Festschrift Ad unur ta’ egħluq is-70 sena tal-Professur P. Salvinu Caruana OSA (1949-2019). Serata ta’ nhar il-Ġimgħa, 3 ta’ Jannar 2020
Non laborat qui amat (Augustine of Hippo, tr. 49,1, 124 Expositions on the Gospel of John) is the title of the the Festschrift a 330page volume in honour of Rev. Professor Salvino Caruana OSA, on his 70th birthday. (Malta: Augustinian Province, 2020) (ISBN 978-99957-1-651-6). The volume was launched during an evening’s academic programme held at the Augustinian Institute, on Friday, 3rd January 2020. The volume is the fruit of the efforts of three distinguished members of the editorial board, Mr André Debattista, Rev. Prof. Hector Scerri, and Rev. Dr Jonathan Farrugia, all three lecturers at the University of Malta, and members on the administrative board of the Augustinian Institute, Malta.
Fr Salvino Caruana is an Augustinian Priest and professor emeritus of the Faculty of Theology of the University of Malta (1991-2018). Salvino was born on the 28th December 1949, in Malta. In 1968 he joined the Order of St Augustine in Malta, and studied in Rome at the Augustinianum for several years. On the 29th of June 1975, Salvino was ordained to the Priesthood by HH (Saint) Pope Paul VI at the Vatican, in St Peter’s. In 1991 he was called to lecture on Augustine’s Philosophy at the Dept. of Philosophy of the University of Malta, and in Patristics, at the Faculty of Theology. Since 1988, Fr Salvino has directed, and lectured extensively, at the Augustinian Institute in Malta. Professor Salvino Caruana retired from lecturing at the University of Malta in 2018. However, he still directs the Augustinian Institute. Fr Salvino has authored 25 books on Augustine and is at present preparing his own magnum opus et arduum, a two-volume work (1400p.) on 99 themes from Augustine’s theology, philosophy and politics.
The first pages of the volume are dedicated to a detailed curriculum vitae of Professor Salvino Caruana OSA at the University of Malta in the Faculty of Theology, Dept. of Philosophy, and at the Faculty of Law.
Fr Salvino’s own contribution to the Festschrift follows, an essay regarding some historical details on: “The Augustinian Institute (Malta) The Background and Groundwork of a Successful Augustinian Project.”
His Eminence Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, President of the Pontifical Council for Culture and of the Pontifical Commission for Sacred Art, His Eminence the late (+2019) Cardinal Prospero Grech OSA, the Most Reverend Prior General of the Augustinian Order, Fr Alejandro Moral Anton OSA and the Very Reverend Fr Provincial of the Maltese Augustinian Province, Fr Leslie Gatt OSA, all expressed their admiration and appreciation in praise of the person, academic and administrative efforts, of Fr Salvino’s years of priestly and scholarly service within the Order of St Augustine in Malta and abroad.
In the editorial note Gratis et Amoris, composed on the significant Augustinian date of the 13th of November 2019, at the University of Malta, on the 1665th anniversary of the birth of St Augiustine, the editors, André Debattista, Hector Scerri and Jonathan Farrugia, wrote that “it is with a deep sense of gratitude that we have embarked upon this daunting project in honour of our very dear and esteemed friend and colleague, Rev. Salvino Caruana O.S.A., Emeritus Professor of Patrology at the Faculty of Theology of the University of Malta. Henry Ward Beecher (1813-1887) – an American Congregationalist clergyman, social reformer, and speaker, known for his support of the abolition of slavery and his emphasis on God’s love – once stated that: “gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the soul.” The diverse contributions by academics and friends, from Malta and abroad, bear witness that this Festschrift is indeed a labour of gratitude and love, gratis et amoris.
The title, Non laborat qui amat (Io. Eu. Tr. 48,1) mirrors Salvino’s long and exemplary academic commitment at the University of Malta, the Augustinian Institute (which he still directs) and other duties he has carried out – and still carries out – in the Order of St Augustine. At the same time, we can also vouch that the Festschrift’s title also reflects the enthusiasm and cooperation shown by several academics who willingly and gladly agreed to offer their scholarly contribution, while affirming Non laborat qui amat.
