HPA1001 - The Church in Malta in the age of Reform (1574-1768)

MQF Level

Duration and Credits

Semester 2

4 ECTS

Mode of Study

Part-Time Evening

This study-unit delves into a transformative period of the Church in Hospitallar Malta, particularly from just before Dusina鈥檚 1575 Apostolic Visitation to the expulsion of the Jesuits in 1768. Placing Malta within the wider European context, the study unit seeks to examine the profound impact of the Protestant Reformation and the Catholic Counter-Reformation on Maltese society. Through a series of lectures, students will explore key events such as the Protestant revolt, the Council of Trent, and the emerging grassroots reform movements. In the Maltese context the role of the Jesuits, the establishment of the Jesuit College and Popular missions, and their influence on Baroque culture will be highlighted. Special emphasis will thus be placed on the formation of Malta鈥檚 Catholic identity and its lasting legacy on the island鈥檚 cultural and spiritual life.

Main Reading List

John Bossy, Christianity in the West 1400-1700, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1985.
Jean Delumeau, Catholicism between Luther and Voltaire: a new view of teh Counter-Reformation. Burns & Oates London, 1977.
Gustav Heningsen, John Tedeschi & Charles Amiel (eds), The Inquisition in Early Modern Europe Northern Illinois University Press, Dekalb, Illinois, 1986.
John W. O'Malley, Trent. What Happened at the Council, Harvard University Press, Cambridge Mass, 2013.
Alexander Bonnici, Medieval and Roman Inquisition in Malta, Religjon u Hajja, Malta, 1998.
Vincent Borg, 'Girolamo Manduca: His Life and Works', Melita Historica Vol.VII No.3 (1978), pp.237-257. Malta Historical Society. Malta.
Carmel Cassar, 鈥楾he Cultural Roots of Maltese Identity. Christian Myths and Social Memory in a Mediterranean Frontier Society鈥�, Studi sull鈥橭riente Cristiano. Vol.8 No.1. (2005), pp.101-130. Accademia Angelica-Costantiniana di Lettere, Arti e Scienze, Rome, Italy.
Carmel Cassar, 鈥楾he Collegium Melitense: A Frontier Mission in the interface betweenthe Christian and Muslim Worlds鈥�, Al-Qantara. Revista de Estudios Arabes Vol.36, no.2 (2015), pp.443-462.

Supplementary Reading List

Mario Buhagiar, 'St. Paul's Shipwreck and Early Christianity in Malta', The Catholic Historical Review Vol. 93, No. 1 (2007), pp. 1-16.
Carmel Cassar, 鈥楾he Reformation and Sixteenth Century Malta鈥�, Melita Historica Vol.X No.1. (1988), pp.51-68. Malta Historical Society. Malta.
Carmel Cassar, 鈥楾he Enemy Within: The Roman Inquisition and the control of Protestant practices in Malta: 1561-1575鈥�, in S, Fiorini & W. Zammit (eds), Ecclesiastical Archives in Malta. Crossroads of Cultures and Religion: 1968-2018. Malta, 2018.

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Study-unit Aims

Provide students with a thorough understanding of the Church鈥檚 history in Malta from 1574 to 1768, focusing on the significant events and movements that shaped this period.
Examine the Protestant Reformation and the Catholic Counter-Reformation's impact on Maltese society, enhancing students' comprehension of these global movements' local implications.
Encourage critical thinking about the influence of religious, social, and political factors on the development of Maltese cultural and spiritual identity.
Enhance students' research skills by engaging with primary and secondary sources, encouraging original research and scholarly inquiry into Malta鈥檚 religious history.
Encourage an interdisciplinary approach by integrating insights from history, theology, art history, and cultural studies to provide a holistic view of the Church鈥檚 influence in Malta.

Learning Outcomes: Knowledge and Understanding

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

highlight the enduring legacy of the Catholic Reform on Malta鈥檚 contemporary religious and cultural landscape.
analyze and critically evaluate primary and secondary sources related to the history of the Church in Malta.
connect theoretical knowledge with practical experiences through site visits to historical locations such as the Casa Manresa and the Jesuits Complex.
cultivate an informed appreciation for Malta鈥檚 cultural and spiritual heritage, recognizing its historical significance and contemporary relevance.

Learning Outcomes: Skills

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

acquire the tools necessary to analyze and interpret historical events, movements, and figures within the context of the Church鈥檚 history in Malta.
achieve the ability to integrate insights from history, theology, art history, and cultural studies to form a comprehensive understanding of the period.
better infer and evaluate historical documentation related to the local Church;
appraise the role of the Church in Maltese society today in light of its past.
acquire the ability to connect theoretical knowledge with practical experiences through site visits to historical locations.

Non EU Applicants:

EUR260

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