This Gozitan Woman Suffered The Virgin Mary’s Wrath For Years, And She Took It Kindly
There’s a couple of statues, museums and churches in Gozo dedicated or at least having something to do with Karmni Grima. Well, meet Karmni — the woman whom the Virgin Mary chose to terrify 4 life.
Karmni Grima lived in Għarb, Gozo. She was born into a family of farmers and was so devout that she used to hear mass daily. So we cannot really fathom why the hell the following occurrences happened.
In 1883, Karmni was casually strolling, passing by an abandoned chapel. She presumably got the fright of her life as she heard someone from inside say “Come in today. For you will not be able to return for a year. OoooOooOooOooOOooOh!”
We added the Oooh, it sounds way more creepy that way.
We assume that Karmni literally shat herself, thinking that she will die soon or something. She quickly entered the chapel, where she heard the same voice telling her to recite three hail Marys. Of course Karmni did this. She got real sick after that, and could not return to church for a year. Just as ghost voice predicted.
Shit is about to hit the fan.
Karmni presumably was scared AF, so she shared this experience with her friend Francesco Portelli, who surprise, surprise also heard this voice talking to him.
He told Karmni that after hearing this voice his mother was healed from whatever disease she had.
Both conveyed their experience to the Bishop who concluded that it’s the Madonna for sure who talked to both of them. Within like, minutes the news spread through Gozo and Malta. Y’all know what happens when someone gets religious visions in this country. Hats off to Angelik.
The abandoned chapel became a shrine, people were organising pilgrimages, favours were asked from the Madonna, people started crying and praying on the location, mass hysteria took place as usual.
Soon, so many people visiting the abandoned chapel, that a church had to be built to house the swarming crowds of visitors. You can go ahead and thank Karmni for Ta’ Pinu and its incredibly creepy shrine room. Thanks Karm for fuelling our childhood Gozo-related nightmares.
Karmni spent the last 15 fucking years of her life after hearing the Madonna speak bed-ridden AF. She died in 1922, stating confidence in God, suffering her terrible plight at peace.
The house where Karmni lived still stands today and of course, it has been turned into a museum.