The articles, all dedicated to Salvino as he reaches the important milestone of three-score-years-and-ten, offer readers a whole spectrum of themes orbiting around the gigantic figure of Augustine of Hippo, his life experience and his works. It has often been said that Augustine is the most influential personality of the whole Christian tradition. If, as it has often been stated, all of philosophy is a series of footnotes to Plato, then it is also true that much of theology is similarly footnotes to the towering genius of Tagaste. It is undoubtedly to Salvino’s great satisfaction that all the contributions to the volume are scholarly works on Augustine.
Not long after the saint’s death, Pope Gelasius (492-496), in a letter to the bishops of Picenum, described the Church Father and Doctor of the Church as “a luminary among ecclesiastical teachers.” Several centuries later, Pope Leo XIII, in his encyclical Aeterni Patris (1879), describes the bishop of Hippo as a man “of a most powerful genius and thoroughly saturated with sacred and profane learning, with the loftiest faith and with equal knowledge” (n. 13). On the sixteenth centenary of his conversion, Pope John Paul II, in the introduction to the Apostolic Letter Augustinum Hipponensem (1986) affirms “the richness and subtelty of his teachings.”
Salvino Caruana has continuously drunk from the ever-gushing springs of Augustine. As many can attest with no hint of doubt, Salvino has left no stone unturned to share with others this knowledge of the great Church Father of the Latin West. He has done so to generations of students at the Faculty of Theology and the Faculty of Arts of the University of Malta which is celebrating its sestercentennial, this year. Salvino has furthered his research in many places, particularly Rome, Leuven and Würzburg. He has lead the Augustinian Institute for over two decades, seeking to bring the treasure trove of the Augustinian corpus to the general public. His many scholarly publications are another feather in Salvino’s cap.
Another praiseworthy initiative taken by Salvino is the translation of several works by Augustine into the Maltese language. The genesis and ongoing organisation of the Annual St Augustine Lecture at the University of Malta, bear also the mark of Salvino. His academic legacy is, as we can all testify, enormous. We know that Salvino will not cherish these heaps of praise we lavish upon him, but we are convinced that while he still shies away from laus et honor, it becomes our pressing duty to acknowledge his contribution ad perpetuam rei memoriam.
This Festschrift is a token of gratitude by the international and the local academic community, as well as by the general public, to Salvino for having shared his God-given talents with so many people. Despite bouts of ill-health, he has soldiered on, and has proved to be indefatigable, even when obstacles cropped up on the way.
Togeher with the great giants who have preceded us, we can affirm that “nothing is more honorable than a grateful heart” (Seneca, 4BC-65AD), and that “thankfulness is the beginning of gratitude. Gratitude is the completion of thankfulness. Thankfulness may consist merely of words. Gratitude is shown in acts” (Henri Frédéric Amiel, 1821-1881). Deep gratitude is afforded to Salvino Caruana on his seventieth birthday. We are indeed priveleged and satisfied to have coordinated this labour of love in honour of our very dear friend, teacher, mentor and colleague. We are sure that Salvino humbly repeats the Lord’s words “We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty” (Lk 17:10), as well as Augustine’s “I tasted you, and now hunger and thirst for you; you touched me, and I have burned for your peace” (conf. X,27,38).
Dr Martijn Boven from the University of Groningen, Germany, wrote on “The Subtle Art of Plagiarizing God: Some Personal Notes on Augustine’s Dialogue with Divine Otherness.” Dr Boven delivered the 20th Annual St Augustine Lecture at the University of Malta in 2019. Medical Doctor Ritienne Debono, lecturer and member on the administrative board of the Augustinian Institute – Malta, wrote on “The Blessed Virgin Mary in the Writings of St Augustine of Hippo.” Professor Dr Joseph Lam Quy, from the Australian Catholic University, wrote on “Beyond Reasonableness? Etienne Gilson’s Critique of Augustinism.” Joost van Neer and Anthony Dupont from KU Leuven wrote: “Celebrating the Day of Christ’s Birth: The Rhetorical Structure and Doctrinal Contents of Augustine’s Nativity Sermons,” in which they brought, for the first time ever, the theological and philological/rhetorical