THE TITULAR PAINTING

 THE TITULAR PAINTING OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION IN THE SANCTUARY

Titular Choir Pane. Painter: Pietro Paola Caruana (1794-1852).

The Sanctuary painting of the Immaculate Conception, which dominates the marble facade of the church choir, was painted by Pietro Paolo Caruana (1794 – 1852) in 1828. The idea behind this painting was that of Canon  Ludovico Mifsud Tommasi, who was a theologian, poet and great devotee of Our Lady.

This painting was not immediately accepted and it was only in 1850 that it was placed in the church. The old painting, Carlo Gimach's work (1651 – 1730), is now in the sacristy of the parish.

On 25 June 1905, Cardinal Domenico ferrata, on behalf of Pope Pius X, crowned the image of the Immaculate Mary with a golden crown on the head of Our Lady. Fifty years later, on 25 July 1955, Cardinal Federico Tedeschini placed a gold and diamond sculpture around Our Lady's head.

This painting, together with the statue of the Conception, was taken in January 1941 to the Basilica of Birkirkara for shelter from enemy bombs in World War II. They were brought back to Cospicua on a pilgrimage from Birkirkara to Cospicua, on 19 November 1944 as a form of gratitude for the divine intervention that the Church did not suffer any damage during the war. And one must take into account that Cospicua being a city in the Grand Harbour area was a prime target for the bombardments.

THE CHURCH TODAY.  FACADE RENOVATED A FEW YEARS BACK.