Fl-okkażjoni ta’ dan il-Ġublew tat-Tama u l-bidu tar-Randan Imqaddes, se jinġab f’Għawdex il-Kurċifiss Mirakoluż u devot magħruf bħala “Ta’ Ġieżu”, meqjum fil-Knisja Franġiskana ta’ Santa Marija ta’ Ġesù fil-Belt Valletta.
Ix-xbieha, maħduma fis-seklu 17, hi attribwita lill-artist Sqalli Frate Innocenzo di Petralia, u tieħu ħsiebha l-Arċikonfraternità tal-Kurċifiss imwaqqfa fl-istess knisja. Hija waħda mill-aktar xbihat meqjuma tas-Santissmu Kurċifiss li nsibu fil-gżejjer tagħna u tgawdi devozzjoni qawwija mill-poplu tal-gżejjer tagħna.
Il-Kurċifiss Ta’ Ġieżu se jkun fil-gżira ta’ Għawdex bejn il-Ġimgħa 7 u l-Ħadd 9 ta’ Marzu 2025. Mill-Ġimgħa filgħodu sal-Ħadd f’nofsinhar ikun espost għall-qima fil-Knisja tal-Patrijiet Franġiskani f’Għajnsielem, fejn fl-ewwel lejl il-knisja tibqa’ miftuħa għall-adorazzjoni u l-qima tal-fidili.
Nhar il-Ħadd 9 ta’ Marzu, l-ewwel Ħadd tar-Randan, fl-4.00pm, l-Isqof ta’ Għawdex Anton Teuma se jmexxi Pellegrinaġġ Penitenzjali Ġubilari bix-xbieha tal-Kurċifiss Mirakoluż, mill-Knisja ta’ Sant’Antnin ta’ Padova għal quddiem il-Knisja Arċipretali tal-Madonna ta’ Loretu, f’Għajnsielem, li għalih hu mistieden il-poplu kollu ta’ Alla.
Fil-Bolla tal-Indizzjoni tal-Ġublew Spes non confundit, il-Papa Franġisku fakkarna li “t-tama titwieled mill-imħabba u tissejjes fuq l-imħabba li tgelgel mill-Qalb ta’ Ġesù minfuda fuq is-salib” (n. 3). Għalhekk, iż-żjara tal-Kurċifiss Mirakoluż f’Għawdex, fil-bidu tar-Randan imqaddes, iktar milli sempliċi mument storiku ta’ qima lil xbieha li hi tassew għażiża għall-poplu tagħna, għandha tkun stedina lill-Insara biex jerġgħu jdawru ħarsithom lejn is-sinjal il-kbir tat-tama tagħna li fih tidher l-imħabba kollha ta’ Alla għalina l-bnedmin: Kristu Msallab.
Din mhijiex l-ewwel darba li l-Kurċifiss Ta’ Ġieżu qed jinġab fil-gżira ta’ Għawdex. Fi żmien it-Tieni Gwerra Dinjija, dan il-Kurċifiss kien inġab mill-Belt Valletta fl-istess Knisja tal-Patrijiet Franġiskani f’Għawdex biex jiġi mħares minn kull periklu tal-ħbit frekwenti tal-għadu, fejn dam minn Mejju 1941 sa Marzu 1944. Din kienet l-ewwel u l-unika darba li nħareġ mill-Knisja tal-Belt, fejn kien ilu għall-qima sa mill-1648, biex tħalla għall-qima fi knisja oħra.
Programm sħiħ taż-żjara u l-pellegrinaġġ jitħabbar ’il quddiem. EN
THE MIRACULOUS TA’ ĠIEŻU CRUCIFIX IN GOZO FOR THE JUBILEE OF HOPE
On the occasion of the Jubilee of Hope and the beginning of Lent, the Miraculous Ta’ Ġieżu Crucifix which is revered in the Franciscan Church of Saint Mary of Jesus in Valletta will be brought to Gozo.
This holy image, which goes back to the 17th century, is attributed to Sicilian artist Frate Innocenzo di Petralia, and is looked after by the Archconfraternity of the Miraculous Crucifix which was established in the same church. It is one of the oldest images of the Crucified Lord to be revered in our islands, where it enjoys special devotion.
The Ta’ Ġieżu Crucifix will be in Gozo between Friday 7 and Sunday 9 March 2025. From Friday morning to noon on Sunday, it will be exposed for veneration in the Church of the Franciscan Friars in Għajnsielem. During the first night, the church will remain open for adoration and the worship of the faithful.
On Sunday 9 March, the first Sunday of Lent, at 4pm, Bishop of Gozo Anton Teuma will lead a Jubilee Penitential Pilgrimage with the holy image of the Crucified Lord from the Church of St Anthony of Padua to the square in front of the Parish Church of Our Lady of Loreto in Għajnsielem.
In the Bull of Indiction of the Jubilee of Hope Spes non confundit, Pope Francis reminds us that “hope is born of love and based on the love springing from the pierced heart of Jesus upon the cross” (n. 3). Therefore, the visit of the statue of the Crucified Lord in Gozo at the beginning of Lent is not merely as historical event of devotion towards a holy image, but also an invitation to Christians to gaze once again upon that great sign of our hope that incarnates the entire love of God for us all: Christ Crucified.
This is not the first time that the Ta’ Ġieżu Crucifix is being brought to the island of Gozo. During the Second World War, it was brought from Valletta to the same Church of the Franciscan Friars between May 1941 and March 1944, in order to avoid potential damage due to the constant air raids. This was the first and only time that it was brought out of the church of Valletta, where it had been revered since 1648, and taken to another church.
A full programme of the visit and pilgrimage will be announced soon.
st-02-2025-il-kurcifiss-ta-giezu-f-ghawdex.pdf pdf · 174.41 KB Niżżel