analysis of Augustine’s Christmas sermons. Professor Dr Dr Anthony Dupont is the invited guest speaker for the 23rd edition of the Annual Saint Augustine Lecture (2021). Rev. Dr. Jonathan Farrugia, University of Malta, lecturer and member on the administrative board of the Augustinian Institute – Malta, wrote on the figure of the fourth-century North African martyr Crispina: “Augustine on St Crispina: Comparing Augustine’s Image of the Saint with Her Acta.” The Lady Margaret Professor of Divinity and Canon of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford University, Carol Harrison, wrote on the “Offence of Beauty: An Augustinian Reading.” Professor Carol Harrison delivered the 6th Annual St Augustine Lecture at the University of Malta in 2001. Professor Matthew W. Knotts from KU Leuven, wrote on “In Search of the Augustinian Imago Dei: The “Nothingness” of the Human Person. Professor Dr Mathijs Lamberigts, emeritus Dean of the Faculty of Theology, KU Leuven wrote on “Augustine on Baptism during the Controversy with Julian of Aeclanum.” Prof. Lamberigts also delivered the 7th Annual St Augustine Lecture at the University of Malta in 2002. Professor Michael J. S. Bruno from St Joseph’s Seminary in Yonkers, NY, wrote on the theme of “Seeking Augustinian Insights for the Christian in Public Life Today.” Prof. Bruno delivered the 21st edition of the Annual St Augustine Lecture at the University of Malta in 2016. André Debattista, lecturer at the University of Malta, wrote on “Augustine and the Tranquillitas Ordinis: Some Reflections on Politics and Liberal Democracy from De Civitate Dei, Book XIX. André is also lecturer and member on the administrative board of the Augustinian Institute – Malta. Judge Emeritus Dr Silvio Meli, lecturer and member on the administrative board of the Augustinian Institute – Malta, and lecturer at the Faculty of Law of the University of Malta wrote on: “Saint Augustine: Episcopalis Arbiter.” Professor Dr Dr Paul van Geest from the Faculty of Theology of the University of Tilburg, wrote on the “Inner Balance, Autonomy, and Credibility: Classical or Christian Virtues? Augustine’s De opere monachorum Re-read in the Light of his De beata vita. Prof. van Geest delivered the 15th edition of the Annual St Augustine Lecture at the University of Malta in 2010. The Augustinian Professor Dr Bernard Bruning OSA from Ghent, wrote on “La Double Conversion d’Augustin.” Mgr Professor Dr Hector Scerri, from the University of Malta, wrote on “Augustine’s Struggle with the Problem of Evil and His Conversion to Neo-Platonism.” Prof. Scerri is lecturer and member on the board of the Augustinian Institute – Malta. Rev. Mario Attard Ofm Cap, lecturer and member on the board of the Augustinian Institute – Malta, wrote on “Augustine of Hippo: the Experience of a Hospital Chaplain.”
In the words of the late Augustinian prelate Cardinal Prospero Grech “The Festschrift is meant to encourage the retired professor not to rest on his laurels, but to put to full use his mature experience and continue to produce further publications that contribute to the progress of patristic science and enhance his pastoral involvement in the Archdiocese of Malta and in the Order of Saint Augustine.”
The publication can be obtained for the price of €40, postage incl., from: Prof. Salvino Caruana OSA. Augustinian Institute. PO Box 61. Msida PO – MSD 1000. MALTA – Europe
Minn Andre’ P. Debattista
Ikolli nistqarr li, illejla, jiena suppost dak li bl-Ingliż isejħulu “the odd one out” fis-sens li, għalkemm għandi interess u imħabba kemm lejn il-kitbiet ta’ Santu Wistin kif ukoll lejn il-Knisja, jien la ma jien teologu, l-anqas ma jien saċerdot jew patri, u l-anqas ma jien ġej mill-kamp tat-teoloġija!
Nuża l-kelma ‘suppost’ għax, fil-verità, f’din il-ġabra ta’ kitbiet hemm oħrajn ukoll li ġejjin minn oqsma varji.
Hemm filosofu – filosofu li jqis u jiddeskrivi lilu nnifsu bħala anjostiku – Martijn Boven – li jara fil-lingwaġġ li juża Santu Wistin mod kif jesprimi l-esperjenzi tiegħu.
Hemm speċjalista – Dr Ritienne Debono – li tikteb dwar Marija fil-kitbiet ta’ Santu Wistin.
L-imħallef Silvio Meli jitkellem dwar Wistin u l-irwol tiegħu ta’ “Episcopalis Arbiter” – il-funzjoni ġuridika li ħafna isqfijiet ta’ dak il-perjodu kienu jaqdu (u li kienu jgergru fuqha).
Jien – li ġej mill-kamp tat-tagħlim tal-politika u tal-amministrazzjoni pubblika – nitkellem dwar kif il-kunċett tal-ordni fil-kitba ta’ Santu Wistin jista jiġi nterpretat fid-dawl tal-politika kontemporanja. Inċidentalment, dan kien il-kamp li Wistin warrab fil-ġenb propju fl-età ta’ 32 sena – l-età li għandi illum.
