Christian Peregin
Unifying event offensive to some
Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi.
The historic pilgrimage of the statues of St Paul and St Publius yesterday may have been a unifying moment for some but it was a bittersweet event for fanatical supporters of Valletta football club.
A number of feast enthusiasts from the city told The Times they found the presence of Floriana's statue of St Publius in their city offensive and the idea should never have been suggested.
The joint pilgrimage was organised by the Church to symbolise the story of when St Paul was welcomed into Malta by St Publius, whom he converted. It was held to mark the end of the international year dedicated to St Paul, together with a series of activities that reached their culmination with Pontifical Mass at St John's Co-Cathedral celebrated by the Pope's special envoy, Cardinal Ennio Antonelli.
According to supporters from both sides, when the event was announced there was pressure to stop it from going ahead, even though the rivalry between the two towns is usually over football, not feasts.
"This is a feast dedicated to the birth of St Paul, it is a celebration of the man, not of his journey in Malta, so what does St Publius have to do with it?" asked one Valletta supporter.
Another said he was boycotting the event and had taken the Church's decision so much to heart that he was adamant not to hear Mass in his parish until his hurt subsided.
One enthusiast from Floriana was worried that, although the rivalry was traditionally related to football, it was so strong it sometimes extended to religious festivities.
Speaking ahead of the momentous occasion, he said: "When we were told about it many of us feared something would happen to our beautiful statue and this was an unnecessary risk. Others said there was now enough maturity for such an event. We'll just have to wait and see."
In the end the encounter passed without incident.
Another enthusiast, who accompanied the statue of St Publius to City Gate yesterday, said most of the people of Floriana had gleefully looked forward to taking over their rival's feast: "Valletta never looked so dignified. This is a better project for the city than Renzo Piano's".
A number of young Valletta supporters who were preparing for the feast yesterday morning said the only reason they were helping out was because this was an important event for supporters of St Paul.
"Our feast is always held in February so we're at the mercy of the weather. For once we are getting a chance to celebrate in summer and pull out all the stops. But for some reason we have to share our feast with St Publius," one of them explained.
Another admitted that the St Publius statue was one of the most beautiful in Malta but this did not affect his negative view on the event.
"From a religious point of view it is a nice thing. But as someone from Valletta I don't like it."
Despite such reactions, many other feast enthusiasts were happy about the joint celebration, describing it as a "golden opportunity" for both sides to reconcile their sporting differences in the name of religion.
According to the parish priests, the rivalry between the two towns did not extend beyond football except for the extremely hot-headed supporters.
A spokesman for the Church dismissed talk of any rift between the Floriana and Valletta parishes, adding that both archpriests had been very cooperative when the programme was being drawn up.
The Church had said the events would be a chance for the Maltese Catholic community to feel "happy to be Christian".
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Raymond Sammut
Jul 1st 2009, 20:20
What a fascinating story. Beautifully told with total nonchalance. All very typically Maltese. Hardly offensive. In fact, very nice.
Guze Xerri
Jul 1st 2009, 20:14
@ Franco Farrugia,
You should have been around Valletta during the days of the Mandraggio.
Now there was a spirited community, so full of life, so different in a bottom of the totem pole kind of way.
You would have ate it all up and came back for seconds.
Etienne Montfort
Jul 1st 2009, 18:36
I thank all those who flocked to the City to participate to this unique experience at St. John's Square on Monday the 29th of June 09 for the closing ceremony of the Pauline Year events in Malta. It was a special afternoon where His Eminence, Cardinal Ennio Antonelli celebrated a High Mass together with the highest ecclesiastical authorities. That was the importance of all - to renew our faith in God. The rest was just to colour this eventful day. It was a thanksgiving Mass to commemorate the 2000th anniversary from the birth of St. Paul as declared by the Roman Church. The Maltese Church and its people celebrated this extroardinary event as it should be. The shipwreck of the Apostle Saint Paul on our hospitable island shores was the greatest event in the history of Malta. It brought the inhabitants of these islands into the christain fold where they still belong notwithstanding today's insidious obstacles.
The day turned out to be a successful one in all aspects.
Joe Fenech
Jul 1st 2009, 08:54
Veru Malta m'ghandniex x'naghmlu!
Andrea Portelli
Jul 1st 2009, 08:45
Grown men and women fighting over the presence of 2 meagre statues?
God grow up.....
