The eulogy was written by Sac. Prof. Luigi Farrugia in 1890, and made into a pamphlet. At the time Prof. Farrugia was the teacher of Latin at the Lyceum. It starts with a dedication to Prof. Giovanni Pullicino, Don Paulo’s nephew. The original Italian can be read also. We welcome any corrections by Italian speakers, due to the translation being computer-generated.
To the Most Distinguished Professor Lawyer Giovanni Pullicino.
Esteemed Sir,
In offering you this funeral speech, I do not have the heart to take away from posterity, since it is mine, the memory of the illustrious Monsignor Pullicino, ornament of the Maltese Clergy and my beloved friend. I dedicate it to you, who is so well reflected in the precious virtues of the eminent Prelate. This is in fact a small and meager thing of the Statute and the Law – since they too deserve to be regarded with particular affection – to dissipate the deep and sincere affection, which was reciprocated between us.
Your most humble servant,
Canon Luigi Farrugia.
Valletta, 5 May 1890
Bonum certamen certavi, cursum consummavi
(“I have fought a good fight, I have finished the course.”)
2 Timothy 4
A battle, Sacred Ministers, Honored Brothers, a battle as vile as it is fierce, is that which rages in our times against the Catholic Priesthood. It is the battle of error against truth, of darkness against light: a harsh and cruel struggle, which forms one of the most significant characteristics of the nineteenth century. This, in fact, is called the century of progress, of civilization, the era of the most daring discoveries: be it so, but certainly it is not considered who would oppose such glory. However, to complete the enumeration of its characteristics that distinguish it from others, it is also necessary to call it the century of incredulity and falsehood, the century of the most obstinate war against all that transcends the short flight of human reason.
This, gentlemen, is the ill-fated rationalism, no matter what name it assumes or guise it dares to adopt, along with its malevolent consequences that plague the field of modern philosophy, which insists on being emancipated at all costs from any supernatural influence.
However, these illegitimate offspring of modern science encounter an adamantine rock that opposes their infernal efforts with all its might: the Priesthood of Jesus Christ. This Priesthood, heir to the Church’s noblest traditions and sole guardian of true knowledge, which can never be separated from faith, relentlessly strikes at the enemy of truth and thwarts their actions in every way. It steadfastly upholds the undisputed principles of truth, demonstrating how, rather than contradicting human reason, it aligns fully with it…
6…in agreement: and not satisfied with sterile science, this incarnates in action for the health of the people: knowledge of the truth and acting according to the truth, wisdom and virtue, what the ancient sages of Greece called Sophia, the Catholic Priesthood proceeds, benefiting the people, in the midst of the most venomous darts of slanderous calumnies.
Oh! let the Priest of Jesus Christ rise today from the secret recesses of his tomb, to whose blessed memory this funeral rite is dedicated! Let him rise, and with his untarnished life, with the doctrine that shone splendidly in him, and with his ardent zeal to conquer the leaders of unbelief, the microscopic doctors of our age! Let the dignitary of the Church, Monsignor PAOLO PULLICINO, arise to dispel the dark fog in which the enemies of God seek to enshroud the minds of men to the detriment of the Priesthood and Religion.
And I am not mistaken, Gentlemen: who among you, in fact, is unaware of the brazen slanders with which the Catholic Clergy is vilified and degraded in the eyes of the people, in order to deprive them of the beneficial influence of the priest? Ignorance and deceit: these are the false accusations with which the Ministers of the Sanctuary are defamed. Deniers of the light, while it shines in its fullness, the enemies of the Church shout at us, calling us ignorant! Lazy! Relying on lies, a maxim proclaimed by the incredulous philosopher of the Seine.
Well, Gentlemen, the traits of the life of Monsignor PULLICINO, which I will endeavor to present to you, will be an eloquent rebuke to the impious accusers of the Catholic Clergy. His doctrine and his zeal—both employed for the welfare of society and for the glory of Religion—are the most convincing responses to the accusations of the enemies of the Priesthood. So much so that, not without reason, he could repeat with the Apostle that he has fought the good fight, has completed his course, and faithfully fulfilled the lofty purposes of Providence. Bonum certamen certavi, cursum consummavi (“I have fought the good fight, and I have finished the race”).
Gentlemen, the pious duty of weaving this evening’s funeral praise of the eminent Prelate, once the spiritual leader…
7…of this noble Society, for just under half a century, causes me considerable confusion and dismay: because my eloquence, already feeble in itself, is completely overwhelmed by the grief that the loss of a friend has brought to my heart, of a counselor during my youthful uncertainties, indeed, I will say, of a most beloved father. But since this noble task has been entrusted to me, who should rather hear the praises of the deceased from another’s lips and accompany them with my tears, I will speak, as much as the fullness of my sorrow allows me: I will speak, and this will be the final tribute of boundless affection and deep veneration to the departed Monsignor.
Follow me then, Honored Gentlemen, with your attention and also with your compassion, and do not expect from me anything but a simple discourse, since the elegance of speech cannot dwell where sorrow speaks. And without further preamble, I begin.
