The titular statue of St Cajetan is one of the key artefacts in St Cajetan of Thiene parish church, Ħamrun. Sculpted out of papier-mâché by local statue maker Carlo Darmanin (1825-1909) in 1885, this life-sized work testifies to Ħamrun parishioners’ devotion and serves as an important reflection of Malta’s religious traditions. Its corresponding pedestal was subsequently crafted by Giovanni Farrugia, and the detachable platform created by Antonio Sciortino (1879-1947).
The polychromed statue depicts Italian Catholic priest and religious reformer St Cajetan, who was one of the founders of the Order of Theatines, alongside the Madonna and Child. The statue portrays a scene from Christmas Eve in 1517, when parishioners at Santa Maria Maggiore basilica in Rome reportedly saw mystical visions of their patron saint while engaged in prayer and meditation. In one vision, the Madonna entrusted her son, Jesus, to St Cajetan, who is celebrated as the saint of providence.
In Darmanin’s statue, St Cajetan, depicted to the right, kneels in prayer as he receives the Christ child from a standing Madonna, richly adorned in various fabrics. The top of her mantle, in an off-white colour, is adorned with gold stars and extends into a green garment meticulously decorated with golden floral motifs, mirroring the pattern of her red dress underneath. This elaborate adornment contrasts sharply with the simplicity of St Cajetan’s black tunic.
The statue of St Cajetan reflects the spirit .