In the past weeks, particularly in the last days of August and during the month of September, various feasts were celebrated in the Augustinian Liturgical Calendar. These same Feasts are celebrated in the Augustinian churches on different days. The most important among them are the feasts of Saint Augustine and Our Lady of the Cincture which were solemnly celebrated in the Augustinian Churches of Valletta and Rabat in Malta, and of Victoria in Gozo. A programme of liturgical celebrations was prepared in the three churches, and in Valletta and Rabat Malta processions with the respective statues were also held.
The patronal feast of Saint Augustine in Valletta reached its climax on the third Sunday of September which this year also coincided with a public holiday. On that day, a procession with the artistic statue of Saint Augustine took place through the main streets of Valletta. The Feast of Our Lady of the Cincture in Valletta was celebrated on Saturday 6 September, while in Rabat on Saturday 13 September. Pilgrimages with the devout statues of our Lady were also held in both places. In the Church of St. Augustine in Gozo, both feasts were celebrated on their respective liturgical days, namely 28 August and 4 September. In addition to the feast days, days of preparation were also held with various celebrations that offered reflections on the figures of St. Augustine and the devotion to Our Lady under the title of Our Lady of Consolation, commonly known as our Lady of the Cincture.
The Augustinian Family also celebrates the Feast of St. Nicholas of Tolentine who is the first Augustinian religious to be canonized by the Church on 10 September. In the Church dedicated to him in Tarxien, it was celebrated as usual on the last Saturday of the month, which this year fell on 27 September.
Meanwhile, during the month of September, several Parishes across Malta celebrated the feast of Our Lady of the Cincture, with the final one being that of Gudja, which will be celebrated on the last Sunday of October.
