Mater Dei

Here on Malta I have now seen several ambulances with the words “Mater Dei” on them. Malta’s ambulances display “Mater Dei” because that’s the name of Malta’s main public hospital – Mater Dei Hospital. The ambulances are operated by the national ambulance service and primarily transport patients to this hospital, so they’re branded with its name. “Mater Dei” is Latin for “Mother of God,” reflecting Malta’s strong Catholic heritage. The hospital, which opened in 2007, replaced the old St. Luke’s Hospital as Malta’s primary healthcare facility. It’s located in Msida and serves as the country’s main acute general hospital. The ambulances essentially serve as mobile extensions of the hospital’s emergency services, which is why they carry the Mater Dei branding and contact information.

“Mater Dei” is used around the world by various Catholic institutions, particularly hospitals and schools. The main places where you’ll find institutions named Mater Dei Are hospitals in Malta, Brazil (Rede Mater Dei de Saúde, a major healthcare network with 9 hospitals across cities like Belo Horizonte, Salvador, Uberlândia, Goiânia and Feira de Santana), Zimbabwe (Mater Dei Hospital in Bulawayo, a private Catholic hospital established in 1953, operated by the Franciscan Missionaries of the Divine Motherhood), Italy (Mater Dei private hospital in Rome, operating for over 50 years), California (Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, founded in 1950, a prominent Catholic college preparatory school), also in California, Mater Dei Catholic High School in Chula Vista (originally founded as Marian High School in 1960), Illinois (Mater Dei Catholic High School in Breese), and Pennsylvania (Mater Dei Catholic School in Lansdale). The name reflects the strong Catholic tradition in these institutions, with “Mater Dei” being a traditional Catholic title for the Virgin Mary. These institutions are found primarily in countries with significant Catholic populations or Catholic educational traditions.

The Virgin Mary holds a uniquely central place in Catholic theology and devotion for several interconnected reasons. Mary’s fundamental importance stems from being chosen to bear Jesus Christ, who Catholics believe is both fully human and fully divine. This makes her the “Mother of God” (Theotokos in Greek), a title affirmed at the Council of Ephesus in 431 AD. Her “yes” to God’s plan (known as the Fiat) at the Annunciation is seen as pivotal to salvation history. Catholics also view Mary as the “New Eve” who, unlike the first Eve, said yes to God’s will and helped bring salvation rather than sin into the world. She’s seen as a model of perfect faith, obedience, and discipleship. Her Immaculate Conception (being conceived without original sin) and perpetual virginity are key Catholic doctrines that emphasize her purity and special role. Catholics also believe Mary continues to intercede for humanity in heaven. She’s often called “Mediatrix” – one who brings prayers to Jesus. The practice of asking for Mary’s intercession is deeply embedded in Catholic prayer life, including the Rosary and the Hail Mary prayer. That may be a big reason for her name on ambulances. Mary is seen as a spiritual mother to all Christians, not just Jesus. This maternal aspect provides comfort and protection to believers. Many Catholics feel a personal relationship with Mary as a loving, understanding mother figure who brings their concerns to her son. Hence the effort to use mother power for high school students. Catholics point to biblical passages supporting Marian devotion, including Jesus entrusting Mary to John at the crucifixion, her presence at Pentecost, and the woman “clothed with the sun” in Revelation, whom many interpret as Mary.

I don’t know that I’ve ever ridden in an ambulance. They say there are 28.5 million ambulance trips per year in the U.S. alone in 73,500 ambulances. Overall, roughly 1-6% of ambulance transports result in death within 30 days, with the variation largely depending on the severity of conditions being transported. The vast majority of ambulance trips do not result in patient death…. so maybe the protection of the Virgin Mary is more involved than we realize.

As we traveled through Italy and around Malta for the better part of two weeks, I am reminded of how much impact Christianity and especially the Catholic Church has had on the world I know best over the last 2,000 years. It really is quite amazing when you realize that a small island nation like Malta has 365 churches, one for each day of the year. That’s way more than any righteous population requires to congregate to honor God. What you get a sense of, particularly here in Malta, is that all this pious and elaborate construction may be less about honoring God, Christ or the Virgin Mary, and more about honoring the wealthiest of the men who want to appear most pious and perhaps buy their way into heaven and eternity. You see this in Egypt. You see it in Rome, where the religious is in one place and the secular in another. But here in Malta, they seem to come together as one.

Almost every building in golden sandstone has above its entrance several coats of arms depicting the family crests of the ruler who gave his ill-gotten gains to sanctify his existence, and another coat of arms for the resident cleric who blessed the whole affair. There is usually also a bronze bas relief of the high lord, bedecked in his finery. History tells us that the feudal system that governed Europe for so many centuries had a configuration of the. Birthright son becoming the ruler with the second and third sons taking up either the cloth or the sword (and sometimes both like during the Crusades). Nowhere have I seen this heritage on clearer display than here in Malta. That’s probably because of its waystation positioning between Europe and the Holy Lands.

It is a testament to man’s vast ego that he thinks that after a lifetime of self-interest, he can buy his way into piety and immortality. I look at all these wonderful buildings, be they churches, buildings of state, schools or hospitals (all of which we’ve seen here), and fully appreciate the patronage they represent. But does it make me feel good about the men who sponsored them? I’m afraid not. What it all reminds me is that one young humble prophet (and his dear old mum) have had far greater impact on both the world at large and the daily survival of the common man and women of the world through simple deeds. They did not erect great edifices to themselves in search of eternal life. But the world has chosen to give them that eternity in countless forms. Think about that the next time you’re in an ambulance and you see on its side the words “Mater Dei”.