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Title: | The socio-cultural milieu of holiness : Maltese values in a Euro-Mediterranean perspective |
Authors: | Abela, Anthony |
Keywords: | Holiness -- Catholic Church Saints -- Malta Saints -- Europe Humanitarianism -- Religious aspects |
Issue Date: | 1995 |
Publisher: | University of Malta. Faculty of Theology |
Citation: | Abela, A. (1995). The socio-cultural milieu of holiness : Maltese values in a Euro-Mediterranean perspective. Melita Theologica, 46(2), 125-142. |
Abstract: | The English words for "saint" and "holiness", unlike their Maltese equivalent of "qaddis" and "qdusija", have different etymological origins though related meanings. The Concise Oxford Dictionary defines a saint as "a holy or a canonised person (by a Church after his or her death) regarded as having a place in heaven". The temporal existence of a saintly person is marked by great holiness and virtue. Holiness, however, refers to the state of religious or spiritual goodness and well-being of the living. It is manifest in personal integrity (hence "holy" from whole), good moral conduct, oneness with others, society and the environment. As a diffuse socio-religious culture it is not restricted to anyone person or a heavenly saint. Whereas saints are canonized posthumously by a Church, the greatest majority of holy people never come to be declared saints. Ordinary holiness, though very real, often escapes the attention of official religion. |
URI: | https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar//handle/123456789/37869 |
Appears in Collections: | MT - Volume 46, Issue 2 - 1995 MT - Volume 46, Issue 2 - 1995 |
Files in This Item:
File | Description | Size | Format | |
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MT,_46(2)_-_A2.pdf | 663.25 kB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
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