MALTA`S OLDEST GOOD FRIDAY PROCESSION

-112-
M A L T A ' S O L D E S T GOOD
F R I D A Y PROCESSION
Rabat has
Passion
numerous r e l i c s
of O r Lord.
Vhristianity"(l)
of
S . P a u l v/ho
first
the
Angel
devotion
This
Gabriel
o nthe
Maltese,
left.
that the
church,
attending
mediaval
square
i n Malta
Maltese
elopment
church
stone
o fS a i n t
slabs
devotion
tad-Dejfc,
the
n catacombs
also
popular
and
were f o u n d
a number
to carry
be occupied i n the
devotions.(2)
showing
and
erected
for carpenters.
Fr.Diclacu
before
S.Joseph,
B y 1500 t h e
out
the
demolishing
images
a number
o f the
w a yf o r the
procession,
This
i n 1395 a n d
o n29th
dev­
with
confra­
officially
B u t
according
J u n e 1760,
1295.
" i tfirst
later
developed into
Minor
plot,
cathedral
carved
the
the
o n the
century,
Joseph.
ecc.
of
16th
the
a
t h a t i n 1229
Y/hilst
f a c t o r s paved
and
Evangelist
tradition
day
devotions
existed
Cruci-
early relics
Agatha i n the
been
towards
the
of
c e n t r a l f i g u r e w i t h Mary
s o d a l i t y o fS a i n t
to
limits
apse representing
as the
found,
Friday
presented
relic o f
Roman-Early
ecclesiastical authorities.(3)
sodality already
spreading
were
to have
by the
a document
guild
Good
o ft h e
i s said
recognised
would
A l l these
o fthe
formation
this
the
to remind u s
plotted a surprise attack
Good F r i d a y
Crucifiction.
ternity
i s also
cradle o f
first
to the late,
St.John
I
the
r e l i g i o u s orders
The
of 1-Abatija
and
s e l e c t i n g Good F r i d a y
knowing
to
crypt
right,
There
and
here.
lamps w i t h C h r i s t i a n symbols,
Arabs resident
the
faith,
shows Jesus a s the
Passion.
o§
u s our
goes back
i n the
s a i n t to the
clay
the
c a l l s i t "Malta's
there i s a na f f r e s c o i n the
female
the
brought
themselves
period,
fiction.
of
first
Good F r i d a y
Rabat,
John Bezzina
towards
b e c a u s e t h e r e a r e many l o c a l i t i e s
established
Byzantine
of the devotion
Franciscans
aimed
at
a
arrived
-113i n M a l t a , ( i f ) a n d t h e s o d a l i t y b u i l t i t s c h a n e l next to t h e i r
c h u r c h w h i c h w a s d e d i c a t e d t o Our L a d y o f J e s u s ( - f a ' G i e z u )
T h e f r i a r y w a s b u i l t on l a n d b o u g h t by Mgr.Giacomo de V a l g u a n r e a o n o r d e r s f r o m Pope A l e x a n d e r VT
T*-?
V
Aauuei
vi.
m i s m a y h a v e put t h e
c o n f r a t e r n i t y w i t h i n the sphere of i n f l u e n c e of the F r a n c i s c a n s
w h o , a s c u s t o d i a n s o f t h e H o l y L a n d , c h e r i s h e d t h e p r o n o t i o n Of
d e v o t i o n s t o w a r d s t h e P a s s i o n o f Our L o r d and Our L a d y o f S o r r ows.
An a l t a r d e d i c a t e d t o 1he C r u c i f i x was s o o n s e t u P i n a
p r o m i n e n t p l a c e ( 5 ) i n 1 5 0 0 , i n the F r i a r y .
By 1 5 9 1
t h i s p r o c e s s i o n h a d l o n g b e e n e s t a b l i s h e d , ( 6 ) s u p p o r t e d by a
d o c u m e n t o f 1 5 9 1 c l a i m i n g t h a t t h e p r o c e s s i o n had b e e n e s t a b l i s h e d
f o r a l o n g time.
P e r h a p s o n l y a c r o s s was c a r r i e d i n t h i s
p r o c e s s i o n a t f i r s t . I t s o r g a n i s a t i o n was s t r e n g t h e n e d by t h e
f o r m a t i o n o f t h e Congregazione d e l l a S e t t i m a n a Santa within the
c o n f r a t e r n i t y , ( 7 ) w i t h F e l l e T a t i a n a a s f i r s t p r o c u r a t o r and
A l e s s a n d r o Tanti a s r e c t o r .
