Lija - Malta
Right in the middle of the island of Malta there is a small church which was built by one of the Grand Masters 302 years ago in 1664.
The church is dedicated to Our lady of Miracles and a painting of Her under that title is enshrined in a shallow niche on the side wall inside the tiny church.
The picture shows Our Lady sitting with the Child Jesus who is standing on her lap. Her Right hand directs attention to her child, while she gazes questioningly at the viewer.
The story of Our Lady of Miracles in Lija starts in 1746 when it was noticed that the face of the Madonna in the picture was bathed in sweat and tears. The people of the parish informed the authorities who could not find any natural explanation for this phenomenom so they prayed and waited. The next day a violent earthquake shook Malta . However, there was not one death and no damage to property despite the apparent ferocity of the quake.
This miraculous escape of a whole nation from harm was attributed to the intercession of Mary the Mother of God and the picture which had signaled the warning became a focus of pilgrimage.
Following this event, the shrine became a place of thanksgiving and prayer. So many miracles and favours have been attributed to the intercession of Our Lady of Miracles that it has remained a special place of prayer to this day.
Our Lady of Miracles shrine in Lija is an important example of Our Lady's concern for the welfare of her children. As many people know, Our Lady is warning mankind in many places around the world of a time of chastisement ahead. More than this, she is asking for conversion, prayer, and fasting to soften this blow. She says that this is the most important part of her messages; not the fear of an impending doom but the hope, comfort, joy and healing that turning to God will bring.
Each Wednesday morning a group of people meet to pray under her special protection and form a weekly pilgramage to the shrine.
Devotions in honour of Our Lady of Miracles are held every Wednesday morning from 9.30 a.m. to 11.00 a.m.
To arrive at the church of the Madonna of Miracles one has to take Bus No. 40 from Valletta. After passing St. Catherine's Hospital, it will stop at the Bus Terminus which is a short walk from the church.
For more information regarding this shrine in Malta contact,
The parish Church,
Lija,
Malta.