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Explorations in Theology
Volume I: Word Made Flesh
By Hans by Urs von Balthasar
The first of five volumes of von Balthasar's
many essays and conferences. Each focuses on a specific aspect
of theology or spirituality and presents it with all the richness
which comes from his immense erudition, but in a style that is
directed and intelligible since few of these essays were intended
for scholarly audiences. These volumes present a rare opportunity
to experience Balthasar's synthetic and comprehensive treatment
of major themes in theology without having to make one's way
through much more extensive works which cover a much wider scope.
These volumes will provide an excellent introduction to the thought
of von Balthasar for those unfamiliar with him, and their chapters
will focus on specific themes treated throughout his works for
those who are familiar with him. An excellent overview of the
writings and thought of one of the outstanding theologians of
this century.
Explorations in Theology
Vol. IV: Spirit and Institution
Hans Urs von Balthasar
The fourth volume in von Balthasar's
essays is built around the theme of Spirit and Institution, the
two central features of the Church which Balthasar approaches
from different angles. The third volume is built around the theme
of the Holy Spirit as the Creator Spirit. The first volume was
constructed around the mid-point of the Word become man, and
the second volume around the Church which becomes configured
to him.
The first part of the book looks at who man is, and then examines
the distinctively Christian experience of God. Part two is a
whole section on the Church which includes topics like celibacy
and the priesthood today, how we should love the Church, and
understanding Christian mysticism. The third and final part is
an eschatology in which Balthasar gives a brilliant summary of
heaven, hell and purgatory.
The Glory of the Lord
Volume 1: Seeing the Form
Hans Urs von Balthasar
Volume one of the long-awaited English version of von Balthasar's
masterwork, Herrlichkeit.
The Glory of the Lord
Volume 2: Clerical Styles
Volume two gives us a series of monographs designed to illustrate
the different ways in which theologians have shaped their works.
The Glory of the Lord
Volume 3: Lay Styles
A continuation of monographs in Volume
II in which the aesthetical dimension of theology, its intrinsic
beauty, is traced through some of the great Christian thinkers
of modern times.
The Glory of the Lord
Volume 4:
(no information available at present)
The Glory of the Lord
Volume 5: The Realm of
Metaphysics in the Modern Age
Von Balthasar explores the main streams of metaphysics which
have developed since the `catastrophe' of Nominalism, with its
denial of the divine light in creation. Three paths have been
taken, each with its own dangers. In a series of studies of representative
mystic theologians, philosophers and poets, glory is traced through
such figures as Eckhart, Ignatius, de Sales; the attempt to relocate
theology in a recovery of antiquity's sense of being and beauty
through figures like Holderlin, Goethe, Heidegger; the metaphysics
of spirit through Descartes, Spinoza and the Idealists.
The Glory of the Lord
Volume 6 - Theology: The
Old Covenant
This is von Balthasar's study of the biblical vision and understanding
of God's glory. Starting with the theophanies of the Patriarchal
period, with the appearance of the divine glory in the sensible
world, it shows how such glory is most fully expressed in the
graciousness of the Covenant relationship as God allows Israel
to enjoy his justice, peace and truth. But the breaking of that
relationship by Israel means that in the later books of the Old
Testament, the divine glory is seen in God's willingness to bear
with his people in the dark side of their history, for his glory
to be revealed through the rejected prophets and the Suffering
Servant of Isaiah.
The Glory of the Lord
Volume 7 - Theology: The
New Covenant
In this final volume, Balthasar reflects on the New Testament
vision of God's revelation of his glory in Christ. In Christ's
incarnation and resurrection the Christian vision is truly expressed
and the joining of God and the world in the new and eternal covenant
is realized.
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Theo-Drama
Volume I: Prolegomena
Hans Urs von Balthasar
The introduction to the second part of the trilogy which is von
Balthasar's major work.
Theo-Drama
Volume II: Dramatis Personae
Hans Urs von Balthasar
Balthasar is concerned here with the dramatic character of existence
as a whole, approaching the topic through a consideration of
the various conditions and situations of mankind as a drama that
involves both the Creator and his creatures.
Theo-Drama
Volume III: Dramatis Personae
Hans Urs von Balthasar
All von Balthasar's theological reflection converges here, and
here as nowhere else one can find the systematic elaboration
of his Christology, Mariology, Ecclesiology, Anthropology and
Trinitarian doctrine.
Theo-Drama
Volume IV: The Action
Hans Urs von Balthasar
Having presented his christology and mariology under the sign
of the ``Dramatis Personae'' in volume three of Theo-Drama, von
Balthasar now turns to the action of the divine drama itself.
Here we find his soteriology, where time, freedom, history, power,
sin, conflict are seen in the light of the Cross, the culmination
of the action and passion of God and man.
As Balthasar expresses it in the conclusion to his preface: here
``we discern the unity of `glory' and the `dramatic'. God's glory,
as it appears in the world--supremely in Christ--is not something
static that could be observed by a neutral investigator. It manifests
itself only through the personal involvement whereby God himself
comes forth to do battle and is both victor and vanquished. If
this glory is to come within our range at all, an analogous initiative
is called for on our part. Revelation is a battlefield. Those
who do battle on it can only be believers and theologians, provided
they have equipped themselves with the whole armor of God (Eph
6:11).''
Theo-Drama
Vol. V: The Last Act
Hans Urs von Balthasar
This is the final volume of this series on "theological
dramatic theory" by the great 20th century theologian Balthasar.
