The Mystery of Death: Awakening to Eternal Life

by Ladislaus Boros, Cynthia Bourgeault (Introduction)

What precisely happens at the time of death is a question that theologians have struggled over for centuries but have never answered satisfactorily. The response to this question that Ladislaus Boros gives in his monumental synthesis, The Mystery of Death , is that in death we meet Christ fully for the first time and in doing so attain to full consciousness and freedom. It is therefore only in the moment of death than humans are able to elect for or against their eternal salvation. In other words, death is a kind of judgment day, but it is we ourselves who pass judgment on ourselves. In her introduction and commentary, Cynthia Bourgeault argues passionately that Ladislaus Boros represents a necessary link to understanding the radical theology of Teilhard de Chardin. She presents Boros as a “powerful potential bridgebuilder. Standing firmly on the shoulders of his celebrated Jesuit mentor Karl Rahner, and highly skilled in the scholastic discourse that Teilhard himself eschewed, he is able to mediate an illuminating dialogue between Teilhard and the greater Christian theological tradition―not, as is so often the case in so much of contemporary Teilhardian scholarship, by secularizing Teilhard’s thought or draping it in current evolutionary jargon, but by piercing to the very marrow of Teilhard’s Christic mysticism and carrying it to an even more brilliant degree of spiritual luminosity.”

300 pages, Paperback

Published April 21, 2020

Reviews

[ManGar · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are two categories of books that are particularly dense to assimilate: philosophy and theology. This outstanding work is half philosophy and half theology.

In the Introduction, Cynthia writes in a style that I found to be very compassionate to the reader. At times her lines were quite poetic .

Boros is an incredibly rich thinker. Very meaty writing. Not to be speed-read. His writings lend a very compassionate perspective and meaning to our journey in life. Although not explicitly stated, I sensed kindness and understanding of how we react to the challenges of existence.

One aspect of the book that would facilitate its reading would be to translate into English the numerous phrases in foreign languages. Also, a glossary of terminology would keep the reader such as me on the book rather than on a dictionary/thesaurus.

[Scott Beddingfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Profound but VERY complex. I would probably have benefited from a good basic text on metaphysics prior to this read. However Boros nicely ‘filled in the blanks’ well enough for me to find much fruit in his writing. In the end, this is one of the best books I’ve read all year. Many of the theological and liturgical traditions of my own Episcopalian faith and worship were explained and informed with more solid underpinnings (at least for me). I certainly now see death in a different, (dare I say better?) more sacramental way.

[Greg Kozak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perhaps the most beautiful and compelling understanding of the process of individual judgement after death, what he calls “the definitive encounter,”. Comprehensively tying together the purpose of prayer, the impact of love, and the psychological/existential restrictions in which we find ourselves, he finds a way to transform our fear of death into a confident welcoming into Gods eternal presence. While it’s a dense read, the message is worth the effort!

[Cynthia]

This was one of the most difficult books I have ever read, but I am glad I finished it!

Profound for sure and very encouraging to those who follow Jesus!

[Mathilde · Rating 4 out of 5]

first part of this made me think I love philosophy written by theologians, unfortunately, second part convinced me I can't follow theology written by theologians... hmm

[Lee F. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dense theology.