8. THIS infinite truth, which God has loved men since eternal ages (1), revealed in it a higher degree in the admirable institution of the Catholic Priesthood, in which God wanted to concentrate all that for nature belongs to Divinity. The truth is so sublime that it serves as a tool for all things, and as far as one understands the sublime authority of the Levites: (2) as I bind on earth; I will be bound in heaven; (3) and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. (4)
(1) Some angels say, O Lord! my voice has risen; (2) other angels say, he does not know the design. (3) The Fathers of the Church, the doctors Ignatius of Antioch and Clement of Alexandria, (4) the Mitre of Ippona and others, have believed that God had a sublime plan to participate,
(5) but God wanted to give His angels the power to bind and loose,
(6) for His own will and the dignity of the Priest, (7) and undoubtedly,
(8) in our times, Pope Gregory revealed to the Church, not only for the ministry, but also for the height of the Levitical Ministry, to ensure their vocation.
9. These essential duties were not overlooked by the distinguished Ecclesiastic to whom we pay our final respects today: love for knowledge and priestly zeal were the two characteristics that always shone in his most exemplary life. — From parents who combined nobility of family with rare integrity of customs (8), PAOLO PULLICINO was born in this city of Valletta in 1815, on the sacred day of Mary’s glorious assumption into heaven. From the very beginning of his life, he gave luminous proof of those virtues that would shine in him to such an eminent degree. God, who deigned to favor him with special grace, indicated to him the priesthood as the goal to aspire to: therefore, PULLICINO’s sole commitment, from his earliest years, was precisely to make himself increasingly worthy of the noble state to which the Lord was calling him.
Aware therefore that to worthily perform the Levitical ministry, knowledge is required first and foremost, he directed all his thoughts to its acquisition. — Doctrine, gentlemen, in a priest is not a quality that he can renounce at will without failing in his essential duties. It is so attached to the idea of an ecclesiastic that the idea of an ignorant ecclesiastic can only be conceived as a monstrous idea (9). And how could it not be, gentlemen? If the priest is, by divine institution, a leader of peoples, a teacher of truth, how can he exercise his noble office without being furnished with the knowledge he must communicate to others? And if one who guides a blind man, says the Holy Spirit, is himself blind, they both fall into the precipice (10): thus the priest without knowledge is a cause of ruin to himself and others. Therefore the divine Scriptures proclaim the absolute necessity that priestly lips be custodians of knowledge (11) and threaten God’s abandonment of the priest who rejects doctrine from himself (12); therefore the Fathers cry out against the ignorance of the clergy; therefore the Church has always taken the wisest provisions, especially in its ecumenical assemblies, to ensure proper instruction for the class of its Levites.
Penetrated by this primary duty, the young PULLICINO, always considered the cultivation of….
10. ….rare talents that had been abundantly bestowed upon him by the Creator: skilled teachers planted in that tender mind the first seeds of knowledge, while not neglecting to cultivate the heart, as education cannot be called complete if mind and heart do not progress in perfection together. It goes without saying how rapid PULLICINO’s progress in his studies was, which can be easily deduced from the prodigious knowledge that accompanied him throughout his life’s journey.
Meanwhile, he advanced to higher studies at the Royal University, where he completed with praise and such success the courses of literature and philosophy that, still very young, he earned the degree of Master of Arts. Then continuing with no less enthusiasm the study of sacred sciences, he received, amid universal acclaim, his doctoral degree (13).
The completion of scholastic studies, and particularly the doctorate, should not be for a priest a goal, but rather the beginning of other intellectual labors, more arduous and difficult. The end of studies for a priest is the end of life: this great maxim of St. Jerome (14) was understood by Dr. PULLICINO, who, having been consecrated as a priest (15), convinced that then more than ever the duty of study made itself felt in him, neglected no means to succeed in this most noble intent. From Malta he therefore moved to the metropolis of France, where, attending the renowned schools of the Sorbonne, he trained himself increasingly, under the guidance of distinguished masters, in the high truths of divine and human knowledge.
From France he returned to the Island after several years of unwearied labors, to resume his zealous action, and to employ for the benefit of his homeland the fruits of his vigils over books. — Received with universal acclaim, Abbot PULLICINO immediately became admired for his vast erudition. The first to turn their eyes to him was the government, which invited him to become part of the university faculty, appointing him professor of a recently established school, with the purpose of providing sure guidelines to teachers of elementary education (16).
How Professor PULLICINO nobly fulfilled this difficult task, it is superfluous to recall: the summary of his Method Lessons published by him speaks far better than me.
11. Preceded by a learned Prelude (17), PULLICINO’s course in Methodology was divided into three parts, dealing with exposition, criticism, and history of the Method (18). The useful and important subjects, which are developed with admirable synthesis, while revealing the author’s profound insight, demonstrate at the same time what qualities must be possessed by those who initiate childhood into the rudiments of knowledge, unless they wish to degenerate into an ignoble mercenary.
Public education, Gentlemen, is one of the most arduous social problems, especially in our age: it is certainly not my task to go into detail about this difficult question: I only say that Abbot Pullicino provided a practical solution to this problem when he took the reins of public primary education (19). To succeed in this challenging endeavor, Abbot Pullicino undertook arduous travels in Switzerland, Bavaria, and Italy, where, consulting people of high renown and examining popular schools with great accuracy, he studied various methods to apply to Maltese schools what he deemed suitable for them.
The series of letters he published, in which he presented to the public the fruits of his travels, (20) shows with what love Abbot PULLICINO had set himself to the task, guiding the first fruits of the Maltese people toward a noble goal.