F’din il-ġabra hemm ukoll kitbiet ta’ individwi li huma mħarrġa fit-teoloġija jew li huma teologi, imma li jitkellmu dwar aspetti oħra fil-ħajja ta’ Wistin; Fr Michael Bruno jitkellem dwar kif in-Nisrani jista jispira ruħu minn Santu Wistin fil-ħidma pubblika filwaqt li Fr Mario Attard jitkellem dwar kif il-kitba ta’ Santu Wistin tgħinu fl-esperjenza tiegħu bħala kappillan fl-isptar.
Xi jfisser dan kollu? Jien u naħdem fuq dan il-ktieb, issuktajt nikkonferma u nsaħħaħ xi ħsibijiet li nixtieq naqsam magħkom.
L-ewwel, li Santu Wistin jissokta jqanqal l-ħsieb kontemporanju. Taf taqbel miegħu, taf le. Jaf jirrabjak u jiffrustrak; imma jaf ukoll ikun ta’ stimolu għal ħsieb. Li hu ċert hu li qatt ma jħallik indifferenti. Elf, sitt mija u ħamsa u sittin sena wara li twieled, qegħdin hawn biex inniedu ġabra oħra ta’ kitbiet dwaru. Taqbel jew ma taqbilx miegħu, ma tistax ma tagħtix każ dak li għandu xi jgħid.
Nixtieq, jekk tippermettuli, nikkwota biċċa qasira minn l-Omelija ferm sabiħa li għamel il-Kardinal Giovanni Battista Re fil-funeral tal-maħbub u mibki Kardinal Prospero Grech – li għoġbu wkoll jikteb messaġġ lil Professur P. Salvinu Caruana f’dan il-ktieb.
Il-Kardinal Re qal:
“Santu Wistin, speċjalment fil-ktieb tal-Istqarrijiet, jitkellem dwaru nnifsu, dwar l-esperjenza tiegħu. Pero, peress li hija l-esperjenza tal-bniedem ta’ kull epoka, aħna u naqraw lil S. Wistin, naqraw xi ħaġa dwarna wkoll; dwar il-problemi tal-Knisja tal-lum, tal-problemi fis-soċjetà, dwar ir-relazzjonijiet bejn l-Istat u l-Knsija u affarijiet simili. Għax taqra x’taqra mix-xogħlijiet ta’ S. Wistin, dejjem issib xi ħaġa li tkellem direttament lil qalb.”[1]
Din il-ġabra ta’ kitbiet issuktat tikkonferma kemm huma attwali dawn il-kliem.
Hawn nasal għat-tieni punt. Minbarra l-importanza tal-kitbiet tiegħu, S. Wistin huwa wkoll figura li jqanqal interess. Fih naraw bniedem li qajjem mistoqsijiet importanti dwaru nnifsu, dwar ħajtu u dwar ir-realtajiet li għex. Jitkellem b’passjoni u b’konvinzjoni. Ma ddejaqx jikontradixxi l-ereżiji ta’ żmienu, imma l-anqas ma’ stmerr jidħol fi djalogu mat-tagħlim ta’ żmienu.
Hawn nara l-bżonn, fid-dinja tal-lum, li nimxu fuq dan l-eżempju. Kif qal tajjeb il-Papa Benedittu XVI, hemm bżonn li d-dinja tal-fidi tidħol fid-djalogu mar-raġuni u viċi versa. Fil-kamp soċjali u politiku dan huwa iktar rilevanti minn qatt qabel. U l-kitbiet ta’ Wistin jgħinuna f’dan il-proċess.
Wisq nibża li mingħajr dan id-djalogu nkomplu nitilfu uħud mill-pernijiet li fasslu s-soċjetà tal-Punent u nkomplu naqgħu taħt il-morsa tal-ideoloġiji u tal-individwaliżmu estrem li ma jirikonoxxi xejn ħlief is-sodisfazzjon personali lill’hinn mid-dimensjonijiet etiċi, morali u soċjali.
It-tielet, u l-aħħar punt; il-Festschrift huwa mod ta’ kif ilkoll kemm aħna noffru r-ringrazzjament tagħna lil persuna li, għal ħafna minnha, kien strumentali biex insiru nafu u nħobbu lil Santu Wistin. Il-ħidma, d-dedikazzjoni u l-imħabba ta’ Patri Salvinu lejn dan il-qaddis ħaqqha dan u ħafna aktar.
