Miracles in Malta: Grace Through Mary’s Intercession!

Myriam of Nazareth holds a central place in Christian theology as the Theotokos – literally, the God-bearer. Since the very early days of Christianity, Mary has been venerated for her virtue, obedience, and intercessory power. Indeed, the first Marian apparition (a bilocation, in fact) is traditionally believed to have occurred to the Apostle James in Spain around the year 40, while Mary was still alive. Tradition claims that when the apostle St. James the Greater was facing immense challenges while preaching in the Iberian Peninsula, he went to look for some solace in prayer by the banks of the Ebro river. During his supplications, the Virgin Mary appeared to him, standing on a jasper pillar carried by angels. This extraordinary event marked the first recorded apparition of the Blessed Mother – an event commemorated as Our Lady of the Pillar.

Since then, different traditions understand Mary’s intercessory role as a fundamental principle of Christian life. Numerous apparitions and miraculous events reported worldwide, including those of Fatima, Lourdes, and Guadalupe (just to name three of the most famous ones) have reinforced, spread, and confirmed this belief.

Malta, with its deep Marian devotion, has its own share of miraculous sites that underscore the island’s rich Christian heritage.

Malta’s Christian community dates back to the apostolic age, with the providential arrival of St. Paul in AD 60. This early establishment has resulted in an enduring and fervent Marian devotion among the Maltese people.

Malta boasts a remarkable number of churches and chapels, many of which are dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Among these, several stand out for the miraculous graces attributed to them. One of these significant Marian sites is the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Mellieħa. Local tradition holds that St. Luke the Evangelist himself, Paul’s companion during his trips, painted an image of the Virgin Mary during their stay on the island. However, further research has shown that the image dates back to the 13th century, possibly the 12th century.

The icon, reflecting Byzantine traditions, depicts Mary in all her majesty, holding the Child Jesus and symbolizing her role as the Theotokos. Restoration work has revealed fascinating details about the icon, including inscriptions and symbols emphasizing Mary’s eternal virginity and royal status. This site has thus been a focal point for Marian devotion for centuries, with numerous pilgrims visiting to seek graces and offer thanks for miracles received. The sanctuary’s walls are covered with ex-votos, which range from handwritten notes to baby clothes (and even a motorcycle helmet!), all testifying to the Virgin’s intercessory power.

The underground grotto at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Mellieħa is associated with multiple miraculous occurrences. The chapel in the grotto was hewn out of the hard limestone, thanks to a Sicilian devotee of Our Lady who was a regular visitor to the Sanctuary. He is also responsible for commissioning a white statue of Our Lady holding the Holy Infant on her left arm, at the far end of the chapel. Over the years, thousands of pilgrims have visited the underground chapel, and prayed before the Madonna, attributing to her many miraculous interventions and healings, both spiritual and temporal.

Events recorded in 1887, 1888, and 1948 are particularly famous. Various groups of people on different dates and time were gathered to pray and beheld the white statue of Our Lady repeatedly moving her right hand, making the Sign of the Cross. In the Sanctuary Archives there are 13 separate documents that record these happenings. All give a very detailed description of each event, and are signed under oath by all those present. The last time such a happening took place was reported after World War II, in 1948. A group of 10 people declared under oath that they witnessed the White Lady of the Chapel moving her right hand.

The icon of Our Lady of Mellieħa, and the white statue of Our Lady in the underground grotto are not alone. The Maltese archipelago is home to several miraculous images of the Virgin Mary. These images, revered by thousands of believers, are central to the island’s religious and cultural life.

Take, for example, the miraculous image kept at the Ta’ Pinu Basilica on the island of Gozo.

The beginnings of the devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary of Ta’ Pinu are rather ancient. It is known that the original local church was a small chapel, known as Ta’ Ġentile, dedicated to the Assumption. The name Ta’ Ġentile was eventually dropped and the church became known as Ta’ Pinu (“Of Pinu,” Philip), named after Pinu Gauci, who had become the procurator of the church in 1598. Eventually, the modest unknown chapel in the countryside became a revered Marian shrine, visited by droves of Gozitans, Maltese and people beyond the sea. But why?

In 1883, Karmni Grima, from Għarb, heard a call on her way home. A mysterious voice called her three times: “Come! Come! Come!” Karmni was astounded, because at that time of the day, the fields were deserted, and no one could have possibly spoken to her. When she resumed her way, the same mysterious voice again told her: “Come, come, today, because a year will have passed before you will be able to visit this place again.” So, she walked toward the chapel, figuring that she would see the Blessed Virgin. She peeped through the little aperture in the door pane but saw no one.

