A reliquary containing the blood of St Lawrence is being brought to Malta from Amaseno in Frosinone, Italy, and toured around the parishes dedicated to the saint between Thursday and July 28. This is the first time the reliquary will be brought to the island.
The highly venerated relic is especially popular because the solid clot of blood has been known to liquify on the feast of St Lawrence on August 10.
This unexplainable phenomenon first occurred in the 1600s. A document dating back to 1177 states that the blood in the reliquary is that of the saint, who was martyred in AD258.
Upon its arrival in Malta, the reliquary will be taken to the Benedictine monastery of Santa Skolastika in Vittoriosa. The Vittoriosa chapter, together with parish priests and clergy from San Lawrenz and Amaseno, will leave the parish church at 6pm for the monastery from where the reliquary will later be taken to the parish church in a procession accompanied by the San Lawrenz Band. Parishioners from Amaseno and San Lawrenz will participate in this procession.
Archbishop Paul Cremona will celebrate Mass at 7pm following which the reliquary will be exposed to the public.
On Friday at 3.30pm there will be vespers and at 4pm, the reliquary will start its journey to Gozo, leaving from the Vittoriosa marina. At 5.30pm it is expected to arrive at Mġarr, where San Lawrenz parishoners will be waiting to accompany it to their parish. The reliquary arrives in San Lawrenz at 6.15pm and will be taken in procession from the end of the main street to the parish church.
The community of San Lawrenz and San Girgor Band of Kerċem will participate in the procession. There will be vespers followed by Mass at 7pm. The church will remain open up to midnight for veneration of the relic.
On Saturday, the relic will be exposed and visits from various parishes in Gozo are being organised. There will be Mass at 10am for the elderly and the sick, particularly for those residing at residential homes. There will be a prayer vigil at 8pm led by archpriest Ignazio Borg.
Next Sunday there will be Masses at 5.30, 7 and 10.30am. The church will remain open all day.
At 6pm there will be Pontifical High Mass officiated by Gozo Bishop Mario Grech together with parish priests Charles Sultana of San Lawrenz and Italo Cardarilli of Amaseno.
This will be followed by the official inauguration of the main square at 8.30pm and the signing of a special friendship agreement between the mayors of San Lawrenz and Amaseno.
After the ceremony, typical Maltese food will be served.
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