The cloistered communities of female monasteries in Malta have experienced a significant decline, with numbers dwindling by an average of 62% over the last three decades. This alarming trend is highlighted in a recent study on cultural heritage management by Daniela Apap Bologna. The findings, reported by Times of Malta, reveal an accelerated decline for these traditional forms of religious life, posing a serious threat to the survival of these historical communities.
The study, which spans from 1992 to 2022, shows that the decline in Malta is part of a broader international phenomenon. For instance, Italy has seen a 39% reduction in female cloistered communities over the same period. This suggests that while the issue is global, the rates of decline vary significantly between countries.
In Malta, the research focuses on four out of five female contemplative monasteries: St Ursula’s and St Catherine’s in Valletta, St Scholastica in Vittoriosa, St Margaret’s in Cospicua, and St Peter’s in Mdina. These monasteries, considered as “living religious heritage at risk”, are facing dwindling vocations, threatening their very existence.
Daniela Apap Bologna’s aim in conducting this study was to raise awareness and instill a sense of urgency within the field of cultural heritage management. Her MA dissertation underscores the necessity of treating these monasteries as living heritage. She emphasizes that unless the declining trend is reversed, secularisation will likely continue unabated, potentially leading to the closure of these historical sites.
One of the most dramatic declines was observed at St Peter’s Monastery, where the number of nuns plummeted from 32 in 1967 to just one in 2022. Similarly, St Ursula’s, which once had 26 nuns 50 years ago, now has only nine. Other monasteries have also seen significant reductions: St Scholastica halved to 10 nuns, St Margaret’s dropped from 21 to eight, and St Catherine’s declined from 32 to three.
The shrinking populations within these monasteries, many of which are architectural monuments of high heritage value, have profound implications. Apap Bologna notes that the survival of these “spaces of significance” depends on a steady intake of new members. Her study, titled ‘Female Cloistered Monasteries in Malta: Issues and Challenges in Safeguarding Living Religious Heritage in the Event of Secularisation’, aims to spark discussions on preemptive measures to preserve this intangible heritage.
The study highlights that monasteries have two types of heritage: tangible and intangible. The tangible includes the monumental spaces and artefacts, which can be preserved through inventories, architectural surveys, and archive care. However, the intangible heritage, encompassing the personal narratives and traditional lifestyles of the nuns, risks being lost forever if not systematically recorded.
Apap Bologna’s research reveals that each monastery has unique personal anecdotes and customs developed over time. These elements are vital to the identity of the monasteries and, if not documented, will disappear with the dwindling communities. The sudden loss of this living component endangers not only the architecture but also the art, libraries, archives, furnishings, and long-standing traditions and rituals associated with these sites.
The study underscores the urgent need for a systematic approach to manage both tangible and intangible assets to prevent loss and malpractice. The closure of a monastery should not occur without thorough documentation and preservation efforts.
The study shows a varied classification of use among the monasteries, with St Peter’s ranked the lowest in usage, followed by medium use at St Margaret’s and St Scholastica, and the highest at St Ursula’s. Notably, St Catherine’s has sought foreign nuns to sustain its community, while St Peter’s Monastery has looked to Umbria for support.
Despite the bleak outlook, there are pockets of hope. Monasteries with younger nuns and larger communities, such as St Ursula and St Scholastica, continue to function well. St Margaret’s Monastery recently welcomed a 35-year-old postulant nun, providing a glimmer of hope for the future.
Furthermore, some monasteries have adapted by generating income through museums or opening lower floors to the public. These proactive measures help sustain the monasteries financially and offer the public insight into a vanishing way of life.
