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From MaltaMedia.com Local The thousands of Maltese soaked in the rain in St. Peter’s Square cheered every time the name of Gorg Preca was mentioned during the celebration. Some of them waved Maltese flags.
The reliquary containing the blood of the first Maltese saint was also presented during the canonisation ceremony. At the end of mass, Pope Benedict XVI spoke to all those gathered and also addressed the Maltese pilgrims in Maltese. "San Gorg is the first saint of your sweet island. He is your second father after St. Paul," Pope Benedict XVI said.The two-hour long canonisation ceremony ended with the Angelus which is usually recited by the Pope from his window overlooking the Square. The other three proclaimed saints on Sunday were Charles of St Andrew from the Netherlands, Simon of Lipnica from Poland and Sister Marie Eugenie of Jesus from France. A Maltese official Delegation left Malta on Saturday attended the canonisation of Blessed Dun Ġorġ Preca at The Vatican. The delegation was led by President Dr Edward Fenech Adami and Mrs Fenech Adami and includes Prime Minister Dr Lawrence Gonzi, Mrs Gonzi, Speaker Anton Tabone, Mrs Tabone and Leader of the Opposition, Dr Alfred Sant. Ambassador to the Holy See, Tonio Ganado and Mrs Ganado will also be part of the official delegation.
Organisers emphasized that the garments; a package including a cap, scarf, badge and booklet must be worn during the function so that Maltese and Gozitan pilgrims could be distinguished from others of other nations. Maltese pilgrims attended a prayer vigil on Saturday 2nd June which was held at Basilica Sta Maria Maggiore in Rome. It was the miraculous healing of an infant, Eric Catania, who was diagnosed with acute liver failure in June 2001 that cleared the way for the canonization of San Ġorġ Preca. Dr Anil Dhawan, a Hindu Doctor said he remains mystified by the child's recovery. Last December, Pope Benedict confirmed that the healing had been a supernatural sign from God and that Blessed George was worthy of sainthood. Both Dr Dhawan and Eric were present to see the Blessed Dun Ġorġ created a saint in Rome by Pope Benedict XVI in front of his parents and family members. Eric received his First Holy Communion by Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday. Before San Ġorġ Preca could be recognised a saint, however, two miracles had to be attributed to him. The first occurred in 1964 and concerned Charles Endrich, a man who had suffered from a detached retina and was about to go blind. As Dr Censu Tabone prepared to operate, Mr Endrich recovered when a shoelace which had belonged to Blessed George was placed beneath his pillow by friends. Read more about Dun Ġorġ Preca's canonisation in MaltaMedia's special feature. Celebrations in Rome continue on Monday with a mass celebrated by Mgr Paul Cremona at St. Peter's Basilicata. Meanwhile locally, a Thanksgiving Mass will be held at the Floriana Granaries on Thursday. © Copyright 2007 by MaltaMedia.com |
Maltese living in Brussels and Luxembourg joined other pilgrims in Rome. Local airline company Air Malta carried out extra flights to meet the increased demand for the Maltese pilgrims traveling to Rome for the canonisation ceremony on Saturday.