This year, the Catholic Church is commemorating the 150th anniversary of the apparitions of Our Lady of Lourdes. Most events that took place in 1858 have long been consigned to the pages of history books but for many people around the globe, devotion to Our Lady of Lourdes is a part and parcel of their daily lives.
The grotto at Lourdes is a world famous landmark which draws a multitude of visitors from every corner of the world. Some are drawn by curiosity, visiting this site much as they would visit any other famous tourist attraction; many, however, are there on pilgrimage, either praying for help or thanking Our Lady for blessing them and helping them in their hour of need.
Fr Martin Mamo ofm is the procurator of the Chapel of Our Lady of Lourdes in Floriana and shared some of the chapel's history.
"The devotion to Our Lady has an extensive history in Malta and the Chapel of Our Lady of Lourdes in bears testament to this. Soon after the apparitions took place in 1858, a niche containing a statue of Bernardina on her knees in front of Our Lady was erected. By 1881, less than 30 years after the event, the niche was drawing so many visitors that it was extended to a grotto which provided shelter from the elements.
"Devotees of Our Lady of Lourdes took to visiting the grotto before and after their pilgrimage to Lourdes and in time the Grotto became too small. Eventually, Fran?isk Saverju Galea was approached to help fund the construction of a new chapel. Construction began in 1918 on plans designed by architect Emmanuel Borg and the Chapel was inaugurated amid great pomp and ceremony on Boxing Day in 1920.
"During World War II, the statue of Our Lady was removed from the chapel for safekeeping. This foresight proved beneficial when the chapel was damaged in 1942, forcing the chapel to close between April and August of that year.
"Since the statue's return to the chapel on May 19, 1946, the chapel has continued to draw worshippers who attend services on a regular basis. The community who worships at the chapel meet regularly for Mass and the Rosary on Tuesdays."
Dorian Holland, a familiar face among the congregation, paid tribute to Our Lady saying, "I feel comforted when I pray to Her and believe that this chapel is a terrific tribute to Our Lady".
Having visited Lourdes twice, Mr Holland is convinced that without faith, this is another tourist hotspot. "It could be just like visiting the Tower of London; but when you truly believe, then you can sense the remarkable atmosphere that encompasses everybody who is there. It's all about faith, not the place or the statue; you just have to have faith." This belief is echoed by Norbert and Jennifer Ellul who believe that Our Lady has been a great help to them during the past year.
"At the end of January 2007, Norbert came home from work as usual and all was well except that our three-year-old son Gilmore was slightly ill with a fever. I was putting him to bed when Norbert suddenly cried out in pain.
"At first we weren't unduly worried, thinking it was a bad case of indigestion but Norbert's condition worsened very quickly. Within an hour his fever hit 40?C and I called the Mosta health centre who sent a doctor round straight away."
Norbert was admitted to St Luke's Hospital under emergency where morphine was administered for the pain he was in. Tests begun the next morning revealed some worrying signs but Mr and Mrs Ellul had to wait for four days for a concrete diagnosis.
"When the doctor told me I had a tumour in my pancreas, I was shocked," recalls Norbert. "I had suddenly gone from being a healthy man to facing the prospect of being a diabetic for the rest of my life and possibly not surviving the condition at all."
The couple drew strength from family and friends and turned to their belief in God and Our Lady of Lourdes to help them cope with the calamity that had befallen them. Surgeons removed part of Norbert's pancreas, part of his intestine and his spleen within a couple of days of making their diagnosis. The fact that part of Norbert's pancreas remains healthy means he has escaped diabetes, although he will need to take penicillin for the rest of his life.
"After the operation, Nobert was transferred to ICU for a while because his wound was infected. His prospects were quite bleak just then and I wondered how Gilmore and I were going to cope if he didn't recover," remembers Jennifer. "Fr Martin took to visiting my husband almost every day to pray to Our Lady on his behalf and I found great comfort during these times."
Norbert has since recovered and marvels at the lack of adverse effects he has suffered from the medication he has been taking to keep him on the road to recovery.
"I believe that I have been blessed by Our Lady at this very difficult time. Of course I know that today I am well but that this could change at any time; but I am certain that we could never have found the courage to deal with my illness without Her blessing." Norbert takes a minute to gaze at the statue that graces the family's living room.
"We take our faith seriously now and feel better for it," he continues. "Before, we may have skipped Mass at the slightest excuse but now we attend every Sunday. When you truly pray together as a family, you are strengthened as a unit and we have achieved a peace that was missing before."