Nothing, Gentlemen, did he omit to give primary studies the greatest possible development: he composed books, graduated according to children’s intelligence, where, arranging practical utility with devotional intent (21), he seeks to instill in those tender minds the principles of justice and righteousness, and now moving and now delighting them, persuading them to follow truth and goodness (22). Stories woven from inspired pages, passages of national history, notions of geography, natural history, in a word, a small repertoire of most useful narratives – this is the subject matter that Abbot PULLICINO developed in the various books he entrusted to the hands of youth.
Eager to further extend the education of the working classes, without forcing it against the spirit of the Church, he inaugurated new schools in various rural centers of both Islands; he increased the number of…
12. …teachers, expanded the school premises, introduced drawing, vocal music, typography, the art of engraving on wood, thus giving new proof of their ability to manage the school system. However, the main purpose of PULLICINO was to provide a thoroughly Christian education, not compromising in any way his priestly duties, on the contrary, blending them harmoniously with those of the public official. In fact, education is not at all foreign to the ecclesiastical ministry, which rather occupies a prominent part of it: the Church has always therefore desired that the work of the sanctuary and that of the school be closely linked. There was therefore no surprise, gentlemen, if he encountered enemies during his management of the schools, who now attacked him with little decorous attacks, now putting his methods into a fair trial, trying in every way to make him lose the esteem that he deservedly enjoyed with the authorities and the public.
But what of that, gentlemen? PULLICINO, with a confidence that never abandoned him, actively pursued his career, so much so that the Government, when it deemed it in the public interest to amalgamate the two departments of education under a single regime, officially notified it to all (28). —For thirty years PULLICINO was engaged in the direction of the public schools, thirty years of indefatigable study, conferences and promotion of the intellectual and moral culture of the people, thirty years of tireless effort for the benefit of society. Well, gentlemen, if I were to stop here, would it not be the most conclusive proof of PULLICINO’s proven usefulness to his country? He fought the good fight, he finished the race: he fought without fail to surpass himself….
13…. always fighting against nature, which is ever inclined toward pleasure and resistant to labor. He battled envious enemies who sought to discourage him and force him to abandon his noble endeavor. He fulfilled his career—a career of study and intellectual labor—not solely for the purpose of his own perfection but to improve the conditions of others, especially those of the lowest classes of society. Thus, it is no exaggeration to propose that the public life of PULLICINO be celebrated as a solemn monument to the 19th century, offering a noble response to those who accuse the clergy of ignorance and being supporters of ignorance.
But that is not all, gentlemen: Abbot PULLICINO’s desire to perfect his intellect through new studies was such that he used every possible means to advance his knowledge. One such method was travel, which he undertook not merely to satisfy a curiosity about new peoples and lands—such triviality is unworthy of a learned man—nor to waste precious time, as if time were not fleeting enough on its own. Rather, he traveled to acquire new knowledge, to observe other peoples and customs, and to further enrich his store of erudition. He visited England, Ireland, Scotland, Switzerland, Germany, France, Spain, Belgium, and Italy multiple times, always staying for significant periods in the cities of these countries. The rich fruits of these excursions are evident in his remarkable memory, which preserved every detail of what he admired in libraries, museums, art galleries, and palaces, omitting no circumstance, no matter how minor.
Another of PULLICINO’s favorite studies was that of languages. He became proficient in speaking and writing English, French, German, Spanish, and Italian. His mastery of the latter language is evident in the various works he published, demonstrating a style that was both elegant and admirably simple. Amidst his many occupations, he found time to read periodicals in French and German, not merely to practice those languages but to make them ever more familiar to himself. Such knowledge of languages earned Pullicino considerable esteem and admiration from eminent personages.
14. For instance, it is enough to mention the former Empress of France, who, while visiting this island, went to see our monumental Cathedral of St. John and was accompanied by him. The august lady found his guidance no less pleasing than the substitution of the words of Fénelon, Bourdaloue, Massillon, and other French geniuses.
Shall I speak of the various works of Pullicino, which undoubtedly attest to his erudition? These can be categorized by subject matter. Beyond the summary already mentioned of his Lessons on Method, we find other works on education, namely:
- A Report on Public Education in Italy, Bavaria, and Switzerland, presented in eight letters with three extensive appendices.
- Correctional Facilities in Scotland, Belgium, and France, documenting the primary institutions he visited, aimed at preventing crime and saving society from harmful citizens.
- Vocal Music in Elementary Schools, a discourse read to the teachers under his direction, aiming to demonstrate the utility of singing as a means of maintaining discipline in schools.
To these, we can add other significant works, such as:
- An Essay on the Studies of Students in His Schools;
- An Address to Teachers on the Method to Be Followed in Managing Their Respective Classes;
- A Speech on the Importance of Studying Letters, delivered at the inauguration of the Secondary School of Gozo;
- And another oration given in the Church of the University during the solemn opening of the university and episcopal schools.
Pullicino also published several sacred sermons that he delivered on major feast days of the year. Indeed, we are well aware that from the pulpits, amidst the hazards of public speaking, he always earned admiration for his eloquence, breadth of knowledge, ease of delivery, and clarity of expression. Among the many sacred discourses he preached publicly, there is a Charity Sermon, delivered when the Society of St. Vincent de Paul was established among us. Alongside these sermons are his learned conferences on…
15. … The Mission of the Christian, delivered by him from this very pulpit several years ago, was met with your unanimous applause (26).
Canon PULLICINO also provided various accounts concerning our primatial church, of which he was one of the foremost ornaments. These include seven highly significant works, compiled with considerable effort. He preserved various artistic works by publishing them, on his own initiative, in the most opportune manner, as well as some historical memoirs about the same church (27).
