7 September – Mass de Requiem
For many years now, the Maltese Association, led by its President and Council, Knights, Dames and Aspirants attend a Mass de Requiem on the 7th of September to pray for the souls of those fallen during the Great Siege of 1565 and the Second World War.
The Siege of 1565, saw some 300 Knights of the Order of Malta lose their lives together with almost 1000 Maltese militia and civilians. The numbers during the Second World War were even higher with almost 1500 Maltese civilians dead and some 7500 military ones, which number included British, Maltese serving personnel and Allied Forces stationed in Malta and those lost at sea in and around Malta.
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A Mass de Requiem was said at Saint John’s Co-Cathedral by Monsignor Victor Zammit McKeon, Conventual Chaplain ad honorem, assisted by several members of the Cathedral Chapter.
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Once Mass was ended, Dr Michael Grech, President of the Association, led members of the Council, and Knights and Dames attending the service, to the Chapel of the Langue of Auvergne, to join the Clergy in prayers on the tomb of Fra Don Melchoir de Robles, a Spanish hero of the Great Siege. From there the congregation processed to the Grandmaster’s Crypt, underneath the main altar, to pray at the tomb of Grand Master Jean Parisot de La Valette.
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More images are available below:
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