Aloisio Galea
Encyclopedia
Aloisio Galea was a Maltese theologian and minor philosopher. He specialised mostly in moral philosophy.
in 1851. He studied at the bishop
’s seminary and at the University of Malta
. He was ordained a priest in 1874. His main intellectual endeavour was to study, elaborate upon and teach Thomistic writings and doctrines, of which he was an expert. Specifically, he applied his studies to his pastoral work, particularly by focusing on Aquinas’ moral philosophy. Galea died in 1905.
, Malta
, under the title Don Luigi Galea: A distinguished Maltese scholar. The pamphlet gives a biography of Pace, and a review of all his writings. It also acknowledges Pace’s contributions as a theologian and historian.
Life
Galea was born in VallettaValletta
Valletta is the capital of Malta, colloquially known as Il-Belt in Maltese. It is located in the central-eastern portion of the island of Malta, and the historical city has a population of 6,098. The name "Valletta" is traditionally reserved for the historic walled citadel that serves as Malta's...
in 1851. He studied at the bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
’s seminary and at the University of Malta
University of Malta
The University of Malta is the highest educational institution in Malta Europe and is one of the most respected universities in Europe. The University offers undergraduate Bachelor's Degrees, postgraduate Master's Degrees and postgraduate Doctorates .-History:The University of Malta was founded in...
. He was ordained a priest in 1874. His main intellectual endeavour was to study, elaborate upon and teach Thomistic writings and doctrines, of which he was an expert. Specifically, he applied his studies to his pastoral work, particularly by focusing on Aquinas’ moral philosophy. Galea died in 1905.
Works
Though Galea wrote profusely, most of his publications are of a religious and devotional nature which do are of no interest to philosophy. However, some writings stand out for their philosophical acumen, amongst which are the following.- 1879 – Dichiarazione delle Prime Ventisei Questioni della Summa Theologica (A Declaration concerning the First Twenty-Six Questions of Aquinas’ Summa Theologica). This book is as yet lost or misplaced. Pace states (as part of its title-page) that he reproduces ‘word for word’ Aquinas’ Questions. What this means is not exactly clear. It is unlikely that the publication is a reproduction of a part of Aquinas’ SummaSumma TheologicaThe Summa Theologiæ is the best-known work of Thomas Aquinas , and although unfinished, "one of the classics of the history of philosophy and one of the most influential works of Western literature." It is intended as a manual for beginners in theology and a compendium of all of the main...
without any comment whatsoever.
- 1880 – De Fontibus Quorundam Opusculorum Sancti Thomæ Aquinatis (Some Sources of the Writings of Saint Thomas Aquinas). A 65-page book in Latin (published in MaltaMaltaMalta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
by Tipografia C. Busuttil) which discusses in six chapters some of the fundamental principles which Aquinas upholds in his writings. Pace deals successively with the difference between the word of God and the word of humans, sensibility in relation to individuality, the intellectIntellectIntellect is a term used in studies of the human mind, and refers to the ability of the mind to come to correct conclusions about what is true or real, and about how to solve problems...
in relation to universals, natural light and divine light, the subject of thinking and the object of thought, being’s reason for existence, and the composite nature of natural elements.
- 1882 – Articles published in the Italian review Divus Thomas. Discuss works attributed to Aquinas which Pace considered to be spurious.
- 1885-1900 – Tractatus de Trinitate Summæ Theologicæ Sancti Thomæ Aquinatis (A Study on the Trinity according to the Summa Theologica of Saint Thomas Aquinas). This work is still in manuscript form, and bears an additional title, namely: Aliarum septemdecim Quæstionum (And of Seventeen More Questions). It contains some 492 folios, and is divided in questions and articles as in the style of ScholasticismScholasticismScholasticism is a method of critical thought which dominated teaching by the academics of medieval universities in Europe from about 1100–1500, and a program of employing that method in articulating and defending orthodoxy in an increasingly pluralistic context...
. The work rests heavily on Pope Leo XIIIPope Leo XIIIPope Leo XIII , born Vincenzo Gioacchino Raffaele Luigi Pecci to an Italian comital family, was the 256th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, reigning from 1878 to 1903...
’s Æterni patris of 1879. It basically offers a philosophical discussion on the doctrine of the TrinityTrinityThe Christian doctrine of the Trinity defines God as three divine persons : the Father, the Son , and the Holy Spirit. The three persons are distinct yet coexist in unity, and are co-equal, co-eternal and consubstantial . Put another way, the three persons of the Trinity are of one being...
or, alternatively, on the nature of GodGodGod is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
.
- 1892 – Della Distinzione Numerica dei Peccati (On the Numeric Distinction of Sins). A 50-page book in Italian published in MaltaMaltaMalta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
(at Tipografia C. Busuttil, 133 Strada Forni, VallettaVallettaValletta is the capital of Malta, colloquially known as Il-Belt in Maltese. It is located in the central-eastern portion of the island of Malta, and the historical city has a population of 6,098. The name "Valletta" is traditionally reserved for the historic walled citadel that serves as Malta's...
) in which Pace reflects on the first half of the second part of Aquinas’ Summa Theologica. Though the theme of this book seems irrelevant today, in Pace’s time it still carried considerable practical weight. In this work, while citing long extracts in Latin (without an Italian translation), Pace proposes varies philosophical arguments to support his views.
- 1894 – De Caritate sive De Dilectione Dei (On Charity or On the Love of God). A 76-page book in Italian published in SicilySicilySicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
(Augustæ Taurinorum, ex officina salesiana) divided into two main parts, each of which have an introduction and a conclusion. The parts are further divided into eight and six sections respectively. Pace mainly deals with the theological virtue of loveLoveLove is an emotion of strong affection and personal attachment. In philosophical context, love is a virtue representing all of human kindness, compassion, and affection. Love is central to many religions, as in the Christian phrase, "God is love" or Agape in the Canonical gospels...
both from a theological as well as a philosophical standpoint. Practically, Pace follows the procedure adopted by Aquinas. Of course, Aquinas is the main source of the composition.
Recognition
Pace’s Caritate and Tractatus brought him considerable fame amongst orthodox Thomists, considering them a worth addition to their already gargantuan mass of literature supporting the doctrines of Aquinas. This contribution was duly recognised in 1957 by Gundisalvus Grech, who published a 23-page pamphlet in English (Progress Press, VallettaValletta
Valletta is the capital of Malta, colloquially known as Il-Belt in Maltese. It is located in the central-eastern portion of the island of Malta, and the historical city has a population of 6,098. The name "Valletta" is traditionally reserved for the historic walled citadel that serves as Malta's...
, Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
, under the title Don Luigi Galea: A distinguished Maltese scholar. The pamphlet gives a biography of Pace, and a review of all his writings. It also acknowledges Pace’s contributions as a theologian and historian.
Sources
- Mark Montebello, Il-Ktieb tal-Filosofija f’Malta (A Source Book of Philosophy in Malta), PIN Publications, Malta, 2001.