Religion in Malta

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St. Peter in Chains Church in Birżebbuġa during the annual festa

The predominant religion in the Mediterranean island nation of Malta is Roman Catholicism.

(1) The religion of Malta is the Roman Catholic apostolic religion.
(2) The authorities of the Roman Catholic apostolic church have the duty and the right to teach which principles are right and which are wrong.
(3) Religious teaching of the Roman Catholic apostolic faith shall be provided in all state schools as part of compulsory education.
Chapter 1, Article 2 of the Constitution of Malta

Contents

[edit] History of Christianity in Malta

[edit] Saint Paul

The Acts of the Apostles recounts the episode whereby Saint Paul was shipwrecked and ministered in Malta for three months (Acts 27:39-42; Acts 28:1-11), an event usually dated circa AD 60. Paul had been allowed passage from Caesarea Maritima to Rome by Porcius Festus, procurator of Judea, to stand trial before the Emperor.

Many traditions are associated with this episode, and catacombs in Rabat testify to an early Christian community on the islands.

[edit] Establishment of the Archdiocese of Malta

Main article: Archdiocese of Malta

According to tradition, Publius, the Roman Governor of Malta at the time of Saint Paul's shipwreck, became the first Bishop of Malta following his conversion to Christianity. After ruling the Maltese Church for thirty-one years, Publius was transferred to the See of Athens in 90 CE, where he was martyred in 125 CE. There is scant information about the continuity of Christianity in Malta in subsequent years, although tradition has it that there was a continuous line of bishops from the days of St. Paul to the time of Emperor Constantine. The Acts of the Council of Chalcedon record that in 451 CE, a certain Acacius was Bishop of Malta (Melitenus Episcopus). It is also known that in 501 CE, a certain Constantinus, Episcopus Melitenensis, was present at the Fifth General Council. In 588 Tucillus, Miletinae civitatis episcopus, was deposed by Pope Gregory I, and his successor Trajan elected by the clergy and people of Malta in 599 CE. The last recorded Bishop of Malta before the Arab invasion of the Islands was a Greek by the name of Manas, who was subsequently incarnerated at Palermo, Sicily.[1] Under the Arab occupation, the native Christians were allowed freedom of religion but had to pay an extra tax.[2] The Normans from the Duchy of Normandy relieved Sicily and the Maltese Islands in 1091[3] and Roger I of Sicily was warmly welcomed by the native Christians.[3]

[edit] Sovereignty of the Order

While the Maltese Islands were under the dominion of the Knights of Malta, from the 15th century through to the late 18th century, the Grand Master had the status of a prince of the Catholic Church, and enjoyed a special relationship with the Pope, which occasionally led to a considerable amount of friction with the local Bishops.

[edit] French occupation

Over the years, the power of the Knights declined; their reign ended when Napoleon Bonaparte's fleet arrived in 1798, en route to his expedition of Egypt. As a ruse, Napoleon asked for safe harbor to resupply his ships, and then turned his guns against his hosts once safely inside Valetta. Grand Master Hompesch capitulated, and Napoleon stayed in Malta for a few days during which he systematically looted the moveable assets of the Order and established an administration controlled by his nominees. He then sailed for Egypt leaving a substantial garrison in Malta. Since the Order had also been growing unpopular with the local Maltese, the latter initially viewed the French with optimism. This illusion did not last long. Within months the French were closing convents and seizing church treasures. The Maltese people rebelled, and the French garrison of General Claude-Henri Belgrand de Vaubois retreated into Valletta. After several failed attempts by the locals to retake Valletta, they asked the British for assistance. Rear Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson decided on a total blockade, and in 1800 the French garrison surrendered.