This series is the second part of Balthasar's trilogy on the
good, the beautiful and the true which is his major work. The
first series in the trilogy is The Glory of the Lord, and following
this Theo-Drama series will be Theo-Logic.
In this series "the good" has been the focus. Balthasar
maintains that it is in the theater that man attempts a kind
of transcendence to observe and to judge his own truth about
himself. He sees the phenomenon of theater as a source of fruitfulness
for theological reflection on the cosmic drama that involves
earth and heaven. This fifth volume is trinitarian, focusing
on the mystery of God. He draws heavily on Scripture and many
passages from the works of the mystic Adrienne von Spyer. Some
of the topics covered include "A Christian Eschotology",
"The World is from the Trinity", "Earth moves
Heavenward", "The Final Act: A Trinitarian Drama."
Theology of History
by Hans Urs von Balthasar
Man has always wrestled with the problem of finding meaning in
history. It is not surprising that, as a Christian, von Balthasar
finds the meaning of history in Christ, its Center and Lord.
What may surprise--as it will surely stimulate--is the theological
mastery with which von Balthasar traces the effects of Christ's
lordship upon the daily life of the Christian.
In this book we have one of the indispensable sources for understanding
Balthasar's Catholic Christocentrism. Here we find elaboration
of the striking statement that Jesus Christ is "the Idea
made concrete, personal, historical: universale concretum et
personale"--which, put otherwise, means that Christ is the
universally valid in the here and now. Characteristic of Balthasar,
the book inspires as much spiritually as it informs theologically.
Theology of Karl Barth
by Hans Urs von Balthasar
Written in 1951 (with a second edition in 1961), this book takes
its place within an impressive array of attempts to wrestle with
Karl Barth's theology from a Catholic point of view. The book
adopts the twofold strategy of presenting an exposition of "the
whole of Barth's thought," while doing so for the purpose
of a confessional dialogue among theologians. Not to be construed
as an "Introduction to the Theology of Karl Barth, Balthasar's
effort is to provide a Catholic response which, though not "official",
nonetheless seeks to express a common direction and movement
within Catholicism.
The Theology of Karl Barth shows how a rethinking of basic issues
in fundamental theology--concerning the relation of nature and
grace, philosophy and theology, the "analogy of being"
and the "analogy of faith"--might lead to a rapprochement
between the two great rivers of Christianity, without compromising
the center of gravity of either. In the process the book makes
a major contribution to renewed understanding of Christianity
in a secularized modern world. Co-published with Communio Books.
REVIEWS
"This reflection by one of the century's
great Catholic theologians on the theology of one of the century's
great Protestant theologians is an example of ecumenical dialogue
at its best. One finds here a sympathetic and at the same time
faithfully Catholic discussion of the major issues surrounding
Barth's christocentricity. The appearance of an unabridged English
translation of this book could hardly be more timely for the
current religious situation in North America."
-- David L. Schindler,
Gagnon Professor of Fundamental Theology, John Paul II Institute
"No one should think he can quickly dispose of questions
posed here offhandedly. It was precisely because writers were
in the habit during the time of the Reformation of theologizing
with a hammer that the split in the Church became irreparable.
And to work at overcoming this split means much effort. Only
the patient need apply."
THE GLORY OF THE LORD
A Theological Aesthetics
Volume I: Seeing the Form
von Balthasar, Hans Urs
opens with a critical review of developments in Protestant and
Catholic theology since the Reformation which have led to the
steady neglect of aesthetics in Christian theology. Then, von
Balthasar turns to the central theme of the volume, the question
of theological knowledge. He re-examines the nature of Christian
believing, drawing widely on such theological figures as Anselm,
Pascal and Newman.
THE GLORY OF THE LORD
A Theological Aesthetics
Volume II Studies in Theological Style: Clerical Styles
von Balthasar, Hans Urs
offers a series of earlier Christian theology
when the aesthetic view was still held and appreciated. Drawing
insights from some of the leading figures of the early Church
such as Anselm, Augustine, Bonaventura, Denys and Irenaeus, von
Balthasar presents his views with a freshness and vigour rarely
excelled in contemporary theological writing about the Grand
Tradition.
von Balthasar, Hans Urs
THE GLORY OF THE LORD
A Theological Aesthetics
Volume III Studies in Theological Style: Lay Styles
von Balthasar, Hans Urs
In this volume von Balthasar turns to the works of the lay theologians,
the poets and the philosopher theologians who have kept alive
the Grand Tradition of Christian theology in writings formally
very different from the works of the Fathers and the great Scholastics.
This volume contains studies of Dante, John of the Cross, Pascal,
Hamann, Soloviev, Hopkins and Peguy.
THE GLORY OF THE LORD
A Theological Aesthetics
Volume IV The Realm of
Metaphysics in Antiquity
von Balthasar, Hans Urs
considers the metaphysical tradition
of the contemplation of Being: Homer, the Greek Tragedians, Plato,
Plotinus and the development of the tradition in the Middle Ages.
Von Balthasar then explores the analogy between the metaphysical
vision of Being and the Christian vision of the Trinity.
THE GLORY OF THE LORD
A Theological Aesthetics
Volume VI Theology: The Old Covenant
von Balthasar, Hans Urs
initiates von Balthasar’s study
of the biblical vision and understanding of God’s glory.
Starting with the theopanies of the Patriarchal period, it shows
how such glory is most fully expressed in the graciousness of
the Covenant relationship between God and Israel.
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