Dedication of the Co-Cathedral of St. John in Valletta

Today marks the Feast of the Dedication of the Conventual Church of St. John in Valletta.  The Church was built between 1573 and 1578 following the Siege of Malta.  The Cathedral contains eight rich chapels, each of which was dedicated to the patron saint of the 8 langues (or sections) of the Knights. On the left side of the church there are the following chapels;

The Chapel of the Anglo-Bavarian Langue was formerly known as the Chapel of the Relic where the Knights used to keep relics that they have acquired through the centuries.

The Chapel of Provence is dedicated to Saint Michael.

The Chapel of France is dedicated to the Conversion of Saint Paul. This chapel was modified in the 19th century. The monuments found in this chapel are those of grandmasters Fra Adrien de Wignacourt and Fra Emmanuel de Rohan-Polduc.

The Chapel of Italy, dedicated to St Catherine, the patron saint of Italy.

The Chapel of Germany is dedicated to the Epiphany of Christ. The titular paint is by Stefano Erardi, a Maltese painter.

On the right side of the church there are the following chapels;

The Chapel of Blessed Sacrament was formerly known as the Chapel of Our Lady of Philermos. The titular painting of this chapel is Our Lady of Carafa which is a copy of Our Lady of Lanciano. Among the knight buried in this chapel there is Fra Gian Francesco Abela and Fra Flaminio Balbiano.

The Chapel of Auvergne is dedicated to Saint Sebastian. The only monument in this chapel is that of Fra Annet de Clermont.

The Chapel of Aragon is dedicated to St. George. The titular painting was painted by Mattia Preti and it is considered as one of his masterpieces. In this chapel one can find the monuments of the following grandmasters, Fra Martin de Redin, Fra Raphael Cottoner, Fra Nicolas Cottoner, Fra Ramon Perellos.

For more information on this incredible Cathedral you can visit their website.

Feast of Our Lady of Walsingham

Today is the Feast of Our Lady of Walsingham.

Tip o' the hat to Fr.'s Ray Blake and Fr. Z.

The Wrecks of Walsingham

[attributed to Sir Philip Howard]

In the wrecks of Walsingham
Whom should I choose
But the Queen of Walsingham
to be my guide and muse!

Then, the Prince of Walsingham,
Grant me to frame
Bitter plaints to rue thy wrong,
Bitter woe for thy name.

Bitter was it, O to see
The silly sheep
Murdered by the ravenous wolves
While the shepherd did sleep.

Bitter was it, O to view
The sacred vine,
Whilst the gardeners played all close,
Rooted up by the swine.

Bitter, bitter, O to behold
The grass to grow
Where the walls of Walsingham
So stately did show.

Such were the worth of Walsingham
While she did stand,
Such are the wrecks as now do show
Of that Holy Land.

Level, level, with the ground
The towers do lie,
Which, with their golden glittering tops,
Pierced out to the sky.

Where were gates are no gates now,
The ways unknown
Where the press of friars did pass
While her fame was blown.

Owls do screech where the sweetest hymns
Lately were sung,
Toads and serpents hold their dens
Where thepalmers did throng.

Weep, weep O Walsingham,
Whose days are nights,B
lessings turned to blasphemies,
Holy deeds to despites.

Sin is where Our Lady sat,
Heaven is turned to hell,
Satan sits where Our Lady did sway—
Walsingham, O farewell!.

Feast of Our Lady of Walsingham

Today is the Feast of Our Lady of Walsingham.

Tip o' the hat to Fr.'s Ray Blake and Fr. Z.

The Wrecks of Walsingham

[attributed to Sir Philip Howard]

In the wrecks of Walsingham
Whom should I choose
But the Queen of Walsingham
to be my guide and muse!

Then, the Prince of Walsingham,
Grant me to frame
Bitter plaints to rue thy wrong,
Bitter woe for thy name.

Bitter was it, O to see
The silly sheep
Murdered by the ravenous wolves
While the shepherd did sleep.

Bitter was it, O to view
The sacred vine,
Whilst the gardeners played all close,
Rooted up by the swine.

Bitter, bitter, O to behold
The grass to grow
Where the walls of Walsingham
So stately did show.

Such were the worth of Walsingham
While she did stand,
Such are the wrecks as now do show
Of that Holy Land.

Level, level, with the ground
The towers do lie,
Which, with their golden glittering tops,
Pierced out to the sky.

Where were gates are no gates now,
The ways unknown
Where the press of friars did pass
While her fame was blown.

Owls do screech where the sweetest hymns
Lately were sung,
Toads and serpents hold their dens
Where thepalmers did throng.

Weep, weep O Walsingham,
Whose days are nights,B
lessings turned to blasphemies,
Holy deeds to despites.

Sin is where Our Lady sat,
Heaven is turned to hell,
Satan sits where Our Lady did sway—
Walsingham, O farewell!.

Feast of the Ascension

Today is Ascension Thursday, a national holiday celebrated throughout much of Europe but here we find it difficult to make it to Mass twice in a week so we have moved the Feast to Sunday. While there was much genuine outrage over the Notre Dame debacle we should find greater concern in a Catholic culture that finds difficulty getting to Mass an extra day but wouldn't have any hesitation in accepting tickets to an extra ballgame in one week.

Feast of the Ascension

Today is Ascension Thursday, a national holiday celebrated throughout much of Europe but here we find it difficult to make it to Mass twice in a week so we have moved the Feast to Sunday. While there was much genuine outrage over the Notre Dame debacle we should find greater concern in a Catholic culture that finds difficulty getting to Mass an extra day but wouldn't have any hesitation in accepting tickets to an extra ballgame in one week.