Ta’ dan ngħidlu grazzi u, għal darb’oħra, nixtieqlu ħafna barkiet f’għeluq is-sebgħin sena tiegħu.
Mir-Revd Dr Jonathan Farrugia
Ix-xogħol min-naħa tagħna l-edituri fuq dan il-Festschrift beda f’April tas-sena l-oħra. Kienu diġà saru l-kuntatti ma’ xi akkademiċi esperti fuq Santu Wistin ftit tal-ġimgħat qabel, imbagħad minn April il-kuntatt u l-bqija tax-xogħol li kien fadal sakemm il-kaxxi bil-kotba waslu għand Ms Antoinette Borg, is-Segretarja Amministrattiva tal-Istitut Agostinjan, sar mill-Mons. Professur Hector Scerri, mis-Sur Andre Debattista u minni. Waqt li kkuntattjajna mill-ġdid lill-akkademiċi u tajinihom id-deadline biex jissottomettu l-artikli tagħhom, kif ukoll l-manwal bl-istruzzjonijiet ta’ kif kellu jkun il-formatting tan-noti, aħna minn Malta ħdimna fuq l-artikli rispettivi tagħna u ħadna ħsieb ukoll nibdew nidħlu f’kuntatt mal-Best Print, l-istamperija magħżula mill-Provinċja Agostinjana fejn kellha ssir din il-pubblikazzjoni.
Tul dan iż-żmien żammejna wkoll dejem kuntatt mal-Professur P. Salvino Caruana biex dan ix-xogħol li qed jiġi ppubblikat illum ad unur tiegħu ikun skont il-gosti tiegħu. Ix-xogħol xi ftit aktar hands on beda meta kellna l-artikli – li kważi kollha waslu fiż-żmien stipulat (ħlief xi wieħed jew tnejn li ntilfu fl-emails, imma dawn affarijiet li jiġru!). Iltqajna bejnietna u qsamna l-artikli biex kull wieħed minna jara numru minnhom biex naraw li l-istil tan-noti u l-formatting l-ieħor kienu skont l-istruzzjonijiet… u naturalment kien hemm numru sewwa li, bħalma jagħmlu studenti mqarbin, għamlu ta’ rashom u ma tawx każ l-istruzzjonijet. Kellna wkoll numru konsiderevoli ta’ diskrepanzi fejn jidħlu l-abbrevjazzjonijiet tax-xogħolijiet ta’ Santu Wistin, fejn jidher li hemm numru ta’ mudelli differenti li kienu qed jiġu segwiti. Imma bir-rieda tajba u b’ħafna paċenzja min-naħa ta’ kull wieħed dawn irranġajnihom ukoll u ħadna kollox lill-istamperija fil-bidu ta’ Novembru.
Għall-bidu ta’ Diċembru bdew ġejjin il-proofs – dan ix-xogħol beda ftit aktar tard milli mistenni minħabba d-diversi impenji oħra li kellha l-istamperija, imma wara li rajna l-verżjoni kompluta tal-ktieb madwar 5 darbiet kull wieħed, u wara ħafna siegħat bil-qegħda ħdejn it-typesetter MaryRose Abela – persuna ta’ ideat u paċenzja formidabbli – wasalna għal dan ukoll. Bħalma jgħidu erba’ għajnejn – fil-każ tagħna sitta, jew għaxra jekk ngħoddu n-nuċċalijiet tiegħi u ta’ Hector – aħjar minn tnejn u hekk l-iżbalji li ma rax wieħed innutahom l-ieħor u hekk naqqasna kemm kien possibbli d-difetti żgħar li jista’ jkun fih dan ix-xogħol kbir. Apparti fl-aħħar jumejn qabel ma l-istamperija ħarġet bix-shut down ma kellniex mumenti ta’ paniku (minn dak it-tip li jinqala’ meta tirċievi xi telefonata fuq dettalji neqsin mill-tinja tal-qoxra u tkun qiegħed in-naħa l-oħra ta’ Malta!). Imma dawn għelibnihom ukoll. Nemmen li s-sigriet kien li konna accountable ħafna lejn xulxin – ħadd minna t-tlieta ma ppretenda li hu aqwa mill-ieħor u lkoll tkellimna u smajna lil xulxin kull meta kien hemm bżonn. F’dax-xhur bejnietna daru madwar 231 email, li ġeneralment konna narawhom u nwieġbuhom f’temp ta’ ftit minuti jew siegħat (sakemm ma jkunx hekk xi black-out ġenerali ma’ Malta kollha, li wkoll indaħlilna ftit fil-proċeduri!).