[edit] Establishment of the Diocese of Gozo

Main article: Gozo

Historically part of the Diocese of Malta, Gozitans brought forward several petitions for the creation of an independent diocese, including in 1798, during the French occupation, and again in 1836. A third petition, brought directly to Pope Pius IX in 1855, met with success. Instrumental in this effort were a young priest named Don Pietro Pace, who would several years later serve as Bishop of Gozo, and Sir Adriano Dingli, Crown Advocate. The British Colonial Office signalled its approval in October 1860.[4]

In 1863, Archpriest Michele Francesco Buttigieg was elected Auxiliary Bishop of Malta with instructions to reside in Gozo. One year later, on September 16, 1864, the Pope issued a Bull entitled "Singulari Amore" (With remarkable Love), which decreed that the Islands of Gozo and Comino were separated from the Diocese of Malta. On September 22, 1864, Bishop Buttigieg was elected the first bishop of Gozo, with the "Matrice" in Victoria, dedicated to the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin (Maltese: "Marija Assunta"), serving as his Cathedral.[4] Gozo traditions and tourism infrastructure (www.supercities.eu)

[edit] British Empire

In 1814, Malta became part of the British Empire in accordance with the Treaty of Paris. British rule lasted 150 years until 1964 when Malta gained independence. British rule brought the first sizeable population of members of the Anglican church and other Protestant denominations in the form of civil servants and retirees. British rule was typified by a condition of religious tolerance towards Roman Catholicism, the dominant form of Christianity throughout Maltese history.

From 1815 to 1820, the Anglican missionary William Jowett of the Church Missionary Society based his Mediterranean Mission in Malta.[5]

[edit] Patron Saints

[edit] Saint Paul (San Pawl)

St. Paul is venerated as the patron saint of Malta. A number of parishes throughout Malta and Gozo are dedicated to him, including: the Cathedral Church at Mdina, the Collegiates of Rabat and Valletta, the parishes of Ħal-Safi and Munxar, and the city of St. Paul's Bay (San Pawl il-Baħar). He is also a patron of Marsalforn, Mdina, Munxar, Nadur, Safi, Rabat and Valletta.

[edit] Saint Publius (San Publju)

St. Publius the Martyr, is revered as Malta' first bishop. Following the arrival of St. Paul around 60 A.D., the islands started to embrace Christianity. This was all made more possible by the various miracles that took place at the time, the first of which being that of St. Publius' father. After his shipwreck, it is written in the Bible (Acts 28:1-12) that Paul was received with great hospitality by the Maltese. It so happened that at the time Publius, the Roman Governor of the islands, had his father nearing death by dysentery. Publius allowed Paul to visit his father. The apostle prayed upon the sick man and he was cured. This attracted the devotion of plenty of the Maltese who, despite being pagan at the time, approached the Apostle and received cure for their ailings. Paul's stay in Malta was for only 3 monthslink title. However, before his departure he assigned Publius the role of bishop of Malta to take care of the ever-increasing number of Christians. Today Publius is revered as the first Bishop of Malta and the first Maltese Saint, although he was not canonised individually but rather with all the characters of the Bible. Amongst the many chapels and churches in which one may find a portrait dedicated to this patron saint, one must not fail to mention the Floriana Parish Church. In fact, St. Publius is the patron saint of this locality and is esteemed with great devotion on the 22nd of January (liturgical feast) and on the second Sunday after Easter Sunday (outdoor feast)link title. In the island of Gozo, St. Publius is also devoutly revered in the Chapel of Ghammar.

[edit] Saint Agatha (Sant Agatha)

Saint Agatha is a Maltese Patron. She is buried at the Badia di Sant'Agata in Catania, Sicily.[6]

[edit] The Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Santa Marija)

Since 1600 the Maltese were devoted to the Assumption of the Virgin, locally known as Santa Marija, and asked the bishop to make Blessed Virgin Mary the co-patroness of the Islands. At that time there were already about 40 churches and chapels dedicated specifically to the Assumption. This request was accepted and promulgated more than 200 years later, on 18 February 1848, when the local bishop, H.L. Mgr Publius M. dei Conti Sant, made the Assumption a special patroness of the Maltese Islands with the words "Maria Assumpta Melitæ patrona et princeps inter sanctos titulares" (Mary, assumed in Heaven, patroness of Malta and first among titular saints). The feast took major significance in the hearts of the Maltese when on 15 August 1942 a battered, half-sunk convoy managed to enter the Grand Harbour of Valletta to feed the starved nation during the Second World War. Since then the Assumption has been considered as the special protectress and intercessor of the Maltese Nation.

