Beginning of the month of May in honour of Mary Our Most Blessed Mother in the Chapel of Institute.

During the blessing of all the foundations

Stone! And may this blessing, together with the blessing which the Father of all christians was pleased to give us today, strengthen the truth that God started this work; that our hope in God's help which is so necessary, is strengthened. According to what the words of the Royal prophet teach us :" Nisi Dominus aedificaverit domum in vanum laboraverunt qui aedificant eam ." "If God is not he who builds the house, those who are building it labour in vain

As soon as the Superior finished his speech, all those present in the church, went out quickly, led by the members of the P.I.M. committee.

During the blessing of Pope Pius XI

The sun rises at 5 and 8m. It sets at 6 and 45m.

Special devotions towards Our Lady, Mary, will be held.

Function to end month of May held, before sacramental Benediction, Te Deum Sung. And the month of June begins.

A month after the Foundation Stone, on the Eastern side.

They took their places behind the ropes there prepared. The Bishop, accompanied by the Canons of the Cathedral together with the two godparents Sir Hugh Mifsud Prime Minister and Sir Arthur Mercieca President of the law Courts and by the Missionaries processionally came out of the Church and walked towards the foundation stone. The foundations of the building were surrounded not only by the guests who were not a few and did their best to come, some even from afar; but also by a large crowd of happy people. The word Missions and Missionaries console the heart of every christian in Malta, also, just as it does throughout the whole world. For the love of Jesus Christ dwells in everybody's heart and this love brings with it the wish that Christ be known by everybody so that everybody loves him.

As we have already said the Bishop was assisted by the Canons of the Cathedral. As soon as he arrived on the spot of the Foundation Stone he

began the cherished prayers as ordered by the ritual of the Church and with the sign of the Cross he sprinkled holy water. After this he laid on the ground and, although dressed in pontifical garb he started to level the stone bed with the mortar prepared for him. He did his part so whole- heartily that he seemed a man of the trade. When he rose up again the stone started to descend very slowly and very gently until it touched the ground. It was sustained by him and by the two godfathers. At the last master's stroke, delivered by the Master Joseph Sapian the stone lay completely in its place. The stone was cut from a hard-stone quarry; it is quite large and at one side it has a stone cross made from the dear and miraculous stone of the cave of Saint Paul; the cave is close to our church of Saint Agatha. At the end of the ceremony of the foundation

On Missions Day our prayer should be intended so that everybody throughout the world adores the true God in a fitting way.

A month after the Foundation Stone on the Western side.

stone the Bishop continued to go round and bless all the foundations of the outer wall of the whole building which was planned; throughout the blessing, the "Asperges me Domine hyssopo et mundabor" was sung. As soon as he arrived near the foundation stone he ordered the Superior to publish that on that day the Pope was pleased to give his blessing to all those who should have been present on that day for this occurrence. And since the blessing was also accompanied with the very great privilege of the Plenary Indulgence, at the singing of the Confiteor everybody knelt down and the act of contrition came out of everybody's mouth with great devotion and fervour so that the fruit of the indulgence descends in everybody's soul and confirms it. When the Bishop made the holy sign of the Cross over the crowd of souls by whom he was surrounded in stead of the Pope and in the name of the Pope, he intoned the hymn of thanksgiving and amidst the singing of the Te Deum he retraced processionally his steps from where he had come to the church of Saint Agatha. There, as soon as he arrived this ceremony was concluded with the antiphon of Saint Paul, patron of this Missionary Institute. This ceremony was really a great success; it was so dear and beautiful surrounded by everybody's good wishes; wishes which we can now say were truly courageous. God strengthened them so much that, to the amazement of all those who visited the work after a month the master builder had to start preparing to place the beams. And really, as we have already said before, it could not be otherwise.

When the foundation stone of the Missionary Institute was laid at Saint Agatha's Rabat, to our amazement and consolation we realized how much all our friends and benefactors have it at heart. From that same moment, everybody augured us and encouraged us; their wish to work and help us so that they share in our work was clear from the questions of many of them. Some did not hold back in resolving their wish to fact. Those who could not come and others from afar delivered their good thoughts through writing. The members of the Saint Paul's Missionary Grusade erected at the Seminary of Floriana wrote thus to us:" since we cannot come for this beautiful ceremony of the laying of the foundation stone of the Missionary Institute, we send you our best wishes so that this new Institute ,blessed by God and loved from the Maltese becomes a nice nursery of soldiers of Christ among the infidels." And our friend Friar Daniel M. Callus of the Dominicans who is at Oxford in England and therefore he can see, hear observe and evaluate a little better than us, wrote this to us :" In the papers which I have received today I read about the laying of the foundation stone of the Missionary Institute being built at Imdina near Saint Agatha's Sanctuary. Permit me to present you the most lively joy and at the same time the most ardent wishes that it would be erected as soon as possible for God's glory and for the extension of His Kingdom on this earth through the preaching of the Faith on the Mission field. May the Institute of St. Paul grow, flourish and spread. This is my wish and my prayer!"

