Explorations in Theology: Man Is Created

Explorations in Theology #5

by Hans Urs von Balthasar

  The last volume in this theological series, these works present a rare opportunity to experience Balthasar's synthetic and comprehensive treatment of major themes in theology without having to make one's way through more extensive works which cover a much wider scope. Each volume focuses on a specific aspect of theology or spirituality and presents it with all the richness which comes from his immense erudition, but in a style that is directed and intelligible since few of these essays were intended for scholarly audiences. They give an excellent overview of the writings and thought of one of the outstanding theologians of this century. In this final volume, Balthasar focuses on the purpose of man as created by God. He begins with these “Man is ‘created to praise, reverence, and serve God our Lord, and by means of this to save [his] soul.’ Constant repetition has made this line from the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises seem like a trite platitude. What could we possibly say about these words that has not already been said before? Of course, scarcely anyone still remembers, or is even willing to acknowledge, this Ignatian insight, though Ignatius himself understood it as the ‘principle and foundation’ of all human and Christian truth, or at least as a summary of the ABC’s for people wanting an introduction to Christianity. A bird’s eye view of the history of Christian theology reveals an astonishing The seemingly banal gateway to the Spiritual Exercises turns out to be anything but traditional, at least if it is the great tradition of European thinking that we have in mind.” Divided into two parts, PRAISE, REVERENCE, AND SERVICE and BEFORE GOD’S FACE-IN GOD’S HEART, some of the many topics Balthasar covers in this volume
The Serenity of the Surrendered Self, On the Christian’s Capacity to See, Health between Science and Wisdom, The Person, Sexuality, and Death, The Dignity of Women, Mary and the Holy Spirit, The Eternal Child, How God Forgives, Introspection and Self-transcendence, God among Us, Peace in Theology, The “Beatitudes” and Human Rights, Finding God in All Things, and more.

Genres: Theology, Catholic

472 pages, Paperback

First published May 20, 2014

About the author

Hans Urs von Balthasar was a Swiss theologian and priest who was nominated to be a cardinal of the Catholic Church. He is considered one of the most important theologians of the 20th century.

Born in Lucerne, Switzerland on 12 August 1905, he attended Stella Matutina (Jesuit school) in Feldkirch, Austria. He studied in Vienna, Berlin and Zurich, gaining a doctorate in German literature. He joined the Jesuits in 1929, and was ordained in 1936. He worked in Basel as a student chaplain. In 1950 he left the Jesuit order, feeling that God had called him to found a Secular Institute, a lay form of consecrated life that sought to work for the sanctification of the world especially from within. He joined the diocese of Chur. From the low point of being banned from teaching, his reputation eventually rose to the extent that John Paul II asked him to be a cardinal in 1988. However he died in his home in Basel on 26 June 1988, two days before the ceremony. Balthasar was interred in the Hofkirche cemetery in Lucern.

Along with Karl Rahner and Bernard Lonergan, Balthasar sought to offer an intellectual, faithful response to Western modernism. While Rahner offered a progressive, accommodating position on modernity and Lonergan worked out a philosophy of history that sought to critically appropriate modernity, Balthasar resisted the reductionism and human focus of modernity, wanting Christianity to challenge modern sensibilities.

Balthasar is very eclectic in his approach, sources, and interests and remains difficult to categorize. An example of his eclecticism was his long study and conversation with the influential Reformed Swiss theologian, Karl Barth, of whose work he wrote the first Catholic analysis and response. Although Balthasar's major points of analysis on Karl Barth's work have been disputed, his The Theology of Karl Barth: Exposition and Interpretation (1951) remains a classic work for its sensitivity and insight; Karl Barth himself agreed with its analysis of his own theological enterprise, calling it the best book on his own theology.

Balthasar's Theological Dramatic Theory has influenced the work of Raymund Schwager.

Reviews

[nonegloga]

Questa che viene sperimentata e patita fino in fondo dalla Parola, è una distanza definitiva e senza tempo, ineliminabile. Quel che noi non riusciamo a concepire è che tutta questa passività del portare, che a Cristo è stata imposta, sia la dimostrazione estrema dell’attività della Parola che offre se stessa; che questo «Perché?» senza risposta sia la parola suprema del Lògos (...) Non è il Figlio a trasformare il suo atteggiamento, quando da Dio trapassa nella forma di servo per diventare obbediente fino alla morte sulla croce; nel far ciò Egli si è limitato a prendere entro di sé l’estraniazione del mondo, per essere in esso colui che Egli era da sempre.