The couple are now saving to go to Lourdes as soon as they can. "We feel we should make the trip as a way of thanking the Lord and Our Lady. In the meantime, and thereafter, we will continue to pay our respects at the chapel in Floriana."
William Agius from Gozo was just 11 years old in the summer of 2003 when he started complaining of sore legs; soon becoming unable to stand on his own two feet. Initial tests were clear but William was growing ever weaker. His mother, Rita, says "We were getting very worried that something was wrong when we got a call from the hospital telling us some more results had come back and William needed more tests.
"We went to St Luke's the following Wednesday and William was kept in for observation at Wonderland until the results came back on the Monday. When Dr Calvagna explained that William had Acute Lymphoblastic Leukeamia, we felt as though someone had pulled a rug from under our feet. The next few weeks went by in a haze of medication and worry but Fr Martin, who was a frequent visitor at William's bedside, brought us great comfort.
"As a family, we have always had great faith in Our Lady and we turned to her again during William's illness. Fr Martin encouraged us to keep our faith in Her; and promised William that he could join Fr Martin as an altar boy when he next visited Lourdes in 2004.
"The treatment took its toll on William with chemotherapy causing him great discomfort. Seeing our son in that state was extremely difficult to bear and we will always be grateful for the excellent care he was given by the staff at Wonderland."
The following summer, William's parents kept their promise and the family went to Lourdes. "William was still undergoing treatment then and he was extremely miserable. Somehow though, when we were there, he was filled with peace and energy. For the four days we spent in Lourdes, William was almost back to his old self; and it was a joy to see him like that.
"Back home, we continued his treatment and in 2006 William and I were back at Lourdes as guests of the Knights of Malta. Again, William was so happy there, that he wanted to know when we were going back!"
Now William is well on the road to recovery, needing just two check-ups a year to make sure he remains healthy. His mother is thankful that he has caught up with his peers in every way and has not fallen behind at school.
"I don't know if we will ever make it back to Lourdes, after all you can believe in Our Lady and the Lord anywhere you are. Being able to experience the serenity of the place is a privilege that we will always be thankful for, but above all we are grateful for being blessed with the strength to care for our son during such a traumatic time."
The apparitions of Our Lady of Lourdes may well have happened 150 years ago but, for those who believe, She is still making her presence felt in daily life.
The following are events scheduled to be held at the Chapel of Our Lady of Lourdes in Floriana to commemorate the anniversary of the apparitions.
Masses will be said at 8.30 a.m., 11 a.m. and 6.30 p.m., after the recitation of the Rosary and the Kurunella. On Sundays and public holidays Mass is celebrated at 11 a.m. only.
TODAY Celebrant: Mgr Mario Grech, Bishop of Gozo
TOMORROW Celebrant: Fr Silvestru Bonavia OFM Cap, parish priest, Sir Paul Boffa Hospital
MONDAY Celebrant: Mgr ?u?eppi Mercieca, Bishop Emeritus of Malta
TUESDAY Celebrant: Fr Paul Bugeja OFM Cap, parish priest, Marija Regina, Marsa
WEDNESDAY Celebrant: Fr Sebastian Caruana, parish priest, Our Lady of Miracles, ?abbar
THURSDAY Celebrant: Fr Joseph Vassallo OP, chaplain, Xirka ta' L-Isem Imqadddes t'Alla
MARCH 1 Celebrant: Can Anton Gouder, General Pro-Vigarius
MARCH 2 Celebrant: Fr Anton Galea Scannura, parish priest, St Joseph, Kalkara
MARCH 4 Celebrant: Fr Joe Grech, archpriest, Our Lady of Victories, Senglea
MARCH 25 Celebrant: Fr Tonio Mifsud OFM Conv; guardian, Conventional Franciscans Sant'Antnin, Birkirkara
APRIL 7 Celebrant: Fr William Axiaq OFM Cap; guardian, Capuchins Franciscans, Sant' Antnin, G?ajn Dwieli
JULY 16: Anniversary of the last apparition
7 p.m. Procession with the statue of Our Lady from the parish of St Publius to the chapel of Our Lady of Lourdes, Floriana The Rosary will be recited during the procession.
8 p.m. Mass will be celebrated by Fr Richard Borg, archpriest, St Publius in Capuchius Square
JULY 19: Feast of St Bernardina. Mass will be celebrated by Mgr Adeodato Micallef OCD (Bishop Emeritus of Kuwait)
DECEMBER 7: A Solemn Mass, celebrated by W.R. Provincial of the Franciscan Capuchins Fr Joe Alessandro OFM Cap will bring the commemoration to an end.
