A few days ago, I finally finished reading a publication entitled A Peste, Fame e Bello Libera Nos Dommine, written by Aaron Attard-Hili to commemorate the plague that hit Xagħra in Gozo 200 years ago.

Apart from Attard-Hili, there are many other valid contributors who, with the collaboration of the Xagħra local council, made this publication possible.

At first I thought that this was going to be just another story about yet another plague but once you start reading you get immersed in the details provided.

The way that sacrifices, quarantine, strict regulations and deaths are described make you relive the way that people endured and survived 200 years ago.

It must have taken the contributors enormous amounts of time and energy to go through the archives as references are provided for each written sentence. Even an oral statement is acknowledged.

Reading was not enough and I had to cross over to Gozo to visit St Francis church, in Victoria, which is mentioned more than once, and then to Xagħra to see the niche dedicated to Our Lady of Mercy at Tas-Sellum (picture).

To conclude a perfect day, by coincidence I met and made conversation with Joseph Camilleri who confided in me that some of his photos are featured in the publication and insisted that I visit the plague cemetery, hospital and corner grocery shop from where food and money was exchanged without being touched by human hands.