Clint E Taliana
Jun 30th 2009, 22:05
@ J. Dimech,
please enlighten us futher with your intelligent insight and extraordinary freshness..... please go on I'm curious to see what an enlightened mind can say more?
Please sign your name in full as well, and give me your full credentials so I can feel diminished further by you.
AnnMarie Pawley
Jun 30th 2009, 18:58
Xtruppaw said it best... :)
Kevin Camilleri
Jun 30th 2009, 18:28
When are we going to grow up!!
Franco Farrugia
Jun 30th 2009, 17:49
@ Denis Darmanin - I am sorry, I mean no disrespect, but I happen to agree 100% with James Dimech's statement about Valletta. I always feel down, frustrated, bad, whenever I must visit our capital. And even in the evenings. Particularly in the evenings, when many Valletta residents are 'let loose' to roam the streets. There is something particularly striking within many of the inhabitants of Valletta. They belong to a social class of their own. I do not mean to generalise. But I have often wondered with a friend of mine, why we see so many strange and bizarre people walking the streets of Valletta? People shouting at each other, people speaking to themselves, people who stare at you strangely, people simply ready to pick a fight with you ... the mind boggles.
Joseph M. Meli
Jun 30th 2009, 17:22
I wish to limit my input to what I saw yesterday evening in Valletta.
The Pawlini kept their word given to their Archipriest Camilleri to hold the Devotional Procession of St Paul devotional. The "hotheads" which I observed came from the Citygate area doing what ALL other hotheads do in front of their Saint (male / female) on their Feast days.
The SCOPE of this Procession was to bring about devotion and unity amongst the Maltese.
What miserably FAILED was that discipline was not enforced on the Floriana Hord by whoever had the authority to do so - Church officials, as for the Pawlini, these were devotional as they pledged Canon Camileri.
The reaction came NOT from the Ghaqda tal-Pawlini but from Valletta people who could take no more provocation any more.
After the Celebration of the Eucarist, the so called IDOLATRY cooled down on the part of CERTAIN Floriana "supporters", although certain insults uttered by a "lady" continued unabated.
The homage paid by La Valette Band Club to St Publius helped to keep tensions down on the Floriana people out of Valetta.
ORIGINAL schedule of arrangements for this acivity were NOT kept.
d.Torpiano
Jun 30th 2009, 15:50
The journalist seems set on depicting the Church and the faithful, including Florianites and Citizens as bigots. It is true that yesterday some people behaved in a pagan way but it is also equally true that the vast majority lived yesterday’s religious celebration with the right authentic attitude. When one generalizes, a distorted analysis of events is guaranteed. I ask the journalist why didn’t he comment on the devout participation of a large number of people (including people hailing from Floriana and Valletta) at the Pontifical Mass held in front of St. John ’s. Why did he ignore the messages shared with the congregation by Card. Antonelli and Archbishop Mgr. Cremona? I witnessed people that silenced some hot headed fanatics that wanted to ruin the whole affair. Please learn to be critical not only towards the Church but towards everybody who deserves it!
C.Busuttil
Jun 30th 2009, 15:09
TO ALL writing without having clue
Yesterday's event has nothing to do with feast rivalry, infact none exist between St. Publius and St. Paul parishes. Festa rivalry is more between the St. Dominic and St. Paul within Valletta itself.
Unfortunately Valletta supporters are all taken by their FOOTBALL rivalry against Floriana to an extent that it over takes anything else. Every Valletta football match is an occasion for a carcade through Floriana to insult them.
City fans seems to be obsessed with Floriana. If for example instead of St. Paul in was St. Dominic taking part with St. Publius the same mentality would have prevailed since its about FOOTBALL not feasts.
However on a Personal basis, I cannot see whatever the need to have St. Publius taking part in a feast dedicated to St. Paul, for there are many doubts wether if he's really a saint.
Those who write against feasts should show the same restain when it comes to politics as many news items on this site are often an occasion to vent ones hatred towards the other party. How is it that those against feasts, NEVER take part in internal celebrations.
Andrew Cassar
Jun 30th 2009, 14:44
Dumb and Dumber!!
edwin formosa
Jun 30th 2009, 14:41
Difett zghir ferm hdejn il-hnizrija ta pajjizi progressivi fejn l-ommijiet ibiccru lil uliedom qabel jitwieldu.
