https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/15375 Mon, 09 Nov 2026 21:34:55 GMT 2026-11-09T21:34:55Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/150615 Title: Introduction [Embracing lived realities : rethinking the theology of marriage in light of experience] Authors: Schembri, Kevin; Knieps-Port le Roi, Thomas Abstract: This volume seeks to shed light on a question that is both urgent and perennial for the Church: how can the lived experiences of the faithful, especially those whose voices are seldom heard in formal processes of reflection, be genuinely integrated into theological, pastoral, and canonical discourse? At its heart lies a further conviction: that the realities of married life must not remain peripheral to the formulation of ideas about marriage, but must actively inform and shape them. [extract] Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/150615 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/150611 Title: Embracing lived realities : rethinking the theology of marriage in light of experience Authors: Schembri, Kevin; Knieps-Port le Roi, Thomas Abstract: “Realities are greater than ideas.” But what happens when the realities of married life challenge the Church’s ideas about marriage? This volume takes that question seriously. Bringing together theologians, canon lawyers, and pastoral practitioners, it explores whether the lived experiences of spouses, often complex, fragile, and overlooked, can become a genuine source for theological reflection and ecclesial renewal. From debates on pastoral accompaniment and biblical interpretation to questions of sexual ethics, sacramentality, and canon law, the contributions engage the tensions between doctrine and lived reality. The result is an interdisciplinary conversation that does not shy away from difficulty, but sees in it an opportunity: the possibility that listening more deeply to life may open new paths for understanding faith. Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/150611 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/150608 Title: Servant, guardian, or catalyst? Canon law and the possibility of pastoral renewal in marriage Authors: Schembri, Kevin Abstract: The relationship between canon law and pastoral renewal remains one of the most pressing and contested questions in the life of the Church today, particularly in the field of marriage, where doctrine, discipline, and lived experience intersect in complex ways. This paper engages three guiding questions proposed for this session: whether canon law hinders or fosters pastoral innovation; whether it can adapt to the contemporary needs and experiences of the faithful; and, if so, how such adaptation can remain faithful to the Church’s tradition. Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/150608 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/149620 Title: Liturgia, catechesi e famiglia Authors: Sultana, Carl-Mario Abstract: Relazionare correttamente la catechesi, la liturgia e la famiglia costituisce una delle maggiori sfide della nostra epoca contemporanea in campo pastorale. La Chiesa ha sempre considerato la famiglia come l'ambito privilegiato in cui può avvenire la trasmissione della fede, vedendola come una scuola in cui la fede e la tradizione viva vengono impartite con l'obiettivo «di raggiungere e quasi sconvolgere mediante la forza del Vangelo i criteri di giudizio, i valori determinanti, i punti d'interesse, le linee di pensiero, le fonti ispiratrici e i modelli di vita dell'umanità ». In effetti, il ruolo della famiglia nell'evangelizzazione è sempre stato un tema di primo piano nei documenti della Chiesa. [estratto] Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/149620 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z