The
rlrchconfraternity
of S t .Joseph
Th e c o n f r a t e r n i t y h a d
a
d e d i ©t e d t o t h i s s a i n t .
but
also elite
and
chancellors.(8)
the
confraternity:s
the
Maltese
from
from Udina
Marchesi
A pap
Before
rector
military
took
oath
'on t h efour
government
h a d decreed
luring
t h eu p r i s i n g
carried
against t h e French,
Sum. V i t a l e
o f electing a
on, with
Alexander d e i
s i n c e 30 y e a r s
their
serviee(honeribus e t angarile).
t h efeast
I n 1673 t h e c o n f r a t e r n i t y
t o enjoy
t h e same
whocomuanded
tradition
accented
gospels'
t h e1 8 t h
o f Melina i n c l u d i n g n o t a r i e s
asi t s present rector
government
from
starting
a n d by t h o 1 7 t h c e n t u r y i t
was Notary
i sstill
Bologna
1589, t h e l o c a l
thus
theelite
f r o m 1798 t o 1 8 0 0 ; t h i s
nobleman
day.
a n d Mdina,
a n d t h en o b i l i t y .
c e n t u r y members were
In
I t s m emb e r s we r e n o t o n l y ca r pe n t e r s ,
of R a b a t ,
included monsignors
chanel i n Rabat
t o bury
plea
o fS t . J o s e p h
f o r exemption
I nreturn,
t h edead.
members
I n 1508
asa public
was a f f i l i a t e d
ago.(9)
t o that
holi­
o f Rome
privileges.
r
-119c o m b i n e d t h i s c o n f r a t e r n i t y w i t h t h a t o f S k i n t Mark
in the A u g u s t i n i a n s * Church o f Rabat, o n 1 9 t h March 1575. T h i s
union l a s t e d t i l l 1 6 6 2 . ( 1 0 )
Mons D u z i n a
The s o d a l i t y c a r e d f o r t h e poor when s i c k , a n d i n t o r r e d t h e
dead a n dp e r f o r m e d many o t h e r c h a r i t a b l e d u t i e s , i n c l u d i n g t e a c h
ing a n da s s i s t i n g t h e condemned t odeath.(11)
Penitential
a c t i v i t i e s vere organised during Lent, a s recorded i n a manuscri­
pt i n t h e i r a r c h i v e s d a t e d 1 6 6 8 .
L a t e r on, every F r i d a y , they
organised a short procession with oneo fthe Passion statues a t
the e n do f w h i c h t h e c o n f r e r e s h e l d p e n i t e n t i a l s e s s i o n s , wHch
i n c l u d e d f l a g e l l a t i o n a n d s e l f m o r t i f i c a t i o n , b yt i g h t e n i n g t h e i r
c l o t h i n g a n d s i n g i n g t h e m i s e r e r e p s a l m a n d Other p r a y e r s , a n d
used t h e i r w a i s t cord f o r s e l f d i s c i p l i n e .
Women a n d c h i l d r e n
were not allowed i n t h e o r a t o r y during these ceremonies.(12)
These Lenten .processions were f i v e , w i t h a d i f f e r e n t s t a t u e
b e i n g c a r r i e d o u t i n p r o c e s s i o n e v e r y F r i d a y . T h e f i r s t v/as
t h e A g o n y i n t h e Garden, a n d w a s followed t h e w e e k s a f t e r , b y
the S c o u r g i n g a t t h e P i l l a r , t h e C r o w n i n g w i t h T h o r n s , t h e
Carrying o f the Cross a n dthe Cruci f i c t i o n
group.
Origin o fthe Procession
Thefirst procession involved no
statues,
Christ
in
may have been included.
this
procession
showing
This
one
I t v/as i m p o r t e d
s t a t u e shows
also indirectly
dependence
close
the
adirect
leads
o nt h e
original
moro
canopy i s s t i l l t o b e
t h a n 900 y e a r
i n f l u e n c e fromSpain,
t oSpain
through
Sicily
where
g r a d u a l l y elaborated under
period
metwith
a g o . (13)
while
p a t t e r n o f the Genoese
another
similar
Casazze
Spanish
o fd o m i n a t i o n . F i n a l l y , Malta's
See o fPalermo
parallels
a canopy r e p r e s e n t i n g ' t h e tomb,
Sicily,
i n t r o d u c e d o nt h e
during their
statue introduced
o f C h r i s t i n Repose, (=il-Honument)
from
the 16thcentury were
influence
for
f
a nailed figure of
Thefirst
beneath
n olonger i n use,
processions
in
that
Christ reclining
Although
seen.
v/as
but
u pt o1!o79 ^ay
i n various localities
well
i n
account
Sicily1(19)
-115Palermo
I
i s a c a s e i n p o i n t . L n 15QO
thr> & r t Q V « i
c~
^ n
•
*
•
tne Koayal Spanish Confr­
a t e r n i t y o f O u r L a d y o f S o l e d a d w h i c h v/as s e t u p a t P a l e r m o ,
'
i m p o r t e d f r o m S p a i n a s t a t u e o f Our L a d y o f S o r r o w s . ( 1 5 )
This
s t a t u e v/as c a r r i e d i n t h e G o o d F r i d a y P r o c e s s i o n o f t h a t y e a r .
M a r i u s , an eye w i t n e s s , claimed t h a t f o r the f i r s t t i m e , the
c o n f r a t e r n i t y c a r r i e d the image of the corpse of C h r i s t i n a
c r y s t a l u r n , w i t h i n w h i c h t h e r e was a l s o t h e i m a g e o f t h e
Madonna o f Soledad.(16)
Hence t h e r e i s a c l o s e p a r a l l e l b e t ­
ween these two processions.
