February 20th: The Dedication of the Principal Church of Our Order

[Solemnity in the Church itself; Feast elsewhere.]

We remember on this day the dedication of the Church of St John the Baptist in Valetta on the Island of Malta. It was dedicated as the principal church of our Order, where through many generations the members of the Order joined fraternally and confraternally to worship the Holy Trinity, the Lord our God, to venerate Our Lady the Immaculate Mother of God under the title of Our Lady of Philermos, and to seek her intercession as well as the intercession of all the saints, most especially of all our brothers, sisters, confrères, chaplains, supporters, and associates who have joined our founder, Blessed Fra’ Gerard, in his community in heaven.

Let this day remind all of us of our close continuing ties in Christian love with the living, the future, and the deceased members of our Order.

Collect

Lord our God, every year you renew the day when your holy temple was consecrated: listen to the prayers of your people, that you may ever receive here a pure worship and that we may receive the fullness of redemption. We ask this through our lord Jesus Christ your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

This information was provided by Fra’ James-Michael von Stroebel. Click here to view the complete Calendar of Liturgical Celebrations Proper to the Order.

Pictured above is the inside of the Church of St. John the Baptist.