Product Description
Letter & Spirit is a journal of Catholic biblical theology for the new millennium. It seeks to foster deeper understanding of sacred Scripture and the divine liturgy of the Church. This second volume of the journal, The Authority of Mystery: The Word of God and the People of God, is inspired by the scholarship of Pope Benedict XVI especially Benedict s concerns about the relation of the Bible to faith in Christ. The editors write in their introduction: As we write in our introduction: How to read the Bible is, at bottom, a question about the identity of Jesus. Is he Jesus of Nazareth only, or is he also the Christ, the Son of the living God? Did he have a divine mission to reveal the mystery of God, or was he only a man like others? Does he remain among us in sacrament and liturgy? Letter & Spirit is published annually by the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology, a nonprofit research and educational institute founded by Dr. Scott Hahn.
Customer Reviews:
A must for all chatolic to read.......2007-08-23
I are grateful that Catholic scholars re-assume and re-invent a Catholic exegesis. By this I intend an exegesis which is inserted in the whole of the Catholic Tradition, Catholic Magisterium and Catholic sacramental life. Thank you Dr. Scott Hahn for this exegetic review which is a precious instrument for all Bible readers
An astounding compendium of Biblical theology.......2007-02-08
As a director of adult formation in a Catholic parish, one of my primary tasks is to teach the adults in my parish the Faith. Following the lead of the authors of Scripture themselves and the Early Church Fathers, this is done best when we use the inspired and sacred word of God himself as a springboard. Scripture is exciting; it is incredibly rich; and my students are thirsty for a Biblical approach to the Faith... to see the Catholic Faith within the pages of the Bible.
I cannot teach my students what I don't already know, and so it is important for me to continue my ongoing formation in learning the riches of Sacred Scripture. Thanks to the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology in Steubenville Ohio (founded and directed by Dr. Scott Hahn), we are given the Letter and Spirit Journal of Catholic Biblical Theology. In 2005, the first volume was published, and this is the second volume (2006). I have found this journal to be an astounding compendium of Biblical theology, which feeds my ongoing formation in the riches of the Bible. This in turn has helped me explain and teach the inspired Word of God to my adult students, and they are eating it up! One volume a year is perfect for me, because - with my workload and time constraints - that is about all I can consume.
I was blown away by two particular articles in this 2nd volume of Letter and Spirit. The first is titled "The Lord's Prayer and the New Exodus" by Brant Pitre. Dr. Pitre received his Ph.D. in Theology from the University of Notre Dame, where he specialized in the study of the New Testament and ancient Judaism.
In his article, Pitre recounts an insight given by N.T. Wright: that the Lord's Prayer in Matthew 6 draws upon a profound theme among the O.T. prophets: the New Exodus. Pitre then expounds upon this insight by demonstrating how each of the petitions of this prayer evoke key Old Testament passages - among the prophets - that foretell and promise the restoration and redemption of all 12 Tribes of Israel with the Gentiles. This coming restoration/redemption is specifically framed in terms of the "New Exodus." As Israel was oppressed by Egypt and released from slavery in the first Exodus to enter the Promised Land, so Israel, oppressed by foreign powers in Exile, will be released from Exile and regathered and restored under the Messiah, the Son of David. This is incredibly exciting for a cradle Catholic who has always prayed the Lord's Prayer, yet without an understanding of its implications. Jesus is having us pray for the New Exodus: the restoration of Israel with the Gentiles - which is essentially the Evangelistic mission of the Church. What does this mean? The Lord's Prayer is a prayer of evangelization! It is a prayer that encapsulates a monumental prophetic theme from the Old Testament, and in so doing, demonstrates that this prophetic hope is answered in Jesus the Christ.
The second article, which I found to be difficult, yet profoundly rewarding is "The Lord Will Accomplish His Word" by Fr. Pablo T. Gadenz who is a priest from the Diocese of Trenton, N.J. and was sent to Rome by his bishop to work towards his Licentiate in Sacred Theology (S.T.L.) - which he has since completed (Pontifical Biblical Institute, 2005) - and his Doctorate in Sacred Theology (S.T.D.) at the Pontifical Gregorian University. This guy is amazing! Fr. Gadenz is currently completing his doctoral disseration over a veritable standstill (or as Gadenz says, "impasse") in academic circles: Romans 9-11. In this article, he shares with us a significant piece of his doctoral work.
