Hans Urs von Balthasar

Includes criticism and interpretation of the views of the New Testament, Origen, Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, and Maurice Blondel on Hell, salvation, and damnation.

"that All Men be Saved"? ; With, A Short Discourse on Hell

Dare We Hope

This is perhaps the best and most comprehensive book on prayer ever written. From the persons of the Trinity through the Incarnation to the Church and the very structure of the human person, this book is a powerful synthesis of what prayer is and how to pray. The testament of a great theologian on something which is most personal and interior, contemplative prayer.

Prayer

In this newly translated book, von Balthasar delves deeper into this exploration of what love means, what comprises the divine love of God, and how we must become lovers of God in the footsteps of saints like Francis de Sales, John of the Cross and Therese of Lisieux.

Love Alone is Credible

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.

A Theology of History

This book is volume one of the long-awaited English version of von Balthasar's masterwork, Herrlichkeit. The first volume must make its way slowly toward our actual concerns in an introduction which deals both substantively and historically with the subject. Its main section then treats the question of theological knowledge first as concerning its subjective structure and then with regard to its presuppositions in the theological object. The fact that in this way many things come into view which are normally dealt with by so-called "fundamental theology" should not give the impression that we are here developing a fundamental theology, which would be distinct from and even opposed to dogmatics. The very direction of our reflections will rather endeavor to convince the reader of the inseparability of both aspects of theology. - Publisher.

Seeing the Form

The Office of Peter and the Structure of the Church

Essay on the Religious Philosophy of Gregory of Nyssa

Presence and Thought

A Short Primer for Unsettled Laymen

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. - Publisher.

The Realm of Metaphysics in the Modern Age

The Glory of the Lord: A Theological Aesthetics, Vol. 5

The two reflections that form this book do not claim to mediate in the conflict between naive piety and scientific exegesis. They arise from the conviction that only the Scriptures of the New Covenant, taken as witnesses of faith and in their entirety, can produce a tangible and credible portrait of Jesus Christ, whereas every critical attempt to approach him from a position other than that of the faith witnessed to in the Scriptures can only result in a pallid, distorted picture unworthy of belief (and hence devoid of interest). It is a fact: only the person who is convinced that Jesus knows him personally gains access to knowledge of him. And only the person who is confident of knowing him as he is, can know that he is also known by him.

Does Jesus Know Us--do We Know Him?

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 BarthÊshows how a rethinking of basic issues in fundamental theologyÑconcerning the relation of nature and grace, philosophy and theology, the "analogy of being" and the "analogy of faith"Ñmight 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. "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."Ê Ñ Hans Urs von Balthasar

Exposition and Interpretation

The Theology of Karl Barth

This book presents a powerful, attractive, religiously compelling portrait of the thought of a major Christian theologian who might, for this book, have remained only an obscure name in the handbooks of patrology. It is based on an intelligent and careful reading of Maximus's own writings. Here the history of theology has become itself a way of theological reflection.

The Universe According to Maximus the Confessor

Cosmic Liturgy

On the Church in this Age

Razing the Bastions

This is an account, at once rigorously theological and warmly devotional, of the death and resurrection of Christ, and their significance for the Christian life. Von Balthasar offers sharp insights into some current controversies--for example, the 'bodiliness' of the Resurrection--and spiritual inspiration for the year round. This scholarly reflection of the climax of the Christian year is an established classic of contemporary Catholic theology.

The Mystery of Easter

Mysterium Paschale

This second edition of von Balthasar's book is a personal introduction to Adrienne von Speyr, a contemporary Swiss convert, mystic, wife, medical doctor, prolific spiritual writer, and co-foundress with Balthasar of a secular institute. Fr. von Balthasar, her spiritual director for 27 years, includes an appraisal of her contributions to theology and spirituality, a complete bibliography, her prayers, and passages from her more than sixty books. This book contains three main sections. In the first, three subdivisions offer: 1) a short account of Adrienne's life; 2) a description of her charism and of her most important theological concerns; 3) an overview of her published and unpublished works. The second section presents a collection of some enlightening statements that Adrienne made about herself which illuminate and vivify her exterior as well as her hidden, interior life from varying angles and which also clearly indicate where she herself put the greatest emphasis and how she herself wished to be understood. A third section contains prayers she herself wrote which best reveal her spirit.

2nd Edition

First Glance at Adrienne von Speyr

The Christian State of Life

The title of this book is a short question. In its longer form, the question would be: "In the changed circumstances after the 2ndVatican Council-with its theme of aggiornamento or Ôupdating', especially in the areas of the Bible, the Liturgy, Ecumenism, and openness to the modern world-what does it really mean to be a Christian today?" Balthasar begins by acknowledging the confusion of many in the post-Conciliar period. He then describes the valuable contributions of the Council in those four areas. But he also describes their "shadows": what could go wrong and often did go wrong. Finally he points out the path to genuine renewal in the personal life of the Christian and in the Christian's service of the world. Among the key topics and issues Balthasar discusses that are important for the authentic renewal of the Christian life include: The Primacy of Contemplation, Who Is a ÔÔMature Christian''?, Love, The Form of the Christian Life, How Should a Christian Serve the World-and How Not?, Despite Everything, a Single Commitment , and Prayer, Hope, and the Profane. "We must therefore resolve to turn around and approach what seemed to be behind us as something before us. To have the question before us, ÔWho is a Christian?', together with our effort to answer it, is the right approach, for the answer will necessarily come to us from the source from which our Christian life itself is given, namely, God's living Word . . . We rightly find God in the sign of Word and Sacrament, but only in order to seek him ever more passionately where he is not and where we must bring him. Or, rather where he already dwells unseen, and where we must discover him." -Hans Urs von Balthasar Ê

Who Is a Christian?

This unique, in-depth, comprehensive, theological biography of two holy young Carmelite sisters gives profound insights into their spirituality. Von Balthasar probes the depths of their cloistered lives and shows how each woman gave powerful witness to the critical importance of contemplation as a means to holiness for all.

Thérèse of Lisieux & Elizabeth of the Trinity

Two Sisters in the Spirit

The story of a mission

Thérèse of Lisieux

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. - Publisher.

Hans Urs von Balthasar

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