Church of Santa Maria tax-Xaghra

The word "xaghra" means a waste tract of land. Santa Marija, also known as "Our Lady of Graces", was built on such a barren rocky stretch, which in the last few decades has become a fashionable residential area.

The name could have originated from Xata, the name of some nobleman connected with the church. There used to hang in the sacristy a painting of a knight kneeling before the Virgin, with figures of souls in Purgatory at the bottom of the picture.

The church, which has a curious kind of bell-cot rising from the pediment, was built in 1500. As in the year 1690 it was in a very bad condition, it was rebuilt. But perhaps it was only repaired in that year, because the date 1634 appears carved above the main painting.

The people of Naxxar held the church in considerable veneration. During carnival, many people used to go there to recite the Rosary. Many Masses were celebrated and the sanctuary lamp was never allowed to go out. A curious custom during Lent was for the villagers to go to the church just after the mid-day meal to recite a special kind of Rosary when, instead of the Hail Mary the Our Father was said, and the Gloria was followed by the Kyrie and a Hail Mary.

The feast used to include decoration with damask hangings, the lighting of the front with coloured oil-lamps, and fireworks. The devotions used to last fifteen days. Today a Mass is celebrated on the 15th August. It is written in the archives of the parish church that: "this church, dedicated to Our Lady of Graces, or the Assumption of Sciara, celebrates the feast every year on the feast of the Assumption, with a sung Mass and vespers; other Masses are said on the feasts of St. Paul and St. Mary Magdalen, and on Saturdays the lamp is lit. The expenses are defrayed from contributions by the faithful and from a small capital possessed by the church."

The titular painting, by Zahra, has been taken to the parish church and hangs on the altar of the Assumption. It has been replaced by another painting. A leather altar frontal there was in this church is now kept in the Cathedral museum.

During the 1939/45 was, soldiers were billeted in Santa Marija.

Holy Mass is celebrated on Sundays and on one week-day.

Reference: A Hundred Wayside Chapels of Malta and Gozo by Kilin