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At the Service of the Church: Henri de Lubac Reflects on the Circumstances That Occasioned His Writings
This book includes essays, notes, and reviews reflecting the fundamental ideas and key writings of Henri de Lubac, one of the greatest theologians of the twentieth century. In these pages Cardinal de Lubac explains the origin, meaning, and fate of his works, in the context of his life, studies, personal relationships, as well as his legendary exiles, and his later vindication. At the Service of the Church provides crucial insights into the work of a man who profoundly shaped the Church, including the teaching of the Second Vatican Council. No student of contemporary theology can afford to neglect de Lubac’s work and this book gives readers a unique perspective on that work. This volume is also an important source for understanding the renewed theological debates regarding nature and grace, the natural desire for God, and the authentic interpretation of St. Thomas Aquinas.
411 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1992
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About the author
Henri de Lubac
98 books100 followersHenri-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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
March 5, 2023
A MEMOIR “OR NEITHER HISTORY NOR PEOPLE”
Author and theologian Henri de Lubac wrote in the Preface to this 1989 book, “These notes were compiled or collated as a result of several discreet but earnest requests to me. They concern the period that runs from August 26, 1946, to October 28, 1951. Up to February 4, 1949, and then after July 22, 1950, I had the help of a notebook of memoranda, which most often I had only to transcribe or summarize. For the period between those two dates, I could refer only to the texts that I had here at hand… Even for the period covered by my memoranda, there are gaps, due mainly to the fact that I was often too busy to note down everything or to fatigue or illness. I also had to exclude a few letters as being too personal or too confidential….
“I have often been asked why I was interested in one particular subject of another. People have been surprised at the real or apparent diversity in my ‘focuses of interest.’ They have questioned me about my books, about the circumstances surrounding their origin or their publication, about the difficulties to which several of them gave rise, and so forth…
“What I have written is a memoir, not memoirs, as several have recommended and at times urged me to write. The reader will find here … neither personal secrets nor colorful recollections, nor detailed accounts not judgments about contemporaries nor reflections about the spiritual life in the Church and about the apostolate… a picture of neither history nor people..”
Of his book on Teilhard de Chardin, he states, “I did work quickly. I did not at that time have all the texts at my disposal, but I had many more of them than those who had been fighting about Teilhard for six years; I had besides the advantage of having known him rather closely since 1921 or 1922, or having corresponded with him, or having been a witness to his private exchanges … The work was quickly drafted---too quickly; among other sacrifices made to the god of speed, I gave up two chapters…” (Pg. 104-105)
He explains, “There you have… a review of the character and occasion of various writings; I have mixed in a few memories connected with them; but always attempting to avoid generalizations. I have been a more or less direct witness of many things that were more important than the ones I have reported, about which I will say nothing and, with all the more reason, about which I do not wish to make any judgment. In order to be complete, I am going to say yet a word about what was written and not published, and even about what was at first considered but will perhaps or certainly never be written.” (Pg. 140)
This book will be of interest to those who are already familiar with de Lubac’s books, and want to read his commentaries on them.
Author and theologian Henri de Lubac wrote in the Preface to this 1989 book, “These notes were compiled or collated as a result of several discreet but earnest requests to me. They concern the period that runs from August 26, 1946, to October 28, 1951. Up to February 4, 1949, and then after July 22, 1950, I had the help of a notebook of memoranda, which most often I had only to transcribe or summarize. For the period between those two dates, I could refer only to the texts that I had here at hand… Even for the period covered by my memoranda, there are gaps, due mainly to the fact that I was often too busy to note down everything or to fatigue or illness. I also had to exclude a few letters as being too personal or too confidential….
“I have often been asked why I was interested in one particular subject of another. People have been surprised at the real or apparent diversity in my ‘focuses of interest.’ They have questioned me about my books, about the circumstances surrounding their origin or their publication, about the difficulties to which several of them gave rise, and so forth…
“What I have written is a memoir, not memoirs, as several have recommended and at times urged me to write. The reader will find here … neither personal secrets nor colorful recollections, nor detailed accounts not judgments about contemporaries nor reflections about the spiritual life in the Church and about the apostolate… a picture of neither history nor people..”
Of his book on Teilhard de Chardin, he states, “I did work quickly. I did not at that time have all the texts at my disposal, but I had many more of them than those who had been fighting about Teilhard for six years; I had besides the advantage of having known him rather closely since 1921 or 1922, or having corresponded with him, or having been a witness to his private exchanges … The work was quickly drafted---too quickly; among other sacrifices made to the god of speed, I gave up two chapters…” (Pg. 104-105)
He explains, “There you have… a review of the character and occasion of various writings; I have mixed in a few memories connected with them; but always attempting to avoid generalizations. I have been a more or less direct witness of many things that were more important than the ones I have reported, about which I will say nothing and, with all the more reason, about which I do not wish to make any judgment. In order to be complete, I am going to say yet a word about what was written and not published, and even about what was at first considered but will perhaps or certainly never be written.” (Pg. 140)
This book will be of interest to those who are already familiar with de Lubac’s books, and want to read his commentaries on them.
November 26, 2015
Thesis about this great Jesuit? This is a real must.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews