The Splendor of the Church

by Henri de Lubac

Considered by many the bright jewel among the many enriching books of Cardinal Henri de Lubac, this work is a hymn to the beauty of the Church, under some of whose leaders for a time he unjustly suffered. The Splendor of the Church is, in a sense, a personal testimony of the great theologian's humility and love of the Church of Christ. It is also a classic work in the theology of the Church. Indeed, de Lubac's profound insights significantly contributed to Vatican II's Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, Lumen Gentium , especially in its treatment on the Church as mystery and as the Sacrament of Christ.
I. The Church as Mystery
II. The Dimensions of the Mystery
III. The Two Aspects of the Church
IV. The Heart of the Church
V. The Church in the World
VI. The Sacrament of Christ
VII. Ecclesia Mater
VIII. Our Temptations concerning the Church
IX. The Church and Our Lady

Genres: Theology, Religion, Ecclesiology, Catholic, Christian, Nonfiction, Christianity

384 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1953

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

[Jason Van]

Pretty awesome! I'd encourage this read for anyone serious about understanding the Catholic Church. Incredibly well written, solid academic work with lots of great footnotes etc. Understanding Latin wouldn't hurt but is by no means necessary. I'd highly recommend this for those going through RCIA etc - to really get a more solid grasp on the nature and mission of the Catholic Church, and its relationship to Christ.

[Fr. Nicholas Blackwell, O. Carm.]

Many great parts of this book. If you only read it for the last part on spiritual superiority and it’s dangerous this text would be well worth it.

[Erik]

Recommended by James Schall in Another Sort of Learning, Chapter 20, as one of Ten Books on the Humanities.

Listed by Patrick Madrid in the Reading Plan of Search and Rescue in Phase 2 (Intermediate). ("will help you see that the Church, in spite of defects in her members and difficult problems she faces, is the Church that Christ established")

[Aaron Cliff]

Some great insights shine through the sometimes obscuring quotes and prose. To me the best chapter was on what the ideal churchman should look like, and by far the least engaging - and often eisegetical - chapter was the last one on Mary.

[Diego Estrada]

Me la volé leyendo esto, quién me creí ¡ha-ha!

Este vato, AMA a la Iglesia, madre la profundidad y todas las citas y referencias a los Padres de la Iglesia Católica... En unos años lo vuelvo a leer y seguro aprenderé mucho más, libro para llevártela tranquilo, hacer apuntes y digerirlos...

[Tom Willis]

I hate ressourcement theology.

I read selections from this book for an Ecumenism and Ecclesiology tutorial.

[Bijoy Joseph]

A stunningly beautiful book on the Church. The chapter on Ecclesia Mater and what constitutes a man of the Church was profound and thought provoking.

[Don Mario]

Davvero bello e molto attuale.
Ho estratto un capitolo (Ecclesia Mater, cap. VII) che consiglio vivamente di leggere: lo trovi qui.

[Anne-Marie]

On the blurb of this book it says that "it is one of the greatest books ever written on the mystery of the Church." I agree. Chapters are as follows:
The Church as Mystery
We will never fully understand the Church because it’s a mystery but we must at least try.
We in the Church are the permanent witness of Christ and we have to bring Christ to all.
The Dimensions of the Mystery
Church is past present future: it started with Adam, continues today as a heavenly kingdom in embryo and will be fulfilled when it is gloriously transfigured at the end of time from earthly to heavenly.
The Two Aspects of the One Church
It is visible and invisible, human and divine, sanctifying and sanctified, body and soul: the mystical body of Christ as told by St Paul and understood through Tradition as much as we do today.
The Heart of the Church
Heart of the Church is the Eucharist “If the Church is thus the fullness of Christ, Christ in his Eucharist is truly the heart of the Church.” Jean-Jacques Olier
The Church and the World
Tension between Church and State continues throughout history because we are in the world, not of the world. Church’s battles are our battles so we have to fight them.
The Sacrament of Christ
Church is a mystery and a sacrament – the sacrament of Christ. Church’s mission is to make Christ present to all so we need to find a way to do this in a hostile age.
Ecclesia Mater
A woman or man of the Church loves it, keeps its commands, is not extremist, follows the Church's Traditions without becoming callous, will respect the pope. Mother Church takes care of us in turn.
Our Temptations Concerning the Church
Temptations are clericalism, complaining unnecessarily, thinking the Church is not adapted to contemporary life, self sufficiency, being worldly, judging apparent advances or retreats of the Church, intellectual pride.
The Church and our Lady
She is the embodiment of the Church, the image of the maternity of the Church, Mother of the Church.
It is so much deeper than the above, but I wanted to have at least a simple summary. Read it. It's amazing!

[Ramón S.]

Un libro imprescindibile para quien ame a la Iglesia y se sienta parte de ella.
Contiene páginas emocionantes y realmente clásicas.
Personalmente creo que es un hito en la Eclesiología y un libro para estudiar, meditar y releer.
Una auténtica maravilla

[laurentiu]

0

[Conor]

Incredible meditation on the Church.

[Ryan]

While I would say that the notion of a "Protestant ecclesiology" seems a bit of an oxymoron, what little understanding of the church I got from an Evangelical seminary and the PCA (and even Anglicanism) does not even come close to what de Lubac provides here. De Lubac's style is surprisingly informal but heavily footnoted with Scriptural and Patristic sources and deceptively dense. My love and understanding of the Church in all Her "splendor" has increased by reading this master of theology. If you love the Church, read this, and you will love Her more. If you are Protestant and love the church, read this, and you will see what that love should mean.
The section on the Church and the Blessed Mother is the best (its at the end) but only by a small margin. Im getting tired of having to always gush about de Lubac, but his books are outstanding.

[нєνєℓ ¢ανα]

Excellent!