T h e n e x t s t a t u e t o be i m p ­
o r t e d f r o m S i c i l y was t h a t o f t h e S c o u r g i n g a t t h e P i l l a r
(=I1-Marbut).
I n Palermo, the c o n f r e r e s of Soledad flogged
t h e m s e l v e s p u b l i c l y i n t h e Good F r i d a y P r o c e s s i o n .
T h i s was
i n t r o d u c e d i n Rabat i n 1668, when members of the l o c a l c o n f r a t e r ­
n i t y flogged themselves after the Lent processions of Fridays.
What makes t h e Rabat P r o c e s s i o n unique i n the c u l t o f the Passion
i n t h e M e d i t e r r a n e a n , i s t h e W e e k l y L e n t e n P r o c e s s i o n , as t h i s
p r e - d a t e s t h a t o f P a l e r m o , as proved by an e d i t o f t h e M a l t e s e
Synod o f 1591, d e s c r i b i n g t h e s e p r o c e s s i o n s as an o l d custom.(15)
B e f o r e t h e O r d e r o f i t . J o h n r u l e d M a l t a , i t was p a r t o f t h e
Spanish Empire.
'Maltese ambassadors, m a i n l y from Udina, went t o
Spain to claim privileges from Spanish Kings.
These missions
t o o k p l a c e i n e a r l y s p r i n g , and t h e M a l t e s e nobles of Spanish
d e s c e n t m u s t h a v e see n Good F r i d ay P r o c e s s i o n s t h er e.(16)
Moreover, M a l t a ' s l i n k s w i t h .Sicily were even s t r o n g e r .
The
S i c i l i a n v i c e r o y p l a y e d a n i m p o r t a n t p a r t i n the- r u n n i n g o f t h e
l o c a l government.
Tor many c h a n g e s and i n n o v a t i o n s , M a l t a had
t o s e e k p e r m i s s i o n s f r o m t h e v i c e r o y s , a s i n 196?,
when they
requested that craftsmen should not aspire f o r high posts i n the
Council(=Consiglio Popolare).
B e t w e e n 1570
a n d 1995
A
number of r e l i g i o u s o r d e r s w i t h convents i n Malta, were l i n k e d
with those of .Sicily.
M a l t a a l s o depended on S i c i l y f o r p r o v i s ­
i o n s o f f o o d , and depended on i t a l s o f o r economic, a d m i n i s t r a t i v
and r e l i g i o u s
purposes
-116lM-J2£FJÈ*d_ p,f_Gqod JVi_day. p r o c e s s i o n s
R a b a t was f o l l o w
by e i g h t e e n
other
parishes.
S i x p r o c e s s i o n s were e s t a b l i s h e d i n t h e e i t e e n t h
century.(1?)
B y 1 7 6 9 , t h e Qormi p r o c e s s i o n was w e l l e s t a b l i s h e d .
It
was most p r o b a b l y
century.
initiated
i n the second
I t then s p r e a d to V i t t o r i o s a ( c
and
Cospicua
The
next
(cl?62).
half
of t h e 1 7 t h
I919), Zebbug
I t v/as i n t r o d u c e d i n V a l l e t t a
(c.1792)
in
1695.(18)
c e n t u r y saw a n i n c r e a s e i n t h e s e p r o c e s s i o n s ; Ghaxaq
( c l 8 2 0 ) , V i c t o r i a P a r i s h o f B t . G e o r g e , G o z o ( 1 8 3 0 ) , ÎIaxxar(cl833),
Z e j t u n ( c l 0 3 9 ) , Mosta and G h a r g h u r ( c l 8 6 6 ) . ( 1 9 )
I n t h i s century
a p p e a r e d t h o s e o f N a d u r ( 1 9 1 3 ) , X a g h r a ( 1 9 1 9 ) , Zobbug(Gozo) ( 1 9 1 8 I92O), X e w k i j a ( l 9 2 2 ) a n d P a o l a ( 1 9 9 9 ) .
A n o t h e r p r o c e s s i o n was
o r g a n i s e d a t the Citadel,Gozo, I 9 6 8 . ( 1 9 )
The
Rabat Procession
T h eR a b a t p r o c e s s i o n used t o l e a v e the
church
end
round
about
midnight.
o fi n s e c u r i t y . ( 2 0 )
after
After
sundet
a s t h e r e w a sa genera!
t h e French
that
things returned t o normal
a s Hons.Conte
five
years
ordered
return
after
Giovanni
Balaguer
adjustments
these
proper,
Cospicua
decreed
because
they
and Mons.Pietro
should
on Friday.
around
i t seemed
Carmelo
Sciculuna
a l l processions
'Pace, a l s o
made
Friday
Scicluna
b a n d s i np r o c e s s i o n s ,
thorn, smoking,
Mons.
