Spirituality in postcolonial Malta : a journey of faith and identity

Abstract

At the crossroads between Europe and Africa, Malta has long been shaped by its pivotal and strategic position at the heart of the Mediterranean Sea. Despite its small size and being separated from mainland Europe, the island is rich in history and connected to great historical currents that have crossed its waters. The Maltese language, having its own distinctive Latin alphabet, Semitic grammar and morphology, and a mixed Semitic, Romance, and Anglo-Saxon vocabulary, reflects a cultural interweaving of the Romance and Semitic worlds. The same holds for the island’s social traditions, emphasising family life and the Maltese’s religious identity. These characteristics are a tangible reminder of the many foreign powers that have left their mark on the Maltese psyche over the centuries: the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Vandals, Ostrogoths, Byzantines, Ottomans, Normans, Angevines, Aragonese, Knights of St John, the French, and lastly, the British. Despite enduring difficult times and often facing limited resources, the Maltese people remained resilient, grounded in core values such as family and faith, social solidarity, and courage; these enduring principles helped shape the nation’s identity as the smallest member of the European Union. [excerpt]