Malta’s exvotos tell stories of gratitude and hope

An ex-voto is some type of offering presented to a saint or to God, signifying devotion following a vow or gratitude for divine assistance, generally in a crisis. Ex voto[Latin]is short forex voto suscepto, meaning “from the vow made.” This tradition emphasizes a personal relationship between God and believers, which is central to Christianity, epitomized in the concept of God as a loving and caring father.

Ex-votos can take various forms, including paintings, metal body part replicas (to signify healing of a certain illness or disability), or modern artifacts such as photographs and newspaper clippings.

The Maltese Islands, in particular, exemplify a rich tradition of ex-votos, which serve not only as personal tokens of thanks but also as testimonies of divine interventionfor future generations.

The diversity of ex-votos in Maltese churches is noteworthy, with offerings including baby clothes, crutches, medical items, handcuffs, pieces of sails and ropes, monetary gifts, and the list goes on. Entire churches built as ex-votos stand as monumental examples of vows fulfilled. The traditional ex-voto painting typically depicts the scene of an event, the icon of the Madonna or saint involved, and an inscription often reading “VFGA” (Votum Fecit Gratiam Accepit), meaning “I made the vow and I received the grace.”

Maritime ex-votos are particularly illustrative, portraying dramatic sea calamities and miraculous survivals, something naturally commonplace on an island. While spiritually significant, votive paintings also hold immense historical value, providing unique insights into past maritime practices, domestic life, and landscapes of the Maltese Islands.

Marian ex-votos, dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, significantly outnumber those offered to other saints. Malta boasts 359 churches, over 200 of which are dedicated to the Virgin Mary and are known for miraculous graces attributed to her intercession. The profusion of ex-votos in these sanctuaries, which range from handwritten notes to baby clothes and even a motorcycle helmet, evidences the profound trust the Maltese people repose in the Mother of God, particularly during all kinds of crises.

These offerings are both expressions of gratitude and requests for divine intervention. While some ex-voto paintings may appear rudimentary, they remain potent symbols of Marian devotion in Malta. Notable examples include works by renowned artists such as Mattia Preti and Anton Inglott, who created paintings for significant churches as acts of thanksgiving.

A genre, with specialized artists

Additionally, many ex-voto paintings are crafted by Madonnari, artists specializing in this genre, who skillfully captured the miraculous events and the donors’ experiences. Despite lacking the technique and fame of Preti or Inglott, these artists excelled in conveying the essence of the donors’ gratitude and devotion.

Malta and Gozo are replete with sanctuaries housing extensive collections of ex-votos, particularly those linked to the graces of Our Lady. Notable sites include the Madonna Ta’ Pinu National Shrine in Gozo, Our Lady of Mercy in Qrendi, Our Lady of Graces sanctuary in Żabbar, and the Malta National Shrine in Mellieħa. These sanctuaries, adorned with a plethora of ex-votos, attract pilgrims and visitors alike, offering a tangible connection to the island’s rich heritage of faith and devotion. In some cases, the churches themselves stand as grand ex-votos, embodying the fulfillment of vows and the deep spiritual history of the Maltese archipelago.

In short, the tradition of ex votos in the Maltese Islands is a profound expression of faith, gratitude, and historical continuity. These offerings encapsulate personal and communal narratives of divine intervention, underscoring the enduring bond between the Maltese people and their religious beliefs. Through these tangible tokens, the legacy of faith and devotion is preserved and celebrated across generations.

Following are a few examples of sites and artifacts connected to ex-voto traditions, which reflect the Islands’ deep devotional history.

Votive Paintings and Other Artefacts

Mellieħa National Marian Shrine

The Mellieħa National Marian Shrine, the oldest Marian shrine in Malta, is situated on the site of a cave that is believed to have been linked to the founding of Christianity on the island. According to tradition, the cave became a Christian site following the shipwreck of St. Paul in AD 60.

Additionally, a group of Catholic bishops is said to have consecrated the grotto as a church in 409. The current structure, built between the 16th and 18th centuries, includes part of the natural cave and has welcomed various dignitaries over the centuries, including St. Pope John Paul II in 1990.

According to legend, the Evangelist Luke painted a fresco here during his time in Malta. However, the present icon of the Theotokos Hodegetria (She who shows the way to the Savior), dates to the 12th/13th century and is of Siculo-Byzantine origin. The shrine has long been a pilgrimage site, where believers have left ex-votos in gratitude for graces received through the intercession of Our Lady. The offerings include paintings by artists such as Stefano Erardi and the Madonnari, as well as prosthetics, baby clothes, and maritime rigging.

During the Great Siege of Malta, Don García de Toledo is said to have visited the shrine. In 1614, the church was ransacked during an Ottoman attack, damaging the main fresco and statues. Grand Master Alof de Wignacourt is said to have visited the shrine with regularity following the attack, thereby reinforcing the site’s veneration.

National pilgrimages were undertaken to the shrine during the cholera epidemic of 1888 and again in 1949. The shrine complex encompasses an underground grotto chapel, hewn from limestone by a Sicilian devotee in 1644, featuring a white statue of Our Lady holding the Holy Infant. The grotto has been the site of numerous miraculous events, particularly notable in 1887, 1888, and 1948, when witnesses claimed to observe the statue moving its right hand to make the Sign of the Cross. These events are meticulously documented in the shrine’s archives.

Madonna Ta’ Pinu National Marian Shrine, Gozo

The origins of the Ta’ Pinu shrine are ancient, centered around a small chapel initially known as Ta’ Ġentile and later as Ta’ Pinu, after Pinu Gauci, who became its procurator in 1598. The chapel gained fame in 1883 when Karmni Grima from Għarb heard a mysterious voice urging her to pray at the chapel. This event, coupled with subsequent miraculous healings, transformed the modest chapel into a major Marian shrine. Franġisk Portelli, who also experienced a miraculous event, witnessed his mother’s recovery after praying to the Blessed Virgin of Ta’ Pinu.

Ta’ Pinu is renowned as “The Church of Miracles,” with its basilica adorned