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Order of Malta Australia

News

Fr Robbie illuminates the Order of Malta’s Devotion to Our Lady of Philermos

24/10/2021 


Report by Joseph Grogan.

On 23 October 2021, around fifty Order of Malta Members and Candidates shared the fourth spiritual formation session of “An Hour of Reflection with a Chaplain”. Fr Anthony Robbie, Conventual Chaplain Ad Honorem, illuminated the historical and spiritual depth of our Order’s Devotion to Our Lady of Philermos.

Fr Robbie expertly traced the journey of the Icon of Our Lady of Philermos, from its mythologised roots in the Holy Land to the Siege of Rhodes 1480. During the Icon’s presence in a sanctuary on Mount Phileremos, miracles were attributed to Our Lady’s Prayerful Intercession, further inspiring the Order’s defence of Rhodes from Ottoman incursion.

The Icon survived the Napoleonic invasion of Malta and was safeguarded across countries throughout the Russian Revolution, the World Wars and the Cold War.

Throughout this journey, Our Lady of Philermos remains a consoling image of the Patroness of our Order.

Copies of the Icon remain cherished around the globe. A Mosaic image of the Icon of Our Lady of Philermos now adorns the Vatican Gardens in Rome.

Fr Robbie encouraged us to meditate upon this image of Mother Mary, to both look into her eyes and to try to see the world through her eyes.

Having witnessed the suffering of her son Jesus Christ, Our Lady’s eyes convey her empathy for the pathos of people in need. May her compassion inspire our care for all whom we serve.

Celebrating the annual Feast of Our Lady of Philermos on September 8th reminds us to reflect with gratitude for Our Lady’s unwavering solace throughout the centuries and into the future.

All Members and Candidates are welcome to share the fifth session of this monthly spiritual formation series, “An Hour of Reflection with a Chaplain” of the Order of Malta.

The Australian Association

The Australian Association, formed in 1974, currently has in excess of 300 members and aspirant members across every State and Territory of Australia. We also have ongoing and strong links with the Order’s National Associations throughout the Asia Pacific Region including in Singapore and the Philippines and with members of the Order in New Zealand, Hong Kong SAR, Thailand and Korea. The Order of Malta is committed to serving Our Lords the Poor and Sick worldwide and has done so for over 900 years. This website shares with you the history, mission and current activities of the Order of Malta in Australia, and provides links to the work of the Order world-wide.