Paradoxes of Faith

by Henri de Lubac, Sadie Kreilkamp (Translator)

These profound pieces are the fruit of Cardinal Henri de Lubac's lifelong study of the paradoxes of the Christian faith. They are rich and thought-provoking gems, spiritual aphorisms, and meditative reflections, which explore the incongruities and the challenges of the spiritual life. De Lubac’s magnificent language, clarity, spiritual understanding, and shrewd discernment are on display in every chapter, as he discusses a variety of topics including Christian witness, incarnation, suffering, and faith. His mastery of the subjects is the result not only of intellectual study but of a life lived for Christ even in the darkest of times, as when he participated in the underground resistance to the Nazi occupation of France. A leader in nouvelle théologie , an intellectual movement characterized by interest in the Fathers of the Church and the concerns of contemporary men and women, de Lubac was named a cardinal by Pope John Paul II. "The very word paradox is paradoxical. Let the paradox be. Remember, after all, the Gospel is full of paradoxes, that man is himself a living paradox, and that according to the Fathers of the Church, the Incarnation is the supreme Paradox."
-- Henri de Lubac, from the Preface

Genres: Theology, Philosophy, Christianity

236 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1959

About the author

Henri-Marie de Lubac, SJ (1896-1991) was a French Jesuit priest who became a Cardinal of the Catholic Church, and is considered to be one of the most influential theologians of the 20th century. His writings and doctrinal research played a key role in the shaping of the Second Vatican Council.

De Lubac became a faculty member at Catholic Faculties of Theology of Lyons, where he taught history of religions until 1961. His pupils included Jean Daniélou and Hans Urs von Balthasar. De Lubac was created cardinal deacon by Pope John Paul II on February 2, 1983 and received the red biretta and the deaconry of S. Maria in Domnica, February 2, 1983. He died on September 4, 1991, Paris and is buried in a tomb of the Society of Jesus at the Vaugirard cemetery in Paris.

Reviews

[Justin Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you ever wish Minima Moralia had been written by a Jesuit? Voila. Every page has something worth underlining. I offer only one example:

"To seek sincerity above all things is perhaps, at bottom, not to want to be transformed; it is to cling to yourself, to have a morbi love of yourself, just as you are, that is to say, false. It is to refuse release." (127)

This is one of the rare books of religious writing that are neither condescending, nor incomprehensible.

[Earl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Up until now, Henri de Lubac strongly reminds me of the great Blaise Pascal and his Pensées, as this work is an articulation of the paradoxes which exist within Christianity and the Church in the form of fragments. Hopefully, this helps me in articulating de Lubac's negative theology which serves as the solid bedrock of his project of unity.

[Frank R. · Rating 2 out of 5]

For the student of Catholicism, this is a lovely little book of aphorisms. Most are Sunday-sermon worthy and others reveal a deeper insight into Christian spiritual life.

For the student of spirituality or religion generally, this may be a bit too entrenched in a Catholic spiritual orientation, and rightly so as its author is one of the most renowned theologians of the 20th century. :)

Two of my favorite quotes, however, are below:

“The denser the ignorance, the more enlightened it thinks itself to be” (107).

“Respect for man is composed mostly of respect for his suffering” (188).

[Reading List · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some cracking aphorisms in there but...it's a book of aphorisms

[Conor · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book of penetrating and beautiful aphorisms. At times uneven, but still very good and worth the read. There are some incredible nuggets of wisdom in this book. It is one that you can read in short bits as well.