Charles Meilaq takes a look at the history of the popular Żabbar pilgrimage which has drawn devotees of Our Lady of Graces from all over Malta for centuries.
Archbishop Emeritus Paul Cremona, in the absence of Archbishop Charles Scicluna who will be in Chile, will on Sunday inaugurate a series of penitential Lent pilgrimages, the first one of which will be the traditional Ħadd in-Nies, People’s Sunday, celebration at Żabbar.
The popularity of Ħadd in-Nies was already recorded in a fragmentary inventory, dated 1570, by Mgr Antonio Bartolo, chancellor and vicar-general of the diocese. This was just five years after the victorious events of the Great Siege of Malta of 1565. The inventory records offerings left by pilgrims to the Virgin Mary.
This celebration of thanksgiving and penance moved our forefathers to pay visits and join in pilgrimages to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Graces. The tradition dates back before the Order of St John came to Malta in 1530.
With the introduction of carnival, visitors flocked to the Sanctuary on Ash Wednesday as an act of penance for any follies committed during those days of revelery. People from all walks of life visited the Sanctuary to fulfil their vows, pray and ask for God’s blessings.
Over the years, these visits slowly shifted to the first Sunday of Lent. In the 17th century, this event turned into a festivity similar to Imnarja and San Girgor, until 1927 when the spirit of penance was revived again, later also with the introduction of floats and groups depicting the history and devotion towards our Lady of Graces.
The locality of Żabbar has been associated with the devotion to Our Lady of Graces since the late Middle Ages, when a small rural chapel, the only one on the island dedicated to Mary, Mother of Grace, used to attract devotees and pilgrims from all over the island.
According to historian Carmel Bonavia, at one time, ex-voto offerings (mementoes, especially paintings, of graces received) covered the walls of this small chapel.
Bonavia writes that an inventory drawn up in 1570 by Mgr Bartolo lists old, rich sacred vestments and other church furnishings which had survived the Great Siege of 1565.
Much impressed by the great attachment of the people to the Żabbar chapel, Mgr Pietro Dusina in 1575 wrote that many pilgrims from various towns and villages went there to implore favours or render thanks for benefits received.
A four-page inventory from 1570 of the furnishings of Our Lady of Graces chapel shows a number of richly-woven sacred vestments, silver necklaces, precious ornaments together with humble altar cloths. This clearly indicates that both rich and poor flocked to this sacred spot.
Major changes were introduced to Ħadd in-Nies in 1970
Most of these pilgrims went every Wednesday all year round. Two or three Masses were said on these days to meet the visitors’ demand in 1575. This was not so common elsewhere in those times, where only one Mass was celebrated annually on the feast of the patron saint in these rural chapels.
To cater for these pilgrims, Mgr Dusina appointed Fr Antonio De Nicolaci as rector of this chapel “to further foster and strengthen this holy devotion among the people”.
From Ash Wednesday, these visits, eventually shifted to the first Sunday of Lent. In recent years, the annual pilgrimage has reverted back to the original pilgrimage as a sign of penance and thanksgiving to the Lord, through the intercession of Our Lady of Graces.
With the possession of Fr Alwiġ Catania as parish priest of Żabbar, Ħadd in-Nies was reverted to a religious event. On March 6, 1927, a penitentiary pilgrimage was organised with the participation of all societies and organisations of Żabbar as well as the two band clubs.
On the pilgrimage return to the sanctuary, Archbishop Mauro Caruana led a religious function, thus reintroducing this event as a celebration of devotion towards Our Lady of Graces.
For some years, the number of participants was so huge that the police intervened to keep public order and to direct the flow of carts and karrozzini that transported the pilgrims to Żabbar. It is recorded that during the Ħadd in-Nies of 1928, a member of the police cavalry, 45-year-old Saverio Bugeja, died when the horse jolted and was thrown on to the ground.
Major changes were introduced to Ħadd in-Nies in 1970, when parish priest Joseph Zarb introduced a défilé of floats depicting Marian subjects and the various victories of wars with the intercession of Our Lady.
In 1976, parish priest Fr Joseph Vella introduced other more artistic floats, designed by artist Anthony De Giovanni. In the time of parish priest Fr Bastjan Caruana, the pilgrimage used to leave from various zones in Żabbar and, on special occasions, like the 50th anniversary of the titular crowning and also that during the 400th parish anniversary, the statue of Our Lady was carried in procession. Since 2016, the parish has been granted permission to continue carrying the titular statue shoulder high during the pilgrimage.
It is also interesting to note that during the celebration of Ħadd in-Nies in 2015, Mgr Charles Scicluna, who was officiating, was informed that he was appointed archbishop.
This year, 72 people will take their turn to shoulder the statue of Our Lady of Graces. The pilgrimage will leave the Sanctuary at 4.15pm. Afterwards, Archbishop Emeritus Paul Cremona will lead a concelebrated Mass asssisted by Archpriest Evan Caruna and members of the clergy. Notre Dame choir will be in attendance.