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40 I JANUARY 3, 2021 THE SUNDAY TIMES OF MALTA .LIFE AND WELLBE·ING HISTORY
It happened a century ago
On June 12, 1921, the foundation stone of the baldachin was laid and blessed by Mgr Caruana. The Tintinnabulum The Umbraculum Senglea's collegiate church elevated to the dignity of basilica
elevated to the dignity of basil After the feast of the Bambina generosity to the gold crown: It On September 27, a capitular ica. This title is the highest priv held in September 1920, they was further clarified that the delegation presented it to Arch ilege popes can grant to promptly set the ball rolling, church had been consecrated on bishop of Malta Mauro Caruana, churches. To acquire the honour knowing that a formal petition October 20, 1743, by Bishop OSB, who assured them of his FABIAN of a minor basilica, it was had to be addressed to the Paolo Alpheran de Bussan. much-needed support before MANG ION necessary for Senglea's colle supreme authorities of the the Holy See. · , giate to prove, before the Holy Church in Rome. On January 3, 1921, Pope Bene See, that it was endowed with Arch priest Adami drew up the ''On January 3, dict XV issued the decree Ad sufficient religious and artistic petition, which described the perennandam memoriam with Less than four months had credentials. outstanding events of the town 1921, Pope Benedict which he adorned Senglea's col elapsed since the 1·escript autho Fittingly, Senglea feels grate and of the parish: legiate church and parish with rising the solemn coronation of ful to Pope Benedict XV, since Senglea was bestowed with the XV issued the the title and dignity of minor the statue of Maria Bambina had the decrees of the coronation of title of Invicta because it re decree Ad basilica. With this pontifical doc been issued by the Holy See on the statue of the Bambina and mained unconquered during the ument another golden page was April 25, 1920. The feast of the that of the basilica 1were issued Great Siege of 1565; it has a perennandam written in the history of Senglea. Nativity of the Blessed Virgin in in his name. However, there parish church built as a memo The joyful pealing of the bells September 1920 was one of were others who had worked rial of that great victory; ·Pope memoriam with of the collegiate church, now a special enthusiasm. with persistant effort to con Pius VI elevated it to the honour which he adorned new basilica, announced the ar Due to the difficult circum vince those responsible that of collegiate Insignis in 1786; in rival in Malta of this document stances of World War I, the ex Senglea merited these honours. it there is a vivid devotion to Senglea's collegiate on January 19, 1921. The follow ternal festivities had been With regard to the . title of wards the Virgin Mary, whose church and parish ing Sunday, January 23, Mgr suspended since 1913. Proposals basilica, Senglea should never statue miraculously arrived in Emanuele Vassallo, the diocesan for the celebrations that were to forget the Benedictine Dom the city and had been venerated with the title and secretary, visited Senglea and, be held on September 4 of.the Mauro Inguanez, OSB, and for about 300 years; in a short from the pulpit, proclaimed following year were being for Canon Goffredo Lubrano. It was time, a gold crown was to be dignity of minor publicly the apostolic letters of warded and studied. these two Senglea-born priests, placed 9n the head of the Bani basilica" the basilica. It reads: While preparations for the with the consent of Canon bina, because on April 25, 1920, "For memory everlasting. In coronation were picking mo Giuseppe Adami, archpriest of the Holy See had issued the re the town of Senglea, in the is mentum, and enthusiasm aug Senglea, who had initiated the script of the coronation; devo This supplication was read by land of Malta, there is a church mented among the people of collaboration with Cardinal An tion towards the Bambina was Arch priest Adami and approved built in honour of the Nativity of Senglea, a desire was sown for tonio Vico, Prefect of the Sacred more than evident since the peo by the Chapter during a meeting the Blessed Virgin Mary, known the collegiate church to be · Congregation of Rites, in Rome. ple.contributed with abundant held on September 21, 1920. as 'Our Lady of Victories', THE SUNDAY TIMES OF MALTA JANUARY3, 2021 I 41
