Things Seen and Unseen: A Catholic Theologian's Notebook

by Lawrence S. Cunningham

For most of his professional life, University of Notre Dame professor Lawrence Cunningham has kept notebooks filled with memories, ideas, and reflections on the things that captured his attention in a given day. Now, for the first time, Cunningham has selected and compiled notes from his many volumes to create this book. This window into the mind and heart of an exceptional theologian reveals insightful, spirited, and often wickedly funny commentary on the messy, comic, tragic, and ultimately beautiful realities of the diverse landscape of contemporary Catholicism.

Scholarly, popular, and personal in equal amounts, Things Seen and Unseen considers the legacy of such spiritual figures as Simone Weil, the interplay between religion and pop culture where Christmas and Easter are concerned, and the always-difficult balance between family and work. Cunningham also addresses difficult issues like the quality of Church leadership, the commercialization of spirituality, and the sad contrast between the ideal of Christian charity and the pettiness that can pervade everyday church life. In all things, Cunningham inspires readers with his deep love for and steadfast devotion to the Church.

242 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2010

Reviews

[Atun · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful notes of thoughts and musings of Dr. Cunningham. I heard him talked many times on the Saturday with the Saints series during my time in college. His writing matched his speeches that I listened to - a very intellectual and compassionate theologian that has deep spiritual insights on life as a catholic.

[Irene · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a collection of excerpts the author has culled from notebooks kept over many years. The result is uneven. Many felt too dated or too personal. Yet gems that gave me pause were also buried in these pages.