The news that Blessed Dun Gorg Preca is to become the first Maltese saint spread like wildfire on Wednesday evening.

Once a statement by the Curia was issued to announce that the Congregation for the Causes of Saints had approved a second miracle attributed to the priest who founded the Society for Christian Doctrine, it became immediately clear that Catholic Malta was to finally have its first canonisation.

That Dun Gorg will, in all probability, be made saint in the year marking the 100th anniversary of his founding of the society that many of us know as tal-Muzew, is the icing on the cake and, frankly, the announcement of Dun Gorg’s sainthood could not have come at a better time.

Although the process is still to be concluded, we are now at the end of what has been a long road, considering that the cause for the sanctification of Dun Gorg started way back in 1975.

The date will be set for his canonisation after a decree on the second miracle is sent to Pope Benedict XVI for approval and after the Pope seeks the advice of the Cardinals who live in Rome when he calls a Consistory.

The first miracle that had led to Dun Gorg’s beatification by Pope John Paul II during his second visit to Malta in May 2001 was the healing of Charles Zammit Endrich in 1964.

The second healing is of a baby who developed liver complications in July 2001, needed a liver transplant which was however not carried out because the donor liver was not compatible, and was miraculously healed after the child was touched with a glove used to exhume Dun Gorg’s body.

This second case has been amply studied since then and last October, the Congregation’s theologians gave a favourable opinion, which led to Wednesday’s approval.

Over the years much has been written about Dun Gorg, who has no doubt left an indelible mark on Maltese society and whose influence in still felt profusely although he died 45 years ago. His greatest contribution to the Church, and to society in general, was his founding of the Society for Christine Doctrine, still very active among young people today, 100 years later.

The society carries out sterling work among children, not only with regard to Christian teachings as the children are prepared for the Sacraments of Holy Communion and Confirmation, but also provides places where young people meet and grow up together. Many children continue attending Muzew classes well beyond what is required, largely because there they establish long-lasting friendships that help them become stronger people.

What is perhaps ironic is that Malta will have its first saint at a time when the practising of the Catholic religion, for many years the basis of Maltese society, is no longer what it used to be.

Statistics issued by the Church show that just more than half of the population attends Sunday Mass, and although this in no way means that Malta is less Christian than it was in the past, it is a clear indication that the Church’s influence on the people is on a decline.

The sanctification of Dun Gorg is an opportunity for the Church to work on a renewal of the faith among the people, although it must be admitted that this is a difficult task in the world of today.

It is highly unlikely that Dun Gorg’s sanctification will take place in Malta because, as Mgr Arthur Said Pullicino, head of the Ecclesiastical Tribunal, explained, Dun Gorg is not only “Malta’s saint”, but he is a saint for the whole world.

Nonetheless, it will be a great day for Malta.