On feast of St. Rita and the commemoration of 125th anniversary of her canonization. a decorative rose was crafted by Catholic craftsmen to adorn her image in the Augustinian church in Valletta Malta. Gabriel Farrugia, the director of music within the church, also happens to be a silversmith and in point of fact, last year we featured a story here about the beautiful crown that he, together with help of retired goldsmith and jeweller, Joseph Duca, designed and created for a statue of Our Lady in Gwardamanja, Pietà , Malta.
During one of the three masses on this day, the rose was placed near the feet of St. Rita as commemoration of this important anniversary. Later in evening a Solemn Pontifical Mass, presided over by Archbishop of Malta, was offered -- and for this Mass, Farrugia was not only responsible for the production of the golden rose, he also was responsible for the production of the sacred music, leading the choir and orchestra in one of his very own musical compositions, the Missa Laudate Dominum, as well as an antiphon he composed for St. Rita.
Turning back to the rose however, it is entirely hand crafted in sterling silver, weighing 171 grams, and then gold-plated to give it a more illustrious finish.
Seeing such pieces from young Catholic artists like Farrugia, who is only 26 years old, should be a good reminder that there is yet still a new generation of artists out there that are both capable and willing to in the field of sacred and liturgical art.
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