We thank all our friends and ask God to reward them for all the good they do us and wish us.

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Let us make sure that our heart never lacks thanksgiving to God for the gift of faith which He was pleased to bestow on us without any merit on our part; let us keep alive within us the wish that whoever is not adorned with it will soon share it with us.

The sun rises at 4 and 46m. It sets at 7 and 28m.

Mission Day should be a day of unit with those thousands of brave Missionaries, men and women, who are far away, working for the extension of the kingdom of Christ.

Beginning of the Assumption Kwindicina at the Chapel.

Since Saint Paul's providential coming, the Maltese did not only embrace the faith of Christ; they also embraced the great devotion towards his mother Our Lady the Virgin Mary. When it was time to leave us after he revealed Jesus to us, St. Paul did not leave us orphans because, before he left, he left us Saint Publius as a representative of Christ instead of him. As a heavenly mother he left us Jesus’ mother herself as the two images which Saint Luke, (Saint Paul's companion during his coming,) left us, can witness. One is on the rock, in the Mellieha cave. Today this is a most dear Sanctuary. The other is on wood at the oratory of the palace of Saint Publius where nowadays the Cathedral is built. This has always been venerated by means of a feast on the day of Mary's Assumption. Yes, under the veneration of the Assumption of Mary. the devotion did not spread only throughout Malta but also in Gozo where the titular of the Matrix is, to this day, the Assumption of Mary. Therefore we too chose her as our most cherished patroness, we who since the beginning of the Institute felt Mary's help. Since the Institute had its beginning in the island of Saint Paul, we felt that we could not do better than venerate her under a very ancient custom in Malta when, under the title " Santa Marija" her assumption into heaven is celebrated throughout the whole place.

And when in the course of development of the Institute we came to open the boarding house at the Oratory of B'kara, we could not find a better name than that of Santa Marija. We also dedicated the first academy we held at the Boarding House in honour of the Blessed Virgin since it was also the year of the centenary of the council of Ephesus. Before concluding that very dear meeting we adopted a resolution to ask the Bishop, in our smallness, to ask the Pope to advance the dogmatic definition of the Assumption of the Blessed virgin , how and when he sees it fit. Therefore everyone can recognize how our small institute cherishes the words with which the Bishop concluded the beautiful speech about the Catholic Action on this year's feast of Christ the King. We will publish here those words just as they came out of the Bishop's own mouth over the microphone.

"And to begin well, (the Catholic Action), like the first Twelve, together with the first disciples , let us gather, in prayer and in thought, with Mary. Mary was she who led the Child Jesus in his first steps. It was Mary who led the first Apostles in their first steps. Those Soldiers of Religion who were our forefathers combatted and won in Mary's name. In Mary's

name the first soldiers of the Catholic Action were summoned and reared. Under the veil of Mary Assumed, Patroness of Malta, even we erected the first federation of Catholic Young Men here in Malta. It is therefore fitting that even today, on the feast of Christ the King, on the feast of this Kingdom of Christ which is the church, we hail here even today, as we did last year when we had the luck to crown her Queen, " Queen of the Angels; Mary, our Mother."

"This year we would like to see another crown surrounding her head. Since the first days, the Christians believed that when the breath of this life did not maintain that most pure body through which Jesus, the Son of God took the human form, Mary was assumed into heaven body and soul. In this way, since the oldest times, even we Maltese have venerated her under the title of "Santa Marija" the Assumpta. Seven Churches, Seven of the most ancient parishes witness to it. Today therefore , that the Catholic Christians of the whole world are asking the Pope to define as a dogma of faith this veneration and this belief, it is fitting that even we do associate ourselves with them. It is fitting that Malta " Cattolicissima " , as it was (one) of the first to believe and built and erected seven churches, seven of the oldest parishes to Mary Assumed into heaven body and soul to show its faith, it would not remain to be one of the last to ask the Pope to hear our prayers, together with the prayers of all the other catholics throughout the world and put this beautiful crown on her head."