Vittoriosa and
I n1879, Mons.Carmelo
o fb r a s s
Since
days o ft h e week,
a l l b o h e l d o n Good
must
Fra.M.
o ft h e processions,(22)
t ot ha t d a yo n l y t h e Rabat,
participation
crowded
since
and generally disrupted
(23)
Rabat
procession
of
that
that
rule,
t h e Ave Maria.(21)
came o u to n d i f f e r e n t
were held
occasion.
The
after
t ot h e e n t e r i n g t i m e
discontinued
people
a n hour
Ca a r a s a ,
processions
Scicluna
the
h i s election,
t o t h e church
a t3,00pm, a n d
I n1798, Hons.Vine.Labini p r o h i b i t e d
t h e h o l d i n g o f t h ep r o c e s s i o n
feeling
i n t h e evening
used
St.Augustine
procession
t os t o p
has several characteristics.
i nfront
o ft w ochurches,
a n do f S t . F r a n c i s . ( 2 A )
I tused
The
namely
that
t o be preceded
-117b y a f l u t e p l a y e r a n d a d r u m m e r , d e r i v i r*™ *w
4 4. ^
,
minier, a e r i v e d f r o n t h e c u a t o n
assoc­
i a t e d w i t h o f f i c i a l e n a c t n e n t s o r Bandi.(25>
Today we f i n d
buglers i n front o ft h e Caryying o fthe CrossURedentur).
These
are found a l s o a tQorni, Naxxar, V i t t o r i o s a and Cospicua.
I n
many processions these a r e s u b s t i t u t e d b y b o yscouts buglers, a s
a t Mosta, Ghaxaq a n d Rabat, b u t i n t h e l a t t e r preceding t h e '
procession.
Rabat a n dQormi have introduced t h e "Tronku" which
i s a n enormous cross held u p r i g h t by t h e carrier.
At M0sta,
N a x x a r a n d R a b a t we f i n d d e v o t e e s d r a g g i n g chains a t t a c h e d t o
theirr heels.
Some c a r r y c r o s s e s o n t h e i r s h o u l d e r s , a c u s t o m
which may have o r i g i n a t e d from one o f t h e four V i t t o r i o s a
processions, which included t h e Order o f St.John's g a l l e y
grews together with baptised slaves andprisoners wearing
chains.(2S)
I no l d e n d a y s n s u c h p r o c e s s i o n s used t o e n t e r t h e
c i t y o fMdina.(27)
Thecross o f t h e Crucifiction group(=IlVara 1-Kbira) used t ohave a mechanical device t oeneable t h e
atatue t oenter through t h e gates o fMdina.
Moreover, i t used
to be preceded b y a group o fa l t a r boys from Udina Cathedral,
who u s e d t o c a r r y b r a n c h e s o f c y p r e s s o n t h e i r s h o u l d e r s , v / h i l e
singing t h e Miserere with t h e Mdina dignitaries.
The S t a t u e s
One o f t h e m o r e i m p o r t a n t e l e m e n t s o f a n y Good
Friday
Rabat h a sten.
procession
S i x o fthe previous
collection
hasthe traditional
scenes.
Thefirst
mache1
cing
a previous
v/as
Ursula
by
Ghech
Together
work
b u tA n t h o n y
Tonna,
s e t v/ere r e p l a c e d . T h e
s e t o feight with
t w o new passion
papier
( = i n - N a j c i ) o fMosta 1825, repla­
with
that
o f TheCrowning
o f t h e a r t i s t . (28)
Bezzina
dates
Casha a n d D.Micallef
With
A silver
C h r i s t ' s head, a n dpaid
Delicata Castelletti.
Tonna carved
Joseph
Mifsud
t oi t i n 1882, round
1824-1826(29)
Galvu
one.
i t i s t h e best
added
That o f
i s t h e Agony i n t h e Garden(-l-Ort) ,
made b y A n t o n i o
Thorns,
i s the statues.
this
halo
f o r by
statue
a s 1825.(30)
t h e PrsdellaCcarrying platform)and paid f o r
both
from
Rabat.
The second
statue
-118-
r e p r e s e n t s t h e 3 e t r a y a l ( = T a G u d a ) , made by A l f r e d C a m i l l e r i
C a u c h i , a G o z i t a n , 1982, w i t h C h r i s t a n d Gudas who h o l d a b a g
of coins i n a concealed hand.
The T h i r d Statue represents t h e
Scourging a t t h e .Pillar(=I1-Marbut; =Il-Kolonna; =Tal-Kanolla i n
C o t t o n e r a a r e a ) . I ti s one o f t h e t w o r e m a i n i n g o r i g i n a l s t a t u e s ,
and i s c a r v e d o u t o f siblid wood f r o m a t r e e t r u n k , heavy, and
m a d e i n S i c i l y o v e r 900 y e a r s a g o , p a i d f o r f r o m c o l l e c t i o n s
made by a l a y b r o t h e r o f t h e Franciscans Honor. B e l i e v e d t o be
one o f t h e o l d e s t i n t h e i s l a n d s .
