The Virgin of Graces at the Capuchin Church in Gozo : Stefano Erardi’s venerated Madonna

Abstract

On 9th January 1693, a mild earth tremor that shook eastern Sicily was also felt in Malta. It was but two days later; that is, Sunday, 11th January 1693, that a devastating earthquake wrought havoc in Sicily, killing some 60,000 people and destroying a number of cities. The Maltese Islands were not spared from this massive tremor, though no lives were lost. Malta suffered structural damages, including the partial destruction of the old mediaeval cathedral church at Mdina, while in Gozo, the lofty bell tower of the Matrice church was severely shaken, and the drum of the dome of St George’s church was seriously destabilised (Vella, 23–31). The deliverance from further destruction was interpreted by many as a divine act through the intercession of the Holy Virgin and the heavenly protectors of the Maltese Islands. In Gozo, the authorities manifested their gratitude towards the intercessory power of Our Lady by pledging to hold an annual procession from the Matrice to a small, rural chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Graces. They also commissioned an altarpiece for this same chapel and bound themselves to contribute an annual donation of 10 scudi towards this chapel. [Excerpt]