In his article, "The Lord Will Accomplish His Word," Gadenz does the dirty work for us in examining a very difficult passage in St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans. He examines Paul's use of the Old Testament in Romans 9:24-29 by doing a serious historical-literal investigation of the text at hand. Some have seen Paul contradicting himself in this passage or that he is quoting the Old Testament out of context. However, Gadenz examines Paul's use of 3 compositional models: midrashic, chiastic, and rhetorical. This includes "gezerah shaway," which is a Rabbinic method of merging two similar Old Testament texts together. This serious inquiry into how Paul wrote really illuminates the Letter to the Romans and shows how Paul carefully uses the Old Testament to demonstrate his point.
What is that point? Well, Paul is the Apostle to the Gentiles. Among the Gentiles are those exiles of the Northern Kingdom (10 Tribes + Levites) who were conquered, deported, exiled, and intermarried among foreign peoples in 722 B.C. by the world power at the time, Assyria. In the Old Testament prophets (e.g. Hosea, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, etc.), we find the prophetic expectation time and time again of God restoring all 12 tribes in the covenant to come with the Messiah. Well, in Paul's day, the Jews are mainly Judah-ites (from which they get the name "Jew"), which is only 1 of the 12 Tribes. There are also some Levites such as John the Baptist and some Benjaminites such as Paul himself. But what about the other 10 tribes? Gadenz's study helps demonstrate that Paul saw his mission to the Gentiles as a mission to reach those other 10 tribes, which are now among the Gentiles!
If you are hungry for a serious study of the Bible, I wholly recommend taking the time and effort to acquire every volume of the Letter and Spirit Journal. Above, I only reviewed two articles. There are so many other rich examinations of the Bible in just this one volume, but as you can see, I have already written too much. Get this text. It is well worth the small price!
Book Description
He descended into hell. Hans Urs von Balthasar, one of the most influential theologians of the twentieth-century, placed this affirmation of the Nicene Creed at the heart of his reflection on the world-altering events of Holy Week, asserting that this identification of God with the human experience is at the "absolute center" of the Christian faith.
Alyssa Lyra Pitstick's Light in Darkness — the first comprehensive treatment of Balthasar's theology of Holy Saturday — draws on the multiple yet unified resources of authoritative Catholic thinking on Christ's descent to challenge Balthasar's influential conclusions. This carefully argued, contrarian work is sure to spur debate across the theological spectrum.
Customer Reviews:
HVB's hangups on Hell.......2007-03-18
HvB was a master stylist of rhetoric and literature, and a brilliant theologian. He came to the fore at a time when liberals were dismantling the orthodox foundations of Vatican II's ambiguously-spun final decrees. Cleaving to tradtion as he did, he became a lifeline to a rising generation of seminarians seeking to be true to Catholicism. Along with DeLubac and Congar, he managed to champion Biblical fidelity while also fostering forward-looking theological explorations.
In many ways von Balthasar was a Catholic counterpart to that great if stange Protestant watershed figure Karl Barth. And like Barth, despite essential soundess on most points, he could not escape being a child of his age and hoping towards a theology of Universalism. This tendency was stoked by his passionate vision of God's all-conquering love on the cross. In a sense he became a reverse Calvinist: if Jesus' mission did not result in the successful application of that love to every soul intended, how could it be termed a success? The logic of limited atonement was transposed and became the 'theo-logic' of an all-encompassing atonement.
Which of course is hopeful thinking at best, skewed exegsis and heresy at worst. Pitstick gives a good, succinct autopsy of the problems. Many HvB defenders have railed unsuccessfully (see the edgy arguments at the First Things website), but impressive endorsements for Pitstick come from heavyweight HvB afficionados and RC literati including Neuhaus, Nichols, Saward, and Thomas Howard... all of which makes you respect these men that much more. She is a precise and unornamental prose writer, and certainly not one you'd term 'irenic' by any stretch, but I'd wager Pitstick's ripples will be felt for years. Given the clergy's ongoing avoidance of Hell as theological subject matter, her surgical dissection is a saluatory one.
CS Lewis' literary inspiration George MacDonald harbored similar fancies about damnation, but like HvB managed to compose a crackerjack corpus despite such novelties. It all points to a healthy reminder: there is no such thing as the infallible theologian. For a counterpoint to Pitstick and tour of HvBs strengths, check out for starters his "Three Garlands," "Primer for Unsettled Laymen," "Anxiety," and "Prayer." Edward T. Oake's primer on the guy's theology is a necessary clarifier given HvB's staggeringly prolific output. And not to be forgotten is the tributes to HvB from the ultimate fans, JP II and B XVI, at the Vatican website.
