|
 Guzè
Delia, a poet, was born in Siggiewi 1st April, 1900.
Delia studied at St. Aloysius College. After
matriculating in 1917 he joined the Jesuit Order and
studied philosophy in Palermo (1917 - 1921 and in
Spain (19220. Back in Malt he taught at St. Aloysius
College (1923-27) before proceeding to Dublin to
study theology (1927 -1931) and undertaking a short
course in Rome (1931-32) ordained priest on 30th
July, 1930 he was appointed rector of St. Aloysius
College (1934-47) where he also taught Maltese and
Latin.
Delia was elected first provincial of the new
province of Maltese Jesuits (1947-52) and also
served as novices' rector at Loyola House Naxxar
(1956-62). In 1962 he was appointed head of St.
Philip's Residence in Senglea where he served till
1966. He was also the spiritual director of the
Malta Union of Teachers.
At first Delia wrote poems in English, Italian Latin
and Greek. He was 22 years of age when he started
writing poetry in Maltese. His first poem was an ode
to St. Ignatius, which he wrote in the summer of
1922 in Spain. While in Spain he also was asked to
recite some Maltese Poetry. He translated Dun Karm's
Il-Vjatku into Spanish. Delia was fascinated
by Dun Karm's linguistic mastery and realised that
Maltese had its own beauty and potential. From then
on he wrote mostly in Maltese. He was a member of
the Akkademja tal-Malti.
Delia published two books of verse: Leggendi
(1958) and Meta Hohlom il-Qalb (1962). He
also published Gesù Qed Ihabbat (1963), a
book of religious meditations. His poems dealt
sentimentally with common Maltese subjects bur
reveal a deep faith in God and his great respect to
humanity and nature. His legends are instances of
narratives used for didactic purposes..
Fr. Guzè Delia passed away on the 4th October, 1980 |
