Bishop Peter Pace’s coat-of-arms.

Ever since 1565, the eighth day of September has assumed a special significance for Malta and its people and, in a particular way, for the inhabitants of Senglea. It marks the raising of the Great Siege and Malta’s historic victory, hailed by Pope St Pius V and in the capitals of Europe as a landmark in the defence and safeguarding of Europe’s Christian heritage and centuries-old civilisation.

For this reason, September 8 is proudly observed in Malta and by the Maltese communities abroad as one of Malta’s national days.

On this day, too, Senglea celebrates with the universal Church, the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin, under whose patronage the parish was placed soon after the victory of 1565.

The Collegiate Chapter’s coat-of-arms.

Across the frieze on the façade of the parish church of Senglea there runs the Latin inscription Monumentum Insignis Victoriae MDLXV, which means Monument of the Glorious Victory of 1565. This temple, close to the site of Fort St Michael, where the heaviest battle of the siege was fought, was built in commemoration of the victory over the Ottoman forces.

The original structure, somewhat smaller than the present edifice, was designed by the architect Vittorio Cassar, son of the famous Girolamo Cassar. It was completed early in 1581, and that same year, by decree of Pope Gregory XIII, the new church was declared a parish, taking its precincts from the parish of St Lawrence of Vittoriosa.

Some time later, the church was enlarged by architect Tommaso Dingli (1591-1666). Mgr Tommaso Gargallo, Bishop of Malta, appointed Fr Anton di Nicolaci as the first parish priest of this new parish.

During the following centuries, and for various reasons, modifications in the parish church building were carried out. Due to its importance and prestige, the church was decorated with the title of a Collegiate church in 1786, and elevated to the dignity of basilica in 1921.

Following a petition submitted by the parish priest Don Salvatore Bonnici, on May 21, 1786, Pope Pius VI issued the Apostolic Bull Exigit Apostolici Officii. An Apostolic Bull is a form of charter or diploma issued under the authority of the Pope.

The word ‘bull’ refers to the lead bulla, or seal, which authenticates the document. Through this Bull, Pope Pius VI raised the parish of Senglea to the dignity of Collegiate Insignia.

The parish church of Senglea, close to the site of Fort St Michael, where the heaviest battle of the siege was fought, was built to commemorate the victory over Ottoman forces

The investiture of the first canons forming the Reverend Chapter of the newly elected Collegiate church was held in the church proper on September 7, 1786, by Mgr Vincenzo Labini, the Bishop of Malta, amid the joy of all the parishioners.

In Christianity, a Collegiate church is a church where the daily office of worship is maintained by a College, popularly known as Chapter, of canons; a non-monastic community of clergy, organised as a self-governing corporate body, presided over by a dean or provost.

Pope Pius VI’s coat of arms.

In its governance and religious observance a Collegiate church is similar to a cathedral, although a Collegiate church is not the seat of a bishop, and has no diocesan responsibilities. In a Collegiate church, as in a cathedral, the canons are typically seated separately from any provision for a lay congregation, in choir stalls parallel with the south and north walls facing inwards rather than towards the altar at the eastern end.

The word Chapter (capitulum) is said to be derived from the chapter of the rule book. Under the Rule of St Benedict, monks gather daily for a meeting to discuss monastery business, hear a sermon or lecture, or receive instructions from the abbot. Since the meeting begins with a reading of a chapter from the Rule, the meeting itself acquired the name Chapter, and the place where it is held, Chapter hall.

Pope Pius X’s coat of arms.

From these conventual chapters or meetings of monks for the transaction of business connected with their monasteries or orders, the designation passed over to somewhat analogous assemblies of other ecclesiastics. Hence, one speaks of Collegiate Chapters and of Cathedral Chapters, both of which comprise the canons connected to the cathedral or other church.

Here, collegiate refers to the college or community of canons to whom the church has been entrusted. In general, a Chapter may be defined as an association of clerics of a certain church forming a moral body and instituted by ecclesiastical authority for the purpose of promoting the divine worship by means of choir service.

If it be a Cathedral Chapter, however, its principal object is to assist the bishop in the government of his diocese, and the choir service is only secondary.

Senglea’s Collegiate church was endowed with special privileges and honours. Among them it is worth mentioning the pectoral decoration the canons of this Collegiate bear on their chest. The centre of the decoration is a black cross, which recalls Grand Master Claude de la Sengle, founder of the town.

At the four angles of the cross are the arms of Grand Master Emanuel de Rohan through whose commitment and that of the knight Gioacchino Britto, the church became Collegiate.

A sword drawn amid two branches of palm and olive on the reverse of this decoration is a symbol of the victory over the Turks in 1565.

This decoration hangs by a cord, which goes through a loop decorated with the monogram of Mary, the Mother of God, surrounded by 12 stars joined over a gold crown.

On May 30, 1912, Pope Pius X, on the recommendation of Mgr Peter Pace, the Bishop of Malta, granted to the Senglea Chapter, who already had the right to wear the rocchetto, the mozzetta of purple silk and the ermine cappa magna, the right to make use of a ceremonial mace.

The mace is a highly decorated staff of metal or wood, carried before a sovereign or other high official in civic ceremonies by a mace-bearer, intended to represent the official’s authority. The mace, as used by a Collegiate Chapter, is a ceremonial staff carried in processions by a mace-bearer or displayed on the presbytery, beside the main altar, of Collegiate churches.

The mace is a symbol of the corporate authority of the Collegiate Chapter in all things to do with the celebration of the liturgy and church administration

It is a symbol of the corporate authority of the Collegiate Chapter in all things to do with the celebration of the liturgy and church administration. The mace made use of today by the Senglea Chapter was made and used for the first time on the occasion of the titular feast of the Nativity of Our Lady, on September 8, 1913, a century ago today.

The upper part of this Collegiate Chapter mace, which is 140 centimetres tall, consists of a circular platform on which are four hexagonal pilasters. In the spaces between these pilasters are four elevated scroll-bound cartouches, each bearing the coat of arms of the following: Pope Pius VI, Pope St Pius X, Archbishop Peter Pace, and the Collegiate emblem. On each of the four pilasters sits one of the Old Testament figures who, with their deeds, foreshadowed the Blessed Virgin Mary. These are Judith, Esther, Abigail and Jael.

The finial of the mace consists of a fine statuette of Our Lady, Il-Bambina, with a background of rays.

The handle of this very elegant mace is knopped, vertically fluted with a pear-shaped lower terminal. The technique of this specimen of craftsmanship in silver is a martello.

As far as one can see, there are no marks. Although the Busuttil firm of Valletta was paid for the artistic work it had performed, the late Dr Jimmy Farrugia was of the opinion that the actual workmanship was performed abroad.