Book Description
Now in a fully corrected edition, one of the true spiritual classics of the twentieth century.
Published for the first time with an index and Cardinal Hans Urs von Balthasar's afterword, this new English publication of Meditations on the Tarot is the landmark edition of one of the most important works of esoteric Christ-ianity. Written anonymously and published posthumously, as was the author's wish, the intention of this work is for the reader to find a relationship with the author in the spiritual dimensions of existence. The author wanted not to be thought of as a personality who lived from 1900 to 1973, but as a friend who is communicating with us from beyond the boundaries of ordinary life.
Customer Reviews:
Meditations on the Tarot .......2007-09-10
A wonderfully scholarly tome, one that provides hours of reverie and insight into the the spiritual nature of the the Tarot. It is recommended as a vital additions to one's Tarot library.
kinda interesting...ish.......2007-03-10
I'm not sure how I came across this book a few years ago - I guess I was intrigued to hear what a catholic monk had to say about the encoded remnants of alexandrian wisdom his murderous forebears had done their level best to eradicate ... in the name of jesus. I have many books on the tarot rangeing fom the ridiculous to the sublime. At the top end are Crowley's Thoth and Wirth's Tarot Of The Magicians: at the bottom are the likes of this. After year's of christian brainwashing as a child and adolescent I thought I would give this good old, bad old religion one last backward glance to see if it had any merit at all - and bought the book.
I am glad I did. Having studied the works of Jung for many years I now understand more clearly - after wading through this tome - the nature of psychosis and the sickness that christianity is. If you really want to stretch your mind and rid yourself of illusion you could do worse than read Stephen Wolinsky's Nirvana Sutras and Advaita-Vedanta. I kid you not.
Not for the faint of heart.......2006-10-11
Do NOT be put off by the title, thinking this is some New Age book about how to do tarot readings. Nothing could be farther from the truth. This is a major work of scholarship--not for the faint of heart. It is heavy going, extremely deep and erudite. The author (and there is speculation as to who this is) plumbs many sources, which he/she knows well--the bible, kabbalistic tradition, esoteric religions, Nietzsche, Freud, Christian mystics (Bonaventura, Francis of Assisi, to name but two), and the Tao Te Ching. This is work rich in symbol-making and he/she has the scholarly erudition to illuminate the nuances held in the cards.
At 650 pages, this is a tome to approached with reverence and seriousness. To 'read' it is to study it, slowly, contemplatively. It will change your thinking about many things.
Not What it Seems.......2006-10-02
This might be touted by many as a "wonderful spiritual classic," but if you are a Christian, I'd stay away from this one. It is gnostic to the core. I bought it hoping to learn about Catholic hermaneutics - what a dumb mistake. That's what the teaching magisterium of the Catholic Church is for! Stick to documents of Vatican II and you won't get lost. Plus, they are just as exciting and an easier read than this heady book of 'secrets'!
Not everything with a Catholic label is authenitcally Catholic: Found these comments about a couple of the books endorsers on another website: "The similarities between centering prayer and Transcendental Meditation are striking. "As an ex-TM mediator," says Fr. Finbarr Flanagan, O.F.M., "I find it hard to see any differences between centering prayer and Transcendental Meditation." Frs. Keating, Menninger, and Pennington authored centering prayer at a time when St. Joseph Abbey had received several retreats involving Eastern religions, including Transcendental Meditation. I cited Fr. Pennington's praise for the Hindu guru and author of Transcendental Meditation. This involvement in eclecticism has continued. Fr. Pennington has not just attended an e.s.t (Erhard Sensitivity Training) session but has served on its board. Frs. Keating and Pennington gave endorsements, appearing on the dust jacket, for Meditations on the Tarot: A Journey in Christian Hermeticism. The tarot is a deck of cards used in fortune telling. Fr. Keating calls the book "the greatest contribution to date toward the rediscovery and renewal of the Christian contemplative tradition." Fr. Pennington says it is "without doubt the most extraordinary work I have ever read." Amity House, the publisher, is heavily New Age. The Library of Congress has classified the book under "occult sciences" and "cartomancy." 'Nuff said.
