This is about the feast that is celebrated every first Sunday of October at the Parish Church of St. George at Qormi. Last year (1999), the feast and the procession was celebrated on the third day of October. This year, the new millennium, the year 2000 it is going to be  celebrated on the  first day of October  and next year, 2001, the 400th  year of the fraternity,  it is going to be celebrated exactly on it's day 7th October (the Feast of Our Lady of Rosary). The friars of his feast saw her first group on the  2nd day of September, 1601 and is the second oldest fraternity at Qormi. During those days the arch-priest was Fr. Francis Cassia (1585-1615). This has been done after a letter by the general superior of the  Dominicans Friars  dated 15th of July 1601. At  1618 there where around 30 friars and in 1653 in the fraternity where around 50 friars. Now-a-days we are a group of about 60 friars.

The Statue of Our Lady of Rosary was made by the great ability of a Maltese sculpture, Karlu Darmanin (1825-1909), in 1860. The Arc-priest at that time was Dr. Fr. Saviour Schembri (1785-1863). It is made of  papier-mache material. This statue was paid by the friars of the con-fraternity of that time. This statue  replaced an old one made of wood that was already used in the year 1686.

The silver face-altar  was designed by  Abraham Gatt (1863-1944) in  1892. It is divided  in three parts:  the middle part we can see two angels holding the curtains to see  Our Lady of Rosary giving the Rosary to  St. Dominic and  St. Catherine. In the side parts one can see an angel in each part surrounded by the coat of arm of the Evangelists and even of four Prophets that are David, Isaija, Geremija and Abraham.

Old Photo of the Feast	Old Photo Decorations for Feast	Old Photo of the Feast

Statue of Our Lady Of Rosary Photo taken for the feast of  1998	The Artal Decorated for the Feast Photo taken for the feast of  1998
Close Up of the Statue of Our Lady Of  Rosary Photo taken for the feast of  1998	Close Up of the VentArtal Photo taken for the feast of  2000
Artal Decorations Photo taken for the feast of  2000	Photo taken for the feast of  2000
Gastra of the Artal Photo taken for the feast of  2000	Decorative Flower of the Artal Photo taken for the feast of  2000

In the old days the statue of Our Lady of Rosary used to be decorated for another feast at Qormi St. George. This was the feast of Our Lady of Flowers that used to be celebrated in the first Sunday of May. This has been stopped in the sixties about 300 years after the first documents written about this feast. In these two photos one can see that the statue instead of the Rosaries in their hands, there is a bunch of Flowers.

These two photos I have four members of my family that are taking part:
Carmelo Borg ( my uncle), George Borg ( my uncle ), Saver Borg ( my father ) and Karmenu Bugeja ( uncle Carmelo brother in-law ).

These photos where taken during the May procession of 1946.
 

From Left to Right Karmenu Bugeja (ic-Capi), Midju Mamo, Saver Borg (tal-Isprin), Carmelo Borg (il-Haccu) The small boy is the ex-archpriest Fr. Karm Frendo	From Left to Right Pawlu Abela (tal-Balzani), Salvu Borg (tal-Bunca), Kola Duca (tal-Mixwi), George Borg (tal-Isprin)

1. 01. Whoever shall faithfully serve me by the recitation of the Rosary shall receive signal graces.

1. 02. I promise my special protection and the greatest graces to all those who shall recite the Rosary.

1. 03. The rosary shall be a powerful armour against hell, it will destroy vice, decrease sin, and defeat heresies.

1. 04. It will cause virtue and good works to flourish; it will obtain for souls the abundant mercy of God; it will withdraw the hearts of men from the love of the world and its vanities, and will lift them to the desire of eternal things. Oh, that souls would santify themselves by this means.

1. 05. The soul which recommends itself to me by the recitation of the Rosary shall not perish.

1. 06. Whoever shall recite the Rosary devoutly, applying himself to the consideration of its sacred mysteries shall never be conquered by the misfortune. God will not chartise him in His justice, he shall not perish by an unprovided death; if he be just he shall remain in the grace of God, and become worthy of eternal life.

1. 07. Whoever shall have a true devotion for the Rosary shall not die without the sacraments of the Church.

1. 08. Those who are faithful to recite the rosary shall have during their life and at their death the light of God and the plentitude of His graces; at the moment of death they shall participate in the merits of the saints in paradise.

1. 09. I shall deliver from purgatory those who have devoted to the Rosary.

1. 10. The faithful children of the Rosary shall merit a high degree of glory in heaven.

1. 11. You shall obtain all you ask of me by the recitation of the Rosary.

1. 12. All those who propagate the holy Rosary shall be aided by me in their necessities.

1. 13. I have obtained from my Devine Son that all the advocates of the Rosary shall have for intercessors the entire celestial court during their life and at the hour of death.

1. 14. All who recite the Rosary are my sons, and brothers of my only son Jesus Christ.

1. 15. Devotion of my Rosary is a great sign of predestination.

• 1. It gradually gives us a perfect knowledge of Jesus Christ.

• 2. It purifies our souls, washing away sin.

• 3. It gives us victory over all our enemies.

• 4. It makes it easy for us to practice virtue.

• 5. It sets us on fire with love of Our Lord.

• 6. It enriches us with graces and merits.

• 7. It supplies us with what is needed to pay all our debts to God and to our fellow men; and finally, it obtains all kinds of graces for us from Almighty God.

• 1. Sinners are forgiven.

• 2. Souls that thirst are refreshed.

• 3. Those who are fettered have their bonds broken.

• 4. Those who weep find happiness.

• 5. Those who are tempted find peace.

• 6. The poor find help.

• 7. Religious are reformed.

• 8. Those who are ignorant are instructed.

• 9. The living learn to overcome pride.

• 10. The dead (the Holy Souls) have their pains eased by suffrages.

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• Feasts and Dates Celebrated in the Maltese Islands ( Malta & Gozo )