Ash Wednesday Holy Mass
In honour of established tradition, various Members of the Maltese Association of the Order of Malta lead by the President Daniel de Petri Testaferrata, responded to the invitation extended to them by Archpriest Canon Karm Busuttil and the Collegiate Chapter of St. Lawrence Collegiate Church in Birgu to join in the very special liturgy of Ash Wednesday, marking the commencement of Lent. Fra’ John Critien and Fra’ Francis Vassallo were also in attendance.
This year, the customary outdoor procession for the translation of the revered Reliquary of the ‘Vero Legno’ brought to Malta by Philippe Villiers de L’Isle-Adam, from the Monastery of Santa Scolastica to St Lawrence Conventual Church, was once again cancelled due to the pandemic, and the the procession took place instead within the Church precincts themselves.
Archpriest Canon Karm Busuttil was the Main Celebrant. The most befitting homily focussed on the importance and salutary value of fasting during this very holy time, as willed by Our Lord himself, as well as on the need to thirst for Christ.
This was then followed by the administration of ashes, symbolising the dust from which God made us, accompanied by the humbling yet encouraging words “Repent and believe in the Good News” .
After Holy Eucharist, the ceremony was concluded by the public veneration of the Reliquary, which was recently restored with the support of the Maltese Association.
In keeping with the Lenten spirit of fasting, Archpriest Canon Karm Busuttil then cordially invited Members in attendance to the traditional black coffee served in the Sacristy.
Canon Karm Busuttil personally sponsored the restoration of the painting in the interior of the church dome to its former glory. The dome had been extensively damaged during the war.
