The Maltese Catholic enlightenment

Abstract

This chapter seeks to analyse whether religious discussion on the island of Malta in the 18th century was closely related to that in other European countries. That is, did it provide a microcosm of this European-wide enlightenment movement? I will try to present a framework for all these queries by developing three arguments. Did simpler forms of religious expression replace the extravagances of baroque popular piety? To what extent did the grand masters assume control of the Church? And, finally, did they systematically erode papal jurisdiction in Malta? Data come chiefly from Maltese archives: the deposits of the Order of St John, the bishop's ecclesiastical court and the Roman inquisition. They are supplemented with material at the state archives of Florence, Naples and Venice but especially at the Vatican-archivio della congregazione per la dottrina della fede and the archivio segreto vaticano.