Beyond impressive.......2006-07-05
This book, like all great books, is not beyond criticism, but the writer's learning and wisdom is so vast and thorough that I admit that I am incapable and, in all humility, unworthy of rendering anything less than the highest mark. There were many moments when I seriously wondered how the author could know what he knows, and at certain times it strained credibility- or perhaps my present capacity for synthesis- but the sheer thoughtfulness, thought-provokingness, and vast command of his subject has proven to be of the most inestimable and greatest benefit to any who would read it with a critical and open mind. One could read this book several times and gain perhaps even exponentially over what they gained with the previous reading. (As far as the Tarot theme goes, it utilizes a certain older deck's pictoral symbology as a springboard to dicuss the often hidden relationships at work in the universal life and in our personal selves.) This truly belongs next to any of the greatest philosophical and spiritual books EVER written, even if you disagree with many of the things he says. You will at least come out of the exchange a better thinker. Don't expect to learn a lot about the Tarot per se, or even how to experience the peace(gnosis) of your innermost being- for that you must learn to meditate patiently and persistently until your heart's deepest understanding unfolds of itself and reveals to you your next evolutional step- but do expect to be instructed by a master in a truly invaluable system of synthesis that stretches far beyond the mere written page to perhaps deeply transorm the world as you see it.
Customer Reviews:
paradigm changing.......2007-05-07
As the thought of von Balthasar starts to be absorbed now by the attentive public (like me), we will see that here is something nothing less than thrilling. We can see theology actually developing in the most radical and foundational way, in utter and profound faithfulness.
Brilliant.......2005-09-07
This is a brilliant piece of scholarship drawing from the deepest wells of Biblical interpretation, traditional theology, and rigorous philosophical thinking. Balthasar confirms for me that the most sophisticated and original thinking is done 'on route' of tradition rather than in wandering away from it. Thinkers and believers of all sorts, especially Protestant Christians (which I am) will find serious intellectual protein in this masterpiece.
The Paschal Mystery.......2005-02-19
This is quite a brilliant and intriuging book. Von Balthasar, is in my opinion the most important Catholic theologian of the 20th century. His work is always quite engaging and profound. In this theological treatment of three-day narrative of the Cross (Good Friday, Holy Saturday, Easter Day), Balthasar offers up some amazing reflections on the importance of the crucifixion of Christ, his burial and resurrection.
His first two chapters are somewhat preliminary, but no less fascinating as he explores the idea that the "death of God" is the source of all Christian life and Theology. He then moves into three chapters, on Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter Day. All of these are quite engaging as Balthasar frames a nuanced Kenotic and Trinitarian reading of the narrative of the cross and grave. His discussion of Holy Saturday is particularly helpful. He explores at length the idea of God's "solidarity with the dead" and all its implications for our doctrine of God and practical theology.
This book makes for fascinating Lenten reading and preparation to experience the drama of Holy Week. It also serves as a helpful contribution to the various 'theologies of the cross' that have multiplied in the last century. I highly recommend this book.
Book Description
Hans Urs von Balthasar (1905-1988) is one of the most prolific, creative and wide-ranging theologians of the twentieth century who is only now coming into prominence. Because of his range of competencies and the volume of his output, Balthasar has never been an easily-categorized theologian. This Companion brings together a wide range of theologians who assess his work which ranks with that of Origen, John Calvin, and Karl Barth.
Customer Reviews:
The best collection of critical writings on Von Balthasar available.......2007-03-03
Von Balthasar is the poster-boy for orthodox Catholicism nowadays. This is the most comprehensive collection of critical reflections on Balthasar's works you're liable to find. The writing is elegant and informative, a trifle recondite, but that's to be expected when dealing with a subject like Von Balthasar.
Customer Reviews:
Strongly recommended.......2001-06-24
It is simply the best introduction to Balthasar's thoughts. I didn't understand what is really going on with the 'Analogy of Being' business in medieval theology until I find this book. (Not that I understand it well right now, but at least I finally find a systematic introduction that makes sense to a contemporary reader.)
The writing, while sometimes dense, has the rare clarity that makes you feel like you learn and understand something more after reading every paragraph. It is a very refreshing book in this way.
Superbly written summary and analysis of Balthasar's work........1999-10-30
Oakes captures and transmits the beauty of Balthasar's rich and complex theology in this clearly-written and inspiring volume. This book moves one to prayer, to the silent contemplation of God, the Father, Son and Spirit, the Loved One of Balthasar. Oakes, like the theologian he so lovingly studies, has an astounding knowledge of everything -- philosophy, theology, history, culture, science. Everything! I heartily commend this book!
