Marc’’Antonio Haxac and Malta’’s Devotion to St. Paul

In 1623, Marc’Antonio Haxac, a surgeon in Malta, dedicated a manuscript to Cardinal Verallo, hoping to gain favour with this potential papabile. Haxac outlines the divine history and destiny of Malta, as witnessed by the ancient temples existing there, and culminating with the providential arrival of St. Paul in Malta, transforming the Islands into a unique Christian centre. ＂instantly abhorring and detesting idolatry as well as the erroneous views of the Gentiles, destroying all the idols in the temples which, until then, they had honoured and worshipped.＂ Rev. Mgr. John Azzopardi is curator of the Wignacourt Museum and former curator of the Cathedral Museum in Mdina. Professor at the Sorbonne (Paris IV), Alain Blondy has specialised in the Mediterranean world up to present times. The Fondation de Malte is an international NGO, dedicated to cultural affairs, environmental concerns, education and human rights.