An exhibition of significant and aesthetic value will be publicly launched Saturday July 14th 2012 at the Palazzo de Piro, Mdina, in the newly renovated exhibition rooms retained onsite by the Chapter of the Metropolitan Cathedral, forming an annex to the Cathedral Museum.
The exhibition comprises a rare and stunning collection of rosary beads, Archconfraternity articles dedicated to “Our Lady of the Rosary” and other related liturgical works of art on loan from private and ecclesiastical collections in Malta and kindly made available for viewing, in many cases, for the first time.
Contemplative, meditative and devotional devices have been used throughout history in a variety of spiritual traditions. But it was the Western, Celtic and Sarum Rites that were to develop what is today known as the “Rosary” or “garland of roses”. The Desert Fathers among others of the 3rd to the 5th centuries used knotted ropes or even stone pebbles to count prayers. In Christian Ethiopia prayer sticks were devised and notches were made on staffs used as supports for people standing during long services. Islamic prayer beads are believed to have derived from Eastern Catholic prayer beads which were divided along a woollen rope every 33 beads.
The Rosary is and remains an important and traditional devotion of the Roman Catholic Church, combining prayer and meditation in sequences called “decades”. The prayers are accompanied by meditation on the Mysteries and events in the life and ministry of Jesus. This traditional Catholic form of the rosary is mostly attributed to Saint Dominic and is depicted in a number of paintings and items on view in the exhibition.
We unreservedly recommend that while on your visit to “The Silent City” of Mdina and to the Palazzo de Piro, in particular, you devote some well- rewarded time to thoughtfully inspect the magnificent display of historical, contemplative and artistic articles on show. The exhibition will be open daily between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.






























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