One of the main attractions at the Seminary in Floriana was the Refectory, where for 7 years, we met 4 times a day, for breakfast, lunch, tea and dinner. Originally built as a retreat house, the retreatant’s aim in coming here was that of elevating his whole being to the Lord. This is also clear in the paintings found in the refectory – a jewel amongst the decorated places found on the island. These paintings were commissioned at the time of the second director of this retreat house, Padre Domenico Calvi, in 1762, and were painted by an itinerant Sicilian painter about whom we do not know much else except his name, Pasquale Leonetti, according to the signature he left on the ceiling.
The whole room, quite large and with a high ceiling, has paintings of various scenes from the Bible where food is mentioned. Most impressive of them all is the main painting depicting St. Paul just before he left the island for Syracuse and Rome, after spending three months on the island in 60 AD. It shows various baskets of food on the ground, just before they were placed on the vessel, which was given to St. Paul, after the one he used to reach Malta was shattered to pieces.
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