Donat Spiteri's translation of Psalm 1,1-2 within the translation tradition of the psalter in Maltese

Abstract

I am writing this essay in order to honour the figure of Rev Prof Donatus Spiteri OFM Capp. who introduced me and the priests of my generation into the fascinating world of NT studies at the Faculty of Theology in the University of Malta. He introduced me also though indirectly into the world of bible translation when he gave me as an inheritance his copy of the classic by Eugene A. Nida & Charles R. Taber, The Theory and Practice of Translation that formed generations of bible translators and professionals in the translation field. Prof Spiteri or as we affectionately know him, Patri Donat il-Kappuci:in, was not simply an academic, but he was also a pastor having been nominated parish priest of at least two parishes in two different periods, a Bible translator, and especially the translator of the biblical psalter in Maltese. He also succeeded Prof Carmel Sant as President of the Malta Bible Society for about nine years, founded the extremely popular Kliem il-lIajja, through which many Maltese readers had their first close meeting with reading of the Bible. Though this latter institution that still exists under the editorship of another Capuchin, Rev Fr Martin Micallef, and the translation of the psalter which was adopted for her liturgy by the Roman Catholic Church, the indirect influence of Prof Spiteri upon religious life in Malta can hardly be exaggerated.

On a more personal note, when the present writer was elected as General Secretary of the Malta Bible Society, Patri Donat accepted to fill the role of President of the same institution, and in this way he was with the Bible Society when it passed through some exciting developments; Patri Donat was instrumental when the Bible Society acquired from the family of the deseased professor, the library of Mgr Prof Carmel Sant, when she found the necessary capital to buy her current quarters, the Dar il-Bibbja in Floriana; when the MBS board decided that the Bible Society should publish the second edition of its Bible without the help of other institutions in Malta; he formed part of the Bible Commission that prepared the text of the second edition which was then published under the editorship of the present writer in 1996. He formed part ofthe Kummissjoni Biblika Permanenti since its foundation in 2002. He was also with the present writer when we solicited government officials to allow the New Testament with the title L-Alibar it-Tajba Glialik to enter the religion syllabus of Public and Private secondary schools, a campaign which unfortunately failed because other Church agencies pushed their own book instead. These and other motivations are behind this essay which we hope will one day form part of a FestscriJt which the Department of Holy Scripture at the Faculty of Theology, the Faculty of Theology itself, the Malta Bible Society, and the Foundation for Theological Studies, intend to dedicate to Rev Prof Donatus Spiteri OFM Capp. in the coming months.