San Gorg Preca, the second Maltese saint and a beloved religious icon amongst the Christian community passed away on this day 61 years ago.

Dun Gorg, as he is best-known, was beatified on 9th May 2001 by Pope John Paul II and canonized on 3rd June 2007 by Pope Benedict XVI. Dun Gorg’s legacy lives on to this day through his foundation of the Society of Christian Doctrine and his writing of five new Rosary mysteries – the ‘Mysteries of Light’.

He passed away on 26th July 1962 and was given a final farewell two days later in one of the largest funerals to ever be held on the Maltese islands. Many spiritual educators still refer to Dun Gorg’s teachings to this day.

Last year, to mark the 60th anniversary of his passing, The National Archives of Malta took to social media to share an old document detailing a lesser-known side of the saint’s life.

“Records at the National Archives indicate this [Dun Gorg’s] financial standing was bad. In fact, the day after his brother Albert (a dockyard employee) was interned, he (Albert) submitted a request for financial assistance on behalf of Dun Gorg and his sister,” the page wrote.

“Although the police confirmed the ‘bad financial standing’, the assistance was not approved,” it continued.

Coincidentally, earlier this month last year, a woman by the name of Barbara Abdilla took to social media to share a letter she came across that Dun Gorg Preca had sent to her mother, Rosa Schembri.

The letter, which is 70 years old, shows Rosa asking the priest for help. It reads as follows:

“To my spiritual mentor, greetings. My brother and I would like to speak to you about something serious. Could you let us know when we can come and visit you? Pray for me. I really need it. Blessings. Yours, Rosa Schembri.”

San Gorg wrote his response on the same piece of paper. It reads as follows:

“You can visit me on Tuesday 7th June at 11am at the Saint Gaetan Church in Hamrun. Kind regards, Fr Gorg Preca.”

OmniCertum / Facebook, The National Archives of Malta / Facebook