The f o u r t h s t a t u e represents
Jesus crowned w i t h thorns(d-Accjomu;=Il-.p0rpra;=l-Ecce
Homo)
m a d e b y A n t o n i o M i f s u d ( 1 7 6 0 - 1 8 3 0 ) ( = I n - N a j c i ) b e t w e e n 1829 a n d
1 8 2 6 . ( 3 2 ) M i c a l l e f d a t e s i t 1850.(33)
A s i l v e r f i l i g r e e crown
w a s m a d e f o r i t i n 1850, p a i d f o r b y J o s e p h Z a m i T i i t .
The
f i f t h s t a t u e i s t h a t o f C h r i s t F a l l i n g Under t h e Weight o f t h e
CrossCl-Imghobbi;
=Ir-Redentur).
I n A p r i l 1032, B i s h o p C a r u a n a
g r a n t e d 90 d a y s i n d u l g e n c e d a i l y t o w h o e v e r r e c i t e d t h e C r e e d
before it.
I t s p l a t f o r m w a s m a d e i n 1978, d e s i g n e d b y K a r m e n u
Azzopardi, executed by Pawlu Muscat, and paid f o r by
Mrs.Sapienz^
V e l i a a n d M i s s Ganna Tonna who made c o l l e c t i o n s f o ri t , a l l
b e i n g m e m b e r s o f t h e C o n f r a t e r n i t y o f S t , J o s e p h . (34)
The
s i x t h stauè i s t h a t o f t h e V e r o n i c a r e p l a c i n g a n o l d e r o n e , f i n a ­
ne e e d b y B a r o n De P i r o G o u r g i o n , m a d e i n p a p i e r m a c h e 1 b y C a r l o
Darmanin(1825-1909).
The p r e v i o u s one was destroyed a century
ago.
V e r o n i c a i s a n unknown woman, ( v e r a I c o n = The True Image)
c a r r y i n g a v e i l w i t h t h e i m p r i n t o f C h r i s t ' s f a c e . T h i s v/as
made i n 1 8 8 0 .
The seventh s t a t u e represents t h e t e n t h station
o f t h e c r o s s , made a t t h e e x p r e s s wifeh o f S r c h i b i s h o p M i c h a e l
Gonzi i n 1 9 6 2 . Made a t B a r i , I t a l y , p a i d f o r by Guzeppi Zahra o f
Rabat, shows C h r i s t derobedon Calvary by court attendants, w i t h
L o n g i n u s o n g u a r d . (35)
T h e p l a t f o r m v/as d e s i g n e d b y J o s e p h
Galea a n d made b y S a l v u T o n n a , b o t h o f Rabat.
I ti s t h e o n l y
one o f i t s k i n d i n t h e i s l a n d s .
-119-
1
The e i ġ h t h s t a t u e shows t h e C r u c i f i c t i o n ( = I I - V a r a 1-Kbira)
'
with four figures.
S t . J o h n a n d M a r y wére m a d e b y C a r l o D a r m a n i n , and some a l s o a t t r i b u t e Mary Magdala t o h i m . I t i s n o t
k n o w n who made t h e f i g u r e o f C h r i s t .
O n t h e latterà h e a d t h e r e
i s a n a u r e o l e d o n a t e d b y t h e s o d a l i t y i n 1791, a n d t h a t o f t h e
M a d o n n a w a s d o n a t e d b y B a r o n e s s D ' A m i c o I n g u a n e z i n 1883.
The
upper arm o f t h e c r o s s had h i n g e s t o enable i t t o pass t h r o u g h
Mdina Gate.
The n i n t h s t a t u e shows Jesus l a i d t o r e s t ( = m o n u ment) w i t h i n a n u r n c o v e r e d v/ith a canopy t a s s e l e d w i t h g o l d ,
w i t h c u r t a i n s embroidered i n gold.(36)
T h i s canopy w a l
r e s t o r e d s e v e r a l t i m e s . T h e p r e s e n t o n e v/as m a d e i n 1953 b y
J o s e n h Muscat, c a r v e d b y Carmelo Tonna, and g i l t b y Guzeppi
F a r r u g i a o f Mdina, a l lmembers o f t h e s o d a l i t y .
I t i s lit by
99 l a m p s .
C h r i s t ' s a u r e o l e was d o n a t e d b y t h e b a r o n e s s m e n t i o n e d
above i n 1863.
The p r e v i o u s u r n i s p r e s e r v e d i n t h e o r a t o r y ,
a n d w a s b r o u g h t f r o m S i c i l y o v e r 900 y e a r s a g o , a s w a s a l s o
the figure of Christ.
When t h e p r o c e s s i o n , i n t h e p a s t ,
stopped i n f r o n t o f t h e A u g u s t i n i a n and F r a n c i s c a n churches,
the f r i a r s t h e r e i n sang t h e a n t i p h o n ' C h r i s t u s ' when the u r n
v/as b r o u g h t i n o n i t s o w n f o r t h e p u r p o s e .