Issa li għadda kollox u qed naraw il-prodott finali f’idejna, veru nistgħu ngħidu li non laborat qui amat! Ix-xogħol, iebes kemm hu iebes u jinqalgħu kemm jinqalgħu intoppi, ma jibqax tqil jekk isir b’imħabba. Imħabba li tista’ tissarraf kemm f’rispett reċiproku lejn il-kapaċitajiet ta’ xulxin, kif ukoll rispett u mħabba lejn il-persuna u x-xogħol imprezzabbli li sar minn dak li ad unur tiegħu dan il-ktieb sar realtà: Patri Salvinu.
Jalla dan il-ktieb li issa għandkom f’idejkom issibuh utli mhux biss għall-għarfien tagħkom aktar profond ta’ Santu Wistin, imma aktar u aktar għall-ħajja ta’ kuljum, fejn ilkoll nistgħu nibdlu l-ħidma tagħna f’ġesti ta’ mħabba lejn Alla u lejn xulxin.
Minn Mons. Professur Hector Scerri
L-ewwel sentiment li naqsam magħkom huwa wieħed ta’ radd il-ħajr … qabel xejn lil Alla li ta d-don tal-ħajja lil Patri Salvinu, u li mexa miegħu pass pass, u żejnu b’ħafna doni li huwa qasam ma’ ħafna persuni, kemm fil-Gżejjer tagħna, kif ukoll barra minn xtutna.
Radd il-ħajr lil Alla li qed ibierek il-ħidma ta’ ħafna … l-awturi tal-artikli fil-volum, l-edituri, it-typesetter u l-istampaturi Best Print, u l-Provinċja Agostinjana Maltija.
Li nwelldu ktieb huwa kważi miraklu … ktieb – anzi volum – ta’ dawn id-dimensjonijiet.
Apparti Nota Biografika – kif inhu xieraq – dwar Patri Salvinu, u lista twila ta’ kitbiet tiegħu, għandna l-istorja tas-sehem tal-Ordni Agostinjan fil-formazzjoni u t-tagħlim, u storja dettaljata dwar l-Istitut Agostinjan.
Il-qofol tal-volum jintlaħaq bl-istudji akkademiċi li jagħtu ġieħ lil Patri Salvinu. Għandna 15-il nixxiegħa, biex ngħidu hekk … 15-il artiklu riċerkat. Il-kittieba huma 16 b’kollox, għaliex artiklu minnhom huwa frott il-kollaborazzjoni ta’ żewġ awturi barranin.
F’idejna għandna għalhekk ix-xogħol ta’ 6 awturi Maltin, u 10 awturi barranin minn firxa ta’ pajjiżi, fosthom ir-Renju Unit, il-Belġju, l-Olanda, u l-Istati Uniti. Dan jixhed għar-rispett u l-istima li jgawdi Patri Salvinu.
L-artikli huma miġburin f’erba taqsimiet: 1) Teoloġija, Kristoloġija u Marjoloġija; 2) Antropoloġija; 3) il-Ħajja Nisranija; 4) u l-Konverżjoni ta’ Santu Wistin. Hemm imbagħad artiklu down-to-earth li jikkonsisti f’applikazzjoni pastorali. Kif tistgħu taraw, għandna tiżwieqa sabiħa ta’ suġġetti li huma lkoll marbutin bejniethom b’ħajta tad-deheb, il-Missier u Duttur tal-Knisja, Santu Wistin li mingħandu qed nissellfu frażi li qed tagħti l-isem lill-ktieb, Non laborat qui amat.
Tajjeb li nifhmu sew dan il-kliem: Min iħobb ma jaħdimx … naturalment mhux fis-sens li jitgħażżen jew joqgħod idejh fuq żaqqu, imma f’sens ieħor u aktar profond: Min tassew iħobb u huwa dedikat (bħalma hu Patri Salvinu), ma jarax il-ħidma, ir-riċerka u t-tagħlim bħala xogħol, imma bħala għotja ġeneruża li sseħħ ma kull nifs li jieħu u ma’ kull taħbita ta’ qalbu.
