On June 22, we celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Ta' Pinu. On that day, she called a peasant girl to her: "Come, come, come."
On June 22, the faithful, especially in Malta and Gozo but also around the world, celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Ta' Pinu.
The beginnings of the devotion to the Blessed Virgin of Ta’ Pinu are so ancient that they are lost in the midst of time. Before taking the name of Ta’ Pinu the local church was a small chapel dedicated to the Assumption, and we know it had already been rebuilt in 1545, meaning, of course, that another structure was there well before then.
But the feast day of June 22 is actually somewhat recent: It was on that day in 1883 that the Virgin called to a young woman, Karmni Grima (Carmen Grima in the Maltese language), on her way home from the fields. According to an ancient text kept at the shrine:
The mysterious voice called her three times: "Come! Come! Come!"
Karmni was astounded, because at that time of the day, the fields were deserted, and no one could have possibly spoken to her. [When] she resumed her way, the same mysterious voice again told her: "Come, come, today, because a year will have passed before you will be able to visit this place again." So she walked towards the chapel in awe figuring that she would see the Blessed Virgin. On approaching the chapel, … she peeped through the little aperture in the door pane but saw no one.
Recovering her composure, she entered the chapel and as she prayed, a feeling of ineffable rapture gripped her. …The same voice addressed her again: "Recite three Hail Marys in remembrance of the three days during which my body lay in the tomb" – and so she did.
The rest of the story can be read in various articles here at Aleteia, but reports that Our Lady had spoken to Karmni and that some time afterward, the Lady started bringing about miracles, quickly brought the shrine to renewed popularity.
The tradition of Our Lady having been in a tomb for three days, obviously mirroring Christ's time, is local to various areas. However, it is rooted in the idea, held especially in the East, that prior to the Assumption, Our Lady went through some sort of sleep -- the Assumption feast is celebrated as the Dormition -- though it is not known if this was the sleep of death. The Church does not have an official teaching on this, and only affirms that Mary was assumed body and soul into heaven.
The Ta’ Pinu Marian Shrine is also known today as “The Church of Miracles,” because of Our Lady's generosity to the faithful who visit her there.
See this article about a "miracle" worked for Pope John Paul II.
The shrine is today a large and renovated church that draws people to the island of Gozo from around the world.
The prayer that is often said there is perfect for all the trials of our time, both personal and social. (The prayer is found below the image).
Those who kneel before her image offer this prayer:
Prayer to Our Lady of Ta' Pinu
O Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, raised with body and soul to heavenly glory, thou, who invited Carmela Grima to come and pray here, thus selecting this place as a channel of your abundant graces to those who come to seek your help, look pitifully at the upset world and as you saved from sorrow the spouses of Cana, so deliver humanity from the threatening spiritual and social calamities.
Make all men love each other with fraternal love. Protect, most compassionate Mother, our families of which the human society is formed that they may live a happy, honest, and holy life in unity of lasting marriage.
Above all, I beg you, have pity on me suffering under the cross which Almighty God made me bear. If it is not detrimental to my soul grant me that (mention the special grace you wish to obtain).
If, however, it is not God's will that I obtain this grace, help me, I beseech You, to accept willingly His will, that I may ensure that my earthly sufferings help me to procure eternal happiness.
Three "Hail Marys" in memory of the 3 days Mary's body remained in the tomb.
By Superior's permission.
