George Preca
Encyclopedia
George Preca (12 February 1880 - 26 July 1962) was a Maltese
Roman Catholic
priest
who founded the Society of Christian Doctrine
, a society of lay catechists
. In Malta
, he is affectionately known as "Dun Ġorġ" and is popularly referred to as the "Second Apostle of Malta", after Saint Paul of Tarsus
. The writer Joseph Carmel Chetcuti has claimed that George Preca was a repressed homosexual, who nevertheless led a chaste life. He was canonized
on 3 June 2007 by Pope Benedict XVI
.
, which examined the scientifically unexplainable healing of Charles Zammit Endrich in 1964. Zammit Endrich had suffered from a detached retina of the left eye. The healing was declared as miraculous, and was attributed to the intercession of the Father Ġorġ Preca after Zammit Endrich prayed to him and placed one of the priest's belongings under his pillow. The healing took place outside of a hospital, overseen by the personal doctor of Zammit Endrich, Dr. Ċensu Tabone
who was later to be appointed President of Malta.
On 24 June 1975, Archbishop Mikiel Gonzi
issued a decree initiating the process of Preca's canonization. He was declared "venerable" on 28 June 1999, and on 27 January 2000, Pope John Paul II
signed the decree which officially confirmed the Zammit Endrich healing.
In a ceremony in Floriana
, Malta on 9 May 2001, Father Preca was beatified
by Pope John Paul II
with Nazju Falzon
and Maria Adeodata Pisani
.
consistory, Father George Preca was proclaimed the first Maltese Catholic saint. He was canonized in Rome
on 3 June 2007 along with three other new saints. In his homily, Pope Benedict XVI called Saint George Preca "a friend of Jesus", and at the end of the celebration, he spoke in Maltese, saying the newly declared saint is the second father in faith of the Maltese and Gozitan
people.
Maltese people
The Maltese are an ethnic group indigenous to the Southern European nation of Malta, and identified with the Maltese language. Malta is an island in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea...
Roman Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
who founded the Society of Christian Doctrine
Society of Christian Doctrine
The Societas Doctrinæ Christianæ M.U.S.E.U.M. is a society for Catholic lay men and women in Malta who want to dedicate themselves fully to God and to help the Church in the faith formation of children, youths and adults. It was founded by the St. George Preca in 1907...
, a society of lay catechists
Catechism
A catechism , i.e. to indoctrinate) is a summary or exposition of doctrine, traditionally used in Christian religious teaching from New Testament times to the present...
. In Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
, he is affectionately known as "Dun Ġorġ" and is popularly referred to as the "Second Apostle of Malta", after Saint Paul of Tarsus
Paul of Tarsus
Paul the Apostle , also known as Saul of Tarsus, is described in the Christian New Testament as one of the most influential early Christian missionaries, with the writings ascribed to him by the church forming a considerable portion of the New Testament...
. The writer Joseph Carmel Chetcuti has claimed that George Preca was a repressed homosexual, who nevertheless led a chaste life. He was canonized
Canonization
Canonization is the act by which a Christian church declares a deceased person to be a saint, upon which declaration the person is included in the canon, or list, of recognized saints. Originally, individuals were recognized as saints without any formal process...
on 3 June 2007 by Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
.
Veneration and cause for canonization
Father Ġorġ Preca first came to the attention of the Ordinary Congregation of the Cardinals and Bishops of the Congregation for Causes of SaintsCongregation for the Causes of Saints
The Congregation for the Causes of Saints is the congregation of the Roman Curia which oversees the complex process that leads to the canonization of saints, passing through the steps of a declaration of "heroic virtues" and beatification...
