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Tomorrow Marks the 140Th Anniversary of the Birth of St George Preca

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Tomorrow Marks the 140Th Anniversary of the Birth of St George Preca '1111 llmlta Independent I Tuesday 11 February 2020 7 Feature Tomorrow marks the 140th anniversary of the birth of St George Preca Joseph Galea Due to his humility, St George Preca preferred to be forgotten after his death. However, 140 years after his birth, he still presents a legacy which has since touched the lives of many in Malta and beyond. St George Preca was born in Val­ letta on 12February1880. Nothing in his childhood was out of the or-•,.... dinary: he studied at the Lyceum and then at the Seminary. His voca­ tion to reach out to people inviting them to God's love could be seen when he introduc€d himself to sailors in the harbour area. With his lively intelligence and sense of lm­ mour he "Jed them on to spiritual matters. The words that a saintly priest, Fr Ercole Mompalao - one of his Lyceum teachers - told him: "Preca, you will grow up and will be be­ friended by people who respect God; you will be blessed because of them, and they because of you;' eventually came true. !tall began with a group of youths whom George Preca met near the fl.amrun church where they used to play football. He was not taken se­ was a hot issue in Malta, and Mal­ 2001 and canonised by Pope Bene­ riously at first, but the youths soon tese was almost buried in the com­ dict XVI on 3 June 2007. Today we listened with interest. They were to the enthusiasm of Fr George ap­ of St George. He knew how to petition for supremacy between are remembering him - an honour become the first members of a So­ peared to wane due to his fledgling . amuse people regarding the failing5 Italian and English, Fr Preca wrote that he certainly did not expect, let ciety that he founded in 1907, later Society facing a bad image on the of humankind, graciously drawing almost his.150 books in Maltese. alone desire. T'.ie rain that soaked known as the Society of Christian part of certain Church officials and out the moral and making them His earliest manuscripts date as those attending the Canonisation Doctrine: MUSEUM. At one time, however, it seemed that all the dreams of young George Preca would be cut short: a serious illness ~~,~- :'~~~uh~\~~ . brought him close to death and it was thought that he would not ~ ~-;£.J~ ~~-~~~ make it to his priestly ordination. However, he survived and was or­ ........r;.......:~--~"<I~~ kz.._ ///(,a. A~. dained by Archbishop Peter Pace in December 1906. .-"61~- ~~~ tf~, That was a time when religion in J:"n**L 'ZC••• Malta was challenged by certain quarters and the Church was keep­ .... ~...,....... .,~~~ · IJ'I~· ~~--- ~~v~~­ ing a watchful eye, fearing that such ideas would endanger people's ·~lli"".c.c....-· ·~~Zfi,;l.~.... .. !41.. 1"9!?11!1 . ¥~•';!'44C!lll!ll-;Z;14"'41. ~ ~ ~ >_.,k - · .., ~ faith. Fr George Preca was not spared this scrutiny as soon as the r;. ._,. ....; .... t/t.,,,4 Curia came to know about the ~· ~~I meetings which were going on in the Society's centres. Fr George was ~~ o~ PI-... ~ -o/../----,~u.o,.~,, ·-~ evangelising the sacred truths in simple terms - going so far as to let his followers open the Bible when in those days only priests were qualified to read it. He was aware of the prevailing some local newspapers. Fr George conscious of their calling as Chris­ far back as 1909 and some of his Mass in Vatican Square, as if it was precarious religious situation in was ordered to dose down his Cen­ tians. Nobody was excluded from books are now available in English, timed for the duration of the cere­ Malta which lacked a well-organ­ tres and, in loyalty to the Church, he the Saint's love, so that everyone Italian and Spanish. He wrote sev­ mony; was taken as a sign that he ised catechetical instruction to simply obeyed. But later the Arch­ was influenced by his ability to eral celebrations for major Marian · does not relish such honours. overcome the people's frailty in bishop, who had said that he would adapt spiritual perfection to the feasts and also attached the utmost On the 140 anniversary of the faith based mostly on pietism and never approve the Society in his lives of all - whether rich or poor, importance to praying the Rosary birth of St George Preca, may we devotions. The vocation of lay liretime, gave it his full blessing. In workmen, housewives or even re­ daily. In 1956 he wrote five new pray and ech::> his ardent wish Christians to spread the Gospel was spite of all the Church's caution fuse collectors. All were attracted 'Mysteries', which he called the that "the whole world follows the not readily recognised by the local through in those days, the common by his persuasive invitation to re­ Mysteries of Light, in order to help Gospel". He dedicated his whole Church. Yet Fr George even en­ people were already acclaiming form their lives. his Members meditate the public life to that purpose. Today; apart trusted his members with the re­ him as a holy priest. St George Preca may be acknowl: ministry of Christ, starting with from being very active in Malta, sponsibility of teaching the As a preacher, St George Preca edged also as a writer of an original Jesus' baptism in the Jordon up to the Society of Christian Doctrine, · catechism. The vision of St George was sought after by the people: character. He enriched the Church the Last Supper. Remarkably; these MUSEUM, also exists in Albania, Preca was later held in a much bet­ many would gather in the meeting with a great heritage of profound are very similar to the 'Luminous Australia, Cuba, England, Kenya, ter light and approved through the places in parishes to hear his talks. writings that reveal his spiritual in­ Mysteries' that Pope John Paul II of­ Peru and Poland. The spirituality teaching of the Second Vatican As he walked through the streets sights so well, especially on his ficially added to the recitation of the of St George Preca is also appreci­ Council (1962-65) which exalted - leaning forward a little, with his three preferred themes: the Incar­ Rosary in October 2002 by his ated in other '.Jarts of the world, the importance of the lay aposto­ hand raised in blessing - children nation, Christ Crucified and the apostolic letter Rosarium Virginis such as in the State of Indiana late, the promotion of the Bible for would gather around him and Holy Trinity. He proposed a lifestyle Maria e. USA and in the diocese of IloIIo in all and the use of the local language mothers would beg him to bless characterised by the right inten­ Fr George Preca died on 26 July The Philippines, where the Saint in pastoral activity their young ones. People were im­ tions, humility and meekness. At a 1962 at the age of82. He was beat­ has been chosen as the patron of In the early years of his project, pressed by the personal conviction time when the language question ified by Pope John Paul II on 9 May catechists. .
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