The Jubilee Year 2025 invites us to be Pilgrims of Hope, rediscovering the ways in which faith and hope has shaped lives, communities, and even entire nations. Nowhere is this more vividly expressed than in ex-voto offerings–tangible signs of gratitude for graces received, a tradition deeply woven into the fabric of Maltese Catholic spirituality. These humble yet powerful tokens, found in sanctuaries and churches across Malta and Gozo, testify to miracles, protection, and transformation, each one a story of faith fulfilled.
In times of crisis–illness, shipwreck, war, natural disasters or personal struggles the Maltese people have turned to God and His saints, especially the Blessed Virgin Mary, seeking divine intervention. When their prayers were answered, they fulfilled their vows with offerings: paintings, silver hearts, crutches, baby clothes, ship masts, and even entire churches built as acts of thanksgiving. In this Jubilee Year, these ex-votos remind us that hope is never in vain –it is the foundation of a life rooted in faith.
A tradition as old as Malta’s Christian identity
The practice of making votive offerings predates Christianity, with archaeological evidence showing that Neolithic temples in Malta were once filled with offerings of gratitude to the gods. When the Maltese embraced Christianity following St. Paul’s shipwreck in AD 60, this practice was transformed into an act of personal devotion to the one true God. By the Middle Ages, ex-voto paintings became the most popular form of thanksgiving, particularly in maritime communities, where sailors and merchants often found themselves in peril at sea.
One of the oldest votive paintings in Malta, dating back to 1631, is housed in Our Lady of Graces of Żabbar. This sanctuary alone contains numerous votive paintings, many depicting miraculous rescues at sea, where ships caught in violent storms were saved after desperate prayers to the Blessed Virgin Mary. The letters VFGA - Votum Fecit, Gratiam Accepit (“I made the vow and I received the grace”)—are inscribed on many of these artworks, bearing witness to lives changed through faith.
Marian devotion and the power of hope
In Malta, Marian ex-votos vastly outnumber those dedicated to other saints, a reflection of the Maltese people’s deep trust in the Mother of God. Many shrines, such as Our Lady of Mellieħa, Our Lady of Mercy in Qrendi, and the National Shrine of Ta’ Pinu in Gozo, are filled with these offerings. Some are masterpieces, painted by renowned artists like Mattia Preti and Anton Inglott, while others were created by artists dedicated specifically to producing ex-voto paintings. Though simple in execution, each one is a heartfelt testimony to the hope and gratitude of those who received divine assistance.
One of the most remarkable votive churches is the Immaculate Conception of Sarria in Floriana. Built in 1677 by the Knights of St. John, it was an act of thanksgiving for deliverance from the plague, a moment of profound national crisis. Designed and decorated by Mattia Preti, the church and its artwork remain a powerful reminder that faith sustains hope even in the darkest times. It is the only church designed by Preti, which is also a showcase of his masterpieces.
The Sanctuary of the Assumption of Taż-Żellieqa, Għargħur, another remarkable site of Marian devotion, owes its origin to a miraculous healing. According to tradition, in 1560 the Virgin Mary appeared to a sick young woman and cured her. Out of gratitude, the girl built a chapel dedicated to the Assumption. Though rebuilt in 1650, it retains its spiritual significance and continues to inspire devotion among locals, who still bring their children to be blessed here.
The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Good Hope, in Mosta, is tucked into a valley beneath Malta’s iconic Mosta Dome. This small church was built above a cave where a young woman hid from pirates in the 18th century. Saved through what she believed was Mary’s intercession, she fulfilled her vow by constructing this chapel. The sanctuary now includes a statue of the girl and ex-votos left by pilgrims who credit Mary with healing and protection.
From the past to the present: The continuity of faith
Though the materials may have changed over the centuries, the tradition of ex-votos remains alive today. Alongside traditional paintings and silver hearts, modern offerings include photographs, newspaper clippings, prosthetics and even digital testimonies. The Shrine of Ta’ Pinu in Gozo continues to receive ex-votos from people who have experienced miraculous healings, and new maritime ex-votos are still placed in Żabbar by those who survive storms at sea.
One of the most recent ex-votos, donated in 2012, tells the story of Carmen Axiaq, whose husband, Mario, was lost at sea. Through fervent prayer, she pleaded for his safe return, promising to make an offering if he survived. Against all odds, Mario was rescued, and Carmen fulfilled her vow by commissioning a votive painting, continuing a centuries-old tradition of faith renewed.
A journey through Malta’s sacred sites
For those seeking to immerse themselves in this living testimony of faith, Malta and Gozo offer countless sanctuaries filled with ex-votos, each one a reminder that God’s providence continues to work in the lives of His people. Sites such as:
The National Shrine of Our Lady of Mellieħa, home to centuries-old votive offerings from pilgrims who sought Mary’s intercession.
The Madonna Tal-Ħerba in Birkirkara, known for its vast collection of maritime ex-votos.
Our Lady of Good Hope in Mosta, a chapel built in gratitude for a miraculous rescue from pirates.
The Madonna Tal-Ħlas in Qormi, where expectant mothers have left baby clothes and tokens of thanksgiving for safe childbirth.
An invitation to walk in faith
What better way to live the Jubilee than by walking a path paved with centuries of faith and gratitude? Those who wish to deepen their connection to this rich tradition can embark on the Melita Mariana Project, a 60-kilometer pilgrimage through Malta and Gozo, tracing the footsteps of devotion that have shaped the islands.
Through ex-votos, we see that hope is never passive - it is a dynamic force that transforms hearts, inspires gratitude, and strengthens faith. Whether in the painted pleas of a sailor lost at sea, the silver tokens of a mother whose child was healed, or the grand churches built in thanksgiving, these offerings remind us that God is near, personal, attentive, and ever ready to answer our prayers.
