Meta mbaghad fl-1608, il-Mosta saret Parrocca ghaliha nistghu nghidu li l-festa bidet tigi iccelebrata izjed b’sollennita iktar u aktar meta fl-1619 tlestiet il-knisja parrokkjali l-qadima li kellna ta’ Tumas Dingli.  Izjed minn 380 sena ilu. Twaqqfu l-ewwel zewg konfraternitajiet li kellna fil-Parrocca, jigifieri dawk tas-Sagrament u tar-Ruzarju.  Din ta’ l-ahhar kienet hasbet ukoll biex ikollha l-istatwa tal-Madonna tar-Ruzarju li ghadna ngawduha sallum li hija xoghol barokk tardiv ta’ l-iskultur Pietro Paolo Zahra li hadimha fl-1742.  Din l-istatwa sabiha ta’ l-injam kient fl-antik tohrog fil-Purcissjoni ta’ Santa Marija, qabel hafna ma l-Mosta kellha l-ewwel statwa propja ta’ Marija Assunta, jigifieri dik ta’ Salvatore Dimech li kient saret fl-1868.

Wiehed ma jridx jinsa li wiehed mill-misterji ikkontemplati fir-Ruzarju Imqaddes, huwa r-raba wiehed minn tal-Glorja li fih nikkontemplaw l-Assunzjoni glorjuza tal-Madonna u ghalhekk ma kienx barra minn loku, li ghal hafna snin, fil-Parrocca taghna kienet tintuza l-istatwa tal-Madonna tar-Ruzarju.  Inzidu nghidu wkoll li ghal habta tal-bidu tas-seklu Dsatax, meta f’Malta saru l-ewwel statwi li kienu jirrapprezentaw ‘l Assunta, il-Mostin kienu diga twebblu li jibnu knisja gdida, dik li l-quddiem kellha tkun il-famuza Rotunda. Ghalhekk l-istatwa propja ta’ Santa Marija saret wara li kienet tlestiet il-knsija monumentali li ghadna llum.

When in 1608, Mosta became a Parish; the feast was now celebrated on a more solemn scale, more and more after in 1619, the old parish church, on the design of Tommaso Dingli was completed. This happened more than 380 years ago. The first two confraternities of the parish were founded, dedicated to the Holy Sacrament and Our Lady of the Rosary. The latter decided to acquire the statue of Our Lady of the Rosary in Late Baroque style by the sculptor Pietro Paolo Zahra in 1742. This wooden statue used to be carried in the procession of the Assumption, well before we had the first proper statue of the Assumption, that is the one by Salvatore Dimech executed in 1868.

One should not forget that one of the Rosary mysteries is the Fourth Glorious Mystery where the Blessed Virgin is taken into heaven.  Therefore it was not out of place that this statue was used for the procession of the Assumption. We have to say here that in the early 19^th century, when the first statues representing the Assumption were executed in Malta, the people of Mosta were planning to build a new church, which resulted in the Monumental rotunda. Therefore the first statue of the Assumption was executed after completion of the church.

Matul is-seklu Tmintax, il-festa titolari taghna jidher li kienet issir bis-sollennita kollha.  Fil-quddiesa kantata, u x’aktarx wkoll fl-ghosieren ta’ lejliet u nhar il-festa kienet tiehu sehem l-orkestra, li ghal habta ta’ l-ahhar kwart tas-seklu Tmintax kienrt tkun immexxija mill-‘Maestro di cappella’ Dun Benin Zerafa, li kien ukoll il-‘ Maestro di cappella’ tal-Katidral.  F’nota dwar il-festa ta’ l-1776 nsibu li kienu ntefqu 10 skudi u 6 tari ghall-loghob tan-nar li kien jikkonsisti f’ ‘girasoli’, ‘fontane’ u ‘razzi d’aria’.  Fl-1777 kien gie sahansitra mistieden il-Gran Mastru de Rohan.  It-toroq kienu jzejnuhom bil-weraq u bhala mixghela ghal mal-faccata tal-Knisja kienu jinxteghlu l-imsiebah.  F’nota ohra dwar il-festa ta’ l-1779 nsibu li kienet l-uzanza li jqabbdu l-hgejjeg ghax kien ingabar ix-xewk ghal dan il-ghan.

Lejn nofs it-tieni kwart tas-seklu Dsatax, missirijietna kienu wisq imhabbtin bil-bini tar-Rotunda, imam qatt ma nsibu li naqsu li jiccelebraw kif jixraq il-festa ta’ l-Assunta; wara kollox mhux ghal gieh tal-Vergni Assunta kienu ndahlu sabiex iwaqqfu dik il-knisja li kellha tibqa’ bhala monument ta’ mhabbithom lejlha?  Min jaf, ghalhekk kemm ferhu meta nhar il-15 ta’ Awissu 1860 iccelebraw ghall-ewwel darba l-festa ta’ Santa Marija gewwa r-Rotunda!

