07/06/2026
During my visit to the Cathedral in Mdina, Malta, I noticed a small detail at the sanctuary that immediately caught my attention. Flanking either side of the high altar were two statues, which, as my friend pointed out during my first visit, were those of Saint Paul the Apostle and Saint John the Evangelist. Facing the altar, Saint Paul stands on the right-hand side, whilst Saint John stands on the left. Immediately, the symbolism became very obvious—especially when one attends the Traditional Latin Mass! The place where Saint Paul’s statue stands in that sanctuary is in fact the “Epistle side”, as it is called in the Traditional Latin Mass, since that is the side from which the Epistles—many of them written by Saint Paul himself—are traditionally chanted or read during Mass. Likewise, Saint John occupies what is called the Gospel side, from which the Gospel is proclaimed, and where, in the Traditional Latin Mass, the Last Gospel—usually the Prologue of Saint John’s own Gospel—is read at the conclusion of Mass.
I jokingly remarked to my friend that perhaps I ought to adopt the same symbolism in my own little oratory at home. As it turned out, the joke eventually became reality. As can be seen in the photographs, Saint Paul and Saint John now occupy their respective places according to what they represent. I have always appreciated these little liturgical details and the symbolism they carry. In a modest way, this arrangement allows my prayer corner to echo something of the Church’s liturgical tradition, particularly that of the Traditional Latin Mass. It is a small and rather trivial thing, but it serves as a quiet reminder of the Epistle and the Gospel, and helps connect my own private prayer to the wider liturgical life of the Church.
