https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/141925 Thu, 16 Apr 2026 07:51:58 GMT 2026-04-16T07:51:58Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/142862 Title: Foreword [Mapping a moral consensus : calibrating an ethical compass for the future - Festschrift in honour of Mgr Professor Emmanuel Agius on the occasion of his seventieth birthday] Abstract: This publication is not just a celebration of the length of life of Mgr Professor Emmanuel Agius, as though this in itself were some personal achievement, but of the fruitfulness of a life that has been mostly dedicated to academia. Though he has had various roles in the Church for several decades, Professor Agius also believes that academia and pastoral work are not two distinct fields. On the contrary, he has always held that academia itself is a form of pastoral work and has encouraged his younger colleagues to see it in this light. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that Professor Agius, who faithfully serves as a priest in his hometown of Qrendi, has long been ‘a university man’, an expression that is dear to him, feeling totally at home within any academic setting as is the prestigious institution to which he has given his all, namely the University of Malta. Imbued with his distinct passion for his alma mater, he would often use the expression “to love the Faculty”, naturally referring to the Faculty of Theology wherein he has been an inspiration to countless students and academics alike. Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/142862 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/142861 Title: Introduction [Mapping a moral consensus : calibrating an ethical compass for the future - Festschrift in honour of Mgr Professor Emmanuel Agius on the occasion of his seventieth birthday] Authors: Zammit, Raymond; Attard, Stefan M. Abstract: It is a privilege to honour a scholar whose life’s work has steadfastly guided moral reflection towards the common good, not only within his immediate academic and ecclesial communities, but also across international platforms where ethical decisions shape the future of humanity. Anyone who knows or who has encountered Mgr Professor Emmanuel Agius, whether through his lectures, his engaged discussions, or his collaborative work in international fora, will recognise that the title of this Festschrift, Mapping a Moral Consensus: Calibrating an Ethical Compass for the Future, comes as no surprise. It captures not only the essence of his scholarly work across four decades, but also the urgent moral task facing our present generation. Throughout his distinguished career as an ethicist and bioethicist, Professor Agius has consistently demonstrated a remarkable ability to navigate the complex terrain of moral discourse, seeking not merely to articulate positions and defend moral principles, but to build bridges of understanding across diverse perspectives. His scholarly approach embodies a profound commitment to the possibility of genuine moral consensus, even in an age marked by growing moral pluralism and ideological fragmentation. He has shown, time and time again, that convictions rooted in tradition can still speak meaningfully across boundaries of culture and belief, and that moral clarity need not come at the expense of an open, transparent and respectful dialogue. Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/142861 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/142224 Title: Biographical Note [Mapping a moral consensus : calibrating an ethical compass for the future] Authors: Mangion, Raymond Abstract: Emmanuel Agius grew up in Qrendi, one of Malta’s oldest and most picturesque localities, within a large family that nurtured in him both a sense of rootedness and openness to the wider world. From his earliest years, he cultivated a deep faith along with a lively intellectual curiosity, which led him to pursue studies in philosophy and theology and to discern his vocation to the priesthood. His academic and theological journey took him from Malta to Leuven, Tübingen, Georgetown, and Notre Dame. Along the way, he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Sacred Theology, a Licentiate in Pastoral Theology, a Master of Arts in Philosophy and ultimately a Doctorate in Theology from the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium. [excerpt] Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/142224 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/142222 Title: Beholding a new dawn : the night of the Neapolitan crib as a mystagogical paradigm for growth Authors: Attard, Glen Abstract: As Abner Cohen has claimed, “Symbols are objects, acts, relationships or linguistic formations that stand ambiguously for a multiplicity of meanings, evoke emotions, and impel men to action.” In contrast to signs, which do not agitate feelings as they unambiguously address the beholder to the specific reality they point toward, leaving no room for interpretation, symbols evoke personal ideological frameworks and worldviews, are carried by interpersonal relationships, and are integrated into one’s meaningful rituals of “life, death, illness, health, misery, happiness, fortune and misfortune.” In other words, symbols serve the purpose of directing one’s gaze toward transcendent meanings, ideologies, and spiritualities that are generally hidden behind evocative, sensible and perceptible images. The Neapolitan Crib (or presepe), shrouded in a richly symbolic history and termed the Gospel in dialect, is an illustrious example of such a symbol, and what follows is one attempt among many at interpreting its rich symbology. [excerpt] Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/142222 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z