J. Bonnici
Jun 30th 2009, 14:09
The grumbling by these so called football supporters is utterly stupid to say the least. Do they realise that we are living in the 21st century and that this ignorance should be a thing of the long lost past. What has the fantastic game of football got to do with a procession and celebration of two saints together? Both St. Publius and St. Paul are two of the patron saints of Malta and not of Floriana and Valetta separately. Please wake up from this paganism and bury it 20 meters down. If you still believe in this fanaticism you are not worthy of any of the two saints. This should have been a manifestation to unite Maltese together. Lets enjoy football with its traditional rivalry, but please in the name of God leave the saints out of it.
J Martinelli
Jun 30th 2009, 13:58
The organizing committee should make note of some pearls of wisdom expressed here, for future reference.
Next centenary will then see St. Paul's statue on the Floriana's granaries for a great celebration and to return the visit of St. Publius to Valletta.
Then the score will be one each and both 'sides' will be happy.
However one hundred years from now, none of us will be there to witness the event!
'Frugha tal frughat u kollox frugha'. Vanity of vanities and everything is vanity.
v.pulis
Jun 30th 2009, 13:54
I am neither a valletta nor a Floriana resident and I don't really care about their statues but shouldn't the citizens respect st.publius seeing that he has a lion as company?!
Grow up and enter the 21st century.
Joseph Seisun
Jun 30th 2009, 13:49
Let' face it. External feasts have long become a good excuse for rivalry, drunkenness which many times leads to fights and other un-Christian behaviour. We all have seen it. When will all this paganism stop? The local Catholic church really needs to address this sitation.
Jane Borg
Jun 30th 2009, 13:38
And we consider ourselves to be Europeans!
F.Williams
Jun 30th 2009, 13:08
@ James Dimech
Min tahseb li int??? Just look at who is running the country and you will find people from Valletta.....Gonzi, Gatt and Archbishop Cremona etc...
As a resident we have allways felt being neglected and much importance and money was and is still invested for Valletta upper section and not the residential area.
Marvin Mizzi
Jun 30th 2009, 12:54
This mens that the Church's version of Christianity boils down to alcohol, (possibly drugs), swearing, rivalry and perhaps brawls, insults and adoring statues.... pffffffff @Joe Galea
I was present .. and proudly so ....... I did not hear swearing and did not hear insults but we all praised our Saints and with all the possible rivalry that might exist..... because of St.Paul and St.Publius we could stand side by side and what could be heard praises to both sets of enthusiasts who behaved exemplarly. And for the comment possibly drugs it is offensive to say the least..............those youths give there free time voluntary to organise these activites they work all year round it is exactly the opposite it helps them to stay away from bad habits.
Denis A. Darmanin
Jun 30th 2009, 12:10
@ James Dimech
"I am also sorry to say that most of Valletta's poor state is attributable to the lifestyle of some of the residents there".
I'm a Valletta resident and regard your comment as "Xott".
It’s not the residents who keep Valletta in any certain sorry state but the lack or bad repairs. Or people like yourself who come to town in their cars, belching toxic omissions, parking on our pavements and dropping your litter. To follow, it’s the local government, the public agencies and the local council. What's the use of having restored palaces and churches and we have pavements and roads that resemble those of third world countries? Why do trash cans only exist in Republic Street? I have lived here, and am proud, for thirty years and can show you the spots that have never seen the grace of repair. When asking why; the reply is either no funding or that it has to wait till a project is planned for that road. Hallina Sur Dimech. Nether qualifications nor a suit and tie, do a gentleman make!
Joe Galea
Jun 30th 2009, 12:08
I find it utterly foolish and using such paganism and rivalry in the name of religion.
The best joke was made by the church in the last paragraph:
"The Church had said the events would be a chance for the Maltese Catholic community to feel "happy to be Christian"."
This mens that the Church's version of Christianity boils down to alcohol, (possibly drugs), swearing, rivalry and perhaps brawls, insults and adoring statues.... pffffffff
Pathetic!!!
I am proud of not being Catholic any longer!!!
Carmelo Palmier Cecy
Jun 30th 2009, 11:51
Well meaning people have driven the good practice of looking up to the saints as models for our spiritual life to ridiculous excesses. They should be helped to discover the irrelevance of their behaviour to the spiritual life. Unfortunately, they are usually not the ones who would read the Times or the comments on this page.
On the other hand, some people with hidden agendas use the news of this stupid behaviour to throw the entire religious practice into disrepute; which is wrong too.
Joe Zammit
Jun 30th 2009, 11:41
What is most important is that the congregation has celebrated the end of the Pauline year in a spiritual and religious manner, putting aside what can somehow divides us. Christ is the symbol of unity, unity in Truth and Love.
