Joining a long-standing tradition of Detroit’s Maltese-American community, Michigan Area members participated in the “Festa il-Vitorja” Mass on Sunday, September 7, at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Detroit.

The Mass, held to honor Our Lady of Victory, commemorates several great events in European history, including the end of the Great Siege of Malta in 1565 and Malta’s deliverance during WWII.

September 8, the Solemnity of the Nativity of Mary, is tied to the Great Siege: The Ottoman Empire set out to crush Christianity in Europe and established a base in Malta, then held by the Knights Hospitaller (Order of Malta). So critical was Malta’s position to Europe that Queen Elizabeth I observed, “If the Turks should prevail against the isle of Malta, it is uncertain what further peril might follow to the rest of Christendom.” Despite being vastly outnumbered, the Maltese forces withstood the siege and drove out the invaders; on September 8, 1565, the remaining Turkish army left Malta.

The Great Siege also has a connection to Our Lady of Philermo, patroness of the Order. During the Great Siege, the miraculous icon of Our Lady of Philermo was housed in the Church of San Lorenzo in Birgu, Malta, also known as “Victorious City.” According to legend, a pure white dove came to rest upon the icon and remained there for hours as a sign that the island would soon be delivered from the siege.

September 8 also marks the end of the Siege of Valletta by the French (1798-1800) during the reign of Napoleon, who expelled the Knights of Malta from the island. And during WWII, Malta was under siege yet again, this time by Italian Axis forces bombing the island over three years. The siege was lifted on September 8, 1943 when Italy capitulated to the Allies. The Maltese credit all these victories to Our Lady’s intercession, hence the title, “Maria Bambina il-Vitorja,” Our Lady of Victory. 

This year’s celebration was the 16th annual “Festa il-Vitorja,” sponsored by the Maltese American Benevolent Society of Detroit. Mass was celebrated by Msgr. Charles Kosanke, pastor of Most Holy Trinity. Dames and Knights from the Michigan Area participated in the procession of Our Lady of Victory, featuring a statue of Our Lady commissioned in Malta.

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