https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/27907 2026-04-15T14:39:10Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/28231 Title: The penitential act at the beginning of the mass in the 'Ordines Romani' Abstract: In dealing on the prayers at the foot of the altar, Righetti distinguishes three groups of prayers or apologies, namely, the antiphon and psalm 42, which form the first group; the reciprocal confession between the celebrant and the ministers, accompanied by the general absolution, which form the second group; and the third group of apologies formed of the preces'. In this paper, however, we shall be treating on the second group, that is better known as the penitential act. And I have purposely stressed the words 'at the beginning of the mass in the Roman Ordinals', since we find other kinds of penitential acts in other places. of the mass and, besides, we find them as well in other liturgical sources and contexts other than the 'Ordines', as we shall later hint at. Moreover, I shall be speaking first on the history and evolution of the second group of apologies at the beginning of the mass, then on its theology and function in liturgy. 1969-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/28227 Title: Our lady and salvation Abstract: The great Protestant theologian, Karl Barth of Switzerland, who died last December at the same time as Thomas Merton, used to say that in Catholic theological circles the most important term was the word and. He explained that while Protestants will discuss Jesus, grace, sin and other issues, Catholics will say - Jesus and Mary, grace and merit, sin and punishment. 1969-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/27916 Title: Marx and the philosophy of history Abstract: The argument of this paper is that the essential difference between the philosophy of history of the young Marx and of the mature Marx is one of method and, hence, of the logical status of his conclusions. The young Marx argues the case for his view of history on the basis of an analysis, derived from a Hegelian model, of the structure of the world. The method of argument is metaphysical, and, hence, its consequences, if. valid, would be necessary. The mature Marx argues the case on the basis of an analysis, conceived as an analogy of Darwin's model of evolution of the factual course of history. The method of argument is empirical, and, hence, its consequences, if valid, cannot be 'necessary', although it might be claimed they have a scientific certainty, or at least a high degree of probability. 1969-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/27915 Title: Freedom and authority in the church according to the constitution 'Lumen Gentium' Abstract: Redemption is a divine action that liberates man. Already in the Old Testament salvation is often presented as a divine intervention in order to free man from all kind of slavery. The Church as the great sacrament of redemption is also a sacrament of freedom, namely of the liberty of the sons and daughters of God. It is true the liberty of the children of God can survive all forms of suppression and tyranny. But the Church cannot credibly proclaim the genuine nature of the liberty of the sons of God unless she is concerned to foster and to promote the freedom of all men on all levels, above all in the relationships which characterize her own life. The Church is the visible sign, the effective sacrament of salvation to the extent that she is also a sacrament of liberty that helps all men to distinguish genuine liberty from libertinism and to commit themselves to the cause of liberty for all mankind. 1969-01-01T00:00:00Z