Well done by the committee in charge. For Maltese and Gozitans St Paul and St Publius are one in Christ, one in the Catholic Church and one for the Catholic population of our Catholic islands.
Tonna J.
Jun 30th 2009, 11:36
@ Journalist - You should not have written this article the way you did - as if the majority of Valletta residents were offended with the presence of St. Publius in their city.
You have offended the majority of the Maltese who are Catholics and venerate St. Publius (not adore - Nigel Lawrence please note) as much as they venerate St. Paul. Those who say that we should not have statues should burn all photographs they have of their loved ones. When we do not have photographs of our loved ones (including all saints) we make statues to remind us about them as much as photographs remind us.
C.ZARB
Jun 30th 2009, 11:35
There are people who love statues, others who put teddy bears instead of Jesus (in the name of political correctness) and some people who travel for miles just to circle around a stone or touch a ruined wall.
Mind you I hate feasts but I understand and accept my countries traditions.
L.Aquilina
Jun 30th 2009, 11:26
The feast should have been looked upon as an eventful moment we will not have the golden opportunity to witness again (in 50 years' time a few of us would still be alive! - and should the then-citizens still care about carrying out titular statues to a meeting point), an effort by both sides (tell those who carried the heavy statues!) to make it a pleasant feast of paruchian pride for both supporters and for the rest of Maltese catholics.
As St Publius was being ceremoniously carried out from city gate we were surrounded by booing and clapping and swearing at Valletta and throwing of murtali the moment St Publius 'stepped out' of the city. It was more of a division of paruchian parties than a celebration of unison. Such a momentous event marred by football league innuendoes.
Ivan Ellul
Jun 30th 2009, 11:25
Accepting and respecting the taste of others is one thing. If people are happy to celebrate and pray to their saints to feel better about life, so be it. But to sell these celebrations and rituals as part of the Christian faith or with some kind of divine connection is absurd. These rituals are purely cultural and regarless of the the Christian faith.
James Dimech
Jun 30th 2009, 11:17
Lets be clear. Valletta does not belong to the people "of Valletta" - it belongs to the all the Maltese like any other town or village.
I am also sorry to say that most of Valletta's poor state is attributable to the lifestyle of some of the residents there. No more needs to be said.
Anthony Brincat
Jun 30th 2009, 11:05
I agree with H. Calleja that this article should have never appeared in The Times. Was the journalist in Valletta last night to witness the festive mood in Republic Street. There were no incidents at all and all those present applauded both statues. I remember that in 1960 on the eve of the concluding ceremony of the 19th Century festivities the statue of St Paul was carried to Floriana and was kept for the night inside St. Publius Church. On the following day both statues were processionally carried out onto the Granaries. As regards our "obsessive veneration" of statues, may I point out that at least we venerate saints, not football stars, film stars or pop singers.
Aimee Fenech
Jun 30th 2009, 11:04
Another silly dispute created by silly people who like to mix religion with everything hehehe
Ramon Casha
Jun 30th 2009, 11:02
Bwahahahaha!! :D
Why not replace the statues with carnival floats? They would be more appropriate. Admittedly it's not quite as bizarre as having two "different" St. Marys battling for superiority, or St. Mary vs. St. Joseph, but let's face it people - these are not patron saints, they're mascots, and the prevailing mentality is "mine is bigger than yours".
"Ours has a bigger halo"
"Ours has a heavier pedestal"
"Ours has more gold leaf"
apgrech
Jun 30th 2009, 10:54
There are some who make these events pagan but it is not pagan. It's Maltese culture. It is very sad that some are so closed minded and refuse to accept the taste of others.
It was a beautiful event which is to be commended.
Giljan Agius
Jun 30th 2009, 10:52
the whole idea of maltese feasts is a farce. If you are a believer, that is. If, like me, you're not, then they are joyfully pagan celebrations and this latest incident just adds to their silly and sometimes surreal appeal.
kemm them coming!
V. Formosa
Jun 30th 2009, 10:47
@ Ronald Cauchi
You are right but this also applies to the pathetic state of mind of some of those whose comments appear on this site. No matter whether they are political, social or religious. It is just a reflection of our society today. Not a good state of affairs I must say!
Ivan Ellul
Jun 30th 2009, 10:44
There is a word that explains all this obsessive veneration of saints and statues: Paganism. Which I personally have nothing against, but I always seem to miss the connection of Jesus and his teachings with these rituals.
