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| St. George Preca - 12 February 1880 - 26 July 1962 |
Today is the liturgical feast of Malta’s first and only
saint, Father George Preca. Born in
Valletta on 12 February 1880, George was the seventh child in a middle-class
family of nine. His father, Vincent Preca, was first a merchant and then a
sanitary inspector. His mother, Nathalie Ceravolo, was a teacher. George's boyhood was nothing
spectacular, but he did not lack that adventurous spirit and courage which form
the backbone of any leader. Feeling that he was called to be a priest, he moved
from the Lyceum to the Seminary where as a young student he distinguished
himself in his studies, especially in Latin.
Moreover, at a time when the laity had not yet
been officially recognised as important in the mission of spreading the Gospel,
St. George Preca entrusted his followers with the responsibility of teaching
catechism. His little group of
men and women grew up to be the Society of Christian Doctrine (known locally as
M.U.S.E.U.M.) The acronym for M.U.S.E.U.M. is Magister Utinam
Sequatur Evangelium Universus Mundus! which
in translation means: "Teacher, O that the whole world would follow the
Gospel!" Today the society consists of
about 110 Centers and 1100 members. They teach about 20,000 boys and girls in the Maltese islands, in Australia, Peru, the Sudan, United Kingdom, Kenya and
Albania.
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| St George Preca preaching, and a stamp in his honor |
St George was canonized on
June 3, 2007 in the St Peter’s square at the Vatican. An interesting anecdote
about St George is the fact that back in 1955, he had suggested to his members
to start praying another Mystery of the Rosary, the Mysteries of Light, and he
devised the exact 5 Gospel scenes that were introduced by Pope St John Paul in
2002. Ever since his canonization, much devotion spread around Malta, and a
parish was dedicated to him, and various statues were crafted, in paper-mache
and in bronze.
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