Sunday, 8th – Gozo. This is Malta’s most sacred of Marian Shrines – The Madonna ta’ Pinu. I have posted shots of the church in previous occasions. The picture on the left shows the Madonna painting which has been crowned personally by Pope John Paul II and bears a golden rose which was given it personally by Pope Benedict XVI. The picture on the right shows some of the votive offerings donated to the Madonna for graces received. The offerings come from all over the world. One that impressed me was from a Security Guard who was on duty at the Twin Towers during the 9/11 attack. He considered he was saved through the intercession of Our Lady of Ta’ Pinu.
The name Madonna ta’ Pinu arises from the story that Mary appeared to a farmer woman while she was crossing the fields of a certain Pinu on the way home from her work in her fields. Although the apparition has not been proved (it wasn’t negated either) there is a lot of devotion for Mary under this title. Christine always makes it a point that we visit the shrine everytime we go to Gozo.
Joke: A preacher and his flock at a very poor church in the hills took up collections, baked cakes and washed cars for months to get enough money to buy paint for the church exterior which was bare and weatherbeaten. Finally they bought enough paint for the job and all joined together on a Saturday morning to complete it. When they were about half finished they realized that they were going to run out of paint before finishing. The preacher said, "Its a water base paint, just thin it down with water." They continued painting and thinning until the color started losing its depth and when they finally finished it was dark green at the top, light green in the middle and a very light green (almost white) at the bottom. The preacher and his flock were standing on a nearby hill admiring their work when a dark cloud appeared and the heavens opened up with a deluge of rain which washed all of the newly applied paint off the church. The preacher was in tears and the congregation was stunned at all the hard work they had done for nothing.
Just then there was a huge lightening flash followed by the roll of thunder and a loud voice from the heavens rang out, "REPAINT, REPAINT AND THIN NO MORE."
Thank you so much for looking and for all your lovely comments and the fav's on yesterday's picture.
Nice image, very interesting history, Dioney. Super joke, made me smile a lot! Many thanks for your lovely sentiments yesterday, I will keep in touch and look in on your postings whenever possible. I've enjoyed our rapport but can't maintain daily postings myself, as I've explained. Take care. Best wishes from us both.
