THE PARISH COMMUNITY IN EIGHTEENTH-CENTURY MALTA

Making use of a wealth of primary sources, the author provides numerous insights into the role of the Maltese community in the life of the eighteenth-century Church across the liturgical year, exploring social, cultural, and gender differences that separated the different sectors of society in the residents' religious behavior. The author emphasizes the democratic responsibility of the wardens in administering the parish, the participation and patronage of lay parishioners, and the all-important cult of Mary and the saints. As the parish church was considered the centerpiece of the community, residents contributed materially to its erection, embellishment, and upkeep.