Maltese Catholics, both young and old, have a deep devotion for the statue of Christ the Redeemer in Senglea.
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During Lent and especially Holy Week, devotion for the statue burns brighter, as faithful from all over Malta congregate in the city to pay homage to the Redeemer.
What is the significance of Lent to a Catholic? The word ‘Lent’ comes from the old English word ‘lengthen’ – when the days get longer and new life is born.
For Catholics, it is a time of anticipation for the victory of the light and life of Christ over the darkness of sin and death.
It is also a journey from Ash Wednesday to Easter. Just as we carefully prepare for big events in our personal lives, be it a birthday or a wedding, Lent invites Catholics to prepare their hearts and minds for the death and resurrection of our Lord. The figurative representations, in the form of statues, helps in such preparation.
According to Canon Robin Camilleri, Archpriest of Our Lady of Victories parish church in Senglea, the statue’s origins are unknown.
“From the documents we have available, we find that the first Holy Friday procession in Senglea was held in 1714. From this we infer that the statue of Christ the Redeemer is at least 300 years old,” he says.
“In 1727, the Fraternity of the Crucifix assumed responsibility for taking care of and protecting the Oratory of the Crucifix. They immediately thought that the place was an appropriate shrine to place the statue for everyone to see and venerate.”
In 1751, the Fraternity asked for and got permission from the Sancta Sede to install an altar in front of the shrine. The permission was granted by Pope Benedict XIV. In 1762, Bishop Bartolomeo Rull decreed that whoever prayed the Creed in front of the statue of Christ the Redeemer in Senglea would receive 40 days of indulgence.
![Canon Robin Camilleri, Archpriest of Our Lady of Victories parish church in Senglea. Canon Robin Camilleri, Archpriest of Our Lady of Victories parish church in Senglea.](https://cdn-attachments.timesofmalta.com/f25c7083551ae481092e78495c364e84670c99b7-1458802581-56f38f95-620x348.jpg)
Also, in 1802, Pope Pius VII decreed that whoever venerated this statue during the third Sunday following Pentecost or the week after would receive a plenary indulgence. In 1922, Archbishop Dom Mauro Caruana gave 100 days of indulgence to whoever said the phrase: “Christ the Redeemer, Saviour of the world have mercy (Ġesù Redentur Salvatur tad-dinja ħenn għalina).”
Canon Camilleri adds that in 1813, the Senglea Chapter, along with the clergy and city dwellers, made a vow to the Lord that if Senglea were spared from the plague, they would hold three processions every year. One of these was to be held with the statue of Christ the Redemeer.
“Senglea was spared and the procession with the statue was held for the first time in 1814,” Canon Camilleri says.
The procession is still held today and it is nowadays referred to as the “purċissjoni tal-wegħda” (the procession of the vow).
Recently, this procession was given the renewed form of a pilgrimage with the venerated relic of a small piece of Jesus’s cross and takes place every fourth Friday of Lent under the auspices of the Diocesan Archbishop of the day.
In 1941, after the first attacks on Malta by the Germans and the Italians during World War II, it was evident that Senglea was going to be hit hard. Consequently, it was thought best to take the statue of Our Lady of Victories and of Christ the Redeemer along with other treasures of the church to the Collegiate church of St Helen in Birkirkara. They were brought back to Senglea on July 9, 1944.
Between 1944 and 1947 the statue of Christ the Redemeer was held in St Julian’s church in Senglea, until the restoration of the Insigna Collegiate Basilica was completed.
Pilgrimages with Christ the Redeemer statue in Malta and Gozo throughout the years
• On April 7, 1974, the statue was taken on a national Via Sagra in Independence Square, Floriana.
• On October 2, 1982, around the three cities of Cottonera (Senglea, Vittoriosa and Cospicua). This was repeated in 2005.
• On March 20, 1983, to the capital city, Valletta.
• On April 8, 1998, to the Dockyard in Cospicua.
• On June 7, 1999, to St Vincent De Paul Residence for the Elderly.
• Other pilgrimages include a visit to Qala in Gozo and to Mount Carmel Hospital.