He composed other historical-sacred works on topics such as the ancient Madonna of Philermo, the life of the proto-bishop of Malta, Saint Publius, Saint Philip of Agira, and the Litany of Loreto (28). The list of his publications includes three biographical notes, of which one is an affectionate tribute to filial piety (29): The Art of Making Oneself Pleasant, with a delightful translation of fourteen letters by Lord Chesterfield, and Saint Jerome and the Woman (30).
Pullicino’s erudition revealed itself in the diverse knowledge he incorporated into his speeches and his familiarity with authors from various fields. Profound in theology, canon law, sacred and secular history, mathematics, and geography, he preserved mastery over the classical Latin language. He was also highly skilled in musical arts and could speak eloquently on virtually any subject. Even in the Maltese dialect, Monsignor Pullicino had thorough knowledge: he knew Maltese vocabulary and encouraged, as much as possible, the use of foreign expressions where appropriate.
The fine arts always occupied a special place in Monsignor Pullicino’s thoughts—a passion that drew him powerfully to beauty. This explains his generous patronage of artistic works and his encouragement of those who pursued the arts. Not a few outstanding works, seemingly innumerable, were donated by Pullicino to the Cathedral Church, the Parish Church of the Greeks, the Jesuit Fathers’ Church of Saint William, the Conventual Minorites’ Church of Valletta, and, just days before his passing, to the Sodality of Saint Joseph of Notabile. It was at Pullicino’s suggestion that the Mother Church of the Island acquired distinguished paintings by…
16. ….Gagliardi, Bruschi, Grandi and other celebrities of our times, who so adorn that grandiose Temple.
Gentlemen, I am well aware that, having set myself to wander across a very vast field, it is extremely difficult for me to cover it all: I am well aware that in the very short time allotted to me it is impossible to gather together in a short time the much that can be said about Monsignor PULLICINO’s doctrine. However, I am comforted by the thought that the science of PULLICINO shone with its own light for a long time, and therefore it is not necessary to recommend it with long reasoning. The things highlighted so far, therefore, prove, in my opinion, that PULLICINO has achieved the highest social level – the nobility of knowledge – a level which is the most copious treasures, neither the boast of ancestral greatness, nor the pomp of powerful interests they can never reach, not retreating even before obstacles of any kind: so we can conclude about him with the labors words of our great Father: Bonum certamen certavi cursum consummavi.
* * *
17. Unfortunate is the man, gentlemen, who either misuses the talent granted to him by the Creator or, what amounts to the same, lets it remain unproductive! The curse pronounced by the Nazarene against the fearful servant who hid the money in the ground speaks with eloquence superior to any words that could ever be spoken by the most eloquent of human lips.
But if using the means provided by the Creator is a duty that falls upon every man, since each one, by the law of reason, must seek his own perfection, in the case of the ecclesiastic, however, it is a duty of a different kind. What does it ask, gentlemen? A priest is a sacred leader, who must lead the soldiers of Christ into battle, as the Apostle calls the Christians, so that, following his guidance, they may achieve the laurel of victory: a presbyter, a provider of the way, the one who must point out the path that leads infallibly to salvation. Therefore, the ecclesiastic must necessarily be industrious and zealous, as he is, by his ministry, directed toward the good of souls, and no other condition promises him the eternal reward except for working for the salvation of others. The functions, indeed, that are inherent to the priestly state, are all instituted for the good of others. The priest is established for the sake of men, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins (33); the priest announces to the faithful the eternal truths of the Gospel, thereby removing from them the danger of perdition; the priest goes in search of the lost to reconcile them with their God through sacramental absolution. What act of the priestly ministry does not have for its exclusive goal…
18. … the benefit of our brothers? From here, you see, gentlemen, how irrationally the enemies of the priesthood try to label the priest as selfish and idle, while he is, by nature, directed entirely toward all, and selfishness and idleness in the priesthood can only be an exceptional anomaly.
This noble mission was fully understood in all its sublimity by the illustrious ecclesiastic, the subject of our praises. Indeed, Monsignor Pullicino’s industriousness, right until the end of his life, was extraordinary: he was already advanced in years, having worked enough to justly deserve rest; yet he did not refuse any labor that came his way. — Gentlemen, I will not continue without mentioning that, having had the fortune to be close to this distinguished individual for a long time and to know him in his private life, I often found myself reproaching myself in comparison to his tirelessness, which was worthy of admiration.
As director of the government schools, what did he fail to implement to ensure they met the needs of the times? Always in motion, he frequently visited the schools, kept track of their progress, examined the students, encouraged the teachers, urging them to faithfully fulfill their important mission. — Aware of the need to nurture the hearts of children, knowing that education cannot be considered complete if the cultivation of the intellect does not proceed alongside that of the heart, Monsignor Pullicino found the time to gather the students of his schools under the shadow of the temple of the Most High, in order to preach to them, in an easy manner, the sublime dogmas of Religion, imitating, as Chrisostomo writes, the customs of children, adolescentularum fingere mores (34). The small Church of Santa Caterina of Italy was a witness for many years to Pullicino’s industrious zeal, who, amid his duties, never forgot his noble sacerdotal mission.