Dan il-ktieb huwa frott ta’ riċerka sfiqa, entużjasta u kollha passjoni għas-suġġetti rispettivi. Insemmi xi wħud, fuq fuq, biex – nittama – niftħilkom l-aptit u tixtru l-ktieb u tibdew taqrawh:
il-Verġni Marija fil-kitbiet ta’ Santu Wistin;
l-Omeliji ta’ Wistin f’jum il-Milied;
Santu Wistin dwar il-martri Santa Krispina;
Santu Wistin fil-qadi tal-missjoni tiegħu bħala mħallef fi ħdan l-Imperu Ruman;
il-konverżjoni/jiet ta’ Santu Wistin;
riflessjonijiet dwar in-Nisrani fil-ħajja pubblika fid-dawl ta’ dak li jikteb Wistin;
il-politika u d-demokrazija liberali u l-bon ordni – applikazzjoni mill-Belt ta’ Alla ta’ Wistin;
il-Ġmiel; il-bniedem xbieha ta’ Alla;
il-Magħmudija;
il-kura pastorali tal-persuna li tinsab marida f’qiegħ ta’ sodda.
Dawn huma lkoll aspetti attwali … kif stqarr ilbieraħ il-Kardinal Giovanni Battista Re, fl-omelija tal-funeral tal-wisq għażiż u mibki Kardinal Grech: “Sant’Agostino, soprattutto nel libro delle Confessioni, parla di sé, della sua esperienza, ma ‘siccome si tratta dell’esperienza che l’uomo vive in ogni epoca, allora leggendo Sant’Agostino leggiamo qualche cosa di noi stessi, dei problemi della Chiesa di oggi, dei problemi della società, delle relazioni fra Stato e Chiesa e così via, perché basta leggere qualsiasi opera di Sant’Agostino che sempre si trova qualche cosa che parla direttamente al cuore’ ”.
Kif tistgħu taraw, fil-volum għanda dan kollu li semma l-Kardinal Re – firxa ġmielha u mżewqa, ħierġa mill-qalb ta’ Santu Wistin u dejjem relevanti għalina llum … għandna r-riċerka ta’ għadd ta’ ħbieb ta’ Patri Salvinu, ħbieb u akkademiċi li jirrappreżentaw numru wisq akbar ta’ ħbieb, fosthom intom ilkoll, li nixtiequ/tixtiequ turi l-apprezzament tagħkom lil Patri Salvinu.
Kif għidtilkom, l-artikli huma kollha riċerkati. Xhieda ta’ dan mhuwiex biss il-kontenut tagħhom, imma wkoll in-noti f’qiegħ kull paġna. Għoddejthom għal darba, darbtejn, u sibt li għandna ftit inqas minn 1000 nota … biex inkun eżatt 972 nota… xi wħud qosra, u xi wħud twal, u lkoll jiftħu tieqa biex nimirħu f’panorama iktar wiesgħa ta’ kotba u artikli oħra.
Kif nistqarru fin-Nota Editorjali, Gratis et Amoris, “xejn mhu aktar onorabbli minn qalb grata”, kif kien jgħid il-filosfu, statista u kittieb Ruman Seneca. Dan hu li qed nagħmlu f’din is-serata: nuru kemm hija grata l-qalb tagħna; niċċelebraw it-twelid ta’ ktieb; u nirringrazzjaw lil Alla u lil Patri Salvinu Caruana f’għeluq is-70 sena minn twelidu.
Ad multos annos!
Contents of Festschrift
1. The Augustinian Institute (Malta). The Background and Groundwork of a Successful Augustinian Project (Salvino Caruana OSA/Augustinian Institute).
2. The Subtle Art of Plagiarizing God: Some Personal Notes on Augustine’s Dialogue with Divine Otherness (Martijn Boven – The Netherlands).
3. The Blessed Virgin Mary in the Writings of St Augustine of Hippo (Dr Ritienne Debono – Augustinian Institute).
4. Beyond Reasonableness? Etienne Gilson’s Critique of Augustinism (Joseph Lam Quy OSA – Melbourne, Australia).
5. Celebrating the Day of Christ’s Birth: The Rhetorical Structure and Doctrinal Content of Augustine’s Nativity Sermons (Joost van Neer – Utrecht / Anthony Dupont KU Leuven).
6. Augustine on St Crispina: Comparing Augustine’s Image of the Saint with Her Acta (Revd Canon Jonathan Farrugia (UOM/Augustinian Institute).
