Last Tuesday, Archbishop Charles Scicluna celebrated mass at Ta’ Pinu Shrine in Għarb, on the 138th anniversary of the calling of Our Lady to Karmni Grima, whose vision and devotion led to the building of the shrine. In his homily, the archbishop encouraged those going through difficult times to not give up and to let their hearts overflow with hope by drawing closer to Jesus.
The blessing of the Holy Eucharist.
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The Ta’ Pinu Basilica is located is the village of Gharb in the North Western Part of the island. It is particularly known for its annexed museum recording hundreds of stories of alleged miracles, making the church a famous site for pilgrimages. The origins of the Shrine of Our Lady of ta’ Pinu are unknown. It was first recorded in the archives of the Curia in Gozo, when the Bishop Domenico Cubelles paid a visit to the chapel. This noted that the chapel had just been rebuilt and that it belonged to the noble family of “The Gentile”.
In 1575 the apostolic visitor Pietro Dusina was delegated by Pope Gregory XIII to visit the Maltese Islands. In his pastoral visit to the church, he found that it was in a very bad state. He ordered the church to be closed and demolished and its duties passed to the parish church. When demolition began the workman broke his arm while striking the first blow. This was taken as an omen that the chapel should not be demolished. The church was the
Gozitan artist Aaron Formosa is holding a sacred art exhibition, Twilights, at Ħaġar Museum in Victoria. The theme of the exhibition is human existence in the light of Christ – the spiritual light which enlightens the human condition and makes it meaningful.
Through the collection, the artist intends to offer a new concept of sacred art; a personal interpretation of Biblical and religious narratives – an interpretation somewhat different from those with which we are normally acquainted in local churches.
In the collection, one finds paintings depicting the Nativity of Christ, Christ raising the daughter of Jairus from the dead, the Last Supper and the Supper at Emmaus and paintings related to the Passion of Our Lord.