The t e n t h and
l a s t s t a t u e i s t h a t o f Our Lady o fS o r r o w s ( = I d - D u l u r i ) ,
s h o w i n g Our Lady s e a t e d b e n e a t h t h e c r o s s , a l a d d e r n e a r b y , and
a n a n g e l h o l d i n g a c r o w n o f t h o r n s and n a i l s , ( 3 ? ) a l lmade b y
Carlo Darmanin.(30)
V i n c e n z o Borg donated t h e dagger,
and F e l i c e P o r t e l l i t h e diadem o ft h e Madonna.
The c a r r i e r s
o f t h i s s t a t u e a r e e i t h e r m e m b e r s o ft h e c o n f r a t e r n i t y , o r
f u i f i l l i n g a vow, a t t h e e x p e n s e o f a c o n s i d e r a b l e d o n a t i o n . (39)
They b i n d t h e m s e l v e s l e g a l l y , t o m a i n t a i n t h e s t a t u e i n good
order, a shappens also a t Naxxar.
Besides
therefore
in
t h e two
consists
the garden,
thorns,
The
new additional
statues,
o ft h e t r a d i t i o n a l
eight,
the Scourging at the Pillar,
Veronica, Jesus
the Rabat
set,
those of the
the Crowning
Carrying the Cross,
the
Agony
with •
Crucifiction,
*
-120-
I
Christ Laid
t or e s t ,
a n d O u r Lady o f Sorrows. ( 9 0 )
Bezzina,
who made a d e t a i l e d s t u d y o f t h e s t a t u e s s a y s : "...up t o t h e
l a s t war, t h e sets comprised e i g h t s t a t u a r y groups, except f
Q o r m i ,*hichfcd a n a d d e d g r o u p r e p r e s e n t i n g t h e b e t r a y a l o f C h r i s t
by Judas."(91)
Therefore Rabat followed the customary Maltese
pattern.
""Since t h e w a r , t h e r e h a sbeen a move, f i s t t o i m i t a t e
t h e e x a m p l e o f Q o r m i . . "(42)
Z e j t u n v/as t h e f i r s t t o h a v e a
b e t r a y a l s t a t u e ( 1 9 6 l ) . T h e n came t h o s e o f M o s t a (1963), X a g h r a
(1964), Z e b b u g ( 1 9 7 0 ) , N a x x a r (1975), C o s p i c u a ( l 9 7 2 ) , p l o l a ( l 9 7 1 ) .
That o fRabat h a donly t w ofigures, s i m i l a r t o that o f Qormi.
M o s t a h a sa t h i r d f i g u r e o f a Jew, a n d Naxxar o f S t , P o t e r . T h e
idea here was t oelaborate certain episodes already represented,
(42) a s i n t h e Z e j t u n C r b w n i n g w i t h t h o r n s ( l 9 6 2 ) .
Rabat adopted
the l a t e s t d e v e l o p m e n t o f i n t r o d u c i n g new p a s s i o n scenes n e v e r
before represented, a s t h e unique tenth s t a t i o n , the work o f
Salvatore Bruno o f I t a l y .
ri i "
Biblical
Costumes
Most
Good F r i d a y
gropps
Before
and
the inclusion
children
introduced
first
on t h e i d e a
the
Rabat
the
p a s s i o n emblems.
a tRabat
also
ten
Music
After
De P i r o
Many b i b l i c a l
ones
renewed
introduced
confraternity
costumes
o fthe last
died
were
out a t
o f the
i n t r o d u c e d i n costume,
andreplaced by others
a replica
century
T h e c u s t o m v/as r e v i v e d a t
A z z o p a r d i became p r o c u r a t o r
figures
were
Gourgion, then rector o f
h i s death, the custom
i n 1970, w h e n G u z e p p i
older
3iblical
i n she second h a l f
o fBaron Giuseppe
costume.
mambers o f t h e l a y
but was taken up a tQormi.
procession.
He
o f people i n b i b l i c a l
o fstatues,
confraternity.
^Rabat,
and
carried
P r o c e s s i o n s now f e a t u r e
from
cloth.(93)
rich
o f t h e A r k i n which t h e Jews
carried
commandmentsf
andBanners
T h e Band
this
since
between
ren's
choir,
procession,
1 8 7 0 a n d 1880.
and other
o fL-Isle
locally
I t plays
produced
Adam p a r t i c i p a t e d i n
and started
t odo s o
ħyms t o a c c o m p a n y a
compositions.
child­
One i s
r
-121Populae meus b y Lorenzo G a t t , d i r e c t o r o f t h e b a n d
Another E r i Mancipio b y Carmelo C a m i l l e r i , director 1888-18%
Musical marches i n c l u d e Vers l eCalvaire(Giusepoe Stivala)
A l l a Memoria d e l Maestro Giuseppe S t i v a l a ( G e n e r o s o Muscat)'
Fuq i l - Q a n a t t a ' K r i s t u ( J o e G a l e a ) , a n d S t a b a t M a t e r ( W i l l i e
Attard), a l lwritten by the directors.
Formerly, music o f
f o r e i g n o r i g i n w e r e f e a t u r e d , a s M a r c i a F u n e b r e Opus 3 5 ( C h o p i n )
Cordoglio(Cristaine).