"As we are gathered here together, it is fitting to honour Her son Jesus, King of Kings; let us also hail Mary, Mother of Jesus , Queen of Heaven: Ave Regina Coelorum! Queen of heaven, hail! Ave domina angelorum. Queen of Angels, hail ! These angels of the Church, these soldiers of peace, the new Apostles of the Catholic Action greet you throughout the world: Queen of the angels, Mary, Mother of God, Hail! And, together with them, these your sons of Malta, all our children, all our young men, all our young women look towards you so that you watch over them: Protect them from distress; protect them from injury; protect them from the harm of the soul while all together they tell you " Queen of the Angels, Queen of Heaven, hail . And together with them, all the fathers of Malta, all the mothers of Malta greet you; they pray to you Holy Mary , assumed into heaven, hail: salve radix, salve porta, you are the main plant from which the flower sprouted; you opened heaven's door from where light descended. Our Lady assumed into heaven, hail! Where you are enjoying God, above the stars, above the sun, above the most of angels and saints, with that soul which was never damaged by our sin, with that body out of which Your Son Jesus took human form , guade virgo gloriosa, super omnes speciosa , you who have outstripped us with your beauty, you who are God's delight, you who obtained God's love more than us sinners. Vale, O valde decora, beauty without stain, hail! Oh Queen , Oh Mary, hail! Remember us, we ask you to pray for us. Et pro nobis christum exora".

As soon as the Bishop ended his cherished speech, among everybody's joy and delight, he proposed this resolution in a very devout voice. It was received with a most fervid applause from the immense gathering of people.

Gathered around her Bishop in honour of Christ the King, Malta cattolicissima asks the Father and Teacher infallibility of all those who believe, to be pleased to confirm their belief of many hundreds of years by defining the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin into heaven as a dogma of the faith.

A month after laying the foundation stone from the northern side

The sun rises at 5 and 8m. It sets at 7 and 11m.

The appearance of a new man in the family brings get joy and it is a custom for a feast to be held on that day. No less happens at our Institute at the appearance of a new Priest within the Society; much more so when this is in its beginning and in great need of Priests who would be able to work in the field of Christ and save souls.

Therefore it was a very natural thing that our small Institute rejoices when, in his mercy, God was pleased to give us a new priest in the person of the Reverend Fr. Augustine Grech on the 25th of September of last Year at the Cathedral; he was ordained by the Bishop Dom Maurice Caruana O.S.B.

The day following the Priestly Ordination, on the 26th , the feast of the first mass was held at the Church of our Oratory, at B'Kara where this new Priest has been these last two years to help the local Superior in the running and in the work of this place.

This was already the second time that in the Chapel of this Oratory, the feast of the first mass of one of the priests of the Society was held . If the feast which was held the first time was a success, we can say no less for this one, thank God.

The Chapel was beautifully adorned and everything concurred to make the feast more solemn. The family, relatives and friends of the new priest and a large number of guests and benefectors of the Society were present at the feast.

The mass was very devout, with the music under the leadership of the Maestro F. Camilleri. The beautiful panegyric delivered by the M. R. Father Master Adeodato Schembri of the Order of St. Augustine really continued the feast. In beautiful words he showed the power, the office and the obligations of the catholic missionary Priest. Apart from the joy of beautiful words heard, everybody got the lesson to love and honour better the minister of Christ. After the mass, those who were present came foreward and kissed the hands of the new priest while they wished him a long life of work for God's glory and for the good of souls and of the Society.

The true Christian is very eager for God's glory and for the good of souls. Therefore he fulfills his duty to help those holy works which as their aim have the spreading of the faith and the salvation of millions and millions who are still in the darkness of paganism.

The sun rises at 5 and 32m. It sets at 7 and 39 minutes.

The Fair at its most lively moments

Since the beginning of the Church, the christians used to gather so that, one mind and one heart they offered God the holy sacrifice, their prayers, their thanks, their praise. And during these gatherings, collections for whatever was necessary for the altar were made; the poor participated in whatever remained. After so many years, the same thing is still being done. Therefore as soon as we opened this Institute of the Missions as it came to be known gradually for God's glory, it seemed that everybody agreed... everyone showed us one's wish to help the new work. And since the number of these friends started increasing, we understood that it would be a good thing to bring everyone together. The proposal of a fair was eagerly accepted so that everybody would be able to help as one wished. Surrounded by recreation and pleasure and everybody's joy, in a hundred manners and ways, help on the Institute descends from heaven by means of everyone present at the Fair. Many gentlemen gathered underthe name of the Committee" Pro Instituto Missionario ". Every time they met in advance they thought of and prepared what was to be done on the day of the Fair. Apart from this, the catechists of the Oratorio of B'kara form another committee among themselves and with great solicitude, all of them strive so that the event would be a success. Not only that; but the Dames

