This course aims to provide theological and spiritual knowledge about the Blessed Virgin Mary and the development of Mariology in the Church. The sessions will start by analysing the portrayal of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Holy Scriptures and Marian devotion in the early Church. The course will explore the development of the Marian dogmas and the devotion to Mary in the Eastern traditions. The course will also treat the way Mary as Mother of the Church is presented in Vatican Council II and the subsequent Mariological documents by the Popes in the last fifty years. The sessions will proceed to focus on the beautiful rendering of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Art and the manifold references to the Mother of God in Maltese poetry. In conclusion, the course will reflect on Mary as one of the most important figures in Christianity as a role model for all women.
All who wish to enrich their theological and spiritual knowledge about the Blessed Virgin Mary and the development of Mariology in the Church.
Target Audience`s Age:18+
Session Format
This course will be delivered over 15 lectures, each lecture covering a different aspect of Mariology. The themes which will be covered are:
The portrayal of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Old Testament
The Blessed Virgin Mary in the Synoptic Gospels and Acts of the Apostles
The Blessed Virgin Mary in the Gospel of John
The Blessed Virgin Mary and the early Church Fathers
The four Marian dogmas
The Blessed Virgin Mary in the Oriental traditions (Catholics and Orthodox)
The Blessed Virgin Mary in the Liturgy
The Blessed Virgin Mary in the Second Vatican Council
The Blessed Virgin Mary in the Papal Magisterium of the last sixty years
Marian Spirituality
Portrayals of the Virgin Mary in Films
Marian Art in foreign countries
Marian Art in Malta
The Blessed Virgin Mary in Maltese poetry
The Blessed Virgin Mary and woman in the Church
Please note that these themes will not necessarily be delivered in this particular order.
Session Format
Lectures will be on Mondays between 18:00 and 20:00 starting from 15th January 2024
Month
Days
January
15th, 22nd & 29th
February
5th, 19th & 26th
March
4th, 11th & 18th
April
8th, 15th, 22nd & 29th
May
6th & 13th
This course has three exit certificate options:
Certificate of Attendance
A Certificate of Attendance will be awarded to students who have attended at least 80% of the course`s contact hours.
Certificate of Participation
A Certificate of Participation will be rewarded to students who meet the attendance criteria* and successfully conclude the course multiple-choice tests.
Certificate of Achievement
A Certificate of Achievement is awarded to students who successfully concluded the course, that is;
meet the attendance criteria*
sit and pass the short multiple-choice tests (mentioned in point 2),
and also submit a written assessment.
Final Award:Certificate in Introduction to Mariology
Teaching & Awarding Institute:Pastoral Formation Institute
Duration: Five months part-time course
* Attendance Criteria: Students must attend at least 80% of all the course`s contact hours.
Every application will be considered on its individual merits. The Pastoral Formation Institute accepts a wide range of qualifications, and we always try to evaluate applications on the basis of academic potential. We do consider a very wide range of academic, vocational, and professional qualifications, as well as work and other appropriate experiences and skills.
Lecturer/s: Rev. Dr Stefan Attard Rev. Stephen Attard Rev. Christopher Caruana Ms Mariella Catania Can. Dr Jonathan Farrugia Rev. Brendan Gatt Rev. Dr Martin Micallef OFMCap Prof. Keith Sciberras
Rev. Prof. Paul Sciberras Rev. Gilbert Scicluna Mgr Prof. Hector Scerri Mgr Dr Edgar Vella Rev. Dr Mark J. Zammit Rev. Papas Prof. Martin Zammit
