The Grand Priory will keep the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary on the transferred date of Monday 9 September.

This feast is of special significance for the Order of Malta. First, it is on this feast that we venerate Our Lady under the title “Our Lady of Philermo” - you can read more about this title and devotion here.

Secondly, on this day in 1565, by Our Lady’s intercession the Great Siege of Malta by the Ottomans was lifted, following four months of heroic struggle by the overwhelmingly outnumbered knights led by Jean de Valette. It is on account of this providential victory that the Mass on today’s feast has ever since been called the ‘Victory Mass’

Holy Mass will be celebrated at 6:30pm at the church of Our Lady of the Assumption and St Gregory, Warwick Street.