During the eighteenth century, it seems that the feast was celebrated with the utmost solemnity. In the chanted mass and also during the vespers on the eve and also the feast day, there used to be an orchestra that was by ‘Maestro di Cappella’ Don Benigno Zerafa’ at the last quarter of this century. In a note about the feast of 1776 we find that 10 scudi and 6 tari were spent on fireworks that consisted of ‘girasoli’, ‘fontane’ and ‘razzi d’aria’. In 1777 Grand Master De Rohan was invited for the feast. The streets were decorated with leaves and foliage and oil lamps illuminated the church facade. In another note about the feast of 1779, it seems that bonfires were lit as pieces from thorny bushes were used for this.

During the 19^th century, the people of Mosta were rather busy with the building of the Rotunda, but the feast never ceased.  After all this was built in her honour as a permanent symbol of their love towards her.  Therefore their happiness was great when they celebrated this feast on August 15^th 1860 in the Rotunda.

Issa li kellhom knsija gdida, riedu li jkollhom ukoll statwa propja tal-Madonna Assunta, ghalhekk fl-1868 l-iskultur Mosti Mastru Salv dimech hadem minn zokk ta’ zebbuga l-istatwa originali ta’ Santa Marija li kellna. 

Fil-15 ta’ Ottubru 1871, fl-okkazjoni sollenni tal-Konsagrazzjoni tal-Knsija, kienet daqqat ghall-ewwel darba l-Banda Nicolo Isouard u fl-1872 daqqet ghall-ewwel darba fil-festa titolari taghna.  Ghal habta ta’ tmiem is-seklu, kienet dahlet sewwa d-drawwa li fil-festi; bhala parti mill-armar ta’ barra jpoggu statwi tal-kartapesta fuq kolonni ta’ l-injam.  Kien ghal dik il-habta li l-maghruf Karlu Darmanin hadmilna l-istatwi sbieh ta’ Sant’ Anna u San Gwakkin, San Mikiel u San Gabrijiel u l-erba’ angli l-kbar tal-kuruna l-kbira li llum jintramaw fil-pjazza.  L-angli tal-kuruna z-zghira u David saru minn Vincenzo Cremona li flimkien ma l-istatwi ta’ Guditta u Abigaele saru wkoll bejn l-ahhar tas-seklu Dsatax u l-bidu tas-seklu ghoxrin.

Now that they had a new church, the Mostites wanted a new statue of the Assumption, therefore in 1868; Master Salv Dimech carved the original statue of Our Lady from an Olive trunk.

On October 15^th, 1871, the church was solemnly consecrated and on that occasion the Nicolo’ Isouard Band played for the first time. The same band took part in the feast of the Assumption for the first time in 1872.  By the end of the century it became customary to place papier-mâché statues in the streets on wooden pedestals. It was at that time that Carlo Darmanin executed the beautiful statues of St. Anne, St. Joachim,

St. Michael and St. Gabriel together with the four angels of the great crown that today are placed in the square. The other four angels and David were made by Vincenzo Cremona, while those of Judith and Abigail were also made between the end of the nineteenth and the early twentieth centuries.

Fis-seklu li ghadda nistghu nghidu li l-festa, kemm ta’ gewwa u kemm ta’ barra ghaddiet hafna ‘l quddiem u saret wahda mill-iktar popolari taghna l-Maltin.  Dawk li jiftakru jghidu kif kienet tkun armata l-faccata tal-knisja b’dawk il-mijjiet ta’ tazzi taz-zejt ikkuluriti li kienu jinxteghlu lejliet u nhar il-festa u li kienu jahasra jintfew, meta kien jinzerta jibda jfewweg u jonfoh il-Majjistral.  Pilandri sbieh bit-tazzi taz-zejt kienu jdawru l-pjazza u kienu jintramaw ukoll tul Triq il-Kungress Ewkaristiku li ghal dawk iz-zminijiet kienet tkun armata wisq sabiha.

Zewg drawwiet sbieh li dahlu fil-bidu ta’ dan is-seklu huma t-tnejn marbutin mal-purcissjoni.  L-Akkumpanjament bil-banda u l-innijiet wisq sbieh kantati minn tfal bniet tul Triq il-Kungress Ewkaristiku jolqtu zgur lil kull min ikun ghall-festa jara x-xbiha ta’ l-Assunta tigi mnizzla trijonfalment hi u diehla l-knisja.  Drawwa ohra devota hija dik lid an l-ahhar tidher li qed terga’ tqum hija dik ta’ l-akkumpanjament bit-torci jew xema hi u diehla l-vara.

Il-festa ta’ Santa Marija ta’ l-1924 spiccat hazin.  Matul il-lejla tal-15 ta’ Awissu, wara li kienet dhalet il-purcissjoni, u wara li ghalqet il-knisja wkoll, il-kamra ta’ hdejn il-‘Lavabo’ li kienet mimlija b’hafna apparati sagri, minghajr hadd ma jaf kif, hadet in-nar, u sa l-ghada kollox kien sar irmied.  F’dik il-kamra, kien hem mil-kwadru tal-Madonna tad-Dawl li b’ghageb ta’ kulhadd baqa’ bla mittiefes fost il-fjammi tan-nar.  Dan il-kwadru ghadna nistghu narawh imdendel fis-sagristija tal-qassisin u ghadu xhieda tal-grajja ta’ dik il-festa mbieghda.