Out of approximately 60 parishes in Malta and Gozo, 11 are dedicated to the Assumption. These include the Cathedral Church of Gozo, the parishes of Gudja, Ħal-Ghaxaq, l-Imqabba, Qrendi, Mosta, Dingli, Attard, Mġarr, Birkirkara and Żebbuġ (Gozo). Many other churches have a treasured statue representing the mystery of the Assumption. Naturally, all of these being titular statues, they are the most treasured sacred artifacts of their respective communities. All statues in churches are kept with great care and devotion, however the devotion to statues representing patrons of villages is far greater than devotion to other representations.

Noteworthy details linked to the feast of the Assumption are the world-famous Mosta Rotunda[7] (known as the Mosta Dome), the magnificent Gozo Cathedral found in the old Citadel[8], the statue of the Assumption carved in wood by Mariano Gerada in 1808 found in the Parish of Hal Ghaxaq (known as one of the most wonderful statues in Malta)[9], and the exceptional annual fireworks displays held on 14 August at Imqabba, (organized by the St Mary Fireworks Factory of Imqabba, winners of the First Malta International Fireworks Festival (2006). This fireworks display is renowned as the best pyro-musical show on the island and thousands cram the village streets annually in order to watch it.)[10][11]

[edit] Other Saints to whom the Maltese people have strong devotions

[edit] Males

[edit] Females

[edit] Special Occasions

[edit] Judaism in Malta

Main article: History of the Jews in Malta

The Jewish population of Malta reached a peak in the Middle Ages under Norman rule, which began in 1090, with 500 living on the main island and 350 on Gozo. In 1479, Malta and Sicily came under Aragonese rule and the Alhambra Decree of 1492 forced all Jews to leave the country with only a few belongings. Several dozen Maltese Jews may have converted to Christianity in order to be able to remain in the country.

A Jewish subculture re-emerged in Malta during the reign of the Knights Hospitaller.

The medieval Jewish kabbalist and false messiah Abraham Abulafia escaped persecution in Sicily and fled to Malta. He died on the tiny island of Comino, in the 1290s.

[edit] Other religions in Malta

Most congregants at the local Protestant churches are not Maltese; many British retirees live in the country, and vacationers from many other nations compose the remainder of such congregations. In 2008, the seven congregations of Jehovah's Witnesses reported 569 active adherents, with an annual Memorial attendance of 1120. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), the Bible Baptist Church. The Evangelical Alliance of Malta has seven churches and two organizations that are affiliated, with about 400 members between them. There is one Greek Catholic church, which also hosts Russian Orthodox services a few times a year (when a patriarch comes over from Moscow to celebrate mass for Eastern Orthodox holidays, like Easter). There is one Muslim mosque and one Jewish congregation. Zen Buddhism and the Bahá'í Faith also have about 40 members. There is one Muslim mosque and a Muslim primary school. Of the estimated 3,000 Muslims in Malta, approximately 2,250 are foreigners, approximately 600 are naturalized citizens, and approximately 150 are native-born Maltese. [12]

[edit] Current status and law

The Constitution of Malta provides for freedom of religion but establishes Roman Catholicism as the state religion. Freedom House and the World Factbook report that 98 percent of the Maltese religion is Roman Catholic, making the nation one of the most Catholic countries in the world.[13][14] There are two territorial jurisdictions: the Archdiocese of Malta and the Diocese of Gozo.

In public schools religious instruction in Roman Catholicism is part of the curriculum but students may opt to decline participation in religious lessons. Subsidies are granted to private Catholic schools.

