Basilica of Our Lady of Victories
In 1581 a church dedicated to the Nativity of Our Lady was built as a monument of the glorious victory of 1565. This church became a parish in the same year, and work to enlarge it was commenced on the 8th September 1595. It was officially consecrated in 1743, proclaimed Collegiate Insigni in 1783, and honoured with the title of Basilica by Pope Benedict XV in 1921. A small chapel dedicated to the Purification of Our Lady, built and annexed to the Basilica in 1750 was rebuilt after being destroyed by enemy aircraft during the attack on the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious during the Second World War.
The origin of the statue is not certain but it is believed that it came to be in an extraordinary manner – from the sea. It so happened that two of the city’s citizens were sailing the Adriatic when a ship’s figurehead was found floating in the water. The two pleaded with their captain to let them take the figurehead to their parish, as to them it was the image of Our Lady. Another legend regarding the statue of “il-Bambina”, is that the statue was brought over on a ship, which was forced to winter on the island due to bad weather but never ended up leaving. Whichever the origin of the statue may be, it will probably never be known with certainty. However over the centuries, as a result of great devotion, it has been adorned with jewels and a crown of gold by the local people.
The Basilica was completely demolished during World War II and reconstructed in the 1950’s. Work on the new church was finished in 1957 when it was re-consecrated.
Jesus the Redeem
This statue is in reality, one of a group of eight life size statues representing various stations in the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ, which are found in the Parish of Senglea.
No records have been found about the origins of the statue of the Redeemer, and its maker is unknown. But it surely dates back to at least the early years of the eighteenth century.
However, it’s very early attraction as a centre of devotion, initially for the inhabitants of Senglea, and subsequently for the whole population of Malta, can be traced back to the very early years of its existence. Suffice it to say, that when during the second decade of the eighteenth century the Confraternity of the Holy Cross, erected in the Collegiate church, was projecting the construction of an oratory annexed to the parish church, where could hold its congregations and devotions.