To know if we have God's love in our heart, we have nothing to do but to look within us and see whether we have the wish that his name be known everywhere.

of Saint Agatha's laboratory also strive to help those who are already on the mission field. One must be there to see the solicitude of the Christian spirit growing while one reads the streamers dispersed against the walls of the yard of Oratory. For example, "Remember the milliard of pagans". "Help the army of Christ," "Give to others what Saint Paul gave to you", and many such beautiful words that, whether you like it or not, you have to put your hand in your pocket and, as soon as you take it out, you also help to push the Missionary cart. Now you have a number in a lottery, now you pay to enter and see the sweet games of some animals, now you find yourself holding a line to try your luck in a dry sea; now you face a bazaar supplied with whatever you need; now they tell you to move because above you there is already the camel's head; Marquis Scicluna sent it so that even he would have a share in the merit of the Institute. Now they would invite you, not without paying, for a cup of tea. Soon lotteries are drawn and you can imagine the winner's joy! And so, one event after the other and half a day passes; everybody is happy because everybody is satisfied with the work he has performed or with the time he has spent for God's glory and for the benefit of the souls of the pagans who, among the poor are the poorest.

The fair - The camel of the Marquis

The sun rises at 5 55m. It sets at 45m.

The fair - Drawing the Lottery

The Missionary is a martyr because he is a strong proclaimer of a supernatural program. He disperses it and defends it with suffering and with blood. He knows that the ways to spread the Gospel are harsh and difficult, that before reaching his aim he must pass through bramble and thorns. He knows too that the seed sown in the hearts cannot grow strong unless watered by blood. The crown of martyrdom is always infront of the Missionary's eyes who yearns greatly for it and starts feeling the joy of that day when, in some area of foreign land he would be able to offer himself for God's glory and for the salvation of souls.

The sun rises at 6 and 22m. It sets at 5 and 6m.

Another work worth helping us the Work of Saint Peter Apostle so that there will be priests from the Mission countries themselves.

Te Deum for Canonical Erection of the Society of Saint Paul sung at Chapel; in the evening.

Whoever keeps in mind the Missionary nature of our Institute understands quickly that the death of Card. Van Rossum was felt in a particular way within our small rows. He was the Head of the Propaganda Fide and therefore he was at the head of the whole Missionary world. And since its beginning God wanted the Institute to be Missionary, when we were in the early days of foundation, one day we also found ourselves infront of the venerable person of the Cardinal. And we remembered, and still do always remember how he hosted us, with tears in his eyes, because he was so pleased with

the purpose of the Institute. And we have remembered, and still do remember, the sound counsels he gave us so that the institute would be really good and firm work, beneficial for the Church of Jesus Christ. Therefore together with the whole missionary world we also do lift our small voice through these pages and ask God for rest, honour and glory for such a holy soul both in its life in religion with the Redemptorists as well as for its share with the hierarchy of the Church. We can imagine the extent of Card. Van Rossum's work as an arm of the Pope in the Mission field at this time when Pius XI is being called the Missionary Pope by everybody.

The Missionary is an Apostle who, full of courage and ability goes to far away countries which are poorly receptive and know nothing of the beauty of God's word. Proclaimer of those truths of which the christian religion is teacher and custodian, he enlightens the minds of the local people, gives a new shape to conscience, he shows them a law which serves as leader, he gives them a discipline which curbs their passions and instills a firm earnestness towards good. In this way honesty develops, firm characters are formed, better generations are prepared and every people starts writing its own new history.

Since the beginning of the new centuries the shout of a merciful prayer which moves hearts was hurled throughout the four winds of heaven; that shout of a sincere and faithful wish which some holy souls presented as a prayer to the Lord of all creatures, "Domine da mihi animas" Lord give me souls.

Because of this voice the wolf and the lamb meet together; they eat from the same grass and drink from the same valleies to form their forces so that hand in hand they try anew to befriend other animals. Yes, diverse races join together; the negro mixes with the white, the savage with the gentle, the depraved with the virtuous, the poor with the rich, the old man with the youth, without considering their diverse nature but they unite together in one thing and at the force of this echo they eat from the eucharistic bread which makes them one nature, one body, one blood, one soul under one lord who do not wish anything except unity, belief , justice and mercy.

It was that gentle shout "Domine da mihi animas et caetera tolle" which induced many wise personages to leave their friends, their brothers, their dear parents, their country and go far, far away into foreign and idolatrous lands to leave their lives there for the love of those souls which are not yet redeemed by the Precious Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. Yes, a great number of bishops, priests, lay people, sisters and secular (people) also offered themselves like courageous soldiers to fulfil the wish which christ showed his apostles through the words," Euntes ergo docete omnes gentes, baptizantes eos in nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti " go and teach all nations, and baptise them in the name of the Father,and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."

