The Jubilee Year 2025, a time of renewal and grace, invites us to reflect on the role of prayer in history - how faith and hope have sustained nations, inspired victories, and transformed lives. Nowhere is this more evident than in Malta, an archipelago whose story is one of faith, hope, resilience, and divine intervention. From the moment St. Paul was shipwrecked on its shores, to the Great Siege of 1565, plagues and natural disasters, to the miraculous events of World War II, prayer has shaped the destiny of this small but mighty nation.
St. Paul’s arrival: Prayer and providence
In the year AD 60, St. Paul, en route to Rome as a prisoner, found himself shipwrecked off the coast of Malta. What seemed like a disaster became one of the most pivotal moments in Christian history. The Book of Acts describes how the Maltese people welcomed Paul and his companions with “unusual kindness” (Acts 28:2). Paul, in turn, brought them the greatest gift - the Good News of the Lord. His prayers healed the sick, including Publius’ (the Roman governor) father, and many came to believe in Christ.
Paul’s presence in Malta was no coincidence - it was divine providence. As Pope Benedict XVI remarked during his visit to Malta in 2010, “Of all the gifts brought to these shores in the course of your people’s history, the gift brought by Paul was the greatest of all.” This moment marked the beginning of Malta’s 2,000-year-old Christian heritage, a faith that would sustain the island through its darkest hours.
The Great Siege: Victory through prayer
Fast forward 15 centuries to 1565 - Malta [and Christianity] once again stood on the brink of destruction. The Ottoman Empire, at the height of its power, launched an invasion, determined to crush this Christian stronghold. The defenders - the Knights of St. John and the Maltese people - were outnumbered nearly five to one. Yet, through their unwavering faith and prayer, they stood firm.
Grand Master Jean Parisot de la Valette led the knights in constant prayer, especially before the Damaskinì icon of Our Lady of Damascus, today in the Greek Catholic Church in Valletta. The defenders entrusted their survival to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and on September 8, the Feast of the Nativity of Mary, the Ottomans unexpectedly abandoned the siege. Against all odds, Malta had prevailed.
In gratitude, La Valette dedicated the victory to Our Lady, and the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary also became the feast of Our lady of Victory, laying his sword at the altar of the Church of Our Lady of Damascus, at the time in Birgu (renamed Città Vittoriosa). To honor her intercession, he founded a new city – Valletta - and ensured its first building was a church dedicated to the Nativity of Mary and her victory. This devotion soon spread beyond Malta, inspiring the Holy League’s victory at the Battle of Lepanto (1571), after Pope St. Pius V called for a universal recitation of the Rosary.
World War II: Hope in the darkest hour
Centuries later, during World War II, Malta once again found itself under siege. Its strategic position in the Mediterranean made it a prime target for relentless Axis bombings. The island suffered over 3,000 air raids, making it the most heavily bombed place on Earth at the time.
Yet, amid the devastation, the Maltese people turned to prayer, just as they had in 1565. Two extraordinary events (among others) became symbols of divine intervention:
The Santa Marija Convoy (August 15, 1942): With Malta on the brink of surrender, a desperate Allied mission, known as Operation Pedestal, attempted to deliver supplies. Against overwhelming odds, only five ships survived the attack, reaching Malta on the Feast of the Assumption of Mary. The arrival of these ships, particularly the battered SS Ohio, was hailed as a miracle and is still commemorated today as "Il-Konvoj ta’ Santa Marija.”
The Miracle of Mosta Dome (April 1942): During an air raid, a 500-kilogram bomb crashed through the massive dome of the Rotunda of Mosta, where 300 people were gathered in prayer. Miraculously, the bomb did not explode. To this day, the unexploded bomb is displayed in the church as a testament to the power of prayer and divine protection.
A pilgrimage of hope and gratitude
Malta’s story is a testament to the fact that prayer is not passive - it transforms history. For those seeking to deepen their faith during the Jubilee Year, walking in the footsteps of Malta’s faith-filled past is a powerful experience. The Peregrinatio Sancti Pavli Apostoli AD 60 invites pilgrims to retrace Paul’s journey, from St. Paul’s Bay to St. Paul’s Grotto in Rabat, where he is believed to have stayed and preached.
For those drawn to Marian devotion, Malta offers unique pilgrimage routes such as the Camino Mariæ Melitensis, which weaves together the island’s rich Marian heritage. These journeys are not just walks through history—they are living testaments to the power of faith, hope, perseverance, and divine grace.
Prayer as the heart of Malta’s legacy
From St. Paul’s shipwreck to the Great Siege, from the Santa Marija Convoy to the Miracle of Mosta, Malta’s history is one of enduring faith and hope. The Jubilee Year 2025 calls us to remember that, even in the face of overwhelming odds, prayer is our greatest strength.
The words of St. Pius V, spoken in the wake of Malta’s 16th-century victory, still ring true today:
“The Rosary is a weapon against the evils of the world today.”
Malta’s history proves that prayer is not just a comfort - it is a force that changes the course of history. As we step into this Jubilee Year, let us answer the call to prayer, drawing inspiration from Malta’s unwavering trust in God’s providence and Mary’s intercession.
This content has been brought to you in partnership with VisitMalta.