A permanent monument to PULLICINO’s zeal is, without a doubt, the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul, which he established among us and presided over for forty years, with a consistency worthy of Christian charity, the sole purpose of that distinguished society…
19. Who among you, gentlemen, does not know the work carried out by the Vincentian Society? To lift the poor, to alleviate their misery, this is not all: but to go into their hovels, to learn of their pain, to ease their afflictions with a word, with alms given at the right moment, to use temporary help to procure spiritual benefits—this is the supreme purpose of the noble society, named after the great Apostle of Charity, the immortal Paul.
Born in Paris from humble beginnings, as all great things are, the Saint Vincent Conferences quickly spread throughout Europe, producing abundant fruits, I would even say, unheard-of miracles of charity. Not many years had passed since its original foundation when this pious Society was established in Malta, thanks to PULLICINO’s efforts; and it is not easy to recall the good it brought to the poor class of this island. How many families, once torn apart by the most deplorable discord, embraced each other again after the charitable visits of the Conference members! How many children found in it the mother that death had prematurely taken from them! How many young women found in it their respectable placement!
Nor did it suffice for PULLICINO, gentlemen, to lay the foundations of such an Association, leaving others to continue its construction; no, gentlemen: he continued always to gather new members, to encourage them when they felt their strength waning, to provide new alms when, due to the many donations, the treasury ran low. Indeed, it was always his desire to see the Conferences spread to the key locations on the island; he attempted to establish one in Floriana and in some of the smaller cities, with immense personal sacrifices. However, these pious desires, due to a lack of collaborators and, let us say it, due to a lack of the spirit of association, remained unfulfilled. It was only in recent times that he was able to found a branch in Sliema, which, thanks to the support of zealous individuals, hopes for a prosperous future (35). Monsignor Pullicino is therefore considered one of the most zealous promoters of the Vincentian conferences: on this matter, I willingly yield the floor to the General President of the Council of Paris.
20. who, as the worthy Ecclesiastic, successor of Pullicino in the presidency of the Maltese Committee, wrote these exact words:
“We always hoped that the Lord had restored his health, and that we could continue for many more years the sweet correspondence of charity with him. The hour of death was undoubtedly for him the hour of reward: we nevertheless pray for the rest of his soul, solely out of gratitude, for the interest he never ceased to show for our work during his life (36).”
Nor was Monsignor PULLICINO only involved with the Society of Saint Vincent for helping the unfortunate. His heart was deeply sensitive to the needs of the poor; therefore, whenever the plight of a family reached his ears, he would ensure that immediate aid was provided. No charity collection went by without Monsignor PULLICINO’s name being among the first contributors. He made many donations anonymously and used me personally many times to assist people who were not accustomed to begging. — I can almost see him, gentlemen, as if it were yesterday, nearly in tears upon seeing a poor soul shivering from the cold; he would bring them into his home, cover them with clothes, feed them, and then send them away, moved, while shyly avoiding the blessings of the beggar.
Monsignor Pullicino also advocated for the poor through the Public Charity Committee, of which he was a member for a long time. Many families, thanks to his valuable cooperation, received, and perhaps still receive, support from the public fund. To work on behalf of the poor, he never missed a meeting, and even in the heat of summer, he would deliberately leave his country residence for the sole purpose of attending charity meetings. The welfare of the poor was truly close to his heart!
A priest entirely devoted to religion, Monsignor Pullicino found real nourishment in the exercise of sacerdotal duties. Although extremely busy, he still held the preaching of the divine word dear, and in doing so, he never sought to showcase his rare talents or his voluminous…
21. …knowledge; however, the glory of God, the honor of the Church, and the salvation of souls were always his primary concerns. Pullicino’s preaching was always highly effective because it was accompanied by the sweet fragrance of his life, his examples, and his virtues. — In fact, Monsignor Pullicino was always a true model of sacerdotal dignity: always the same, grave in demeanor, affable in interaction, sweet in speech, with manners more than just polite, elegant, he was rightly regarded as the perfect gentleman, the model ecclesiastic. — He encouraged pious works, and for him, it was enough that an institution had the glory of the Lord and the good of souls as its goal, for him to commend it and wholeheartedly support it. This was a stern rebuke to those frivolous minds, those vulgar beings who, upon the creation of a holy work, either cry out against the novelty or wage war on it for personal motives or other unworthy lowliness.
Such was the high regard that Pullicino had for duty that, when offered the coadjutorship of Capital Canon Winceslao Debono, he firmly refused the honor, citing the incompatibility of canonical duties with the positions he so admirably held, especially with his directorship of the Schools. It was the authoritative word of the learned Archbishop, Monsignor Pace Forno, who had taken the responsibility of providing the Senate of Canons with the most respected members of the clergy, which compelled Pullicino to accept the canonry. — Yet, gentlemen, let it not be believed that he neglected his new duties, despite being overloaded with other responsibilities: no, rather, he knew how to arrange things in such a way that he could be present for the choral service without neglecting any of his other important obligations. Therefore, as Director of the Schools, he was required to visit those in the countryside often, and he used these occasions to attend the canonical hours in the Cathedral Church. He was always deeply attached to the body of the Canons, never tolerating in any way that their rights were even slightly infringed upon.
Monsignor Pullicino represented the Roman Congregation of the Propaganda in Malta. This institution was established with the goal …
22. …to spread, throughout the world, the beneficial civilization of the Cross, this distinguished Institute receives donations and alms from all parts of the Catholic world. In recent times, especially when the greedy hands of the godless Italian government reached sacrilegiously for the assets of this noble Institution, the Elder of the Vatican called upon the charity of the faithful even more urgently, for the sake of the unfortunate missions supported by the Propaganda itself. Monsignor Pullicino, leaving no stone unturned to protect and increase the funds of this civilizing Association, thus earned the praise of the Cardinal Prefects on several occasions.
