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Nazju Falzon was born on July 1, 1813 in Valletta, Malta and baptized as Rocco Angelo Sebastiano Vincenzo Naju Rosario Falzon.
Nazju’s father was a judge, and his mother was the daughter of a judge. Nazju had three brothers, and all four of the boys became lawyers when they grew up. Two of Nazju’s brothers also became Catholic priests, and the other got married. Nazju, himself, never felt worthy to become a priest, but he did join the Secular Order of Franciscans and receive “minor orders” that the Catholic Church celebrated in those days.
As young adult, Nazju became fluent in English, for there were many British soldiers on the island nation of Malta.
As a home missionary, Nazju taught catechism to the local children at the Institute of the Good Shepherd. He also served the British soldiers and sailors who were stationed on Malta, which was a British protectorate at the time.
Nazju would seek out soldiers and sailors and invite them to his home for prayer and catechesis. As time went on and his fame grew, he had to find a new place to meet. Fortunately, he was able to meet in a Jesuit church in the capital city of Valletta. The soldiers and sailors had such great trust in Nazju, that they would leave their valuables with him if they had to go to the battlefield. They knew that if anything happened to them, Nazju would pass their valuables to their loved ones.
Nazju was also a writer who provided his “flock” with various pamphlets and articles written in a simple style explaining the faith. He also wrote The Comfort of the Christian Soul.
For many of the military men and their loved ones, he became like a pastor to them and witnessed their weddings, celebrated baptisms, and conducted funerals.
Nazju had a special devotion to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, the Archangel Raphael, St. Joseph, and St. Benedict Joseph Labré.
Nazju died of a heart attack on his birthday, July 1, 1865 at the age of 52. Pope John Paul II beatified Nazju in 2001. Blessed Nazju’s feast day is July 1, and he is a patron of catechists.
