She spent her youth helping her family in the fields and was also a member of the Catholic Action Movement, of the Figlie di Maria, she used to visit the sick, participated in the perpetual adoration before the Holy Sacrament and prepared hundreds of families to make the Act of Consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Our Lady asked her to spread devotion towards
the new title “Our Lady of Consecration”. Guza claims that the Blessed Virgin told her, “I was consecrated to God since I was a little child but no one on earth gave me this title.”
Two years later, Guza disclosed that she had even seen the Holy Mother at her family’s farmland in Girgenti. Our Lady requested a statue close to the place of the apparitions and Anton Agius, a renowned sculptor from Rabat was commissioned to make this statue which was placed at Girgenti on May 5, 1986. Guza Mifsud organised prayer meetings every first and third Sunday of each month during which she always addressed the congregation in her humble and straightforward way. Her lack of schooling did not hinder her from delivering the messages she claimed to have received from the Blessed Virgin, Jesus and other saints. Nor did she hesitate to preach about the love of God, the Eucharist, the Passion of Christ, brotherly love, peace, unity, modesty and a multitude of other subjects. Her determination and love of God encouraged her to write letters to various Heads of States including Presidents Bush, Gorbachev and Saddam Hussein. In the following years, various additions were made to the shrine. In May 1988 a water trough was blessed by Mons. Amante Buontempo. Guza claimed, “This water has been given to us as a source of spiritual and temporal grace...” Four years later, in May 1992 a large wooden cross, a symbol of comfort to people in distress, was also blessed as Our Lady had directed. This cross was replaced by another wooden cross in May 2007, while the original was put on display in Guza’s house in Siggiewi. During her speeches Guza recalled how in the nineteen fifties she had a vision of St. Michael who had told her, “You must become a warrior to defend Malta, to defend the Eucharist and to defend the message given by Our Lady...” His statue which was blessed in February 1993 was aimed at increasing devotion towards the saint in order to wipe out wickedness and evil from Malta and the world. The statue of St. Joseph was erected at Girgenti in November 1995. Guza claims to have had various visions from her patron saint. The marble plaque which was placed near the statue contains an extract from his message to Guza. It reads as follows: “The whole world is undergoing a great Calvary of darkness... many kind people are being killed... Pray for heavenly peace... Together with the Lord Jesus and the Blessed Virgin I am the protector of the Catholic Church... and I place the dying before the mercy of God and that of His son Jesus.”
The latest addition to the shrine was the statue representing the suffering of Christ. Its sculptor was Mr. Andrew Bugeja and it was paid by Lord and Lady of Kenfig from Wales. This statue was blessed by Mons. Francesco Adeodato Micallef, Bishop Emeritus of Kuwait on June 7, 2009. Many physical and spiritual favours were claimed to have been received through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin and Guza Mifsud. The bell which elegantly hangs in its tower is one such example. A person who was given to blasphemy converted and donated money to have this bell placed at Girgenti so that by its tongue (bell clapper) it would praise God and atone for the impious words and blasphemy he used to utter with his own tongue. During each prayer meeting the bell is tolled five times in honour of the Holy Trinity, the Blessed Virgin and St. Joseph and all the saints in Heaven. Although Guza Mifsud passed away on October 28, 1996, yet her words still echo in the minds and in the hearts of many devotees of the Blessed Virgin. The Committee of the Movement of Our Lady of Consecration still organizes its prayer meetings on every first and third Sunday of each month while other meetings are organized privately during week days. Besides fulfilling its roles in administration and preservation, the Committee is also always pleased to offer its assistance to those who visit the shrine. Girgenti is a place of refuge. The summer heat and the cold winter months do not detract any of Girgenti’s visual and spiritual beauty. The shrine is visited by many people of all ages and from all walks of life. At Girgenti one finds comfort, peace of mind and spiritual strength. FAVOUR RECEIVED THROUGH THE INTERCESSION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN AND GUZA MIFSUD
Doris Attard from Zebbug, Malta, reports: It was around April 1983 that I felt a pain in my left hand. Gradually my fingers began to contract. Physiotherapy did not help and my hand got worse and even started taking on a blackish colour. It started oozing a certain liquid giving off such a pungent offensive smell that it offended those who used to come near me...
Almost a year elapsed. My hand deteriorated completely. My brother visited Professor Casaletto who told him that no medical cure existed for my condition and suggested that it would be better to amputate my hand, otherwise I would soon die. I visited Guza at her house, we had never met before. As soon as I entered and before I had even uttered one word, Guza said, 'Our Lady is going to heal you.' She drew me in front of the picture of Our Lady of Consecration and we prayed together. There and then, from my bandaged ever smelling hand issued a pleasant fragrance. I visited Guza often, sometimes even twice a week. My hand began to heal. On August 6, 1984, I went to Guza so that together we would thank Our Lady for her help. When Professor Casaletto saw my hand white and healed, he said, 'It's a miracle' and certified the following on July 9, 1984. “This letter is to state that Mrs Attard had her left fist clenched and fixed and painful for one year and four months. No medical treatment was of any use whatsoever but on praying to Our Lady she has made a full recovery. This I can attestate to, and several other Staff at the hospital.”
AN ACT OF CONSECRATION TO OUR LADY
O, Mary, Queen of Heaven and Earth, more than once you have shown us your wish,that the whole world be consecrated to your Immaculate Heart. Moved by your wish, I Prostrate myself at your feet today to Consecrate my whole being to you. I give you my heart, my soul and my whole life that I may be all yours; and make of me a “handmaid of the Lord” just like you. I beg you to protect God’s Holy Church, our islands, my family, all humanity and myself. Help me to live a life consecrated to you so that I will be made worthy to die a saintly death and enjoy eternal glory. Amen
Say Three Hail Marys. PRAYER OF INTERCESSION
Lord God of Hosts, cast your glance upon me, protect me and keep me always bound to Your holy will. Lord, I adore You, I bless You and I praise You and while I thank You for the gifts and the graces which You have bestowed on Guza Mifsud, I beg You so that through her intercession and the intercession of Mary My most holy Mother, grant me the grace I earnestly desire. Glory be to the Father...
