Do you know Our Lady of Bliss? She is an invitation to joy

The beautiful church of Our Lady of Liesse is on the shore of Valletta below the Victoria Gate. In French Liesse means bliss, jubilation, and exaltation, deriving from the Latin word  “Lætitia.” The joy expressed in this title of Our Lady relates to three French brothers and knights of St. John of Jerusalem freed from Saracene captivity; it also exalts the conversion of a Muslim princess to the Catholic faith, and reflects the jubilant gratitude of all those who were blessed and granted graces through the miraculous image of Our Lady of Liesse, a black Madonna statue of Levantine origin. Liesse-Notre-Dame is the name of a town in Picardie, Northern France.

The history of this devotion is fascinating, and is a fusion of strong tradition and history of the Order of St, John when they were still in the Holy Land.

Notre-Dame de Liesse arrives in Malta

Malta is still dotted with buildings and artefacts from the era of the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem, today also known as the Knights of Malta. The Order’s first years in Malta were mostly focused on strengthening and consolidating the fortifications of the Grand Harbour. Valletta was built after the miraculous victory of the Great Siege of 1565, against the Ottoman Empire, that the Knights and Maltese had experienced together.

The Knights distributed the new City according to their particular needs, for instance, they erected their castles all around it, not in a dedicated area called il Collachio. Nevertheless, the necessary buildings were planned and erected so as to have a properly structured city, and as one would expect, a fortified city of the Order of St. John.  Apart from their castles, they also built several palaces, the conventual church, the hospital, and the national churches of the various languages. Through their churches, the Knights also introduced various devotions that were not known in Malta, one being that of Our Lady of Liesse.

The first church of Our Lady of Liesse was built at the beginning of the 17th century, commissioned by the French knights. They wanted to have a national church as well, as almost all the other languages had. So the French decided to introduce this devotion to Malta.

Although only one church was dedicated to this title, the several paintings and works of art reflect a substantial number of devotees. For example: paintings in the Curia and in private collections; a number of paintings depicating the happenings of the story of Our Lady of Liesse in the Dominican convent, and in the convent of the Franciscan Minor Friars, both in Valletta; and the ceiling vignnettes in the Grand Master’s Palace in Valletta. Also, in 1605, on the eve of the annual celebration of the Victory of the Great Siege, Grand Master Alof de Wignacourt presented his gioia – his gift to the Conventual church (later becoming St. John’s Co-Cathedral) of a set of vestments “made of cloth woven in gold and silver, and on the orphreys of the copes is depicted the tradition of Our Lady of Liesse.”

Of tradition and history

While protecting the fortress of Bersabee, near Ascalon, the three brothers and members of the noble house of Eppes in Picardie, fell in a Saracene ambush. They were considered among the best warrior monks. However, in the battle they were wounded and taken captives. After being sent to Cairo, they were given as gifts to the Caliph of Egypt. Prisoner knights were very prestigious persons to possess.

Bosio, one of the most prominent historians of the Order, recounted that the Knights’ behavior was very much in line with what the aristocracy expected of them, which made the Sultan even more appreciative of what he “possessed.” This made him fixated to convert them to the Muslim faith, which would have evidently carried great merit.

Strong tradition has it that they were sent to a failsafe prison, and that the Sultan sent the best Muslim scholars to lure them in and convert them to Islam – but all was in vain. The knights refused, in spite of promises of gold, honor, and many theological arguments. 

When it occurred to him that all the attempts had failed, the Sultan considered sending Ismeria, his daughter, who was very beautiful and also knowledgeable in Islam. His idea was that if her knowledge failed, their hearts would succumb to her beauty. Her visits became more frequent, however, for the “wrong” reason — her interest in the Blessed Virgin Mary flourished. From the knights she learned about the Christian God and Our Lady, which prompted her desire to embrace Christianity: So much so that the Princess asked the knights for an image of Notre Dame, but this was a problem, as they had none to offer! The tradition says that the Princess gave the three knights a chunk of wood, as well as tools, to make a sculpture of the Madonna. 

Since the knights had no sculpting skills whatsoever, they spent the time praying, and there, during the night, while they where sleeping, an angel visited their cell and transformed the wood into a beautiful image of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Another version of this tradition says that Our Lady sent Ismeria the statue by an angel, the statue of Our Lady of Liesse. Ismeria found the small effigy near her bed when she woke up in the morning. Whichever version is correct, Ismeria’s resolve to convert was strengthened when she saw the miraculous and resplendent image of Mary. 

The Sultan’s daughter helped the knights to escape, and actualy fled with them. Of course, she did not leave her beloved statue behind. Apart from her conversion to Christianity, she also took off because if she stayed her father would have killed her for helping them.

The journey was long and perilous, in fact, at certain point, Ismeria was so exhausted that she had to rest. All four fell asleep, and again, grace poured down from heaven — the group woke up in another place. They were in Picardie, close to the Eppes villa. They knelt down and humbly thanked the Virgin Mary. While passing through a garden the miraculous statue of of the Levantine Madonna became so heavy that it could not be moved: It was clear, the Virgin wanted a church to be built there, and indeed it was! A beautiful church to receive Our Lady of Liesse was erected (12th century). Ismeria was baptized in the magnificent Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Laon, and was christened Mary.

This devotion became very prominent and popular among the Knights of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, especially those of the French language. Our Lady of Liesse was introduced in the Maltese islands shortly after the Knights’ arrival in 1530.

At a time when new bridges need to be built between East and West, between Muslims and Christians, the figure of Ismeria is a symbol of unity. The Muslim princess is a reminder of Our Lady’s prominent presence in the Qur’an.

The Malta church

The first church dedicated to Our Lady of Joy was built in 1620, and the principal benefactor was the Ballius of Armenia, Seneschal Fra Giacomo de Chenu de Bellay. The first stone was blessed in November of that year. Grandmaster Alof de Wignacourt, together with the members of the Order and the clergy and the Prior of the Conventual Church of St. John the Baptist, took part in the pontifical ceremony that was held on the site where the church was to be built.

In 1740 the church was rebuilt – the one standing today. This church has a beautiful round shape with a number of pillars decorating it, from Ionic to Corinthian. A cornice, rising above the frieze, marks the origin of the church’s beautiful dome. The very original windows add to its architectural beauty.

Brother of St. John De La Salle

In the sacristy there are two inscriptions worth mentioning. One says that Fra Enrico De La Salle, brother of St. John the Baptist De La Salle, as executor of Fra Giocomo de Bellay, who had built the first church, established a foundation so that every Wednesday the Franciscans of St. Mary of Jesus (Ta’ Gieżu), of the Valletta convent, celebrate Holy Mass on the altar of Our Lady of Liesse.

The other inscription (dating 1667) says that the same monks are bound to chant the Salve Regina, the litany of Our Lady and the Ave Maria every Saturday in this church. These intentions are no longer celebrated in this church, but the Fransciscans still fulfill them at their convent.