But when she entered the chapel to pray, a feeling of rapture gripped her. The same voice addressed her again: “Recite three Hail Marys in remembrance of the three days during which my body lay in the tomb” – and so she did. For two years, Karmni didn’t say word about what had happened. Then she disclosed her secret to Franġisk Portelli, an upright man who was renowned for his devotion to Our Lady of Ta’ Pinu. Amazingly, at about the same time, he had heard a mysterious voice asking him to say prayers in honor of Christ’s hidden shoulder wound caused by the weight of the heavy cross along the torturous path to Calvary. A short time later, Franġisk’s mother was miraculously healed by the intercession of the Blessed Virgin of Ta’ Pinu.

It was obvious that the matter could no longer be kept secret, and rumors that Our Lady of Ta’ Pinu had given a message to two persons from the village of Gharb began to spread like wildfire. Extant documents written by Karmni’s spiritual director also testify that the Blessed Virgin appeared to her even at her home in the village of Għarb. Today, Karmni’s home is open to visitors.

Ta’ Pinu Marian Shrine is also known as “The Church of Miracles.” Ex-votos literally cover the walls of two rooms on either side of the altar at Ta’ Pinu. These relate to cancers cured, babies born after years of infertility, horrific accidents resulting in completely healed patients, and many, many more amazing happenings and graces.

This Mediterranean island nation’s profound connection to the Blessed Virgin Mary is clearly visible in its numerous churches and miraculous icons. Among these, the 12th-century icon (c. 1150) of “Our Lady of Damascus” (Damaskinì) and the 13th / 14th-century icon (c. 1280 – 1330) of “Our Lady of Mercy” (Eleimonitria) stand out, having been brought to Malta by Christian refugees fleeing Islamic invasions on the Greek island of Rhodes.

The icons, saved from Islamic invasions and safely sheltered in Malta, display typical Syrian colors of gold and dark purple, and depict the Blessed Virgin Mary holding the Christ Child looking directly at the viewer. The Eleimonitria seems to always to have been in Rhodes in its own church before arriving in Malta. The Damaskini, a more ancient icon, was originally venerated in Damascus (Syria), whence it took its name. It was said to have reached Rhodes under miraculous circumstances in 1475. The Knights of St. John held the two icons of the Mother of God in great veneration, as did the local Maltese population.

Grand Master Jean Parisot de la Valette, a fervent devotee, regularly prayed before the Damaskinì, especially during the Great Siege of 1565. Despite overwhelming odds, the Knights of Saint John and the Maltese defeated the Ottoman armada – a victory attributed to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin: the Ottoman superpower was defeated by the smallest of all Christian principalities! The grateful Grand Master presented his hat and sword as a votive offering, which are still displayed in the Museum of the Birgu (Vittoriosa) ancient parish church.

Immediately after the victory of 1565, the Maltese and the Knights added another title to their Heavenly Mother and began to call her “Our Lady of Victory” (Il-Madonna tal-Vitorja). In 1566, La Vallette laid the foundation stone of his new city, which later was given his name to honor him –Valletta.  He ordered that the first building in his city was to be a church, which was erected on the foundation stone of the Fortress City.

The church was dedicated to the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin and Our Lady of Victory. On this occasion, the city of Senglea took the title of Citta Invicta – the “Undefeated City”. The citizens of Senglea also erected a church in honor of the Virgin’s Birth and Our Lady of Victory, which is today’s parish basilica and Marian sanctuary. The titular statue, dating to 1618, of Our Lady of Victory of the Senglea Basilica is truly a unique sculpture. Owing to its small size, it became widely known as Maria Bambina –“Child Mary.”

The titular statue of Our Lady of Victory in Senglea Basilica, the Maria Bambina, also has a miraculous story to tell. It was discovered floating among the remains of a shipwrecked galleon and subsequently retrieved by the captain of an Austrian galley. As it was a religious image, he decided to donate it to a church on the first Christian land he sailed to. Malta was the captain’s next destination, and the statue was donated to the Senglea parish Church, following a request of two of his passengers, who happened to be Sengleans. Coincidence? Not likely! Even more so, at that time, the parish lacked both a statue and a painting of the Virgin Mary.