https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/15374 Wed, 19 Aug 2026 00:28:34 GMT 2026-08-19T00:28:34Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/148290 Title: A spiritual phenomenology of miniature spaces : reading Gaston Bachelard’s The poetics of space Authors: Attard, Glen Abstract: Gaston Bachelard (1884–1962) was a French philosopher whose intellectual journey led him from the sciences to poetics, and from epistemology to a deeply introspective phenomenology of the imagination. His early academic career was rooted in the philosophy of science, in which he made significant contributions to the understanding of scientific knowledge, discontinuity, and epistemological rupture. In the 1940s, however, Bachelard’s focus shi!ed toward a different kind of knowing, not analytic or empirical, but intuitive, poetic, intimate. The Poetics of Space (La poétique de l’espace) was published in 1957 near the end of Bachelard’s life. It stands as one of his most enduring and widely read works, partly because it marks a decisive turn away from scientific thought to phenomenological reflection. Bachelard does not analyse space as a geometric or physical category, but as something deeply lived and experienced, especially through poetic imagery. [excerpt] Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/148290 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/148289 Title: Spirituality as a discerned experience : the Maltese contribution Authors: Attard, Glen; Camilleri, Charló Abstract: For much of the twentieth century, spirituality within Catholic theological faculties occupied an ambiguous academic position. While spiritual traditions, mystical authors, and devotional practices were widely studied, they were o!en treated as supplementary to the core theological disciplines rather than as constituting a field with its own methodological integrity. Spirituality was frequently located at the intersection of dogmatic theology, moral theology, and pastoral formation, without clearly articulating its own object of study or research methodology.; This situation was not unique to Malta. Across many theological faculties, spirituality long remained a loosely defined area concerned primarily with the historical study of saints, spiritual writers, and devotional practices. Only gradually did scholars begin to argue that spirituality should be recognised as a distinct theological discipline concerned with the interpretation of lived faith and the processes through which human beings respond to the self-communication of God. Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/148289 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/148288 Title: Spirituality and public education in end-of-life care Authors: Camilleri, Charló Abstract: With the rise in elderly population due to life expectancy increase, new ethical issues, advanced care planning programmes giving the possibility to persons to get medical treatment aligning with their life values, goals and meaning; healthcare systems and society face an increasing need to address not only the physical but also the emotional and spiritual needs of older adults and those in end-of-life care. Needs of patients and their close relationships include, 1) need for religion, 2) companionship, 3) positive outlook, 4) involvement and control in decision making, 5) to finish and complete unfinished business and issues, 6) to experience nature, 7) to find meaning and hope, 8) to have time for reconciliation, given and received, 9) to overcome fear. Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/148288 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/148284 Title: Opening the future : the evolving landscape of spiritual experience [Preface] Authors: Attard, Glen; Camilleri, Charló Abstract: On 24–25 April 2025, the Faculty of Theology at the University of Malta hosted the Spirituality Colloquium at the Msida campus. Organised by the Department of Moral Theology in collaboration with the Carmelite Institute Malta and the Maltese Association for the Study of Spirituality and Spiritual Companionship, this year’s colloquium was titled “Spirituality: In-between the Post-Traditional and the Post-Secular.” This theme invited critical engagement with the shifting contours of spiritual life in our contemporary, pluralistic society, where traditional forms of religious expression are being re-evaluated in light of emerging post-secular sensibilities. The publication of the colloquium proceedings in this volume continues to serve as a vital forum for dialogue, reflection, and scholarly exchange on the evolving expressions of spirituality today. By bringing together theologians, philosophers, practitioners, and artists from diverse backgrounds, it fostered a deeper understanding of how spiritual experience is shaped by, and responds to, both continuity and change. The event’s multidisciplinary nature allowed for rich and nuanced perspectives, ranging from academic analysis to creative and contemplative practices. The contributions collected in these proceedings reflect not only the intellectual depth of the colloquium but also the spirit of attentive listening and mutual enrichment that characterise its ethos. It is our hope that this publication will serve as a resource and an inspiration for all those who seek to explore the profound role of spirituality in the contemporary world. [excerpt] Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/148284 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z