{{Short description|Roman Catholic basilica in Gozo}} {{Infobox religious building | building_name = Basilica of the Blessed Virgin Of Ta' Pinu <br /><small>{{lang|mt|Santwarju tal-Madonna ta' Pinu}}</small> | image = Ta’ Pinu National Shrine.jpg | caption = Ta' Pinu in 2020 | geo = {{coord|36|3|42.4|N|14|12|53.4|E|type:landmark_region:MT|display=inline,title}} | religious_affiliation = [[Roman Catholic]] | consecration_year = 31 August 1932 | status = [[Minor basilica]], National Shrine |province=[[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Malta|Archdiocese of Malta]] | district= [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Gozo|Diocese of Gozo]] | leadership = Fr Gerard Buhagiar <ref>[http://gozodiocese.org/churches/national-sanctuary/ Web page of the Gozo Diocese]</ref> | website = {{url|www.tapinu.org}} | architect = [[Andrea Vassallo (architect)|Andrea Vassallo]]{{efn|Completed by Godwin Galizia<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20160417211859/http://melitensiawth.com/incoming/Index/Scientia%20(Malta)/Scientia.%2008(1942)4(Oct.-Dec.)/01.pdf Scientia journal]}} </ref>}} | architecture_type = [[Church (building)|Church]] | architecture_style = [[Neo-romanesque]] | general_contractor = | facade_direction = ESE | groundbreaking = {{start date|1920|05|30|df=y}} | specifications = yes | capacity = | length = {{convert|49|m|ft}} | width = {{convert|37|m|ft}} | width_nave = {{convert|14|m|ft}} | height_max = {{convert|61|m|ft}} }} [[File:Santuario Nacional de la Virgen de Ta 'Pinu, Għarb, isla de Gozo, Malta, 2021-08-22, DD 34-36 HDR.jpg|thumb|View of the interior]] The '''Basilica of the National Shrine of the Blessed Virgin of Ta' Pinu''' ({{langx|mt|Santwarju Bażilika tal-Madonna ta' Pinu}}) is a [[Roman Catholic]] [[minor basilica]] and [[national shrine]] located some {{convert|700|m}} from the village of [[Għarb]] on the island of [[Gozo]], the sister island of [[Malta]].
[[Pope Pius XI]] granted a Pontifical decree of coronation, ''Marianum exstat Sanctuarium'' towards its venerated Marian image, the [[Blessed Virgin of Ta' Pinu]] on 24 May 1935. The Archbishop of Tarsus, Cardinal [[Alexis Lépicier]] signed and the Regent of [[Apostolic Dataria]], Giuseppe Guerri notarized the decree via the [[Sacred Congregation of Rites]]. The coronation of the image took place on 20 June 1935.
==History==
The origins of the Shrine of Our Lady of ta' Pinu are unknown. It was first recorded in the archives of the Curia in Gozo, when the Bishop Domenico Cubelles paid a visit to the chapel. This noted that the chapel had just been rebuilt and that it belonged to the noble family of "The Gentile".<ref name=History>{{cite web |url=http://tapinu.org/history/history.html |title=History of Ta' Pinu Sanctuary |accessdate=2010-07-21 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100227215323/http://tapinu.org/history/history.html |archivedate=2010-02-27 }}</ref>
In 1575 the apostolic visitor [[Pietro Dusina]] was delegated by [[Pope Gregory XIII]] to visit the Maltese Islands. In his pastoral visit to the church, he found that it was in a very bad state. He ordered the church to be closed and demolished and its duties passed to the parish church, now the [[Cathedral of the Assumption, Victoria|Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Gozo]]. When demolition began the workman broke his arm while striking the first blow. This was taken as an omen that the chapel should not be demolished. The church was the only chapel on the island to survive Dusina's decree ordering the demolition of other similar chapels.<ref name=History />
Pinu Gauci became the procurator of the church in 1598 and its name was changed from "Of the Gentile" to "Ta` Pinu", meaning "Of Philip". In 1611 Gauci offered money for its restoration. It was rebuilt, with a stone altar erected and investments for liturgical services provided. Gauci also commissioned the painting of the Assumption of Our Lady for the main altar. This was done in 1619 by Amadeo Perugino.<ref name=History />
In 1883, [[Karmni Grima]] was walking past the now run down church and heard a voice asking her to recite three "[[Hail Mary]]s". Over the following years miracles were attributed to the grace of Our Lady of [[The Assumption]] to whom the church was dedicated. Francis Portelli also heard the voice coming from the painting. Francis Merċieċa also known as [[Frenċ tal-Għarb]] was a devout of Our Lady of ta' Pinu and healed a lot of people in her name.
