Frenc Tal-Gharb
Encyclopedia
Francis Xavier Mercieca, known as Frenc tal-Gharb, was born in Għarb Gozo
on the 3 December 1892. His parents, Salvu Mercieca and Beneditta née Mercieca, reared a family of twelve children. Like most other families in Gozo, Mercieca's family had also a nickname; they were known as “Tas-Sajf” , literally meaning “Of Summer”.
In 1917, his father died at the age of 75. Some members of Frenc’s family emigrated, whilst others got married.
Frenc was influenced by the kind-hearted and pious character of his mother Beneditta. During the years of World War I
(1914–1918), she would often share her crops with other villagers, thus alleviating the problems of famine in other families.
The kind-heartedness of Frenc's family is also shown by the fact that they accommodated in their household two priests: Rev. Can Paul Custo` and Rev. Nazju Axiak. The latter lived with the family from 1920 till his death in 1947.
movement which had a presence in his village. He had a great devotion towards the Blessed Virgin Of Ta' Pinu and towards the Holy Eucharist.
Frenc used to take part in village theatrical productions, better known as “teatrin”. His part, very often, was that of a clown.People used to flock to the village hall to watch Frenc.
Frenc spent most of his life working in the fields. When he returned home, he used to find a lot of people, coming all walks of life, waiting for him. They would seek his counsel and were eager to listen to his advice and to elicit from him prayers for their needs.
Frenc combined his old knowledge in old medicinal herbs, his prayers and his faith in Our Lady for his cures, and his reputation spread rapidly throughout the entire Maltese Islands and even abroad.
Very often he would anticipate the questions that people were going to pose to him. He even disclosed to some of his visitors incidents from their own past, especially their past wrongdoings. A reprimand and a call for repentance would normally follow.
In some cases he even foretold the future.
On 6 August 1966 , Frenc was interviewed by the late Charles Arrigo on Malta's cable radio system which was then run by Rediffusion
.In this interview Frenc stated, that certain members of the medical profession, were skeptical of what Frenc was doing.He was even taken to court where, on 11 June 1938, he was charged with unauthorized medical practice. Although found guilty, he was not fined anything, due to his clean conduct.
This incident did not stop the public from continuing to visit Frenc, who, now under constant police surveillance, refused to accept any visitors.
, whenever he did so, he was always inundated with several requests to visit the homes of sick people. Frenc always did his utmost to accommodate such requests.
Frenc had deep respect for Dun Gorg Preca, now Saint Gorg Preca. They knew each other. On one occasion, when Frenc went on one of his trips to Malta, we have an account by Frenc’s sister, Filippina, of an encounter with San Gorg Preca. Dun Gorg requested Frenc to accompany him for some visits to sick people. Filippina recounts how Frenc and Dun Gorg went on these visits walking along the streets hand in hand.
Frenc died on 19 May 1967 in the same house that he was born in.
People today still go to the picturesque village of Gharb and visit the house where Frenc lived.
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...
on the 3 December 1892. His parents, Salvu Mercieca and Beneditta née Mercieca, reared a family of twelve children. Like most other families in Gozo, Mercieca's family had also a nickname; they were known as “Tas-Sajf” , literally meaning “Of Summer”.
Early life
From an early age Frenc had to work in the fields of his family. His primary education came to a halt at the age of twelve years because, as he stated his father required his services in the fields from dusk till dawn.In 1917, his father died at the age of 75. Some members of Frenc’s family emigrated, whilst others got married.
Frenc was influenced by the kind-hearted and pious character of his mother Beneditta. During the years of 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...
(1914–1918), she would often share her crops with other villagers, thus alleviating the problems of famine in other families.
The kind-heartedness of Frenc's family is also shown by the fact that they accommodated in their household two priests: Rev. Can Paul Custo` and Rev. Nazju Axiak. The latter lived with the family from 1920 till his death in 1947.
Adulthood
Frenc, who remained a bachelor throughout his life, was an active member of the Catholic ActionCatholic Action
Catholic Action was the name of many groups of lay Catholics who were attempting to encourage a Catholic influence on society.They were especially active in the nineteenth century in historically Catholic countries that fell under anti-clerical regimes such as Spain, Italy, Bavaria, France, and...
movement which had a presence in his village. He had a great devotion towards the Blessed Virgin Of Ta' Pinu and towards the Holy Eucharist.
Frenc used to take part in village theatrical productions, better known as “teatrin”. His part, very often, was that of a clown.People used to flock to the village hall to watch Frenc.
Frenc spent most of his life working in the fields. When he returned home, he used to find a lot of people, coming all walks of life, waiting for him. They would seek his counsel and were eager to listen to his advice and to elicit from him prayers for their needs.
Frenc combined his old knowledge in old medicinal herbs, his prayers and his faith in Our Lady for his cures, and his reputation spread rapidly throughout the entire Maltese Islands and even abroad.
Very often he would anticipate the questions that people were going to pose to him. He even disclosed to some of his visitors incidents from their own past, especially their past wrongdoings. A reprimand and a call for repentance would normally follow.
In some cases he even foretold the future.
Frenc in Court
Frenc, who never studied medicine and never worked in a medical environment, was considered by many inhabitants of the Maltese Islands as a healer of body and soul.On 6 August 1966 , Frenc was interviewed by the late Charles Arrigo on Malta's cable radio system which was then run by Rediffusion
Rediffusion
Rediffusion was a business which distributed radio and TV signals through wired relay networks. The business gave rise to a number of other companies, including Associated-Rediffusion, later known as Rediffusion London, one of the first companies to win a terrestrial ITV franchise in the UK...
.In this interview Frenc stated, that certain members of the medical profession, were skeptical of what Frenc was doing.He was even taken to court where, on 11 June 1938, he was charged with unauthorized medical practice. Although found guilty, he was not fined anything, due to his clean conduct.
This incident did not stop the public from continuing to visit Frenc, who, now under constant police surveillance, refused to accept any visitors.
A Loophole
Someone informed Frenc about a loophole in the law: he could see people who were accompanied by a medical certificate, indicating, amongst other things, what treatment was required from him; e.g. massage of the feet. Eventually the medical profession and the law decided to let Frenc continue with his practice, even without the need of a medical certificate. He never accepted any money from his visitors; all donations were passed over to Ta' Pinu Sanctuary.Frenc And Saint Gorg Preca
Although Frenc was never keen to cross the channel to MaltaMalta
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...
, whenever he did so, he was always inundated with several requests to visit the homes of sick people. Frenc always did his utmost to accommodate such requests.
Frenc had deep respect for Dun Gorg Preca, now Saint Gorg Preca. They knew each other. On one occasion, when Frenc went on one of his trips to Malta, we have an account by Frenc’s sister, Filippina, of an encounter with San Gorg Preca. Dun Gorg requested Frenc to accompany him for some visits to sick people. Filippina recounts how Frenc and Dun Gorg went on these visits walking along the streets hand in hand.
Frenc died on 19 May 1967 in the same house that he was born in.
People today still go to the picturesque village of Gharb and visit the house where Frenc lived.