Close to five centuries after defeating the Turks and almost seven decades after the end of World War II, Malta commemorated Victory Day in Valletta with the traditional inspection of a guard of honour followed by Pontifical Mass.
September 8 celebrations kicked off with a march by the Armed Forces of Malta band and a guard of honour from Floriana down Republic Street, in Valletta, which then took up positions outside the co-cathedral a few minutes before Mass was due to start.
The soldiers, in full regalia, saluted President George Abela on his arrival.
As soon as the formalities of inspecting the guard of honour and standing to attention for the national anthem were over, Dr Abela and his wife Margaret entered the cathedral for Mass.
In his homily, Archbishop Paul Cremona said the two events commemorated yesterday had forged the Maltese people.
People living through those times had felt the presence of Our Lady of Nativity, whose feast fell yesterday. “There was divine intervention in our history,” Mgr Cremona said.
Dwelling on religious and secular values, he said some complemented each other but others differed completely.
A Christian’s vision of mankind must always be linked to the concept of eternity – every moment in a person’s life was eternal – because of the belief in life after death and that God’s Word was eternal, he said.
“Each moment in life has to grow in this eternity and has this value. A Christian who accepts the concept of abortion or freezing of embryos is in contrast with this value of eternity.”
The faithful must also safeguard the world for future generations and give their spiritual contribution to society, Mgr Cremona added.
September 8 is a national holiday marking the 1565 victory of the Maltese over the Turks following the Great Siege and the end of hostilities in World War II.
Celebrations continued in the afternoon, with the colourful regatta at Grand Harbour, organised by the Malta Sports Council. Seven harbour towns competed for the coveted shield as the traditional rowing boats crossed from Marsa to Customs House in a tradition that dates back to 1642, turning into an annual event in 1878.
The feast of Our Lady was celebrated in Senglea, Naxxar, Mellieħa and Xagħra.