Theology Library Rabat

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Theology Library Rabat The Theology Library is supported by the Archbishop's Seminary and the Foundation for Theological Studies. Benjamin Tonna.

The origins of the Seminary Library date back to October 1756. The financial foundations and the first bequests bear the name of the Bishop of Malta, Paul Alpheran de Bussan. In its first years, the Library was very limited in its resources. Eventually, it started to expand thanks to the personal collections of books bequeathed by priests, a generous tradition which has continued to this day. Its earliest benefactors included the patriot Dun Mikiel Xerri (1737-1799), and in recent years, Mgr Joseph Sapiano, Mgr Joseph Lupi and Can. The Library today possesses well over 35000 books, besides a vast collection of over 350 periodicals. As expected, the Library is mainly a philosophical and theological one; yet, sections in psychology, sociology, politics and history are also present. A rich Melitensia section forms part of the Library. The Library’s long history includes its earliest phase when the Seminary was in Mdina, followed by the years at Floriana (when the small library of the Casa di Manresa retreat house was eventually absorbed by the Seminary collection after World War II), and its current phase at Tal-Virtù. When Archbishop Mercieca transferred the Major Seminary to its current location in 1978, a phase of rapid expansion was inaugurated, especially on account of a separate and spacious wing which had already been used as a library by the Mater Admirabilis Training College (1954-1973).
1978 was an eventful year in other respects, too, because the Faculty of Theology which had been ousted from the University of Malta commenced its ten-year stay at Tal-Virtù as an autonomous institution. This meant a new phase in the history of the Seminary Library, namely the housing of two libraries under one roof and one joint administration. The books purchased by the Faculty of Theology until 1988 remained at Tal-Virtù after the Faculty’s re-incorporation in the University of Malta in 1988. The Foundation for Theological Studies, established in September 1988 proceeded with the Faculty’s former commitments to the Library. Since then, the Seminary/Foundation Library, as it is now called, continued to expand its services. In 1997, a spacious extension was constructed to house the vast periodical holdings. This was inaugurated in February 1999 by Archbishop Mercieca. A specialised section on the Maltese Clergy was also also launched on the same occasion. When the Catholic Institute Library at Floriana closed down in the mid-1990s, the authorities decided to transfer that 5000-strong collection to the Seminary/Foundation Library. This herculean task was accomplished in February 2005. A Library Committee coordinates the functioning of the Library and assists the Library staff. The Library caters primarily for the seminarians in their academic preparation for the priesthood. The Library is also open to University students, the clergy and other bona fide borrowers.

22/10/2026

TAĦDITA PUBBLIKA
Minn Rev. Prof. Martin Micallef ⬇️

15/10/2026
The Theology Library remembers and celebrate St. Teresa of Avila, on her Feast Day October 15th !
15/10/2026

The Theology Library remembers and celebrate St. Teresa of Avila, on her Feast Day October 15th !

15/10/2026

13 ta’ Ottubru 1961. Infakkru l-65 anniversarju mill-mewt ta’ Dun Karm Psaila, il-Poeta Nazzjonali li kliemu għen biex ta leħen lil nazzjon. Magħruf fuq kollox bħala l-awtur tal-Innu Malti, il-wirt ta’ Dun Karm imur ferm lil hinn mill-innu nazzjonali. Permezz tal-poeżija tiegħu, il-kitbiet, it-traduzzjonijiet u d-dedikazzjoni tiegħu lejn il-lingwa Maltija, huwa għen isaħħaħ sens ta’ identità kulturali fi żmien meta Malta kienet qed tiddefinixxi postha u leħinha. Il-ħidma tiegħu għadha titkellem dwar il-fidi, il-memorja, il-lingwa, il-pajsaġġ u n-nazzjon. Illum, nagħtu ġieħ mhux biss lil poeta, iżda lil figura li l-kitbiet tagħha għenu jsawru l-mod kif Malta tifhem lilha nfisha. Ritratt: Arkivju ta’ Għawdex

13 October 1961. We mark the 65th anniversary of the death of Dun Karm Psaila, the National Poet whose words helped give voice to a nation. Remembered above all for writing the Innu Malti, Dun Karm’s legacy reaches far beyond the national anthem. Through his poetry, writings, translations, and dedication to the Maltese language, he helped strengthen a sense of cultural identity at a time when Malta was defining its place and voice. His work continues to speak of faith, memory, language, landscape, and nationhood. Today, we honour not only a poet, but a figure whose writings helped shape the way Malta understands itself. ArchivesMalta

10/10/2026

Symposium exploring the thought of St Thomas Aquinas and St John Henry Newman Event Timing: October 9th-10th, 2026 Event Address: (9th October) ĊAK Birkirkara; (10th October) Mgr Paul Cremona Auditorium, Dominican Priory, Rabat. Contact: [email protected] Further information will be sent via em...

We look forward to meeting everyone for what promises to be a very interesting discussion.✨Il-Kelliema huma:📚Herman Grec...
10/10/2026

We look forward to meeting everyone for what promises to be a very interesting discussion.✨
Il-Kelliema huma:

📚Herman Grech
Editor-in-chief, Times of Malta

📚Fr Joe Borg
Visiting senior lecturer, Dipartiment tal-Midja u l-Komunikazzjoni, Università ta’ Malta

Il-ġurnaliżmu llum qed jgħaddi minn żmien diffiċli, mhux biss f’Malta iżda wkoll madwar id-dinja: problemi finanzjarji, ...
06/10/2026

Il-ġurnaliżmu llum qed jgħaddi minn żmien diffiċli, mhux biss f’Malta iżda wkoll madwar id-dinja: problemi finanzjarji, l-impatt tal-Intelliġenza Artifiċjali u tal-midja soċjali, xkiel minn diversi gvernijiet u istituzzjonijiet, u xi drabi anke attakki fuq il-ġurnalisti nfushom. Iżda minkejja dan, hemm ġurnalisti li jkomplu jfittxu l-verità b’kuraġġ u b'rispett lejn id-dinjità ta' kull persuna, u huma dawn li jagħtuna t-tama.
F'din il-laqgħa se naraw flimkien kif jista' jkollna ġurnaliżmu onest u responsabbli li jgħinna nifhmu x'qed jiġri madwarna, fi żmien ta' aħbarijiet foloz u ta' firda bejn in-nies, u kif aħna, bħala nies li naqraw u nisimgħu l-aħbarijiet, nistgħu nagħtu sehemna. Għax il-mistoqsija hija għal kull wieħed u waħda minna: X'nistgħu nagħmlu aħna biex il-ġurnaliżmu onest jirnexxi?
Kull leħen huwa importanti f'din id-diskussjoni. Nittamaw li narawkom hemm intom u sħabkom.
Tistgħu tirreġistraw billi tibagħtu email jew permezz tal-link hawn taħt:
https://forms.gle/FY2GVjd7EztQXNry9

Address

Theology Library, 90, Triq Tal-Virtù, Tal-Virtù
Rabat
RBT2604

Opening Hours

Monday 08:30 - 13:00
14:00 - 17:00
Tuesday 08:30 - 13:00
14:00 - 17:00
Wednesday 08:30 - 12:00
Thursday 08:30 - 13:00
14:00 - 17:00
Friday 08:30 - 13:00
14:00 - 17:00
Saturday 08:30 - 12:00

Telephone

+35621455497

Website

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