Emanuel Galea
Encyclopedia
Emanuel Galea, also spelled Emmanuele Galea, (March 10, 1891 – August 21, 1974) was a bishop
of the Roman Catholic Church
.
, Malta
, on March 10, 1891. After his primary education, he studied at the Lyceum
between 1903 and 1909. After his decision to become a priest, he entered the Major Seminary and enrolled at the Royal University of Malta in 1910. He obtained the degree of Bachelor of Literature and Bachelor of Canon Law and that of Doctor of Divinity
. He was awarded the Certificate of Honour in the Theology Course. He was ordained priest together with his brother Francesco on 18 December 1915, thus becoming the third priest in the family.
He enjoyed teaching Catechism
to small children and adults; he liked to use a small projector for visual aids. Two years later he was appointed Canon Theologian of the Collegiate Church of Senglea. In 1919, after World War I
, Canon Galea continued his postgraduate studies at the Gregorian University in Rome
where he obtained a doctorate in Canon Law
.
at the Archbishop’s Seminary from 1921 till 1932. He became Professor of Canon Law at the Royal University of Malta from 1930 until 1942. Galea was installed Monsignor Theologian of the Cathedral Chapter. During the same year, Archbishop Caruana appointed him Secretary General at the Curia and Defender of the Bond of the Ecclesiastical Tribunal.
, a post at which he fulfilled his ambition to help the poor children and the needy until his death.
During the same time he continued with his mission of hearing confessions regularly in Senglea, Zejtun and Tarxien
where he joined his elder brother parish priest Salvatore. He dedicated himself to direct the newly born Congregation and to the apostolate of preaching on all occasions offered to him, and taking active part in the popular missions held by the Missjoni ż-Żgħira. (The Minor Missionary Movement)
, on 9 June 1942, at the request of the old Archbishop Mauro Caruana, Pope Pius XII
appointed Mgr Emanuel Galea Titular Bishop of Tralles in Asia
and Auxiliary Bishop
of Malta. He was ordained bishop by Archbishop Caruana assisted by Bishop Mikiel Gonzi
(at that time Bishop of Gozo
) at the Cathedral in Mdina
on 5 July 1942. (This was during the continuous Luftwaffe
blitz of the islands).
Along with his duties at a high level of responsibility in Malta, Bishop Galea took part in a number of sessions of the Second Vatican Council
that lasted from 1962 until 1965. He addressed the plenary and the individual specialized sessions in a masterly way and contributed especially to the discussions on the Episcopal Collegiality and on the role of the Church in the modern world.
In 1965, on the 50th Anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood, on the recommendation of Archbishop Gonzi, Pope Paul VI
appointed Bishop Galea Assistant to the Papal Throne.
In 1969, the Confederation of Civic Councils awarded him the Gold Medal of Merit by stating that over the previous 29 years, Mgr Galea had performed innumerable deeds to the spiritual and temporal benefit of the Maltese Islands.
and then he was buried in the Cemetery of St Gregory in Zejtun. He was later transferred to the Institute where he now lies buried in a marble sarcophagus.
Monsignor Galea was a man of prayer and a great devotee of the Blessed Virgin. His Rosary beads were frequently seen in his hands. He spent daily long moments of Adoration before the Blessed Sacrament. Both as a priest and as a bishop he was known by all as the apostle of the confessional. He encouraged prayers for priests and the monthly night-adoration for their holiness.
In character Mgr Galea was very reserved by nature and was hardly one to boast of his achievements and only a close circle of friends knew of those good deeds. Even during his lifetime, Mgr Galea was considered to be a saintly person. Since the destruction of Senglea during the Second World War he had lived mainly in Zejtun where his humble residence was always open to those that sought his advice and teachings. His sermons were always followed with utmost interest and people used to travel long distances to hear him preach.
Many pray for his intercession with God for some special favour and there is a movement to have him elevated to the Altars as a Blessed Soul.
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
.