• On the above dates, the chapel will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
The grotto at Lourdes is a world famous landmark which draws a multitude of visitors from every corner of the world. Some are drawn by curiosity, visiting this site much as they would visit any other famous tourist attraction; many, however, are there on pilgrimage, either praying for help or thanking Our Lady for blessing them and helping them in their hour of need.
Fr Martin Mamo ofm is the procurator of the Chapel of Our Lady of Lourdes in Floriana and shared some of the chapel's history.
"The devotion to Our Lady has an extensive history in Malta and the Chapel of Our Lady of Lourdes in bears testament to this. Soon after the apparitions took place in 1858, a niche containing a statue of Bernardina on her knees in front of Our Lady was erected. By 1881, less than 30 years after the event, the niche was drawing so many visitors that it was extended to a grotto which provided shelter from the elements.
"Devotees of Our Lady of Lourdes took to visiting the grotto before and after their pilgrimage to Lourdes and in time the Grotto became too small. Eventually, Fran?isk Saverju Galea was approached to help fund the construction of a new chapel. Construction began in 1918 on plans designed by architect Emmanuel Borg and the Chapel was inaugurated amid great pomp and ceremony on Boxing Day in 1920.
"During World War II, the statue of Our Lady was removed from the chapel for safekeeping. This foresight proved beneficial when the chapel was damaged in 1942, forcing the chapel to close between April and August of that year.
"Since the statue's return to the chapel on May 19, 1946, the chapel has continued to draw worshippers who attend services on a regular basis. The community who worships at the chapel meet regularly for Mass and the Rosary on Tuesdays."
Dorian Holland, a familiar face among the congregation, paid tribute to Our Lady saying, "I feel comforted when I pray to Her and believe that this chapel is a terrific tribute to Our Lady".
Having visited Lourdes twice, Mr Holland is convinced that without faith, this is another tourist hotspot. "It could be just like visiting the Tower of London; but when you truly believe, then you can sense the remarkable atmosphere that encompasses everybody who is there. It's all about faith, not the place or the statue; you just have to have faith." This belief is echoed by Norbert and Jennifer Ellul who believe that Our Lady has been a great help to them during the past year.
"At the end of January 2007, Norbert came home from work as usual and all was well except that our three-year-old son Gilmore was slightly ill with a fever. I was putting him to bed when Norbert suddenly cried out in pain.
"At first we weren't unduly worried, thinking it was a bad case of indigestion but Norbert's condition worsened very quickly. Within an hour his fever hit 40?C and I called the Mosta health centre who sent a doctor round straight away."
Norbert was admitted to St Luke's Hospital under emergency where morphine was administered for the pain he was in. Tests begun the next morning revealed some worrying signs but Mr and Mrs Ellul had to wait for four days for a concrete diagnosis.
"When the doctor told me I had a tumour in my pancreas, I was shocked," recalls Norbert. "I had suddenly gone from being a healthy man to facing the prospect of being a diabetic for the rest of my life and possibly not surviving the condition at all."
The couple drew strength from family and friends and turned to their belief in God and Our Lady of Lourdes to help them cope with the calamity that had befallen them. Surgeons removed part of Norbert's pancreas, part of his intestine and his spleen within a couple of days of making their diagnosis. The fact that part of Norbert's pancreas remains healthy means he has escaped diabetes, although he will need to take penicillin for the rest of his life.
"After the operation, Nobert was transferred to ICU for a while because his wound was infected. His prospects were quite bleak just then and I wondered how Gilmore and I were going to cope if he didn't recover," remembers Jennifer. "Fr Martin took to visiting my husband almost every day to pray to Our Lady on his behalf and I found great comfort during these times."
Norbert has since recovered and marvels at the lack of adverse effects he has suffered from the medication he has been taking to keep him on the road to recovery.
"I believe that I have been blessed by Our Lady at this very difficult time. Of course I know that today I am well but that this could change at any time; but I am certain that we could never have found the courage to deal with my illness without Her blessing." Norbert takes a minute to gaze at the statue that graces the family's living room.
"We take our faith seriously now and feel better for it," he continues. "Before, we may have skipped Mass at the slightest excuse but now we attend every Sunday. When you truly pray together as a family, you are strengthened as a unit and we have achieved a peace that was missing before."
The couple are now saving to go to Lourdes as soon as they can. "We feel we should make the trip as a way of thanking the Lord and Our Lady. In the meantime, and thereafter, we will continue to pay our respects at the chapel in Floriana."