Another f e a t u r e i n the sound o f t h e f i u t o
and drum o f t h e p a s t , b u tt h e s e were l a t e r r e p l a c e d b y N o t a b i l e
scouts, a n d the F i r s t Rabat Scout Group.(44)
There i s also the
c u s t o m o f b u g l e r s proceeding C h r i s t b e a r i n g t h e c r o s s .
A t
Rabat,
bandsmen wear a s Roman s o l d i e r s ,
a s i s done a t Cos­
p i c u a . (45)
A f o r m e r c u s t o m v/as t h a t o f a l t a r b o y s f r o m
Mdina C a t h e d r a l who sang t h e M i s e r e r e i n f r o n t o f the Christ i n
repose;
nowadays t h i s i s done b y g i r l s .
Richly
embroidered banners
Two
special
and
S.P.O.R. ( = S e n a t u s P o p u l u s
People
banners
o f Rome)
the last
bear
a medieval origin
Christi.The
Rabat
influenced
and
Gozo.
Chrisfei,
and The
There are c h i l d r e n who carry
These
banners
from mystical
announcing
has
QueRomanus=The Cenate
(46)
words.
banner
the wording: Passio Domini Jesu
There a r e ' a l s o the seven banners representing
passion symbols.
first
accompany the procession.
and symbols
plays,(47)
may,-
indicate
a sappears
a p a s s i o n p l a y ''Passio Domini
Good F r i d a y
Jesu
Procession i s a pioneer and
other processions a l lover the islands
Réf./Further r e a d i n g
t obe t h e
( 1 )John
Ranat's
Bezzina:Good
Pageant
o f Malta
Friday Processions.
i st h e O l d e s t . T i m e s o f
Malta,if-Jf-1971 j (2) o p c i t . p / + ; ( 3 ) E . R . L e o p a r d i
Malta's Heritage
1969, p85; ( i f ) G e o r g e A q u i l i n a : M a l t e s e M i n o r F r a n c i s c a n s a n d M a r i a n
Devotions i n tie 1 7 t h a n d 1 8 t h c e n t u r i e s , i n Marian Devotionsi n
The I s l a n d s o f G a i n t P a u l , ( 1 9 8 3 ) , P . 3 3 3 ; ( 5 ) A q u i l i n a , o p c i t . p 3 3 6 ;
-122-
( 6 ) I l - P u r c i s s j o n i t a l - P a s s j o n i U« S i d n a G e s u K r i R t u
t i r . ^ r * t
Duminku - c a l l e , l 9 3 0 , p 5 : ( 7 ) M i c a l l e f o p . c i t . p 5 ; (8)Bezzina
o p . c i t . P 1 2 ; ( l O ) L e h e n is-3evma 16-3-1935; ( l l ) L e h e n is-Sevma
18-3-1941; ( 1 2 ) H i c a l l e f p . 5 ; ( 1 3 ) J o h n B e z z i n a Good F r i d a y P r o c
ession a t Rabat P 7 ; < U ) J . Cassar P u l l i c i n o :Studies i n Maltese
F o l k l o r e , 1 9 7 6 , P 2 9 - 3 0 ; ( 1 5 ) B o z z i n a : Good F r i d a y P r o c e s s i o n a t Rabat
M a l t a 1 9 7 0 , p 7 - 6 ; (16) D o z z i n a Sunday T i m e s o f M a l t a ^-/+-1971;
(17)Cassar P u l l i c i n o , o p . c i t . p 3 3 ; ( 1 8 ) J o s o P h P.Grima g i v e s t h e s e
d a t e s : V i t t o r i o s a and Cospicua(cl700), S e n g l e a ( c l 7 l 9 ) ,
Zebbug
M a l t a ( c l 7 4 2 ) and Luqa 1795 : Democrat 11-4-1981; ( l 9 ) C a R s a r P u l l i c ­
i n o g i v e s t h o s e d a t e s : G h a x a q 1 8 2 0 , Luqa 1 3 3 0 , Rabat Gozo 1 8 3 0 ,
Naxxar 1833, Zejtun 1839-40, Mosta and Gharghur
1866.op.cit.p33C h a r l e s G a l e a S c a n n u r a g i v e s t h e s e d a t e s :Ghaxaq c l 8 2 0 , Rabat Gozo
c l 8 3 0 , N a x x a r 6 1 8 3 3 , Z e j t u n 1 8 3 9 - 4 0 , G h a r g h u r 1 8 8 6 , H o l y V/eek
T r a d i t i o n s i n M a l t a , i n I l - G i m g h a Mqaddsa F'Pacetfille 1978,p.25;
(20)M.Galea, The L i f e and Times o f Vincenzo Labini Qishop o f
M a l t a p 3 - 6 ; ( 2 1 ) M i c a l l e f , o p . c i t p6 ;(22) J . G r i m a , o p . c i t . p6 ; (23)
C. G a l e a S c a n n u r a , o p . c i t ; ( 2 4 ) G a l c a
Scannura,op.cit.;(25)Bezzina
Good F r i d a y P r o c e s s i o n a t Rabat p.6,9,16;(26)During
the 18th
century, three processions were held a t Vittoriosa.Wednesday
H o l y Week(=Erbgha t a t - T n i e b r i ) from t h e c h u r c h o f Mount Carmel.
