Devotion

Historically the feast was celebrated on the 8th of September, because it is the day our Lady was born. However after the victory on the Turks in the great siege in 1565 which happened also to be on the 8th September, the feast of our lady of grace started to grow more popular and people started to consider the feast as a way to thank Our Lady of Grace for the help they got in the great siege. From these days onwards, the devotion towards Our Lady and the feast boosted.

A mass used to be concelebrated during the feast, and a fair took place in front of the chapel in the evening. People used to come on horse wheel carts, to eat food and listen to the music. St’ John’s Cavaliers had great devotion towards Our Lady of Grace, and there were times when they joined the people in the feast and celebrations.

The church starts its preparations, nine days before the actual feast – “In-novena”. On the first day during the 6.00pm mass the “Notre Dame Choir” worships Our Lady of Grace with hymns such as “L-Antifona” and “Is-Salve Regina”. Afterwards, the statue of Our Lady is taken out from the niche onto the ZUNTIER and the two local bands welcome it. Afterwards there would be the sacramental bless by the parish priest and people present are allowed to kiss the relic with great devotion.

During these nine days the church dedicates a special mass for the babies to be presented in front of our Lady. A day after the baby’s mass even the elderly are given the importance they merit during the mass celebrated especially for them. In this circumstance the church organizes a group of volunteered people to provide transport for the sick and elderly people. This day would be the last day of the “novena” and is known as “L-Ahhar Salve”.

On Saturday morning (a day before the actual feast) there would be a mass to give start to the celebrations with the parish priest going out to bless both bands (Socjeta’ Filarmonika Maria Mater Gratiae and the secondary band Banda San Mikiel) before the actual traditional march starts.

On Sunday there would be a big pilgrimage where a big van holding a big photo of Our Lady of Grace is followed by hundreds of people riding bicycles and motorcycles. Afterwards all drivers stop in front of the church and the parish priest blesses them all while giving them a souvenir to always remember their faith for Our Lady of Grace. In the evening a procession would go out, together with the statue of Our Lady of Grace. During this procession all the people who have a devotion for Our Lady thank her and praise her.

While during the day the sanctuary of Zabbar is an architectural beauty, during the night it is another beauty. During the 9 days of the feast the sanctuary is furnished with a skeleton of lamps, making it stand marvellously in the middle of the city.