Malta is one of the last practising Catholic countries in Europe, and everywhere you go you will see the influence of the faith. On buses, taxis and in cafes you will see images of the Sacred Heart, Divine Mercy and Our Lady, and there are lots and lots of beautiful churches. This is the Carmelite church, rebuilt after wartime bombing and the statue of Our Lady of Mount Carmel:
The Church of St. Publius, the governor who received St. Paul and later was the first bishop of Malta:
The interior of the Cathedral of St. Paul, Mdina:
Our Lady of Victories, Valletta.
The churches are not only well kept and maintained, but many have up to six daily masses said, with a fair number of young people attending. On Sunday I gratefully went to the Latin Novus Ordo mass in the Co - Cathedral, where there were a large number of altar boys. The church here has largely escaped the plagues of extraordinary eucharistic ministers and altar girls which have blighted everywhere else.
Malta throughout its history has been an island that has obstinately withstood siege from the creeds of Antichrist, most notably Islam in the 16th century, and Nazism in the 20th. As it just has joined the European Union, there is a very real possibility the Maltese church will suffer the fate of the Irish church. Let us hope it will hold out again against the culture of death!
The Church of St. Publius, the governor who received St. Paul and later was the first bishop of Malta:
The interior of the Cathedral of St. Paul, Mdina:
Our Lady of Victories, Valletta.
The churches are not only well kept and maintained, but many have up to six daily masses said, with a fair number of young people attending. On Sunday I gratefully went to the Latin Novus Ordo mass in the Co - Cathedral, where there were a large number of altar boys. The church here has largely escaped the plagues of extraordinary eucharistic ministers and altar girls which have blighted everywhere else.
Malta throughout its history has been an island that has obstinately withstood siege from the creeds of Antichrist, most notably Islam in the 16th century, and Nazism in the 20th. As it just has joined the European Union, there is a very real possibility the Maltese church will suffer the fate of the Irish church. Let us hope it will hold out again against the culture of death!
1 comment:
I live in Warsaw. There are five Masses on a feria in my parish church, which is a very average non-city-centre parish. NO, occasional Latin, no serviettes. The previous bishop allowed communion on the hand a few years ago - I think I've seen eleven people do this since then, and I go to Mass most days. I love walking to Mass on a Sunday morning and being part of the stream of people of all ages rambling in the same direction. And having to stand because the church is so full.
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