peter's Basilica.

It was with a sad heart that we left the Vatican on August 23. I smile when I remember all the things we got up to. I am sure that Dun Frans, fondly referred to between us as Id-Dun, will forgive us for any trouble or worry we caused him and for when we were not very obedient. I am very happy that my wish to go to the Vatican as an altar boy came true. I will treasure this experience in my heart for the rest of my life.