And if the death of Monsignor Pullicino leaves a void in all of Malta that will be difficult to fill, his loss is especially felt in this pious Society. For forty-five years, in fact, he presided over it as its Spiritual Director, and he was always its soul. Diligent and attentive, he attended the Sunday meetings without ever being absent. Many generous donations testify to his generosity and affection for this Oratory. To him we owe the emblem worn by the Brothers at their solemn meetings, the Manual of Piety compiled for their exclusive use, and the introduction of the Spiritual Exercises, which every year provide an impressive display of piety for the entire citizenry. Monsignor Pullicino was deeply troubled by the low attendance at the weekly congregations, stating that it was a matter for serious reflection, as he was eager to find an effective remedy. So, what wonder, gentlemen, if, grateful for so many benefits, you wished to depict his venerable likeness while he was alive, and, after his death, decreed these funeral honors?
Gentlemen, the work of Pullicino was such that it is hard to summarise in a brief discourse. Therefore, I must skip over the many positions he held, always distinguishing himself for punctuality, zeal, and energy. He was, in fact, appointed several times by the Government to conduct examinations for public employment. He was also included by the Diocesan Bishops among the Examiners of the Clergy, the pro-synodal Examiners, and entrusted with the revision of books as a Theological Censor.
23. He was a member of various local and foreign societies, and presided for many years over the Public Library Committee and the Society of Manufactures and Arts, promoting useful branches of industry, especially the work of tapestries. He was also a member of the ancient Council of the University and, until his death, of the governing Senate of the same institution, where his opinion was always regarded as an oracle among the learned body, due to his extensive experience in the field of education.
In front of this figure, who descends to the grave after seventy-five years of life, all spent for the benefit of religion and society, who among you does not feel a sense of awe, thinking that never did difficulties divert him from his generous intentions, nor did obstacles frighten him: but always courageous, he overcame them all, fought valiantly against all, and reached such a noble goal? He could, therefore, once again repeat with the Apostle: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race.”
But alas! The vivid love I held for this distinguished priest, who was always my teacher, protector, and father, led me to take on the formidable task of delivering his eulogy before you. However, as I reach the end, I realise too late that I have scarcely done justice to your expectations, that I have expressed very little of his virtues, his zeal, his knowledge; and this little I have narrated in a crude and unpolished manner.
Yes, gentlemen, if fear did not deceive me about your generous patience and if it did not cross my mind, I would have much more to add about Monsignor PULLICINO.
I would say how he was endowed with such modesty that a grave disturbance truly troubled him whenever he had to hear himself praised by others.
I would say how, a few years ago, when he was admitted to a private audience with the sovereign presence of Pope Leo XIII, the Pope was so impressed by him that, not long after, he praised PULLICINO to some Maltese clergy, calling him the “most learned Maltese Canon.”
I would say how he was acquainted with illustrious writers such as Raneri, Troja, Boucheron, and many others, whose fame still lingers.
I would say how he repeatedly refused the position of Vicar General, which…
24. …. Monsignor Pace Forno had offered him. I would say that he was highly regarded by the various Governors of the Island, including Sir W. Reid, who considered him a very trustworthy advisor.
I would say that our Bishops competed to show him their esteem, not excluding the distinguished Pastor who, with such wisdom and episcopal zeal, governs our consciences, and who, during his long illness, often rushed to comfort him at his bedside.
I would say that, having been elevated by the Holy Father to the dignity of Protonotary Apostolic, he kept this honorific title secret for some time, asking his friends, who had heard something, not to spread the news; and how very rarely and in exceptional circumstances did he make use of the prelatic insignia, seeking in this way to hide any outward decoration, which is often more coveted the less it is deserved. It was therefore natural that the public, while he was still alive, should express its veneration and high regard for such a man, and that his death should be considered a public misfortune.
A fatal fall, which caused a severe fracture to his femur, forced him to retire from the exercise of his duties. The need to lead an inactive life, after such unparalleled activity, produced a deep melancholy in the illustrious Prelate, who, as he often said to his confidants, no longer felt fit to serve the Church. When he thought he had recovered from his ailment, and everyone hoped to see him again unharmed, a shortness of breath was observed in him, making it difficult to breathe. It was a symptom of a heart condition which had already been silently afflicting him for some time. Soon the illness took a giant leap forward.
But he, who had always courageously and unwaveringly overcome all the difficulties he encountered in life, did not even fear death, resigned to the decrees of Providence, whose hidden decrees he professed to venerate continually. He himself earnestly requested the Last Sacraments, which he received several times with singular devotion. His agony was long and painful; the sweet names of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph were often heard on the lips of the dying great man; many times his half-closed eyes…
25. …looked to the sky, which finally opened to the yearning of that holy soul, which, soaring rapidly towards God, found in Him, as we trust, its eternal rest and the ultimate goal of its desires (38).
Pure soul, go to heaven to enjoy eternal delights, which you have earned by your virtuous deeds, your labors for your brothers, and your zeal for the glory of Religion. From the heights of paradise, where, we hope, you are already immersed in the infinite splendors of the Divinity, look down on this pious society, which was once the object of your tender affections; and may it never happen, through your prayers, that the sincere love for God and the commitment to eternal salvation may diminish within it. May each one of us follow so closely in your luminous footsteps that we may, like you, confidently repeat with our great Father: Bonum certamen certavi, cursum consummavi ( I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course).