Pope John Paul II made a total of three pastoral visits to Malta–twice in 1990 and once in 2001, during which he beatified three Maltese.[15]

Religious toleration is the norm, although rapidly on the decline as these articles show, , and the two percent of the population that is not Roman Catholic mainly consist of small communities of Muslims and Jews, in addition to Protestant communities consisting mostly of British retirees.

The percentage of people that attend mass in every locality of Malta[citation needed]:

Locality  % of attenders
Mdina (Parish of St. Peter and St. Paul) 88%
Kerċem (Parish of St. Gregory and Our Lady of Soccors) 86%
San Lawrenz (Parish of St. Lawrence) 85%
Fontana (Parish of Sacred Heart of Jesus) 83%
Lija (Parish of the Trasfiguration of Christ) 78%
Victoria, Gozo (Parish of St. George; Parish of St. Mary) 77%
Xewkija (Parish of St. John the Baptist) 75%
Xagħra (Parish of the Nativity of Our Lady) 74%
Għarb (Parish of the Visitation of Our Lady) 75%
Għajnsielem (Parish of Our Lady of Lorreto) 73%
Qala (Parish of St. Joseph) 72%
Mġarr (Parish of St. Mary) 72%
Sannat (Parish of St. Margareth) 70%
Għargħur (Parish of St. Bartholomew) 67%
Għasri (Parish of Corpus) 66%
Nadur (Parish of St. Peter and St. Paul) 66%
Balzan (Parish of the Annunciation) 66%
Munxar (Parish of St. Paul)] 64%
Gudja (Parish of St. Mary) 60%
Mosta (Parish of St. Mary) 60%
Iklin (Parish of the Holy Family) 60%
Siġġiewi (Parish of St. Nicholas) 58%
Rabat (Parish of St. Paul) 58%
Dingli (Parish of St. Mary) 57%
Attard (Parish of St. Mary) 57%
Tarxien (Parish of the Annunciation) 55%
Żebbuġ, Malta (Parish of St. Philip) 54%
Qormi (Parish of St. George; Parish of St. Sebastian) 54%
Naxxar (Parish of Our Lady of Victories) 54%
Santa Luċija (Parish of St. Pius X) 54%
Ħamrun (Parish of St. Cajtan; Parish of the Immaculate Conception) 54%
Mellieħa (Parish of Our Lady of Victories; Parish of St. Joseph) 53%
Qrendi (Parish of St. Mary) 53%
Żabbar (Parish of Our Lady of Graces) 53%
Paola (Parish of Christ the King; Parish of Our Lady of Lourdes) 52%
Marsaxlokk (Parish of Our Lady of Pompey) 52%
Floriana (Parish of St. Publius) 52%
Mqabba (Parish of St. Mary) 52%
Żebbuġ, Gozo (Parish of St. Mary; Parish of St. Paul) 52%
Żurrieq (Parish of St. Catherine) 51%
Marsa (Parish of the Holy Trinity; Parish of Maria Regina) 51%
Għaxaq (Parish of St. Mary) 51%
Pembroke 51%
Kalkara (Parish of St. Joseph) 51%
Żejtun (Parish of St. Catherine) 50%
Safi (Parish of St. Paul) 49%
Fgura 47%
Valletta 47%
Kirkop 45%
Birgu 45%
Msida 45%
Birżebbuġa 43%
San Ġwann 43%
Mtarfa 42%
Gżira 41%
Swieqi 41%
Marsaskala 40%
Bormla 39%
Luqa 39%
Pietà 38%
Isla 37%
San Pawl il-Baħar 36%

Other totals of people attend to mass, because these localities are not in percentage[citation needed]:

Locality total of attenders
Balluta 1,284
Birkirkara 9,851
San Ġiljan 3,267
Santa Venera 2,508
Sliema 5,585

Additionally, between a quarter and a fifth of mass attendees, are active members of a Church Movement, group or initiatives such as the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, the Neocatechumenal Way, the Legion of Mary, Opus Dei, Youth Fellowship, Society of Christian Doctrine and other Church groups within the parish. Malta also has the highest number of members of the Neocatechumenal Way per population in the World.

