Fr Dionysius Mintoff ofm, director, Peace Lab, writes:

Thirty-two years ago, a friend with the gloom of 40 springs upon him came to see me and said: "I want to ask something of you".

"Ask and it shall be given, if it is at all within my power to give," I replied with some surprise.

"I want a little space at the entrance of the Peace Lab," he said. "I want to erect a statue of St Francis of Assisi in this place. It has been my ardent wish for a long time and it gives a better meaning to this place."

"Agreed," I replied. "Only, I am giving nothing; you are the giver."

This man was no other than Anton Agius, the national sculptor, who died last Sunday. Very few know something of what this sacrament meant. Never before had I known an artist more blessed with an ideal to spiritualise his works.

Anton was known to the masses for his efficiency in work. All knew Anton's life of action. There is hardly a town in Malta where his work is not exhibited.

But few know of his religious life. It was the spring of all his actions. Since his childhood, he attended the Franciscan church known as Ta' Ġieżu in his home town. Day in, day out he participated in all services and activities and here he gained his love for art.

He spent many hours assisting his father who worked part-time with the friars. He observed, listened and grew up enough to learn from them that to look at something as creative is not just to see what it is before your eyes. It is to see what it is made to become. He joined the friars to thank God because everything is a gift and everyone is a brother or sister. What astonished him was how St Francis focused all his life on the power of symbolic gestures in his world that was like ours.

I remember him doing the finishing touches of the statue of St Francis at the entrance of the Peace Lab, wanting to make sure and permanently visible the meaning of what the saint wrote, said and did. It is a loud echo to prolong these creative gestures.

His love for St Francis was behind all his works. Even when lying ill in bed, his mind was occupied in thinking about his service to offer hope with the revival of the Franciscan message of beauty as envisaged by him.

A few weeks ago, when he was under the grip of ailment, he talked about it. Doctors repeatedly advised him to retire from work but he would not listen to them.

He said: "None but death can separate me from work". And sister death at last brought peaceful rest to him.

May God and St Francis bless his soul!