Author: Noel Muscat

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Spirit + Life No. 129: July – September 2019

SPIRIT + LIFE

July – September 2019

Spirit + Life 129

Issue 129 of Spirit + Life is now online. The main contribution in this Franciscan culture review is dedicated to the figure of Father Alfons Marija Camilleri OFM (1910-1994) on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of his death on 16 August 1994. Father Alfons was one of the most distinguished Franciscans of the Maltese OFM Province. Minister Provincial for two terms, and three times Visitator General to important Provinces of the Order, he is remembered for his courage and dedication to the values of Franciscan life. The study is published after thorough consultation in the archives of the Maltese OFM Province, and of two autobiographical manuscripts of Father Alfons. The celebrations of the 800 anniversary of the arrival of Saint Francis in the Holy Land are also the object of the third part of a study that will be presented during this current year, this time focusing on the Franciscan Sources. Lastly, a study by a Franciscan young student in Jerusalem on the true nature of the mission of Saint Francis among the Muslims brings some interesting insights on the motives that prompted the Poverello to undertake his journey to Egypt in 1219.

 

Free download here (pdf)

 

2019 – TAU Franciscan Communications
Permission granted for unlimited use.
Credit required.

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Spirit + Life No. 128: April – June 2019

SPIRIT + LIFE

April – June 2019

128

This issue of the Franciscan Culture Review “Spirit+Life” includes a translation of a study on the Franciscan theologians and preachers who spread the cult of Saint Joseph during the period from the 13th to the 15th century. The original version is found in the Franciscan Review “Miscellanea Francescana”. It shows the importance of the Franciscan contribution to spread devotion to Saint Joseph, particularly in the writings of Saint Bonaventure, Peter John Olivi, Ubertino da Casale, Saint Bernardine of Siena and Blessed Berardino da Feltre. The Review also features the second part of a study on The Franciscan Presence in the Holy Land on the occasion of the 800 years since Saint Francis came to Acre and Damietta. The last paper is a research carried out at the Archives of the Holy Land Custody on the figure of a Maltese lay brother who worked in the Holy Land during the first half of the 20th century, namely Fra Elija Grech from the village of Mellieħa, and who was sacristan in the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre. The paper also recounts the events that unfolded on 4 April 1901, when a group of Greek Orthodox monks attacked the Franciscan friars in the courtyard of the Basilica.

Free download here (pdf)

2019 – TAU Franciscan Communications
Permission granted for unlimited use.
Credit required.

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Spirit + Life No. 127: January – March 2019

SPIRIT + LIFE

January – March 2019

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The Franciscan Cultural Review Spirit+Life 127 (January – March 2019) features the translation of the second part of a study on Brother Bernardo di Quintavalle, the first companion of Saint Francis, by Bernardo Commodi OFMConv. Noel Muscat OFM presents the first part of a paper dedicated to the Origins of the Franciscan Presence in the Holy Land. This paper commemorates the 800 Years of the Arrival of Saint Francis in Acre and in Egypt during the Fifth Crusade, and his encounter with Sultan Al-Malek Al-Kamel. A summary translation of a paper by Archbishop Felice Accrocca on Bishop Guido I and Saint Francis provides new insights upon the role of the Assisi bishop during the period of “conversion” of the young Francis. The editorial is dedicated to the theme “Dialogue or Evangelisation”, in the light of the commemoration of the encounter of Francis with the Sultan, and also as a result of the recent visit of Pope Francis to the United Arab Emirates, and its importance in inter-religious dialogue between Christianity and Islam.

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2019 – TAU Franciscan Communications
Permission granted for unlimited use.
Credit required.

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NEW BOOK: Melita Illyrica and Melita Africana: The Islands of Saint Paul

 

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NOEL MUSCAT ofm – SANDRO TOMAŠEVIĆ ofm, Melita Illyrica and Melita Africana. The Islands of Saint Paul, Foreword by Chev. Prof. Horatio C.R. Vella, published in collaboration with the Commissariat of the Holy Land,  Malta, 2018, pp. 152, ISBN: 978-99957-1-395-9.

The famous story of Paul’s shipwreck on Melíte is the pride of two islands having similar names, namely Mljet in the Adriatic, off the Dalmatian coast of Dubrovnik (Mélita Illyrica), and Malta in the centre of the Mediterranean, some 80 km. to the south of Sicily (Mélita Africana). Which was the island that welcomed Paul and was evangelised by the Apostle of the Gentiles? Which of the two was the island on which Paul was shipwrecked?