Malta is the only country in Europe that does not permit divorce.[16] Performing abortion on Maltese territory is also illegal, though over the years several loopholes (non-inclusion of outer territorial waters, no mention of advertising) permitted individuals to circumvent the ban for limited time periods.[17] In an SMS poll, Malta chose the Maltese cross to be the image on the Maltese Euro and rejected one of John the Baptist baptizing Jesus, which had garnered a strong majority in a previous poll, after attracting opposition even from the Local Bishops who did not see it fit to place Jesus' face on a coin.[18]

According to the most recent Eurobarometer Poll 2005;[19]

  • 95% of Maltese citizens responded that "they believe there is a God" (which was the first highest result in the European Union).
  • 3% answered that "they believe there is some sort of spirit or life force".
  • 2% answered that "they do not believe there is any sort of spirit, God or life force".

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Catholic Encyclopedia
  2. ^ Bain, Carolyn. Malta & Gozo. Lonely Planet. ISBN 174059178X. http://books.google.com/books?id=lqHLlLsgi1IC&pg=PA22&dq=malta+arab&lr=&as_brr=3&sig=ACfU3U3QDGMLZFGwiilmVB0bB-Nfsq8X9w. 
  3. ^ a b Castillo, Dennis Angelo. The Maltese Cross: A Strategic History of Malta. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 0313323291. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=i5ns5LNtoiUC&pg=PA25&lpg=PA25&dq=MALTA+sEMPRONIUS&source=web&ots=JHcfabryVa&sig=cXCtKu3apl5Y2y7OEhaMvt1CMM0&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=1&ct=result#PPA25,M1. 
  4. ^ a b Gozo Diocese, "The Diocese - A Historical Note"
  5. ^ Goodwin, G., revised by H. C. G. Matthew, 'Jowett, William (1787–1855), missionary', in Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Oxford University Press, 2004)
  6. ^ D'Arrigo 1985, p. 15; the present rebuilding of the ancient foundation is by Giovanni Battista Vaccarini (1767).
  7. ^ http://www.freewebs.com/mosta_rotunda
  8. ^ http://www.gozocathedral.org.mt/
  9. ^ http://www.freewebs.com/festatitularighaxaq
  10. ^ http://www.santamarija.com/
  11. ^ http://www.supercities.eu/
  12. ^ "International Religious Freedom Report 2003 – Malta". Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, United States Department of State. http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2003/24422.htm. Retrieved 2008-01-09. 
  13. ^ Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). "Malta". The World Factbook. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/mt.html. Retrieved September 6, 2006. 
  14. ^ Catholic hierarchy.org, Adherents.com
  15. ^ Alessandra Stanley (9 May 2001). "Valletta Journal: Malta greets the Pope like a beloved spa client". New York Times. http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F30B12F83F5F0C7A8CDDAC0894D9404482&n=Top%2fReference%2fTimes%20Topics%2fOrganizations%2fR%2fRoman%20Catholic%20Church%20. Retrieved 2006-06-18. 
  16. ^ Ivan Camilleri (July 18, 2006). "Malta cautious over EU divorce proposals". Times of Malta. http://www.timesofmalta.com/core/article.php?id=231073. Retrieved 2006-06-18. 
  17. ^ Steven Ertelt (17 July 2006). "Malta pro-life advocates can't stop Spain abortion business from running ads". Life News.com. http://www.lifenews.com/nat2422.html. Retrieved 2006-06-18. 
  18. ^ "Maltese choose cross for euro coin". Catholic News.net. 19 June 2006. http://www.cathnews.com/news/606/96.php. Retrieved 2006-06-18. 
  19. ^ Eurobarometer Poll 2005

[edit] External links

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