Xaghra Parish » Gallery » 2009 » 18 NOV 09 - VIATICUM AS OF OLD
MEMORIES OF A BOY LIVING IN THOSE DAYS - UP TO SIXTY FIVE YEARS AGO - Any time of the day or the night the bell known as Tal-Vjatku (the one before the biggest) in the church tower used to toll to inform the parish that someone was on the brink of death and was going to receive the viaticum at home. Those were the only instances when the Holy Eucharist would leave the church. A priest holding theBlessed Sacramentwould travel under a specialumbrella, the one seen in these pictures. Preceding him would be boys normally under the age of twelve each carrying a lit lamp (fanal) and one in front ringing a sizeable bell. Many people would follow reciting the Rosary. Arriving at the house of the moribund the faithful would stay waiting outside reciting the Litany and praying for the dying person. Sometimes the moribund's healthwould havereached such a critical stagethat he could not evenopen his mouth to swallowthe Holy Host. In those casesthe procession would return to the church where benediction would be imparted before the Holy Host is placed back in the tabernacle. Many times this happened during the night and even on cold and windy ones in winter. The boys may have even gone to bed but they would just the same leave home and go to accompany the viaticum -time, weatherand distance were of no concern to them. I remember how had it happened during the day, life in the streets where the viaticum passed through would come to a stanstill until the viaticum passed. People not following would stop andgo down on both kneesin thedusty and stony streetsto pay homage to the Blessed Sacrament. Today is a totally different story. Thesick and bedridden receive the Holy Eucharist daily at home by dedicated priests who go round the town every morning, nothing of the above mentioned routine. Photos are courtesy of Marvic Bajada.
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