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THE EXTRAORDINARY LIFE OF FRANCESCA TERESA PARLAR

By October 2, 2025Salvu Story, STORY

THE EXTRAORDINARY LIFE OF FRANCESCA TERESA PARLAR

Teresa Parlar at prayer: Source: Malta Independent

Barely eating and considered either hysterical or holy, Francesca Teresa Parlar lived a modest life devoted to prayer and helping others but was persecuted by the authorities.

She was born in Valletta, Malta, on November 24, 1842, and baptised that very day in the parish church of Our Lady of Porto Salvo by Fr Salvatore Pace. Her godparents were Don Luigi Fernandez, a parish priest, and Marianna Debono, the wife of a notary.

Francesca’s parents, Gio Andrea Parlar and Carmela d’Amato, came from a wealthy family. However, life took a difficult turn when their three schooners (sailing ships) were lost at sea. With their fortune gone, the Parlars moved to Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul, Turkey), where Gio Andrea unsuccessfully tried his hand at the clothing business. As a result, the family returned to Malta after only three years.

Deeply spiritual from an early age, Francesca longed to receive her First Holy Communion. Told she was too young, she became so upset that she fell ill. However, her confessor, Fr. Salvatore, allowed her to take Communion, fulfilling her heartfelt wish.

Francesca had three sisters and two brothers. Her Godfather, Don Luigi Fernandez, wanted Teresa to inherit his wealth and live under his care. But Francesca, not drawn to material things, chose to stay with her ailing mother instead.

Francesca and her mother moved in with Lorenzo and Vittoria Ebejer’s family at 74 Point Street, Senglea. Knowing her time was limited, Francesca’s mother entrusted the Ebejers with her daughter’s care after her passing. Francesca led a simple life, living in a tiny, plain room, wearing a black dress with a traditional Maltese faldetta or għonnella (a shawl-like garment) and dedicating herself to prayer.

In 1882, Teresa joined the Third Order of St Dominic, a group for laypeople who wished to follow the Dominican way of life. She chose the name ‘Sister Caterina di San Giuseppe’ and experienced a state of religious ecstasy during her admission ceremony. Her reputation for holiness quickly spread among the Maltese people.

Point Street, Isla/Senglea. Source: buildingsofmalta.com

Teresa on her deathbed. Source: Times of Malta

Trials and Tribulations

As Teresa’s fame grew, the Church began investigating her life. Some doubted her and believed she might be possessed by evil spirits, while others admired her virtue. These investigations led to her being examined by doctors and religious leaders. Despite objections from the Ebejer family and Francesca’s own reluctance, she was eventually taken to the Central Hospital. There, she was placed in solitary confinement for several months. Later, when she was allowed visitors, she would spend many hours in prayer in the hospital’s chapel. Francesca was next moved to St Vincent de Paul Home for the Elderly, regardless of her protests and those of her sister, who wanted Francesca to live with her. This decision was based on a medical report claiming she had a condition called hystero-epilepsy. She spent 14 months there, closely monitored by both Church and civil authorities. Notwithstanding these hardships, she continued to pray and care for those suffering from leprosy at St Vincent de Paul. Her love for God and others never wavered.

St Vincent de Paul Home. Source: Newsbook

Parlar’s grave at Addolorata Cemetery

On July 6, 1901, Teresa was given permission to return to her humble home in Senglea, where she lived a solitary life of prayer and penance. She predicted that her home would one day be destroyed and never rebuilt. During World War II, her prophecy came true when the house was bombed, leaving an open space that remains empty to this day, marked by a lonely palm tree. One of the most intriguing mysteries of Teresa’s life was her complete abstinence from food. From the age of eight until her passing at 85, she reportedly lived solely on the Eucharist. It is also said that she experienced bilocation, the ability to be in two places at the same time.

Teresa left this world on August 12, 1927. True to her wishes, she died on a Friday, a day she fasted on and held sacred. Her funeral was held at the Basilica of the Nativity of Mary in Senglea, and she was buried in the chapel of Our Lady of Sorrows at the Addolorata Cemetery. In 2021, Francesca Teresa Parlar’s remains were moved to the Dominican Church of the Annunciation in Vittoriosa. Over the years, people have reported miracles and blessings attributed to Francesca’s intercession. Her story continues to inspire devotion, and her tomb is often visited by those seeking comfort and guidance.

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