A real lady and a determined pioneer with exceptional charisma, she left a trail of exemplary actions wherever she set foot throughout her long 100 years of life! English-born Monica first came to Malta way back in 1934, and almost immediately embarked on many a project that would contribute significantly to the educational sector and spiritual qualities of society. One of her early resolutions was that of going to university and studying to become a teacher… which she did! In 1935, she started teaching at the Higher Central School in Sta Venera, but when war broke out, she took her teaching skills to St Edward’s College in Cottonera, where many a pupil benefited immensely from her educational regime.
Mother Tessie Agius, now retired at the Home for the Elderly Sisters of the Society of the Sacred Heart in Tal-Virtu’, recounts how at one time, Monica asked her and another close friend – Mary Pitre’ (now Inglott) to join her at a retreat at the Convent of The Sacred Heart.
It was during this retreat that the three of them felt inspired to start the ‘Legion of Mary’ in Malta. Back in Bradford, her hometown, Monica had already set up the Legion of Mary and now, together with Mother Egan, who had also started the Legion of Mary in Newcastle, the small group set out to maximise the possibility of opening a similar Marian branch of apostolic work, here also.
But the archbishop of the time, Mgr Maurus Caruana, initially declined to give the ‘Go Ahead’ to start up a brand new group of active Legionaries, as, according to him, seemingly similar groups were already in existence. He thus temporarily restricted his permission to the enrolment of auxiliaries, who would meet solely for prayers. Eventually, the bishop’s consent was granted and the first meeting of the first Praesidium of the Legion of Mary in Malta, formed by the three, Monica, Tessie and Mary, took place in Ms Pitre’s house at 35 Rudolph Street where, to this very day, a plaque marking this historic event back in 1936 still hangs on the façade of the building.
But soon enough, the number of members swelled and the Praesidium moved its meetings to Tessie’s larger house in Windsor Terrace, where another distinguished Maltese personality came on the scene. Mgr Karm Psaila became the first Spiritual Director of the extended group of Legion members.
In 1940, the well-known Maltese poet dedicated a 15-verse poem to the first Praesidium “Queen of Peace”. The first lines read: “They are thirteen bright ladies … each in the bloom of life; brave legionaries of Mary … alert in peace and strife.”
After months of prayer, Mary’s army had finally grown into a fully-fledged army of active members. During the worst years of the war, Legion meetings inevitably accompanied its evacuated members to Attard, the Central Cottage and railway station where Miss Mabel Strickland is known to have regularly opened the doors of her villa (Villa Bologna) to the evacuees.
But Our Lady stood steadfast by her troops, and the scare of bombings wasn’t enough to deter the Legion meetings from taking place. With bombs whistling above their heads, they were determined to march bravely on and kept on doing so up to this very day with the sole aim of accomplishing their apostolic campaigns of conversion, conservation and consolation! Yes, thanks to Monica, and flanked by two trusted friends, Our Lady’s Army (founded in Ireland on 7 September, 1921 by Frank Duff), had its roots sown in Malta too!
After the war, Monica left the island and headed for Spain. While crossing over, she met a close friend who disclosed to her that the Spanish monarchs were looking for a reliable tutor for their three children. Monica was interested and promptly applied for the distinguished post. She, having such a remarkable nature, was singled out and promptly accepted. In time, she proved herself to be so proficient in the sterling educational service she rendered as tutor to the royal offspring of King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia of Spain, that even years after she had retired, she would still be invited to all the Royal Family’s important functions.
When, lately, Monica’s health started deteriorating and eventually, news of her death was announced, Crown Prince Felipe of Spain called Madeleine (Monica’s 93-year old sister in Bradford). He remarked how strict Madame Walsh had been when delivering educational guidelines to him and his two sisters, making it a must that they adhered to the golden rule. But her discipline saw its successful results, and Prince Felipe emphasized that he would be instilling Monica’s values in his own children.
Monica was called to the Father’s House on 21 March in her 101st year. After spending her last years in a Home for the Elderly in Leeds, UK, I am sure that she must have had a special visit from the Holy Mother herself, who called in personally to pick her up from her death-bed.
Rose P. Loporto
Member of the Legion of Mary