Franciscan Church of St Mary of Jesus

Church of St Mary of Jesus
Church of St Mary of Jesus
Knisja ta' Ġieżu
	Façade of the church
	Church of St Mary of Jesus
	35°53′47″N 14°30′48″E / 35.89639°N 14.51333°E
Location	Valletta
Country	Malta
Denomination	Roman Catholic
History
Status	Active
Founded	1584
Dedication	St Mary of Jesus
Architecture
Functional status	Conventual church
Architect(s)	Girolamo Cassar
Architectural type	Church
Style	Baroque and Mannerist
Administration
Archdiocese	Malta
Clergy
Archbishop	Charles Scicluna
Rector	Joe Caruana

The Franciscan Church of St Mary of Jesus (Convent of the Minori Osservanti) is a church in Valletta, Malta, which is dedicated to St Mary of Jesus and is cared for by the religious order of Friars Minor. It came to be popularly known by the Maltese as Ta' Ġieżu. Ta' Ġieżu is a local corruption of Ta' Ġesù (of Jesus).^[1]

History

In 1571 the Friars Minor were granted a piece of land in Valletta on which to build a church. Work began shortly afterwards, following the design of Girolamo Cassar.^[2] The façade was replaced in 1680 by Mederico Blondel. Numerous grandmasters contributed lavishly towards the embellishment of the church which now hosts various works of art.

The church is the location of the Carnival tragedy of 1823, when many boys were crushed to death in a corridor of the building while waiting to receive bread.

Description

The main attraction is undoubtedly the impressive Miraculous Crucifix (in Maltese: Il-Kurċifiss Mirakuluż),^[3] by the Sicilian friar Innocenzo da Petralia Sottana around 1630. It immediately attracted the attention of the people.^[4] Accompanying the crucifix is a painting of Our Lady of Sorrows by Stefano Erardi.

The titular painting is the work of the Sicilian artist Antonio Catalano. It is dated 1600 and depicts the Visitation of Our Lady to St Elizabeth.

The first victim of the 1813–14 plague epidemic in Malta, a young girl, was buried inside the church, at the lack of knowledge by everyone of the circumstances of her death.^[5]

The church hosts the grave of Blessed Nazju Falzon (1813–1865), a diocesan cleric greatly venerated by the Maltese, who taught Catholic catechism to British sailors stationed in Malta.

The church building is listed on the National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands.^[6]