Unità documentaria 0231 - IL-KURĊIFISS MIRAKOLUŻ TAL-KNISJA TA' ĠIEŻU TAL-BELT VALLETTA

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The image is a picture of the miraculous Crucifix found for veneration at the Ta' Giezu Church in Valletta of the Franciscan Friars Minor. It falls under the responsibility of the ArchConfraternity of the Miraculous Crucifix in the same Church. The wooden crucifix is sculptured in an olive-tree trunk by a Franciscan lay brother from Sicily, Blessed Fra Umile da Petralia Soprana, in the 17th century. It was brought over to Malta by the Franciscan friars in 1636 and placed on the altar where it is still venerated. Legend holds that the sculptor woke up one morning and found the head of the effigy complete. Fra Umile sculptured many crucifixes like the one in Valletta, and they are still venerated particularly in Sicily and Calabria. Overleaf, one finds a prayer that is recited every Friday at 1500hrs, the time when Christ died on the Cross. An indulgence is gained when this prayer is said.

• maltese