During the last century one can say that the feast both internally and externally progressed well and became one of the most popular on the island. People of a certain age remember the Church’s facade illuminated with coloured oil lamps that were lit on the eve and on the feast day and that unfortunately were often extinguished when the Northwest wind used to blow. Large ornate lamps lit by these oil lamps used to be placed in the square and in Eucharistic Congress Road, which was ornately decorated at that time.

Two customs that were introduced at the turn of the century are both connected with the procession. The accompaniment with the band and the beautiful hymns sung by a girls’ choir in Eucharistic Congress Road captivate all those who are in the village for the feast, seeing the effigy of the Assumption being taken in procession down to church.  Another devout custom is that of accompanying the statue with large candles during this part of the procession.

The Feast of the Assumption of 1924 ended rather badly. During the night of the 15^th August, after the end of the procession and also after the church had been closed, the room next to the ‘Lavabo’ that was full of sacred vestments caught fire in mysterious circumstances and until dawn everything was in ashes. However, the image of Our Lady of the Light in this room remained (to everyone’s amazement) unscathed and today it is hanged in the right-hand sacristy as a reminder of that feast.

Il-Festa ta’ l-1942 iccelebrajnieha bil-koppla mtaqqba imam bic-certezza li Marija Assunta kienet harset ir-Rotunda u ‘l kull min kien jinsab fiha fil-grajja tad-9 ta’ April 1942.

Fl-1948 iccelebrajna l-festa bl-istatwa ta’ Santa Marija ta’ Dimech mibdula f’dik li ghandna llum ta’ Censu Apap.

Fl-1952 izzanzan id-damask kollu tal-Knisja u ghalhekk fl-okkazzjoni ta’ dik il-festa, il-Mostin kienu ferhanin jaraw ir-Rotunda thammar bid-damask gdid tal-palma.

Fl-okkazzjoni tal-festa ta’ Santa Marija ta’ l-1957, izzanzan il-bankun artistiku ta’ l-istatwa titolari.  Dan il-bankun kien sar fuq id-disinn tas-Surmast Carmelo Tonna.  Huwa mahdum minn gewz mill-ifjen u mzejjen bil-bronz ta’ l-iskultur Ruman Carlo Pisi.

Fl-1975, f’gheluq il-25 sena mid-Domma ta’ l-Assunzjoni b’digiriet tal-Papa Pawli VI, il-kwadru ghaziz ta’ l-Assunta li ghandna fir-Rotunda gie nkurunat sollennement mill-Arcisqof Mikiel Gozni fost il-ferh tal-Mostin li dik is-sena ccelebraw tassew bil-kbir l-Ghid ta’ l-Assunta.

Fi zmienna bhal qatt qabel, il-festa ghadha issir bl-ikbar sollennita.  Xi tibdil gewwa u barra, bil-fors li kellu jsir ghax iz-zminijiet jinbidlu u n-nies tinbidel maghhom izda nghidu b’sodisfazzjon li qatt u qatt na nbidlet il-qalb Mostija li ghadha tghozz lil Marija Assunta bhala l-ikbar u l-ghezez tezor.

U l-eluf kbar ta’ nies li kienu jigu lejliet u nhar il-festa biex jaqsmu maghna l-ferh li jgib mieghu dan l-Ghid ta’ l-Assunta, ghadhom jigu bi hgarhom sal-lum, u ghadhom kif kienu fl-imghoddi jsibu l-ghaxqa taghhom jammiraw dik il-knisja li fi kliemhom tkun ‘qisha l-genna ta’ l-art’, kif xtaq lit kun qisha l-knisja taghna l-arkitett Gorg Grongnet meta twebbel li jibni knisja tonda biex tkun ‘bhal genna fejn Marija tiddi bhala l-isbah kewkba’.

The feast of 1942 was celebrated with the pierced dome but with the certainty that the Holy Virgin had protected the Rotunda and its congregation during the miraculous day of the 9^th April 1942.

In 1948, the feast was celebrated with the statue of The Assumption, the original one by Salvatore Dimech being modified by Vincent Apap.

In 1952, the new damask upholstery was hung for the first time. The parishioners were very proud in seeing their church reddened with fine Palm Damask.

In occasion of the Feast of 1957, the new pedestal for the statue of the Virgin was installed. It was made on the design of Carmelo Tonna of fine American walnut, and was embellished with bronze statues and bas-reliefs by Carlo Pisi.

In 1975, in occasion of the 25^th year from the Dogma of the Assumption, following a decree by Pope Paul VI, Archbishop Michael Gonzi solemnly crowned the venerated Titular Painting of the Assumption, amidst the joy of the people who celebrated the feast very greatly.

Today, more than before, the feast is solemnly celebrated. Some changes that are signs of the times have happened, but the devotion and love to Our Lady never changed as the people of Mosta consider her as their greatest treasure.

And the thousands of people that used to come during the feast to share the joy that this feast brings still come today and also admire the church that they call ‘an earthly paradise’ as the Architect George Grognet wished this church to be; he wanted it to be circular-shaped to be like 'a paradise where Mary shines like the most beautiful star’.