Francesca Abela
Jun 30th 2009, 10:31
I totally agree with Galea.L. How narrow minded can some people be still surprises me and the Church authorities should clamp down on people who use feasts to vent their parochial mentality. If it is a religious feast it should be treat as such.
J Farrugia
Jun 30th 2009, 10:25
These partitarji are not catholics, they are madmen running and roaming about in Malta. Partitarji do not act in this way. They should always be happy that they are christians and catholics. They don't even know what it means to be a catholic and not a christian. It is shameful that these two sects are still finding a niche in their parishes so that they can destabilize the whole catholic community. Shame on them especially the valletta ones. They are a dishonour to their own community as well as to Malta at large. These people who certainly are not civilised persons, ought to be removed from any position they hold in the community. Shame on them once more. They have scandalised many many people. and if Christ was still around He would have beat them all out of the St John Co Cathedral area for scandalising other people with their idolatrous actions.
Ronald Cauchi
Jun 30th 2009, 10:24
Is there no limit to the pathetic state of mind some people have been reduced to?
Joesph Azzopardi
Jun 30th 2009, 10:21
What a load on nonsense from those opposing the event. Chritianity is about love. This is not rivalry but fundamentalisim.
Nigel Lawrence
Jun 30th 2009, 10:19
"Thou shalt not make unto you, or adore, graven images; the likeness of which is in heaven or in the earth"
I'm pretty sure a few of you know where that quotation comes from.
H.Calleja
Jun 30th 2009, 10:06
In my humble opinion this article should have never been written as it gives the false impression that many Maltese are so narrow- minded. It is!only the very few that are so fanatic in their rivalry. The vast majority were in favour of this symbolic expression of fraternity on such a special occasion. When are some of us going to grow up?
Joe Cassar
Jun 30th 2009, 10:01
If Darwin was still alive, he would probably conclude that evolution had gone into reverse mode.
F X Grima
Jun 30th 2009, 09:50
Yesterday was a truly wonderful experience both from the religious aspect as well as the local 'festa' celebrations.
I hail from Floriana and dearly love St Publius, our patron saint and one of Malta's patron saints. But I also equally love St Paul, whom God sent to us Maltese to give us 'il-Bxara t-Tajba' which means love to God our Lord and Saviour and love amongst all mankind, including Valletta citizens and Florianites.
God bless all. Viva San Pubblju & San Pawl and vice-versa.
Galea. L
Jun 30th 2009, 09:40
This shows how some are so hot-headed that they do not reason at all.
I also deplore the fact that there were some who were heard whistling during the procession. This shows total ignorance and lack of civic and religious education.
Similarly, the Church should stop those fanatics who shout, hail and praise their saint or whatever in front of the statue even in church and stop the feats if they continue with such pagan excesses.
Frans Sammut
Jun 30th 2009, 09:37
Can you think of a more laughable attitude to religious matters? Fogazzaro of Piccolo Mondo Antico fame and Don Camillo's creator, Guareschi very probably would not muster enough imagination to capture the idiocies and absurdities still rampant among some of our European Union citizens who would continue to strut up and down our cultural environment. I am sometimes tempted to forget all about what it means to be Maltese and take up fishing. Small wonder the Church authorities tend to consider their flock as juveniles at best, and downright imbeciles at ....
B Agius
Jun 30th 2009, 09:33
The Church still treats its followers with contempt. I do not need statues to be a happy Christian. Some were "offended" because of a statue! I reckon Borat should think of making a film about Maltese religious customs.
Franco Farrugia
Jun 30th 2009, 09:31
The last paragraph says it all: I don't think!
Anthony Mercieca
Jun 30th 2009, 09:18
The liberation of sin and the building of a community based on love in the name of a saviour, Jesus, the begotten of the Father, preached by Paul to our island who than entrusted this mission to Publius, is a far cry of this article which interpretes religion only as a cultural and group identity, devoid of the real meaning of Christianity. Rendering Christianity as a pagan religion breaks God's and Jesus's commandment. Love God will all your strength and your neighbour as your self. Obviously the reporter is transmitting feelings and this is more than a mission for the authentic church to address
D.Galea
Jun 30th 2009, 09:17
I always wonder how could religion bring us to this, I am not one who uses this as a reason why I am not religious but it's painful to see in which state the church has reduced this people. To be fair I know that the Curia might be aware of this & might want to start addressing it but why I ask, why did it let it come to this!?