[[File:Dankesbezeugungen_in_der_Wallfahrtskriche_Ta%27_Pinu_Nov_2014_04.JPG|225px|left|thumb|Some of the ex-voto in the Ta' Pinu church.]]
The works for the new [[church (building)|church]] began on 30 May 1920 on the initiative of the church's rector Monsignor [[Ġużepp Portelli]] and was consecrated on 31 August 1932. It was built in a neo-romantic style. Inside the church there are 6 [[mosaic]]s, 76 coloured windows and many [[ex-voto]]. The bell tower is 61 metres high.<ref name=History />
[[Pope John Paul II]] celebrated mass on the [[parvise]] of the shrine during his visit to the island of [[Gozo]] on 26 May 1990.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/homilies/1990/documents/hf_jp-ii_hom_19900526_gozo_en.html|title = 26 May 1990, Eucharistic celebration at the Shrine of Our Lady of Ta' Pinu in the island of Gozo | John Paul II}}</ref> On 18 April 2010, when visiting [[Malta]], [[Pope Benedict XVI]] donated and placed a [[Golden Rose]] in front of the devotional image of Our Lady Of Ta' Pinu which was brought over from [[Gozo]] to [[Malta]] for this special occasion. The Pope invited everybody to pray to Mary under the title "Queen of the Family".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.zenit.org/article-28949?l=english |title=ZENIT - Our Lady of Ta? Pinu |accessdate=2010-04-23 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100507164244/http://www.zenit.org/article-28949?l=english |archivedate=2010-05-07 }}</ref>
On 2 April 2022, after visiting the Chapel of Our Lady and praying there in silence, Pope Francis presided at a Prayer Meeting on the parvis of the church.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-04-02 |title=Watch: Arriving in Gozo by catamaran, the Pope prays at the Marian shrine, Ta' Pinu |url=https://aleteia.org/2022/04/02/watch-arriving-in-gozo-by-catamaran-the-pope-prays-at-the-marian-shrine-ta-pinu/ |access-date=2022-09-11 |website=Aleteia — Catholic Spirituality, Lifestyle, World News, and Culture |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Agius |first=Monique |date=2022-04-30 |title=Pope Francis speaks about spiritual yearning felt at Ta' Pinu in letter to Bishop Teuma |url=https://newsbook.com.mt/en/pope-francis-speaks-about-spiritual-yearning-felt-at-ta-pinu-in-letter-to-bishop-teuma/ |access-date=2022-09-11 |website=Newsbook |language=en-US}}</ref>
The church building is listed on the [[National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Ta' Pinu Sanctuary|url=http://www.culturalheritage.gov.mt/filebank/inventory/Chapels%20and%20Niches/00972.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208061137/http://www.culturalheritage.gov.mt/filebank/inventory/Chapels%20and%20Niches/00972.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 8, 2015|website=National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands|accessdate=31 October 2015|date=27 August 2012}}</ref>
==See also== {{Portal box|Catholicism|History|Malta}} *[[Culture of Malta]] *[[History of Malta]] *[[List of Churches in Malta]] *[[Religion in Malta]]
==Notes== {{notelist}}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * [http://www.tapinu.org Official site] * [http://gozodiocese.org/churches/national-sanctuary/ Diocese of Gozo - National Sanctuary] {{commons category|Ta' Pinu Shrine}}
[[Category:Shrines to the Virgin Mary|Ta' Pinu]] [[Category:Basilica churches in Malta]] [[Category:Għarb]] [[Category:Church buildings with domes]] [[Category:National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands]] [[Category:Romanesque Revival architecture in Malta]] [[Category:Roman Catholic church buildings in Malta]] [[Category:Roman Catholic shrines in Malta]] [[Category:Romanesque Revival church buildings]]