Academic Achievements
The youngest son of Joseph and Carmela Camilleri, Emanuel Galea was born in SengleaSenglea
Senglea is a fortified city in the east of Malta, mainly in the Grand Harbour area. It is one of the Three Cities in the east of Malta, the other two being Cospicua and Vittoriosa. The city of Senglea is also called Civitas Invicta, because it managed to resist the Ottoman invasion at the Great...
, Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
, on March 10, 1891. After his primary education, he studied at the Lyceum
Lyceum
The lyceum is a category of educational institution defined within the education system of many countries, mainly in Europe. The definition varies between countries; usually it is a type of secondary school.-History:...
between 1903 and 1909. After his decision to become a priest, he entered the Major Seminary and enrolled at the Royal University of Malta in 1910. He obtained the degree of Bachelor of Literature and Bachelor of Canon Law and that of Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity is an advanced academic degree in divinity. Historically, it identified one who had been licensed by a university to teach Christian theology or related religious subjects....
. He was awarded the Certificate of Honour in the Theology Course. He was ordained priest together with his brother Francesco on 18 December 1915, thus becoming the third priest in the family.
He enjoyed teaching Catechism
Catechism
A catechism , i.e. to indoctrinate) is a summary or exposition of doctrine, traditionally used in Christian religious teaching from New Testament times to the present...
to small children and adults; he liked to use a small projector for visual aids. Two years later he was appointed Canon Theologian of the Collegiate Church of Senglea. In 1919, after World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Canon Galea continued his postgraduate studies at the Gregorian University in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
where he obtained a doctorate in Canon Law
Canon law
Canon law is the body of laws & regulations made or adopted by ecclesiastical authority, for the government of the Christian organization and its members. It is the internal ecclesiastical law governing the Catholic Church , the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches, and the Anglican Communion of...
.
Advancement in the church
On his return from Rome he was appointed Prefect of Studies and Professor of Latin Literature at the Archbishop’s Seminary. Galea was the Prefect of Studies and Professor of Latin LiteratureLatin literature
Latin literature includes the essays, histories, poems, plays, and other writings of the ancient Romans. In many ways, it seems to be a continuation of Greek literature, using many of the same forms...
at the Archbishop’s Seminary from 1921 till 1932. He became Professor of Canon Law at the Royal University of Malta from 1930 until 1942. Galea was installed Monsignor Theologian of the Cathedral Chapter. During the same year, Archbishop Caruana appointed him Secretary General at the Curia and Defender of the Bond of the Ecclesiastical Tribunal.
Apostolic work
In 1940, during the period of high responsibilities in the Diocese, after the sudden death of Mgr Giuseppe Depiro, Archbishop Caruana asked him to become the Director of the Institute and Orphanage of Jesus of Nazareth at ZejtunZejtun
Żejtun is a medium sized town in the south of Malta. Żejtun holds the title of Città Beland, which was bestowed by Ferdinand von Hompesch zu Bolheim, Grandmaster of Knights of Malta in 1797, Beland being his mother's surname....
, a post at which he fulfilled his ambition to help the poor children and the needy until his death.
During the same time he continued with his mission of hearing confessions regularly in Senglea, Zejtun and Tarxien
Tarxien
-Etymology:Ħal Tarxien is a small village in the south east of Malta. The etymology of the village may be a corruption of Tirix, meaning a large stone, similar to those used for the village's noted temples. The village motto is Tyrii Genure Coloni .-Population:Today, the village is inhabited by...
where he joined his elder brother parish priest Salvatore. He dedicated himself to direct the newly born Congregation and to the apostolate of preaching on all occasions offered to him, and taking active part in the popular missions held by the Missjoni ż-Żgħira. (The Minor Missionary Movement)
Further responsibilities
During the most critical moments for Malta in World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, on 9 June 1942, at the request of the old Archbishop Mauro Caruana, Pope Pius XII
Pope Pius XII
The Venerable Pope Pius XII , born Eugenio Maria Giuseppe Giovanni Pacelli , reigned as Pope, head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City State, from 2 March 1939 until his death in 1958....
appointed Mgr Emanuel Galea Titular Bishop of Tralles in Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
and Auxiliary Bishop
Auxiliary bishop
An auxiliary bishop, in the Roman Catholic Church, is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer, or the diocese is attached to a royal or imperial office...
of Malta. He was ordained bishop by Archbishop Caruana assisted by Bishop Mikiel Gonzi
Mikiel Gonzi
Monsignor Sir Michael Gonzi, KBE, DD was Roman Catholic Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Malta...