7. The Offence of Beauty: An Augustinian Reading (Carol Harrison, Oxford UK).
8. In Search of the Augustinian Imago Dei: The “Nothingness” of the Human Person (Matthew W. Knotts, KU Leuven).
9. Augustine on Baptism during the Controversy with Julian of Aeclanum (Mathijs Lamberigts, KU Leuven).
10. Seeking Augustinian Insights for the Christian Public Life Today (Michael J. Bruno – St Joseph’s Seminary, Yonkers, NY, USA).
11. Augustine and the Tranquillitas Ordinis: Some Reflections on Politics and Liberal Democracy from De Civitate Dei Book XIX (Andre’ P. Debattista, UOM/Augustinian Institute).
12. Saint Augustine: Episcopalis Arbiter (Judge retr. Silvio Meli – Augustinian Institute).
13. Inner Balance, Autonomy, and Credibility: Classical Christian virtues? Augustine’s De opere monachorum. Re-read in the Light of his De beata vita (Paul van Geest, Free University, Amsterdam, Holland).
14. La Double Conversion d’Augustin (Bernard Bruning OSA – Ghent, Belgium).
15. Augustine’s Struggle with the Problem of Evil and His Conversion to Neo-Platonism (Mgr Prof. Hector Scerri, UOM/Augustinian Institute).
16. Augustine of Hippo: the Experience of a Hospital Chaplain (Mario Attard Ofm Cap./Augustinian Institute).
Mons. Professur Hector Scerri
[1] “Sant’Agostino, soprattutto nel libro delle Confessioni, parla di sé, della sua esperienza, ma ‘siccome si tratta dell’esperienza che l’uomo vive in ogni epoca, allora leggendo Sant’Agostino leggiamo qualche cosa di noi stessi, dei problemi della Chiesa di oggi, dei problemi della società, delle relazioni fra Stato e Chiesa e così via, perché basta leggere qualsiasi opera di Sant’Agostino che sempre si trova qualche cosa che parla direttamente al cuore’”, Giovanni Battista Re, Citta del Vaticano, 2.I.2019
Lista vasta ta’ publikazzjonijiet mill-Prof P. Salvino Caruana OSA.
Aktar kotba mfassal għas-Sena 2021.
Ara lista dettaljata minn hawn …
Kumment tal-aħħar minn għand Patri Salvino nnifsu …
Ftit ġimgħat sewwa qabel beda joqrob is-sajf tas-sena 2018, beda jinħema xi ħaġa għal għeluq is-70 sena tiegħi. Ta’ ħbieb tabilħaqq, u kollegi fl-istħarriġ u l-kitbiet tal-, u dwar il-Missirijiet tal-Knisja, u S. Wistin, il-Professur Monsinjur Hector Scerri, għalliem, fundatur u direttur tas-Soċjetà Patristika, ir-Revdu Kanonku Jonathan Farrugia, Kap tad-Dipartiment tal-Patroloġija fil-Fakultà tat-Teoloġija fl-Università ta’ Malta, u s-Sur Andre’ Debattista, għalliem fl-Università ta’ Malta, ltqajna fil-Kunvent S. Wistin il-Belt Valletta filgħodu. Matul il-ftit sigħat li tħaddidna flimkien, nibtet l-idea, u t-tfassil, ta’ Festschrift ad unur tas-70 sena tiegħi. Fassalna lista ta’ min setgħu jkunu l-kontributuri għal dan il-volum u sibna għadd sewwa minn barra, u oħrajn minn Malta. Kollha laqgħu b’entusjażmu kbir l-istedina sabiex jiktbu artiklu ta’ polz akkademiku serju għall-Festschrift. Dun Jonathan ħa ħsieb jiġbor l-artikli u, flimkien mal-Prof. H. Scerri u s-Sur A. Debatista (edituri), għaddewhom mill-għarbiel tal-għarfien tagħhom tal-kitbiet tas-Santi Padri u ta’ S. Wistin. Fost dawk li ferħu l-P. Salvinu u fissru l-istima tagħhom, hemm il-messaġġi tal-Em. T. Revdma il-Kardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, ħabib ta’ P. Salvinu, l-Em. T. Il-mibki Kardinal Agostinjan P. Prospero Grech OSA (+2019), dak tar-Revdmu P. Ġeneral tal-Ordni ta’ S. Wistin P. Alejandro Moral OSA, u dak tal-WRP Provinċjal Leslie Gatt OSA.