I t i n c l u d e d t h e O r d e r ' s G a l l e y Crews a n d p r i s o n e r s w i t h chains.
The second l e f t t h e A n n u n c i a t i o n c h u r c h o nMaundy Thursday
( = H a m i s ±± X i r k a ) ; t h e t h i r d f r o m t h e p a r i s h c h u r c h o n G o o d
Friday, i n which t h e city jurats took part.
Another procession
i n Greek r i t e was o r g a n i s e d b y t h e Papas.
(27) A n t h o n y C a s h a
I l - P u r c i s s j o n i tal-Giragha 1-Kbira fir-Rabat,In-Tafehna,8-4-,982;
(28)
G a l e a S c a n n u r a , o p . c i t . ; ( 2 9 ) J . D o z z i n a o p . c i t . p l l ; ( 30) A n t h o n y
Casha o p . c i t . , & M i c a l l e f o p . c i t . p l l ; (31)J.Bczzina
op.cit.pl3;
(32)Bezzina o p . c i t p.15; ( 3 3 ) M i c a l l e f , o p . c i t . p i 5 .
Casha a g r e e s
w i t h h i m , I n - T a g h n a 0-4-1982; T h e Ecce Homo s t a t u e was r e p l a c e d
b y a n e wo n e i n 1984, t h e w o r k o f A l f r e d C a m i l l e r i C a u c h i .T h e
-123C r o w n i n g W i t h îfcore b y A n t o n i o M i i s u d v m 8 r . m
„K
was i n a b a d s t a t e o f p r e s e r v a t i o n
Z J ! Î ! because i t
A B
p r e p a r e d t h e ne» s t a t u e o f t h e t e n k s t ! t î
r
°
*
L n e
. ,
x e n : ħ
s t a t i o n o f tho C r o R R
c a r r i e d around i n t h e procession f o rt h e f i r s t time i n 1 9 ^
Thxs l a s t replaced t h a t o f Salvatore Bruno a st h e l a t t e r
™
thought t o be o u t o f tune w i t h t h e r e s t . Doth these s t k
* A 1 N K,, u
,
w i n -ciioso s t a t u e s w e r e
npn-H
paad f o r b y b e n e f a c t o r s . ( l e t t e r from Giuseppi M i c a l l e f
secretar!
to the Confraternity, 30-7-198.);
<34)Hicallef op.cikpi"
( 3 5 ) J . D o z z i n a p . 2 0 ; ( 3 6 ) J . B e z z i n a p 2 5 ; J . d o z z i n a p26 ; ( 3 7 ) • ( 3 8 )
P. P. C a s t a g n a L i s S t o r i a t a M a l t a B i l C - z e j j e r T a h h a «213.
(39) Sunday Times o f M a l t a p . 1 2 ; ( . 0 ) T i m e s o f m a l t a 2 6 - 3 I 1 9 7 0
( . 1 ) C a s s a r P u l l i c i n o o P . c i t . p 3 3 ; ( . 2 ) C a o s a r P u l l i c i n o O p . e i t p3,
(43) M i c a l l e f o p . e i t . P 3 ; ( 4 4 ) M i c a l l e f 0 . 6 , Eezzina p 2 2 - 2 3 ( 4 5 ) B e z z i n a p . 1 5 ; ( 4 6 ) T h e b a n n e r s ffsBd m a d e b y M r s C a r m e n '
Barbħra nee Azzopardi from Rabat;(47)Bezzina p.6; USXteorge
Scerri,Monografia S t o r i c a d e l l ' A n t i c h i s s i m a Arc.del Glorioso
S.Giuseppe e t e t t a n e l l a V.Chiesa d e i F r a t i riinori d e l Rabato
della Citta Notabile.1935.
s i i l i - p a g n a 110
(jaqbad
2 A y j v / i s s u l'I85
Is-Sur
-)
sezzjoni
Malti,
Valletta,
is-Suggett
23 M e j j u
Magna,
kien
fejn
1 !
il-Belt,
dv/ar
mir-Rotarians
attendew bosta
Il-hajja
1985 • I s - S u r
g h a m e l t a h d i t a l i 11
Guido Lanfranco
Familiari
Cassar
"Maltese
Club
(Malta)
Taljani
f'Malta
u x i Skoccizi.
ta' Dar!"
P u l l i c i n o ghamel t a h d i t a fl-Awla
and N0rth
A f t i c a n F o l k l o r e " ïil-
Maltese Libyan Brotherhood
Movement.
A p r i l 1985 M u z e w t a l - F o l k l o r e f e t a h f i o - c i t t a d e l l a
Dan
Sciberras
fil-Eazin
ta'
Ghawde
i n f e t a h m i l l - m i n s t r u t a l - K u l t u r a , e c c ., D r .A.
Trigona,
u t b i e r k e t minn Mgr.Anton
Gauci.