Therefore our beloved Shepherd , the present Pope, encourages all the faithful with his holy pen, from the throne of Saint Peter, to declare war over darkness; not a war of swords however, but of more potent arms of the evangelical words. These pierce the hardest hearts not by cannons but through good customs which demolish the terrible fortresses of vice; a war of peace, not of sorrow; not a war of loss but of victory and of certain victory; of triumph and not of a domination which ends, but a kingdom of heaven which lasts for ever and ever.

This shout " Domine da mihi animas " induced Pope Pius XI to encourage and help the works of the missions so that he would be able to arrive in far away countries and penetrate the reign of the devil and here triumph and enlighten with the light of faith while he sows the seed of truth.

Mission work consists in this: in nothing but the continuous and hard sacrifices of those who become messengers of the word of God for the salvation of souls to go on fulfilling the gentle prayer of some holy persons who with a great and holy greed wished always to gain a very large number of souls who are far away from God. To teach the christian religion and to persuade the infidels from their deceptive superstitions what care won't the missionaries take and to which limit of patience won't they go? Will sick pagans lack the care of some sisters? With what attention and gentleness do they behave towards abandoned babies; and how they behave towards children prepared for baptism and for the First ( Holy) Communion?!

And just as the mission takes care of the soul, it also cares for the body by civilizing their bad customs , by exercising them in trades, in the sciences and in many other worthwhile matters.

Therefore let all of us who are already profiting from the work of redemption, let us follow these brave souls who by their actions hurried and confounded the enemies of Christ; and may our wish" Domine da mihi animas," be soon fulfilled by our work, word and prayers.

Each one of our missionary work in beneficial not only to many souls but it is also very useful for the sanctification of our soul.

Pius XI 3-VI-22.

We were going to Lourdes for the first time in 1929. As soon as we arrived at the station at Toulouse a young Capuchin boarded the train with us. Although we did not recognise him immediately, we gradually made acquaintance of Br. Pius Ellul. Agreeable as he was, he informed us about his beautiful vocation and, with joy in his heart he told us how, from there he was expecting the obedience for the Mission among the somalis in Abyssinia near Mizzi. When the missionary Friar Angelo visited Malta for the second time, we met Brother Pius again; here we could better observe his zeal. The Saint Agatha's Missionary Laboratory was the one which helped whole heartily Friar Mizzi to prepare his departure for the Missions. Among other things the Dames of the Laboratory took upon themselves the task of sewing the tunics for that whole group of young men whom Friar Mizzi was to take with him. And since workers of the laboratory could not handle cutting the cloth to measure for dressmaking, Brother Pius set to work and we are still

seeing him, with complete mastery , with scissors in hand, handing the parts of the tunico now to one, then to another, for sewing. So, when last March, that is four months after the departure, the news about his heavenly voyage arrived here, we stared at each other and, so to say, we could not believe. We who know something about the need of Gospel workers among the Somalis can do nothing but lift up our eyes heavenwards and adore God's judgements which we do not understand. We ask him to enlighten this soul as soon as possible with the never-ending light, and give it that glory which it itself strove to give him on earth.

Oh Missionary, brave missionary

Why were you pleased to leave

Your country, your relatives... to leave

Your mother crying and heaving sighs for you?

Where are you going, among so many people

Buried in the darkness of death without realising?

I go to where I feel Heaven's will

Gently pushing me,

Where I feel the love of my brothers calling me

With a mighty, merciful voice;

And where the great zeal burning within me

Induces me to visit the forgotten souls.

I am going to see whether I can bring to God's kingdom

Those who, although they have been bought

With the Merciful Christ's blood and redeemed by his death,

Are still under harsh clutches

Of the darkness of paganism, a dangerous darkness

Which probably destroys the person hit by it.

I am going as a servant of Him who created me

To speak about the justice of Truth

To preach the blessed reciprocal love

Which scares away every harm;

To proclaim the love of our magnificent God

Who wanted to remain living with us in the blessed Host.

I am pleased to die of hunger, of thirst... to suffer...

To hurt badly my feet with thistles

While I scatter the light of the Gospel

Among the blind souls, and induce them

To come towards me to find

The food and drink of life which only Christ offers.

Oh Missionary, Apostle of the Cross

Gatherer of the Scattered fold

Soldier of the greatest ability in the harshest war

Present among troubled brothers,

Through you the Church Our Mother continues to strengthen her words...

Hail ! Oh Missionary, hail !