Amen.
Annotations
- “I have loved you with an everlasting love.” (Jeremiah 31:3)
- “He did not take hold of angels, but of the seed of Abraham.” (Hebrews 2:16)
- “Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 18:18)
- “No longer do I call you servants… but I have called you friends.” (John 15:15)
- “The pinnacle of all things is the priesthood.” (Epistle to the Smyrnaeans)
- “On the Dignity of the Priesthood,” Book III
- “Therefore, the more one sees oneself bound by duty, the more readily should one be prepared to serve God in his office.” (Homily 9 on the Gospel)
- Monsignor Pullicino’s parents were Dr. Arcangelo Pullicino, a distinguished physician, and Signora Maria Anna Schembri, a noblewoman endowed with great intelligence and a kind heart.
- Cf. Frassinetti. Observations on Ecclesiastical Studies. Genoa, 1831.
- “And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.” (Matthew 15:14)
- “The lips of a priest should preserve knowledge.” (Malachi 2:7)
- “Because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you also.” (Hosea 4:6)
- Monsignor Pullicino obtained his doctorate in Sacred Theology on May 4, 1837.
- See Scavini, Universal Moral Theology, Volume IV, Part I. Cf. my Brief Manual proposed to the young students of the Sanctuary. Malta, 1887.
- Monsignor Pullicino was ordained a priest in the year 1838.
- His appointment as a professor of Methodology took place in 1850.
- Lecture for the First Course in Methodology at the University of Malta – Malta, 1850.
- Summary of the Lessons on Method, given at the University of Malta by Prof. Sac. P. Pullicino – Malta, Part I, 1858 – Part II, 1859 – Part III, 1860.
- Pullicino was appointed head of the Government Primary Schools in 1850.
- Public Education in Italy, Bavaria, and Switzerland – Malta, 1856.
- “He wins all points who mingles the useful with the sweet, at once delighting and instructing the reader.” (Horace, Ars Poetica 19.343-344)
- The books published by Pullicino for use in primary schools were the following:
- First Book of Italian Reading
- Second Book of Italian Reading
- Third Book of Italian Reading
- Annotations to the Compendium of Christian Doctrine in the Diocese of Malta. Religious Catechism for Infant Schools (with a Maltese translation alongside).
- Taghlim il-kari malti. (Teaching the Maltese Language)
- Maltese Poetry (Collection of Selected Poems by Canon Mifsud Tommasi and Professor Vassallo).
- See the government notification published in the Gazzetta dello Stato No. 2860 on June 5, 1880, where it is stated that the position of Director of Primary Schools was held with great honor by the Very Reverend Canon Pullicino, DD., and with great benefit to the public. The notification continues to praise the great services rendered to the government and the public by this Reverend Gentleman, for having organized in 1850… and gradually developed his own system of education.
- The following is a list of books published by Pullicino related to education:
- Summary of the Lessons on Method, with a Preface, volumes 17 and 18.
- Public Education in Italy, Bavaria, and Switzerland, volume 20.
- Houses of Correction in Italy, Belgium, and France. Malta, 1863. Albion Press.
- Vocal Music in Elementary Schools. Malta, 1855.
- Sample Studies by Students of the Valletta Primary School, November 20, 1863. Malta, 1863.
- To the Teachers of Primary Instruction – Address. Malta, 1850.
- Importance of the Study of Letters – Discourse. Malta, 1856.
- Inauguration of Academic Studies at the University and Lyceum of Valletta. Year 1852-53. Discourse. Malta, 1852.
- Sacred Discourses
- A Panegyric on the Conversion of Saint Paul, delivered in the Cathedral Church in the year 1872 – Malta, Albion Press.
- A Panegyric on the Shipwreck of Saint Paul on the Island of Malta, delivered in the Church of Valletta, in the year 1873 – Malta, Albion Press.
- A Panegyric on Saint Augustine, delivered in his Church in Valletta, in the year 1875 – Malta, Z. Micallef, Printer.
- A Panegyric on Saint Francis of Assisi, delivered in the Church of the Conventual Minor Friars of Valletta, in the year 1877 – Malta, Z. Micallef, Printer.
- A Panegyric on the Blessed Virgin of Carmel, delivered in the Church of the Carmelite Fathers of Notabile, in the year 1881 – Malta, Tipografia dell’Immacolata.
- A Panegyric on the Immaculate Conception of the Mother of the Redeemer, delivered in the Church of the Conventual Minor Friars of Valletta, in the year 1883 – Malta.
- A Panegyric on Saint Joseph, delivered in the Church of the Carmelite Fathers of Valletta, in the year 1878 – Malta, Albion Press.
- A Panegyric on Saint Dominic, delivered in the Church of the Dominican Fathers of Valletta, in the year 1881 – Malta, Z. Micallef, Printer.
- A Sermon of Charity for the benefit of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul, delivered in the Church of Our Lady of Pilar on March 30, 1851 – Malta.
- The Mission of the Christian. Sermons delivered in the Cathedral Church during Lent in 1882. Malta. Tipografia dell’Immacolata.
- Notes on the Cathedral Church
- The new Choir of the Malta Cathedral Church. Memoir. Malta 1877. Tip. Albion Press.
- Ancient Panels that once formed part of the main painting of the Malta Cathedral Church. Memoir. Malta 1871. Tip. Albion Press.
