DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4592#0015
RELIGION. 15
meet one of them every twenty rods in Valetta, go
what course you will. It is said that, on the island,
the Roman Catholic priests of various orders, number
at least one thousand, and some think considerably
rnoi'e. Such a numerous priesthood of the kind, must
hold a strong and, in some respects, an unfavorable
influence over the people. Where Romanism holds
the ascendency, I believe general education is rieve-r
promoted. This misfortune is very generally seen in
Malta; for the common class have very little or no
education.
Like all Catholic countries, religious holydays and
processions are numerous in Malta. The most impo-
sing of these processions, is the one seen on Good
Friday, which is intended to celebrate the death and
passion of our Savior. It takes place in Valetta, and
is attended by the greater part of the clergy of the
island, with the distinctive banners of their order, and
their own peculiar dress. The train leaves the church
of ta Gesu a little before sunset; the priests and friars
walking in file on each side of the street, with huge
lighted wax tapers in their hands, and chanting as
they follow the statues which are carried before them
at equal distances in the procession. The statues or
images are in general of a large size, and represent
the various sufferings of the Savior, until he is laid in
the sepulchre, which is a splendid canopy, tasselated
with gold, having a figure large as life, stretched be-
neath them. The rear is generally brought up by
persons covered in white or black garments, with eye-
holes to see through, dragging at their feet chains of
different lengths and dimensions. This is a penance
meet one of them every twenty rods in Valetta, go
what course you will. It is said that, on the island,
the Roman Catholic priests of various orders, number
at least one thousand, and some think considerably
rnoi'e. Such a numerous priesthood of the kind, must
hold a strong and, in some respects, an unfavorable
influence over the people. Where Romanism holds
the ascendency, I believe general education is rieve-r
promoted. This misfortune is very generally seen in
Malta; for the common class have very little or no
education.
Like all Catholic countries, religious holydays and
processions are numerous in Malta. The most impo-
sing of these processions, is the one seen on Good
Friday, which is intended to celebrate the death and
passion of our Savior. It takes place in Valetta, and
is attended by the greater part of the clergy of the
island, with the distinctive banners of their order, and
their own peculiar dress. The train leaves the church
of ta Gesu a little before sunset; the priests and friars
walking in file on each side of the street, with huge
lighted wax tapers in their hands, and chanting as
they follow the statues which are carried before them
at equal distances in the procession. The statues or
images are in general of a large size, and represent
the various sufferings of the Savior, until he is laid in
the sepulchre, which is a splendid canopy, tasselated
with gold, having a figure large as life, stretched be-
neath them. The rear is generally brought up by
persons covered in white or black garments, with eye-
holes to see through, dragging at their feet chains of
different lengths and dimensions. This is a penance