(at that time Bishop of Gozo
Gozo
Gozo is a small island of the Maltese archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea. The island is part of the Southern European country of Malta; after the island of Malta itself, it is the second-largest island in the archipelago...
) at the Cathedral in Mdina
Mdina
Mdina, Città Vecchia, or Città Notabile, is the old capital of Malta. Mdina is a medieval walled town situated on a hill in the centre of the island. Punic remains uncovered beyond the city’s walls suggest the importance of the general region to Malta’s Phoenician settlers. Mdina is commonly...
on 5 July 1942. (This was during the continuous Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
blitz of the islands).
Along with his duties at a high level of responsibility in Malta, Bishop Galea took part in a number of sessions of the Second Vatican Council
Second Vatican Council
The Second Vatican Council addressed relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the modern world. It was the twenty-first Ecumenical Council of the Catholic Church and the second to be held at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. It opened under Pope John XXIII on 11 October 1962 and closed...
that lasted from 1962 until 1965. He addressed the plenary and the individual specialized sessions in a masterly way and contributed especially to the discussions on the Episcopal Collegiality and on the role of the Church in the modern world.
Later life
He enjoyed visiting parishes all over Malta to confer the Sacrament of Confirmation, to install new parish priests and to take part in the liturgical celebrations of the parish titular feasts. He accepted joyfully to deliver Lenten sermons to all different sections wherever he was invited. Being an assiduous writer of short articles he used this ability to propagate the teachings of the Church on many occasions.Honors
In 1943 he was made a Knight of the Order of Malta.In 1965, on the 50th Anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood, on the recommendation of Archbishop Gonzi, Pope Paul VI
Pope Paul VI
Paul VI , born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church from 21 June 1963 until his death on 6 August 1978. Succeeding Pope John XXIII, who had convened the Second Vatican Council, he decided to continue it...
appointed Bishop Galea Assistant to the Papal Throne.
In 1969, the Confederation of Civic Councils awarded him the Gold Medal of Merit by stating that over the previous 29 years, Mgr Galea had performed innumerable deeds to the spiritual and temporal benefit of the Maltese Islands.
His last years
Bishop Emanuel Galea continued his pastoral activities to the last days of his life; he passed peacefully away on 21 August 1974 after a short illness at the venerable age of 83 years. His remains were laid in state in his beloved Institute at Zejtun for the last farewell from the many that queued to show their respect. The funeral, attended by huge crowds and many priests, was led by archbishop Gonzi (who had since become Archbishop of Malta) at St John's Co-CathedralSt John's Co-Cathedral
St. Johns Co-Cathedral , located in Valletta, Malta, was built by the Knights of Malta between 1573 and 1578, having been commissioned in 1572 by Grand Master Jean de la Cassière as the conventual church of the Order of the Knights Hospitaller of St John, known as the Knights of Malta...
and then he was buried in the Cemetery of St Gregory in Zejtun. He was later transferred to the Institute where he now lies buried in a marble sarcophagus.
Monsignor Galea was a man of prayer and a great devotee of the Blessed Virgin. His Rosary beads were frequently seen in his hands. He spent daily long moments of Adoration before the Blessed Sacrament. Both as a priest and as a bishop he was known by all as the apostle of the confessional. He encouraged prayers for priests and the monthly night-adoration for their holiness.
In character Mgr Galea was very reserved by nature and was hardly one to boast of his achievements and only a close circle of friends knew of those good deeds. Even during his lifetime, Mgr Galea was considered to be a saintly person. Since the destruction of Senglea during the Second World War he had lived mainly in Zejtun where his humble residence was always open to those that sought his advice and teachings. His sermons were always followed with utmost interest and people used to travel long distances to hear him preach.
Many pray for his intercession with God for some special favour and there is a movement to have him elevated to the Altars as a Blessed Soul.