- The ancient title of the Malta Cathedral Church. Memoir. Malta 1871. Tip. Albion Press.
- The two new mosaic medallions of the Malta Cathedral Church, representing the Apostles Saint Peter and Saint Paul – Historical Note. Malta 1873. Tip. Albion Press. 5-6. Two other New Works in the Malta Cathedral Church – Memoir – Malta 1879. Tip. Albion Press.
- Restoration of the Crypt and the Church of Saint Agatha, located in Rabat, Notabile, Malta – Memoir – Malta 1881. Tip. dell’Immacolata.
- Historical-Sacred Works
- The Holy Effigy of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament of the Concathedral of Saint John in Valletta – Historical Memoir. Malta 1864. Tip. Albion Press.
- Historical Notes on the life of Saint Publius, Martyr, First Bishop of the Church of Malta – Malta 1869. Tip. Albion Press.
- History of the life of Saint Philip of Agira – Malta 1867. Tip. Albion Press.
- The Litany of Loreto – Brief Commentary. Malta 1879. Tip. Albion Press.
- Biographical Notes
- Brief Note on the life of Dr. Arcangelo Pullicino – Malta, Albion Press.
- Biographical Note on Francesco Azopardi, Choirmaster of the Malta Cathedral Church – Malta 1876.
- A Small Remembrance of the life of a good and pious educator (Emmanuela Azopardi) – Malta 1871. Tip. Albion Press.
- Other Publications
- The Art of Making Oneself Agreeable, explained in a series of letters addressed to young Stanhope by Lord Chesterfield. Malta 1856. Anglo-Maltese Press.
- Saint Jerome and the Education of Women – Malta 1862.
- Luke 19:22
- 1 Timothy 2:3
- Hebrews 5:1
- Homily 62 on Matthew.
- The Sliema conference was established a few years ago, when cholera broke out in Malta. Its first president was Dr. Luigi Curmi Schinas, a young doctor who, in addition to his great scientific expertise, possessed a rare piety. A cruel illness took him away from his beloved studies and his many friends on the 19th of June 1890 around 7 pm. The poor, to whom he generously offered his care, lost in him a comforting angel, and the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul one of its most valuable supporters. The author wishes with this note to pay public tribute to the dear memory of Dr. Curmi, his former close friend and study companion.
- The letter referred to was sent by Mr. A. Page, President of the General Council, on March 31st last to the Reverend Canon Dr. Don Isidoro dei Conti Formosa, who succeeded PULLICINO as President of the Society, by unanimous consent of the Members.
- The portrait of Monsignor PULLICINO, existing in the Sacristy of the Oratory of the Honoured, was painted by the talented painter Mr. G. Cali. Another portrait can be admired in the Sacristy of the church of Pilar, painted at the behest of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul, by the distinguished Mr. Lazarus Pisani. Both portraits are very similar.
- Monsignor PULLICINO passed away at his residence in Valletta on the 13th of March 1890 at 10 am and was buried in the Cathedral Church.
Inscription
(On external door)
MOESTI . SVCCEDITE
QVOTQVOT . HONORATVRVM . SODALITIO
NOMEN . DEDISTIS
AETERNAM . REQVIETEM
SVPERVM . PACEM . ADPRECENTVR
PAVLLO . PVLLICINO
DOCTORI . THEOLOGO . CANONICO . MELITENSI
IN . PROTONOT . COLLEGIVM . ADLECTO
QVEM . INVIDA . MORS
RELIGIONI . ET . PATRIAE . RAPVIT
HAC . DIE . AB . EXITV . EIVS . XXXV.
ANIME . CANDIDISSIMÆ
IVSTA . FVNEBRIA . CVM . LAVDATIONE
PARENTAMVS
(On the foot of the tomb)
AVE . ET . VALE
SACERDOS . PIISSIME
TIBI
PRECE . NOSTRA . FLETVQVE . MOTVS
JANVAM . COELORVM . RESERET
AEVI . SEMPITERNI . BEATITATEM
DEVS . LARGIATVR
(Beneath the portrait)
TE . VIVENTEM
INSTAR . PATRIS . VENERATI . SVMVS
DEFVNCTVM . ADHVC . LVGEMVS
NVNQVAM . TVVM . NOMEN
PECTORE . NOSTRO . LABETVR
(On the four sides)
CHRISTI . IPSV . VESTIGIIS . INHAERENS
IN . PAVPERES . LIBERALITATE . EXTITVIT
VINCENTIANAS . SOCIETATES
IN . EGENORVM . SOLATIVM
MELITAE . INSTITVIT . REXITQVE
VIR . DOCTRINA . CONSPICVVS
PVBLICIS . PRIMORDIORVM . LVDIS
ANNOS . XXX . PRAEFVIT
CIVILIS . AVCTORITATIS . OMNIVMQVE
LAVDIBVS . HONESTATVS
EXTERAS . REGIONES
STVDIORVM . CAVSSA . PERAGRAVIT
LIBROS . SCIENTIA . REFERTOS
DICTAVIT
SAPIENTIS . NOMEN . IVRE . ADEPTVS
DEI . VERBVM . PRAEDICAVIT
VIRGINIS . PRIMAE . LABIS NESCIAE
IOSEPHI . PVERI . DEI . CVSTODIS
PAVLLI . MELITENSIVM . PARENTIS
CVLTVM
MIRIFICE . PROPAGAVIT
ALOISIUS FARRUGIA, SACERDOS.