Popular forms of religious association in Malta during the Modern Age

The aim of this paper is to analyse the importance of the phenomenon represented by the most popular forms of social and religious association present in Malta during Modern Age. Confraternities brought about a programme of training of the individual conscience and of diffusion of messages of fraternity and justice, fomenting feelings of 'democracy' and of rights defence. Most confraternities defended their independence from the ecclesiastical and political power; the social engagement did not produce only spiritual elevation, but it determined also a new awareness of human, social and political rights. In some confraternities the members clearly showed their dissent towards the clergy allied with the Spanish power.