In the heart of Sliema, at the bustling corner of Tower Road and The Strand, stands a simple yet striking statue. It’s not just any statue, but one that commemorates a series of apparitions that took place over a century ago, halfway across the globe in Portugal. This is Malta’s connection to the story of Our Lady of Fatima.

In 1917, in the small village of Fatima, Portugal, three shepherd children reported seeing visions of the Virgin Mary. These apparitions, which occurred on the 13th day of six consecutive months, became known as the Fatima apparitions. The children, Lucia dos Santos and her cousins Jacinta and Francisco Marto, claimed that the Virgin Mary appeared to them, delivering messages of peace and warning of impending chastisements if humanity did not amend its ways.

The story of Fatima spread like wildfire, reaching the shores of Malta through the Catholic Church’s extensive network. The apparitions resonated with Maltese Catholics, who saw in them a message of hope and divine intervention in troubled times. The First World War was raging, and the world was in the grip of uncertainty and fear.

In Malta, the Fatima apparitions sparked a wave of devotion. The Archconfraternity of Our Lady of Fatima was established in 1920, and a statue of Our Lady of Fatima was commissioned. This statue, now located in Sliema, was originally placed in the courtyard of the Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Valletta. It was a symbol of hope and faith in challenging times.

But Malta’s connection to Fatima went beyond a statue. In 1951, a shrine dedicated to Our Lady of Fatima was built in the village of Żebbuġ. The Żebbuġ shrine, located on the outskirts of the village, is a place of pilgrimage for many Maltese Catholics. It’s a peaceful spot, surrounded by greenery, where people come to pray and reflect.

Today, the devotion to Our Lady of Fatima remains strong in Malta. Every year, on the 13th of each month from May to October, a procession is held at the Żebbuġ shrine. The streets of Żebbuġ come alive with song and prayer as the statue of Our Lady of Fatima is carried through the village. It’s a testament to the enduring power of the Fatima story and its connection to Malta.

In Sliema, the statue at the corner of Tower Road and The Strand is a reminder of this connection. It’s a place where people stop to pray, to light a candle, or simply to reflect. It’s a symbol of Malta’s century-old connection to a global phenomenon of faith and hope.

As we approach the 105th anniversary of the Fatima apparitions, it’s a reminder of the power of faith to unite people across time and space. It’s a story that continues to resonate, from the streets of Fatima to the corners of Sliema, and everywhere in between.

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“metaDescription”: “Discover Malta’s unique connection to the Fatima apparitions, from the statue in Sliema to the shrine in Żebbuġ. Explore the enduring power of this global story of faith and hope.”,
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