Stephen Camilleri, Floriana
St Publius' presence in Valletta
While congratulating the organisers for the well-organised Pontifical Mass held in St John's Square on the occasion of the closure of the Pauline Year, I must point out a weakness.
Even though the statue of St Publius was brought all the way from Floriana for the occasion, I note with disappointment that no mention or slight reference was made to the saint during the entire ceremony, had it not been for the reading from the Acts of the Apostles (which could not have been avoided). Even the booklet distributed for the occasion did not mention the saint in any way, despite the close connection St Publius has with St Paul and Malta, and despite the fact that St Publius' statue was participating in the event.
The impression given was that St Publius' presence during the ceremony was that of a passive onlooker or undesired guest. The magnificent statue could have been referred to and used as a visual aid to re-create the setting of the meeting between St Paul and St Publius two thousand years ago - a unique occasion that was missed.
If this scene, registered in the Acts of the Apostles, disturbs the organisers the occasion should have been arranged so as to exclude St Publius completely. This would have confirmed and made official the organisers' lack of respect for our first Maltese saint.
Popular Stories
In Discussion
10 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
C.Busuttil
Jul 1st 2009, 17:38
@Steven Camilleri
I agree with you that SOME feasts are ruined by outsiders probably the same troublemakers that cause trouble lets say in Paceville, the same machos that take every occasion to show how bully they are. I repeat SOME Feasts, because the great majority of our feasts are held free of any trouble WHILE the media and certain people like to make it appear that trouble occurs in every feast.
@Micheal Grech
Ma nafx liema diploma ghandek biex taghmel gudizzju bhal dak li ktibt, bla sens ghalik ghax tahseb lin-nies jimxu wara l-istatwi ghax jadduraw dan l-istatwi.
Kemm sejjer hazin, in-nies jimxu wara l-istatwi ghaliex dik simbolu li tirraprezenta lil qaddis patrun taghhom u sakemm ikollhom dik il-mentalita m'hemm xejn hazin. Il-problema hija li nies bhalek jippruvaw b'xi mod ipingu lil dawn in-nies bhala pagani mitlufin wara xi statwa. Min int biex tghid il-dak li jkun kif ghandu jesprimi l-fidi tieghu - Ftakkar "Tiggudikawx u ma tkunux iggudikati"
Kemm naf snobs li jghidulek ma tarax nimxi wara statwa u ma l-ewwel inkwiet tarahom sejrin jimxu wara r-Redentur ta' L-Isla, hemmhekk ma tibqax statwa imma rapprezentazzjoni/simbolu ta' Kristu waqt il passjoni - Ippokriti, dan ghax jkollhom bzonn xi grazzja
Rev. Dr Charlo` Camilleri
Jul 1st 2009, 16:26
When are we to grow up?!!
Very much upset, disappointed, and ashamed that the closing of the Pauline Jubilee year, which was supposed to be an elevated celebration in unity with the Universal Church, was transformed into the never-ending nauseating playing church parochialism which ridicules the Catholic Faith and the Catholic Church!
Steven Camilleri@hotmail.com
Jul 1st 2009, 12:41
Its is up only to us real feast lovers that these celebrations are not spoiled by idiots because nobody blames these idiots but the Maltese feasts in general are blamed , people that really work for their village feast's all year long are not going to be shameful because everybody knows what are the consequences , its about time li id delletanti jigbdu habbel wiehed or we will be destroyed by people who just wait for idiots to make a big story and jump on the bandwagon to try and finish off this lovely tradition our forefathers gave us . We are after all Catholics and booing another saint is pure idiocy.
Matthew Sultana
Jul 1st 2009, 12:06
Trying to be as objective as possible, I personally think that this idea of St Publius and St Paul together would be more fitting next year in commemoration of St Paul's Shipwreck's 1950 Anniversary. Honestly, I fail to see why St Publius had to do with these celebrations. In fact, he was not - and could not - be mentioned during the homily. Next year will be a different story. Next year it should be a must. However, once the Church authorities decided to include St Publius in the feast, let's be mature and capitalise positively and sensibly on the events. Let's not show how low can we go...
Tonna J.
Jul 1st 2009, 11:58
A few anticlerical hotheads try to ridicule whatever the Ctholic Church does or says. It is no surprise as this as been going on for the last 2000 years.
Emanuel Farrugia
Jul 1st 2009, 10:52
I live in Birkirkara. My devotion to St. Publius is just as great as for St. Paul and St. Helen, St. Venera and our Lady of Mount Carmel. They are all in heaven enjoying their just reward. I believe Mr. Camilleri should let things be and try and control his religious parochial mentality and give us a break and not try to make mountains out of mole hills. Isnt the fact that the statue of St. Publius was present and people could pray to him, enough for Mr. Camilleri. What is he trying to do start a religious civil war between devotees of St. Paul and St. Publius ?
Carmelo Palmier Cecy
Jul 1st 2009, 10:42
I understand SC's concern; yet I must respectfully criticise one point in his letter for referring to the statue of St Publius as if it were the saint himself. The phrase, "St Publius' presence during the ceremony", is a reminder of how many seem to personalise their patron saints' statues, thereby paving the way for some of the irrational behaviour during our village feasts. We must clearly distinguish between the person and his image; even though, in this case, it may have been an oversight.
Joe Cassar
Jul 1st 2009, 10:38
Tweedledum and Tweedledee
Agreed to have a battle;
For Tweedledum said Tweedledee
Had spoiled his nice new rattle.
Just then flew down a monstrous crow,
As black as a tar-barrel;
Which frightened both the heroes so,
They quite forgot their quarrel
Marvin Mizzi
Jul 1st 2009, 10:23
By the way this was the end of the Pauline Year and as such St.Publius was out of place. As this was the celebration year of 2000 anniversary of the birth of St.Paul. If it was the celebration for the Shipwreck of St.Paul, St.Publius would have been in place as it was the meeting of the 2 Saints The Great Apostle of the Gentiles and the Roman Governor of Malta that gave birth to the faith in Jesus CHrist. But still one short note Saint Paul on the island met St.Publius the Roman Prefect of the Island but that is not St.Publius venerated in Floriana lets hope that at least when next year the 1950 years of the Shipwreck is celebrated the real Publius the one in the acts of the Appostles is mentioned along the Great Appostle of the Gentiles.
Michael Grech
Jul 1st 2009, 10:16
It-ton tal-ittra u l-kuntest juri kemm waqet ghar-ridikolu r-religion Kattolika f'pajjizna. Dan kien suppost wiehed mill-'highpoints' tal-kalendarju religjuz ta' din is-sena; parata idolatra u bla sens bl-istatwi. Kollox taht il-patroncinju u l-pompa manja tal-oghla awtoritajiet lokali u barranin; bl-arcisqof il-hin kollu jitbissem.