William Agius from Gozo was just 11 years old in the summer of 2003 when he started complaining of sore legs; soon becoming unable to stand on his own two feet. Initial tests were clear but William was growing ever weaker. His mother, Rita, says "We were getting very worried that something was wrong when we got a call from the hospital telling us some more results had come back and William needed more tests.
"We went to St Luke's the following Wednesday and William was kept in for observation at Wonderland until the results came back on the Monday. When Dr Calvagna explained that William had Acute Lymphoblastic Leukeamia, we felt as though someone had pulled a rug from under our feet. The next few weeks went by in a haze of medication and worry but Fr Martin, who was a frequent visitor at William's bedside, brought us great comfort.
"As a family, we have always had great faith in Our Lady and we turned to her again during William's illness. Fr Martin encouraged us to keep our faith in Her; and promised William that he could join Fr Martin as an altar boy when he next visited Lourdes in 2004.
"The treatment took its toll on William with chemotherapy causing him great discomfort. Seeing our son in that state was extremely difficult to bear and we will always be grateful for the excellent care he was given by the staff at Wonderland."
The following summer, William's parents kept their promise and the family went to Lourdes. "William was still undergoing treatment then and he was extremely miserable. Somehow though, when we were there, he was filled with peace and energy. For the four days we spent in Lourdes, William was almost back to his old self; and it was a joy to see him like that.
"Back home, we continued his treatment and in 2006 William and I were back at Lourdes as guests of the Knights of Malta. Again, William was so happy there, that he wanted to know when we were going back!"
Now William is well on the road to recovery, needing just two check-ups a year to make sure he remains healthy. His mother is thankful that he has caught up with his peers in every way and has not fallen behind at school.
"I don't know if we will ever make it back to Lourdes, after all you can believe in Our Lady and the Lord anywhere you are. Being able to experience the serenity of the place is a privilege that we will always be thankful for, but above all we are grateful for being blessed with the strength to care for our son during such a traumatic time."
The apparitions of Our Lady of Lourdes may well have happened 150 years ago but, for those who believe, She is still making her presence felt in daily life.
The following are events scheduled to be held at the Chapel of Our Lady of Lourdes in Floriana to commemorate the anniversary of the apparitions.
Masses will be said at 8.30 a.m., 11 a.m. and 6.30 p.m., after the recitation of the Rosary and the Kurunella. On Sundays and public holidays Mass is celebrated at 11 a.m. only.
TODAY Celebrant: Mgr Mario Grech, Bishop of Gozo
TOMORROW Celebrant: Fr Silvestru Bonavia OFM Cap, parish priest, Sir Paul Boffa Hospital
MONDAY Celebrant: Mgr ?u?eppi Mercieca, Bishop Emeritus of Malta
TUESDAY Celebrant: Fr Paul Bugeja OFM Cap, parish priest, Marija Regina, Marsa
WEDNESDAY Celebrant: Fr Sebastian Caruana, parish priest, Our Lady of Miracles, ?abbar
THURSDAY Celebrant: Fr Joseph Vassallo OP, chaplain, Xirka ta' L-Isem Imqadddes t'Alla
MARCH 1 Celebrant: Can Anton Gouder, General Pro-Vigarius
MARCH 2 Celebrant: Fr Anton Galea Scannura, parish priest, St Joseph, Kalkara
MARCH 4 Celebrant: Fr Joe Grech, archpriest, Our Lady of Victories, Senglea
MARCH 25 Celebrant: Fr Tonio Mifsud OFM Conv; guardian, Conventional Franciscans Sant'Antnin, Birkirkara
APRIL 7 Celebrant: Fr William Axiaq OFM Cap; guardian, Capuchins Franciscans, Sant' Antnin, G?ajn Dwieli
JULY 16: Anniversary of the last apparition
7 p.m. Procession with the statue of Our Lady from the parish of St Publius to the chapel of Our Lady of Lourdes, Floriana The Rosary will be recited during the procession.
8 p.m. Mass will be celebrated by Fr Richard Borg, archpriest, St Publius in Capuchius Square
JULY 19: Feast of St Bernardina. Mass will be celebrated by Mgr Adeodato Micallef OCD (Bishop Emeritus of Kuwait)
DECEMBER 7: A Solemn Mass, celebrated by W.R. Provincial of the Franciscan Capuchins Fr Joe Alessandro OFM Cap will bring the commemoration to an end.
• On the above dates, the chapel will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.