Biblical exegesis has always pointed to Malta as the most probable spot of the shipwreck. But the traditions of Mljet as the island of St. Paul have never ceased to be defended by proud Croatians like the Benedictine monk Ignjat Đurđević, who found staunch opposition from the Maltese Catholic tradition upheld by the Knights of the Order of St. John.

This study is the result of the fraternal initiative of two Franciscan friars, one Croatian, the other one Maltese, who together have visited and studied these islands, and whose close collaboration as a writer and photographer has produced these pages. This is no scholarly work of Biblical exegesis or historical erudition. It is simply the work of two Franciscan brothers and friends, who love their respective countries: the lush green forests of the Dalmatian coast of Croatia and the barren sun-drenched rocky cliffs of Malta, set against the deep blue of the Mediterranean Sea and sky.

Noel Muscat was born in Malta in 1957. He joined the Order of Friars Minor in Malta in 1976, and became a priest in 1984.
Sandro Tomašević was born in Croatia in 1984. He joined the Order of Friars Minor in the Province of Sts. Cyril and Methodius in Croatia in 2006, and was ordained priest in 2013.

The book is available from the following address:

 

Commissariat of the Holy Land

Franciscan Friars

291, Saint Paul Street

Valletta VLT 1213 – Malta

 

Or by sending an email directly to the authors:

muscatnoel@yahoo.co.uk

frasandro@gmail.com

 

A limited number of copies has been printed. The book will be available in digital form during 2019.

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Spirit + Life No. 126: October – December 2018

SPIRIT + LIFE
October – December 2018

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The Franciscan cultural review Spirit+Life features papers dedicated especially to the preparations underway for the celebrations of the 800 years of the coming of Saint Francis to the Levant, or Outremer, during the Fifth Crusade that was besieging Damietta in Egypt. It also features the first part of a study regarding Brother Bernardo di Quintavalle, the first follower and disciple of Saint Francis. The Editorial is dedicated to the theme of Saint Francis as a man of peace, and to the true significance of being instruments of peace in the world today, so as not to mix up a God-less pacifism with the authentic Christian message of peace of Francis and his brothers.

Free download here (pdf)

2018 – TAU Franciscan Communications
Permission granted for unlimited use.
Credit required.

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Saint Bonaventure and his vision of saint Francis and the theology of history in the teachings of Pope Benedict XVI

0 (1)Joseph Ratzinger published his volume, Die Geschichtstheologie des heiligen Bonaventura, in Munich in 1959. Since that year this monumental volume has been translated and republished in various languages, particularly during the years in which Cardinal Ratzinger became Pope Benedict XVI (2005-2013). In this volume Ratzinger makes a detailed analysis of the concept of theology of history as outlined in the context of the 13th century schools of theology, particularly in the University of Paris during the time in which Saint Bonaventure of Bagnoregio was lecturing, and especially during the final years as minister general of the Franciscan Order, when he delivered some famous Parisian lectures or conferences, especially the Collationes in Hexaëmeron, between 9 and 28 May 1273.

St Bonaventure and his vision of St. Francis and Theology of history in the teachings of pope Benedict XVI

 

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“Ad servitium et communem utilitatem fratrum” The concept of goverment of the fraternity according to the mind of saint Francis

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Saint Francis of Assisi envisaged a new form of government in the Order of friars Minor. In a time when the prevailing model was the monastic and Benedictine model of the abbot or prior as father and head of the community of monks, Francis introduced the figure of the minister and servant of the fraternity, calling him by various names, such as minister, custos and guardianus.

Ad servitium et communem utilitatem fratrum

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Francis new Adam

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THE LAST SUPPER OF SAINT FRANCIS AND THE IMAGE OF THE NEW ADAM

The object of this paper is that of seeing, first and foremost, the figure of the first man, Adam, and that of the new Adam, Christ, applied to Saint Francis, and then to understand how Francis lived the paschal mystery of Christ in the perspective of the new Adam, particularly in the revelation of Christ who offers himself to his disciples during the paschal meal.

IL GIOVEDÌ SANTO DI SAN FRANCESCO NELLA PROSPETTIVA DEL NUOVO ADAMO L’oggetto di questo studio è quello di vedere prima le figure del primo uomo Adamo, e di Cristo, nuovo Adamo, applicate a san Francesco, e poi a capire come Francesco ha vissuto il mistero pasquale di Cristo nella prospettiva del nuovo Adamo, che si rivela in Cristo che si dona ai suoi nella cena pasquale.

Francesco nuovo Adamo

Francis new Adam