The Military & Hospitaller Order of St. Lazarus of Jerusalem

Grand Priory of the Maltese Islands

Grand Master: : His Excellency Don Carlos Gereda de Borbon

Grand Prior: Count Dr. the Chev. J.R. Pace LL.D, MIM, CSA, MMInst, GCLJ, KMLJ, GCrLJ 

















 
HISTORY
The presence of the Order of St Lazarus in Malta was a relatively late occurrence. There is no evidence of any leprosaria being extant in Malta during the Medieval Period, though reference has been made to the possibility of the Hospital of St Francis at Rabat, Malta [subsequently renamed to Santo Spirito Hospital] having been initially established as a leprosarium . No documentary proof has however been found to substantiate this assertion. The hospitalis Sanctj Franciscj, situated outside the Medieval walls of Mdina, is known to have been definitely in existence by 1372 and probably by 1347. It may in fact have been extant as far back as 1299. The hospital was managed by members of the Franciscan Order.
History of Leprosy in the Maltese Islands

The post 15th century continuous conflict between the Order of St John and the Order of St Lazarus would have definitely precluded any form of presence of the latter Order after the Maltese Islands were ceded to the Order of St John in 1530. This however did not exclude the temporary presence on the Islands of Knights belonging to the Orders of St John and also of St Lazarus.  The fortunes of the Order of St Lazarus during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries similarly precluded a presence on the Islands. The Order of St. Lazarus in the Maltese owes its presence in the Maltese Islands to the traditional Anglo-Maltese links established during the nineteenth and twentieth century and dates only to the latter third of the twentieth century. In the mid-1960s, a number of Maltese individuals, including Sir Hannibal P. Scicluna, Colonel J.V. Abela, Chev. Elias Zammit, Chev. Anthony Miceli-Farrugia, Prof. Dr. J.V. Zammit-Maempel and Chev. Robert Biasini dei Conti Stagno Navarra, were admitted to the Order.

The Maltese members of the Order soon established their own Independent Commandery of Malta. This commandery, on the 15th April 1969, was raised to the status of a priory with the title of Priory of Malta. The Roll of Member of the Order published in 1969 includes 17 Maltese members among a list of 500 members. The Priory of Malta continued to increase its membership and promotions; and was elevated to the status of Grand Priory of the Maltese Islands after the Order established its Chancery in Malta in 1973 with the head of the jurisdiction being Col. J.V. Abela. By 1983, the Grand Priory of Malta was represented by 55 members. The officers of the Grand Priory included Judge W.D. Harding serving as Grand Prior; Biasini dei Conti Stagno Navarra – Prior; Major F.E. Critien – Vice Chancellor; R.S. Attard – Receiver General; A. Miceli-Farrugia – Convener Admissions Ceremony; Prof. J.V. Zammit-Maempel – Hospitaller. Senior Chaplains included Rev. Mons. I. Sciberras-Psaila, Rev. Canon E. Ghigo, and Rev. Canon F. Perici; while Rev. Canon E. Galea served as Chaplain.

The Malta Grand Priory and its members have furthermore been particularly active in the general affairs of the Order with Maltese members holding high posts in the central government. In 1969, Sir Hannibal Publius Scicluna was appointed Grand Chancellor of the Order assisted by Elias Zammit as Secretary General and Anthony Zammit as Secretary. In 1972, Sir. H.P. Scicluna occupied the post of Grand Capitulator, while Chev. J. Amato Gauci occupied the post of Chancellor & Secretary General, also acting as Grand Custodian. In 1973, Chev J. Amato Gauci was appointed to the post of Grand Chancellor & Custodian besides serving as Keeper of the Seal, a post held until 1986 when he served as Grand Commander & Grand Inquisitor.  In 1994, other Maltese high dignitaries of the Order included: Chev Joseph Amato Gauci [b.1909 d.1995 served as Grand Chancellor & Grand Custodian (1973-1986); and as Grand Commander & Grand Inquisitor (1986-1995)]; Chev R.S. Attard [Grand Chancellor]; Chev Dr. Jaime H. Cremona [Grand Hospitaller] and Chev R. Flores Martin [Grand Cross Bearer, subsequently served as Vice-Grand Chancellor]. Anthony Buttigieg de Piro also previously served as a Member of the Supreme Council.  The Priory of Malta hosted the Grand Magistral Council held in Malta on the 3rd-5th October 1969 during which its members participated actively. The Delegations attending the Council were received by His Grace the Archbishop and Metropolitan of Malta and His Coadjutor Bishop Gerada at the Curia.

The Grand Priory of the Maltese Islands gave a hospitaller contribution to both the Maltese leper community and to overseas leper communities particularly in Kenya and Egypt. It regularly organized social events for the Maltese leper community and contributed funds to assist in the treatment of lepers overseas where the disease is still highly prevalent. The Grand Priory of the Maltese Islands also contributed further to other worthy causes such as institutions for the handicapped in Malta such as Dar il-Providenza and Razzett tal-Hbiberija, as well as the Youth Institution St Francis Ravelin.  On the 13th May 1973, the Grand Priory of Malta donated an ambulance to the Hospital of St Catherine of Siena at Attard. This ambulance had been obtained from the Commandery of Lochore, Scotland through the agency of Messrs. Chalmers and Hardie. The 47th Grandmaster Prince Francesco Enrique de Borbon, in Malta at the time for the occasion of the inauguration of the Grand Chancery at Castello Lanzun, made the formal presentation. The hospital, now functioning as a home for the elderly, was again visited by HRH Don Francisco de Borbon y Escasany, Duke of Seville, 48th Grandmaster in September 2001 when the Grandmaster visited Malta to take command as Commander of the Commandery of the Castello.

The Grand Priory of the Maltese Islands was not spared the general division in the Order’s management. In 2004, the Grand Priory of the Maltese Islands broke off its allegiance to the H.R.H. Don Francisco de Paula de Borbón y Escasany, Duke of Seville 48th Grandmaster Elect of the Malta Obedience and joined the branch led by the Grand Vicar Chev. R.S.R. Attard, whose enforced retirement from the post of Grand Chancellor in 2003 was one of the contentions for which the division took place.

In November 2004, two philanthropic groups were affiliated to the latter Grand Priory of the Maltese Islands. These included the Special Rescue Group – Saint Lazarus Corps who are trained to deliver assistance to people in distress during individual or national emergencies; and the Step-by-Step Foundation which assists in the therapy of children suffering from impaired cerebral function. In April 2005, the Grand Priory obtained the consent of the Archpriest and the Collegiate Chapter to adopt the Basilica of St George at Rabat, Gozo as the spiritual seat of the Grand Priory. The Basilica was the collegiate church for the Confraternity of St Lazarus and of Charity [est 1620] and houses a dedicated altar to St Lazarus embellished by a 17th century painting by Giuseppe D’Arena. The Grand Priory also restored an earlier 17th century painting depicting St Lazarus kept in the sacristy of the Basilica. The Basilica also houses a monument to Mgr Joseph Pace [Bishop of Gozo: 1945-1972] who was a past honorary Grand Cross of Merit of the Order.

The demise of the Grand Vicar Chev. R.S.R. Attard in 2006 left a void in the leadership of the branch led by him and following negotiations, the Grand Priory opted to reaffiliate itself to the Order led by Grandmaster  H.R.H. Don Francisco de Paula de Borbón y Escasany, Duke of Seville. In 2008, the Grand Priory assumed the management of the Order of Charity which is the local branch of the Raoul Follereau Foundation.