A well-written introduction to a most complex theologian.......1999-02-10
This eminently readable book provides an excellent introduction to the thought of this most difficult figure, making him accessible in a way that many other books on Balthasar have not. Moreover, it does not fall into the trap of "hagiography", that is, of being excessively admiring and blindly uncritical, which has typified so much of what has been written on Balthasar.
The best "foundational" book on Balthasar available........1998-10-31
This is an excellent summary of Balthasar's work, beautifully written with the non-expert in mind. Every course on Balthasar should be using this as a main text. I wish I had had it ten years ago when I first began reading Balthasar seriously. Bravo, Father Oakes!
A tres good book........1998-10-27
yes, very good indeed. One of the clearest explanations of the doctrine of analogy. Lifts Balthasar from sterile debates between 'conservatives' and 'liberals'.
Book Description
Two great theologians offer a spiritually rich approach to Mariology that brings into new relief the Marian contours of ecclesial faith. Ratzinger and Balthasar show that Mary embodies the Church and co-operates in giving birth to the Church in the souls of believers.
At once profound and accessible, Mary offers a theologically balanced and biblically grounded presentation of traditional and contemporary thought on Marian doctrine and spirituality.
"This book contains a treasury of reflections on the meaning of Mary for the Church, theology, and indeed for anthropology generally. An indispensable source for anyone who would understand the Marian doctrine intended by the Council and in the pontificate of John Paul II—and now Benedict XVI."
—David Schindler, Ph.D. Dean, John Paul II Institute
"This marvelous book of theological meditations on Mary by the two most important Catholic theologians of the 20th century explains why Mary is such a peerless jewel set inside that wretched frame called human history. Because Mary is the very birthplace of the Church and thus the locus of all that gives us hope, our tainted and fallen race itself has hope."
—Fr. Edward Oakes, S.J.
Customer Reviews:
An Excellent Beginning for Reflections on Mariology.......2006-07-07
This collection of essays serves as an excellent beginning for reflections on Mariology. Both Ratzinger and Balthasar are men of great intellectual prowess and thus address this subject astutely. They also approach it with a true desire for holy understanding of the place of Mary with respect to the Church and Catholic theology as a whole. While they do not touch on every aspect, they begin reflections that can bear much theological fruit.
The only reason that I give this 4 stars instead of 5 is the choice of a text by Balthasar that seeks to disprove Ratzinger's opinion which is expressed in an essay contained in the collected text, "Daughter Zion". While his argument is well placed, I don't think that it does well to combine such a text with a set of reflections by Ratzinger. This can strike at Ratzinger's credibility, even though the topic is somewhat disputable.
Nonetheless, I highly recommend this text to all readers. It is not utterly easy but is also not wholly esoteric. Therefore, it gives all who read it a chance to grow intellectually and, more importantly, in the Catholic faith.
A modern documentation of the Church's perspective of Marian doctrine.......2006-04-08
Ably translated by Adrian Walker from the writings of Hans Urs von Balthasar and Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI), Mary: The Church At The Source is a modern documentation of the Church's perspective of Marian doctrine, enlightening the contours of ecclesial faith. Mary: The Church At The Source allows the reader to delve deeper into the depths of the Christian faith and what truths to their views of Mary as the co-operative mother of Church in the souls of its believers, and the embodiment of the Church itself. A highly recommended read, Mary: The Church At The Source is the perfect book for students of Marion theology be they clergy or laymen.
Customer Reviews:
One Master Writing About Another Master.......2003-09-30
The great Catholic theologian Hans Urs von Balthasar (1905-1988) writes with deep affection and respect about another theological giant French theologian and cardinal Henri de Lubac who died in 1991. What we see in de Lubac is a great and punctilious scholar, a man of the Church, and a man of deep humility, a combination rare in the world of scholars. This book is a welcome introduction to the deeply influential theological vision of de Lubac who opens up for us a truly wide Catholic vision of revelation.
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Letter & Spirit, Vol. 1: Word, Worship, and the Mysteries (Letter & Spirit: A Journal of Catholic Biblical Theology)
Reasons to Believe: How to Understand, Explain, and Defend the Catholic Faith
Jesus of Nazareth
Letter and Spirit: From Written Text to Living Word in the Liturgy
The Apostles
