https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/40449 2026-04-04T18:45:47Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/40574 Title: Face to face with mystery : theological perspectives behind the painting of the Annunciation in the Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Mdina ; a mystagogical approach Authors: Camilleri, Charló Abstract: Standing before the Annunciation of the Virgin (see illustration), titular altarpiece of the Carmelite Church in Mdina (Malta), one could not help noticing that “the elements of chiaroscuro provide a three-dimensional perspective to the painting, inviting the person looking at it to participate in its contemplative dimension.” The Carmelites friars commissioned this altarpiece, an outstanding work of “the "nest and most talented Maltese painter of the late seventeenth century,” in 1677 for their newly built church and friary. Art critics agree in judging this huge canvas (316 x 266cm) as a “compositionally well-devised” painting where the Late Baroque Maltese artist Stefano Erardi (1630-1716) showed “his ability in the organization of a large space.”Admiring a painting considered locally to be “one of the most powerful representations of the Annunciation scene,” one could not help posing the question: Is there something more to the painting than “painterly mastery ... solid brushwork ... outstanding freshness,” and the logical division into two tiers? 2016-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/40573 Title: Dignitatis humanae : public funding and divesting of faith schools in a liberal State Authors: Conway, Eamonn; Finegan, Thomas Abstract: This article examines a largely overlooked element of Dignitatis Humanae:, that is, its relevance for the question of whether or not the State has a duty to fund faith schools. To this end the fragmentary remarks of a number of commentators are examined, as well as the text, context and drafting of the Declaration itself. Dignitatis Humanae is also compared to another Vatican II document in this regard, namely Gravissimum Educationis. The analysis is extended to an area which has not, so far as the authors are aware, been explicitly dealt with by moral theologians: the question of whether there could be a duty of the Church to divest itself of control of some of its schools and transfer them to the State. 2016-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/40572 Title: Completing what is lacking in Christ’s passion : Colossians 1:24 and Paul’s theology of the Cross Authors: Buttigieg, Dorianne Abstract: Together with Philippians, Ephesians, and Philemon, Colossians is considered as a prison letter. It is addressed to “… the saints and faithful brethren in Christ at Colossae” (Col 1:2). Colossae was situated in Phrygia (modern-day Turkey), in the Lycus valley, in proximity to the cities of Laodicea and Hierapolis. While in its heyday the city was described as populous and wealthy, by the beginning of the Christian era, Colossae was on the wane and was eventually surpassed by neighbouring Laodicea and Hierapolis. The believers of the community at Colossae were not converted by Paul himself. While the missionary work was directed by Paul, several churches founded in the province of Asia were founded by his co-workers. Such was the case with Colossae, Laodicea and Hierapolis, considered the result of the missionary work of Epaphras (Col 1:7-8). The population of Colossae comprised mainly native Phrygians and Greeks, together with a significant number of Jews. It has been suggested that most of the community were gentile converts due to allusions to a non-Christian past.8 In Col 1:21 it is stated: “And you, who once were estranged and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds ….” However, God “… had effected a mighty change in their lives: he had reconciled them to himself in an earth-shattering event, namely, Christ’s physical death on the cross,” 2016-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/40571 Title: Retrieving the tradition: excerpts from past issues of Melita Theologica : ‘Sex and Love in the Old Testament’ Abstract: The Old Testament theology of marriage went beyond the narrow concept of a purely legal covenant or a passing physical union; it rendered divorce and polygamy impossible for one believing strongly in it. In fact, in later Judaism both of them became less and less common. The concept of the happy marriage with the wife as the mistress of the house became a common theme for the wisdom literature: quote Sirach 26:13-18. This was the ideal Jewish home on the eve of the birth of Jesus Christ. 2016-01-01T00:00:00Z