The project was completed and Architect Andrea Vassallo, dressed in white, stands next to a group of volunteers with the upper 1921. baldathin in the background. erected in memory of the glori canopy installed before the basilica, the Holy See and the pa ous victory against the Turkish feasts of the coronation. Though pacy. Accordingly, they should army in 1565. It was built in the period from February to Au remind us of the respect and th2mks~i.vir1~ for the deliverance gust was too determina submission we should have to of the town fron1 such a great tion prevailed. By mid-February, wards the pope. danger. architect Andrea Vassallo had Another insignia is the "Our predecessor Pius VI, of completed the design and plans Tintinnabulum. This consists of cherished memory, adorned of the baldachin. On May 27, the a small bell mounted on a shield that church with the title and main altar was dismantled. In bearing the papal symbols of the honour of collegiate Insignis. order not to waste too much tiara with crossed keys. Origi Now, on the occasion of the joy time, the people of Senglea nally, this bell was continually arising by the event of the coro themselves worked incessantly rung with the dual function of nation of the statue of the infant and free of charge to complete summoning the faithful and Mary, which they call Maria the task, under the direction of marking the passing of liturgical Bambina, venerated with great Architect Vassallo. On June 12, processions in Rome. In the res devotion in that temple, the the foundation stone of the bal onant ring of the Tintinnabulum chapter and clergy, in conjunc A commemorative card distributed in appreciation towards (from dachin was laid and blessed we are to recognise the voice of tion with the organising com Dom Mauro lngranez, Cardinal Antonio Vico, Benedict Mgr Caruana. Work continued the Lord who calls us to be true mittee set up to celebrate with Archbishop Dom Mauro Caruana, OSB, Can. Goffredo Lubrano and unabated until August 26 when Christians always and every due dignity and devotion that (lower Can. Giuseppe Adami, archpriest of S11'!1r1nll'>a_ the project was completed and where. feast, have asked us to have the inaugurated. The main altar of the basilica to elevate that holy A century has is called since it resem teJl[}j)}ie, known for its aUU'IUU.y, "After scrutinising all this, declare that it should be so. bles that of the major basilicas and grandeur, and with our apostolic power and From now on, other in Rome. This altar is covered by distinguished for the divine wor with the power of this decree wise declared, will be consid ever, we must not only the ciborium magnum, also re ship and the religious celebra which never loses its value, we ered worthless and useless. what we are commemorating, ferred to as a 'baldachin' or tions performed in it, to the title adorn that collegiate church and Whatsoever any authority does, but also remember that this 'canopy' erected on four of minor basilica. parish, dedicated to the Nativity if it tries to go against this, wm church, that was given the dig columns. The ciborium en "When we brought to mind of the Mary in the diocese be null and void. nity of basilica, is the conse shrines that very spot the glorious memories of that of Malta, with the title and dig- "Issued from Rome, St Peter's, crated place in which God which the church, we judged that we would of minor basilica. We also through the power of our dwells. In this place we all, as a of the church is offered accept their appeal. And we are bestow upon that chm·ch an the seal as Fisherman, on 3, Christian community, must to through Christ, in the doing this wholeheartedly. privileges which the minor 1921, the seventh year of our gather to comunicate with our Holy Spirit. It is akin to the ark we listened to the basilicas of this city of Rome are pontificate. God and let Him speak to us. of the covenant, which covers of the Venerable entitled to. ··si~neo.: Cardinal Piet:ro Gas- An of the basilica is and surrounds the Holy of Brother Cardinal Vico, the Pre "We declare that this script ""'''"'"'t"'"~' of State." the This Holies; it is the sacred tent. fect of the nmst be and will be held The Te Deum was sung and a '-'"''·.-"''""'~'"'"'umbrella is made of let us seek to assessed what was to valid and effective. It must from Cardinal Gas yellow and red silk enter under the of the us, and examined whether there have and be its fuU effect. with the papal blessing for stripes. These colours have a ref ciborium and the altar are the conditions necessary in a Those who the of Senglea, was read. erence to Rome and the papacy, to partake of the sacrifice of chm·ch that has made recourse in the should forever Many wished that the church and therefore are the of the our salvation and the to th.at title. these :rights. and would have the altar and link that exi~ts between the Eucharistic meal.