SENGLEA THROUGH THE AGES - 19 & 20
Popes who had close connections with Senglea
In the lateral sides of the church of Senglea we find four pictures of different Popes, namely: i) Gregory XIII, 1581; the setting up of the Parish; ii) Pius VI, 1786, elevation to Collegiate; iii) Benedict XV, 1921, Basilica-Sanctuary; iv) Pius XII, 1957, the church rebuilt after World War II. The history of Senglea shows that our city continually and at all times had special relations with many Popes. In the archives there are a lot of pontifical documents, and some are linked to some important dates in our history. The following are four Popes who are closely linked with Senglea.
Gregory XIII: He was the Pope for the period 1572-1585. During his Papacy, Senglea split up from Vittoriosa and became a parish in its own rights. The elevation to the statues of a parish is more or less the prerogative of the Bishop of the day, namely Tommaso Gargallo (1578-1614).
Pius VI: He was Pope between 1775 and 1799. During his Papacy the parish of Senglea was elevated to the status of Collegiate. The degree was issued on the 21st May 1786 by the official ‘Exigit Appostolici Officii’. Only the Pope can issue this degree. Senglea’s cause was greatly helped by the work done by the Archpriest Dun Salv Bonnici; the Archbishop Vincenz Labini; Grand Master De Rohan and the Ambassador of the Holy Order Gioacchino Britto. Senglea was the first parish elevated to the status of Collegiate in the Cottonera area.
Benedict XV: He was Pope between 1914 and 1922. Senglea’s Parish saw in him a great benefactor. He bestowed two great honours to the Collegiate. The statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary has been venerated in Senglea for over three hundred years. The great devotion towards Our Lady was very obvious. So with the degree issued on the 1st May 1920, the Pope permitted that the statue of Our Lady could be crowned on behalf of the Vatican. At the same period two personalities, the Benedictine Maruo Inguanez and Dun Goffredo Lubrano were trying to do their utmost to have the Collegiate elevated to the title of Basilica. The principal reasons put forward was that the church was built as a monument of the Great Siege and because it was run successfully. Dom Mauro Inguanez managed to find lot of support from Cardinal Vico. On the 3rd January 1921 the Pope decreed that the Collegiate of Senglea be elevated to the status of Basilica Minor and yet enjoying all the privileges which Basilicas in Rome enjoy. The degree also clearly declared that Senglea’s Basilica was given precedence over all other churches in Malta except the Cathedral. It was conferred preference even over the Collegiates of Birkirkara and St Paul in Valletta. On the 4th September 1921, the statue of Marija Bambina was crowned with a golden crown during a ceremony held at Senglea’s marina. The crowning was performed by the Archbishop Mawru Camilleri assisted by Bishop Anglu Portelli and Gwanni Camilleri. The statue of Marija Bambina became the only statue to be crowned in Malta. From that day onwards the parish of Senglea apart from being also a Collegiate and Basilica became also a Sanctuary.
Pius XII: He was Pope between 1939 and 1958. During his time the Basilica was totally destroyed in World War II, but in 1957 it was consecrated once again and could start serving all its functions as before.
Pope John Paul II: He was Pope from 1978 to 2005. He became the first Pope to set foot on our parish during his Papal visit to Malta. On the 26th May 1990, the Pope alighted from a boat at Senglea’s marina and boarded an open car which passed through the streets of Senglea on his way to the meeting with the workers held at Cospicua.
SENGLEA THROUGH THE AGES - 20
Our Lady of the Chain (Madonna tal-Katina) –
a Fraternity dedicated to a miracle which took place in Sicily
In 1392, three men tied in chains were being transported to the gallows. Because of the terrible tempest that was raging, the condemned persons and their guards took refuge in a church dedicated to Our Lady of the Chain. During the night, while everyone was asleep, the condemned persons prayed for the intervention of Our Lady and promised to lead a reformed life if they were spared. The chains fell of them; the church door opened by itself and the condemned men found themselves free. This miracle created a lot of interest in Sicily. Many years afterwards an altar and a Fraternity were set up in Senglea to commemorate this miracle. Up to the 19th century, the anniversary of this event was erroneously celebrated in 1890 instead of 1892.
Some years before, Xandru Farrugia (1781-1871), a sculptor from Zejtun, made a wooden statue of Our Lady of the Chain but the statue of Baby Jesus was made of papier mache. It used to be called Our Lady of Guidance (il-Madonna tal-Patrocinju). In 1875 members of the Fraternity were doing their utmost to increase the interest in this feast. A procession used to be held on the 2nd Sunday in November and later on it was changed to the 3rd Sunday.
The picture on the altar was painted by Guzeppi Bonnici. On the 24th November 1889, the members of the Fraternity met to see how they can prepare themselves to celebrate the 500th anniversary of this miraculous event. For the procession they were going to invite all the Fraternities of Senglea; the Dominican Friars and the Franciscan Friars. A collection was being organised so that they could order a new pedestal for the statue.
In that same year of 1889, the Fraternity was thinking of affiliating itself with the Arch fraternity of Our Lady of Consolation (Arcikonfraternita tal-Madonna tal-Konsolazzjoni). So as part of their garb instead of a woollen belt they put on a leather belt. They kept the same cope and also the rosary beans. Their plan was so that they could benefit from special indulgences because they could not do so on their own.
The centenary celebrations were held on the 9th November 1890. At that time, it was announced that Senglea had a new Archpriest, Dun Guzepp Tagliaferro.
During a meeting held on the 26th July 1891, the plans for the new altar were unveiled to the members of the Fraternity. Recourse was made to Pope Leo XIII who decreed on the 6th June 1893 that whoever recited three Hail Mary in front of the statue of Our Lady of the Chain would be granted an indulgence of one hundred days.
The affiliation with the Arch fraternity of Our Lady of Consolation was signed on the 15th August 1894. The agreement was signed by Padre Sebastiano Martinelli, general of the Augustinian Friars and the Archbishop Pietru Pace. From then onwards the official name of the Fraternity became the ‘Fraternity of Our Lady of the Chain and Consolation’ (Fratellanza tal-Madonna tal-Katina u tal-Konsolazzjoni). On the 2nd September 1894, the members of the Fraternity were officially accepted in a ceremony celebrated by the Parish Priest Dun Guzepp Tagliaferro. The contract of the foundation of the Fraternity was signed on the 3rd October 1894 in front of the Notary Guzeppi Rossi.
Even though in spirit the Fraternity of Our Lady of the Belt (Madona tac-Cintura), the official feast remained that of Our Lady of the Chain. This was how the people of Senglea knew this Fraternity. The standard was not violet like that used by the Fraternity of Our Lady of the Belt but white with the Marian emblem and the chain. For some time the feast of Our Lady of the Belt was celebrated on the last Sunday of August and there were many devotees of this feast.
It is difficult to hold processions in November so in time it ceased to be organised. The members of the Fraternity also went down gradually. The picture on top of the altar was destroyed during the war but the statue and the standard were saved. The present picture of Our Lady of the Chain was originally a painting of Our Lady of Carmelo (Madonna tal-Karmnu) but it was modified by the painter Karmnu Spiteri.