The first reflection about the painting of Saint Leonard at the Ħaż-Żabbar Sanctuary Museum

I sought the Lord, and he answered me,
and delivered me from all my fears.
Look to him, and be radiant;
so your faces shall never be ashamed.
This poor soul cried, and was heard by the Lord,
and was saved from every trouble.

Psalm 34:4-6

It is said that where a little miracle would do, God will not perform an extremely outstanding one. Similarly, if a simple message would suffice, God will not utilise a complex one. It is for that reason that what is proclaimed each year in the Exsultet makes so much more sense: “O happy fault that earned so great, so glorious a Redeemer!” In other words, it must have been a most grievous offence for it to have required Christ to be the saviour. This seems to be the message weaved by the strands of an artwork—that was once an altarpiece in the jus patronatus chapel dedicated to Saint Leonard—and by means of which we may gain a slightly better understanding of divine grace and justice. And this ties in well with the eschatological theme that characterises the end of the liturgical year and the start of another: that is the part of the Church’s teaching concerned with death, judgement, and the final destiny of the soul and of humankind.

This painting was recently restored and is now preserved at the Our Lady of the Graces Sanctuary Museum, Ħaż-Żabbar. The chapel which originally housed this painting is in an area known as Ta’ Barkat on the outskirts of Ħaż-Żabbar. Sadly, the site has become derelict although parts of the chapel are still standing. The chapel was built in 1654 by Leonardo Sammut and, during his pastoral visit to Ħaż-Żabbar in 1659, Bishop Balaguer Camarasa wrote a most beautiful description of the painting. The description tells of an image, in the top centre of the painting, of the Blessed Virgin with the Child Jesus sat on her lap—attested by the word ‘Deiparae’, which is in the genitive case to show us that it is the Blessed Virgin bearing the Child Jesus. In the lower part, we see Saints Michael and Leonard.

The contrasting colours, which have escaped unscathed from the ruined chapel, seem to almost whisper at us. Without the message about the true meaning of justice, the figures of the Blessed Virgin with the Child Jesus in the centre, Saint Michael to her right, and Saint Leonard to her left, would have been without any vision and of little or no significance. But looking at the artwork patiently and with a critical eye brings to light a more profound understanding of it.

Pause and take time to silently gaze at this artistic masterpiece. Listen to what these figures, each one looking at you in a different way, are telling you together with the weave of the colours with which to create a shield of truth-seeking charity and loving justice.

Photo courtesy of Manuel Ciantar u Suzanne Ciantar Ferrito o.b.o. Amy Sciberras Conservators.