, which examined the scientifically unexplainable healing of Charles Zammit Endrich in 1964. Zammit Endrich had suffered from a detached retina of the left eye. The healing was declared as miraculous, and was attributed to the intercession of the Father Ġorġ Preca after Zammit Endrich prayed to him and placed one of the priest's belongings under his pillow. The healing took place outside of a hospital, overseen by the personal doctor of Zammit Endrich, Dr. Ċensu Tabone
Censu Tabone
Vincent "Ċensu" Tabone was the fourth President of Malta and a former Minister and Nationalist MP.-Early years:Ċensu "Il-King" Tabone is the son of Niccolò and Elisa Tabone, the youngest of ten children. His paternal grandmother, Giuseppina De Gaetani, had settled in Valletta in the mid-19th...
who was later to be appointed President of Malta.
On 24 June 1975, Archbishop Mikiel Gonzi
Mikiel Gonzi
Monsignor Sir Michael Gonzi, KBE, DD was Roman Catholic Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Malta...
issued a decree initiating the process of Preca's canonization. He was declared "venerable" on 28 June 1999, and on 27 January 2000, Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
signed the decree which officially confirmed the Zammit Endrich healing.
In a ceremony in Floriana
Floriana
Floriana is a town in Malta, just outside the capital city Valletta. Floriana is the birthplace of many famous Maltese, amongst which the composer of the national anthem, 'L-Innu Malti', Robert Samut; former Bishop of Malta Dom Mauro Caruana, the poet Oliver Friggieri, and Swedish Idol winner...
, Malta on 9 May 2001, Father Preca was beatified
Beatification
Beatification is a recognition accorded by the Catholic Church of a dead person's entrance into Heaven and capacity to intercede on behalf of individuals who pray in his or her name . Beatification is the third of the four steps in the canonization process...
by Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
with Nazju Falzon
Nazju Falzon
Blessed Ignatius Falzon was a Maltese priest who was beatified in 2001.Falzon was born to Francis Joseph Falzon, a judge, and Mary Teresa Falzon, the daughter of a judge. He had three brothers; all four became lawyers, and two of the brothers entered the priesthood...
and Maria Adeodata Pisani
Maria Adeodata Pisani
Born 29 December 1806 at Naples, Italy; Died 25 February 1855 at the Benedictine monastery at Mdina, MaltaVenerated: 24 April 2001 by Pope John Paul II Beatified: 9 May 2001 by Pope John Paul II...
.
Canonization
On 23 February 2006 during the VaticanVatican City
Vatican City , or Vatican City State, in Italian officially Stato della Città del Vaticano , which translates literally as State of the City of the Vatican, is a landlocked sovereign city-state whose territory consists of a walled enclave within the city of Rome, Italy. It has an area of...
consistory, Father George Preca was proclaimed the first Maltese Catholic saint. He was canonized in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
on 3 June 2007 along with three other new saints. In his homily, Pope Benedict XVI called Saint George Preca "a friend of Jesus", and at the end of the celebration, he spoke in Maltese, saying the newly declared saint is the second father in faith of the Maltese and Gozitan
Gozo
Gozo is a small island of the Maltese archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea. The island is part of the Southern European country of Malta; after the island of Malta itself, it is the second-largest island in the archipelago...
people.
Saint George Preca's Statue & Relic
A statue of St George Preca was unveiled at St Cajetan Parish Church of Ħamrun during a solemn Mass presided by H. E. Msgr Paul Cremona, Archbishop of Malta, on Thursday 17 December 2009. The statue was placed on the same spot where St George spent hours hearing confession. By the statue there is also his relic with a sample of his blood. Many are those who come to Saint Cajetan's Parish to ask for his intercession and make their prayers in front of his relic. The bronze statue is the work of sculptor Gianni Bonnici and was executed in Caggiati, Parma, Italy.External links
- Official website of the Society for Christian Doctrine
- An online feature about Father George Preca with emphasis on the most discussed issues of his life
- An interview that appeared in the Telegraph with Dr. Dhawan, the professional who cared for the miraculously healed child Don Giorgio Preca from L'Osservatore RomanoL'Osservatore RomanoL'Osservatore Romano is the "semi-official" newspaper of the Holy See. It covers all the Pope's public activities, publishes editorials by important churchmen, and runs official documents after being released...
L-Arċidjoċesi ta’ Malta (The Archdiocese of Malta)