Balthasar: Beauty, Goodness, Truth

With Sr. Gill Goulding, C.J., Ph.D., we discuss one of the last books written by Hans Urs Von Balthasar on the theme of spiritual childhood. He puts forth his conviction that the central mystery of Christianity is our transformation from world-wise, self-sufficient "adults" into abiding children of the Father of Jesus by the grace of their Spirit. The post Unless You Become Like This Child with Sr. Gill Goulding, C.J., Ph.D. pt. 1 – “Balthasar: Beauty, Goodness, Truth” Podcast appeared...

The Moment of Christian Witness with Dr. Rodney Howsare Ph.D. – pt. 4 With Dr. Rodney Howsare, Ph.D., Moment of Christian Witness Balthasar Rodney Howsare Podcast Kris McGregor we continue our conversation on The Moment of Christian Witness. We discuss the Ernstfall as the form of Christian life, as well as the importance of discerning the sign of the times, the common good, and the sacrifice of the Cross. Any era the Christian lives in, when they go into the world, they ... Read MoreThe...

The Moment of Christian Witness with Dr. Rodney Howsare Ph.D. - pt. 3 With Dr. Rodney Howsare, Ph.D., we continue our conversation on The Moment of Christian Witness. We explore in-depth section two of the book discussing various philosophical systems, such as those proposed by Kant and Marx, and their effect on the human person. The post The Moment of Christian Witness with Dr. Rodney Howsare pt. 3 – “Balthasar: Beauty, Goodness, Truth” Podcast appeared first on Balthasar.

The Moment of Christian Witness with Dr. Rodney Howsare Ph.D. - pt. 2 With Dr. Rodney Howsare Ph.D., we continue with a conversation of Hans Urs von Balthasar's The Moment of Christian Witness and the first section of the book entitled "The Decisive Moment." Among other topics, the Christian sense of mission and the nature of Christian love are discussed. The post The Moment of Christian Witness with Dr. Rodney Howsare pt. 2 – “Balthasar: Beauty, Goodness, Truth” Podcast appeared first on...

With Dr. Rodney Howsare Ph.D., we begin with a conversation about Hans Urs von Balthasar and his analysis of the thought of Karl Rahner S.J. and those who followed after him. We then discuss the meaning of what Balthasar calls "the Decisive Moment." The post The Moment of Christian Witness with Dr. Rodney Howsare pt. 1 – “Balthasar: Beauty, Goodness, Truth” Podcast appeared first on Balthasar.

A Short Primer for Unsettled Laymen with Dr. Angela Franks – pt. 2 With Dr. Angela Franks, we continue our discussion on the truth of the uniqueness of each person and the danger of the “-isms” of modernity to depersonalize and devalue humanity. Among other things, Dr. Franks speaks on Balthasar’s understanding of authority which provides a gift of unity for the Church and its members, as well as the receptivity of the Marian assent and the power of the ... Read MoreA Short Primer for...

A Short Primer for Unsettled Laymen with Dr. Angela Franks – pt. 1 With Dr. Angela Franks, we begin our discussion with an understanding of where we are today and why there is a crisis of identity. She will discuss Balthasar’s emphasis on the importance of thinking with the Church and properly understanding Word, Sacrament, and Authority and his warnings concerning the corrosive effects of the “-isms” of our age. Balthasar: Beauty, Goodness, Truth is a series of conversations with noted...

 Section 3 – “Union” of Christian Meditation With Dr. Anthony Lilles, we discuss section 3 of Hans Urs von Balthasar’s Christian Mediation. Balthasar: Beauty, Goodness, Truth is a series of conversations with noted theological scholars about the life and teachings of Swiss theologian Hans Urs von Balthasar who is considered to be one of the most important Catholic intellectuals and writers of the twentieth century. Find the paperback book here Find the e-book here From the book description:...

Section 3 (continued) – “Union” of Christian Meditation With Dr. Anthony Lilles, we continue our discussion on section 3 of Hans Urs von Balthasar’s Christian Mediation. Balthasar: Beauty, Goodness, Truth is a series of conversations with noted theological scholars about the life and teachings of Swiss theologian Hans Urs von Balthasar who is considered to be one of the most important Catholic intellectuals and writers of the twentieth century. Find the paperback book here Find the e-book...

With Dr. Anthony Lilles, we continue our discussion of section 2 of Hans Urs von Balthasar's Christian Mediation. The post Christian Meditation with Dr. Anthony Lilles pt. 3 – “Balthasar: Beauty, Goodness, Truth” Podcast appeared first on Balthasar.

Literature is sparing in giving directions on how to meditate. Generally such directions omit the decisive middle part. They treat at length of the entrance to meditation and the various preparatory acts, and also of the end phase, where they deal with acquired and infused contemplation and their mutual limits. For “meditating” on the more abstract truths of faith there are the directives of the Spiritual Exercises. First we are to picture the object we are recalling and then let light shine...

Here the close parallel between Word and sacrament makes itself felt. It would be wrong to attribute the Spirit’s work of making present solely to the sacraments and not also to the Word of the Gospel (which as we have seen, embraces the Lord’s deeds, sufferings and Resurrection as well as his words). Origen very strongly emphasized this in interpreting the texts in which the prophet Ezekiel and the seer of the Apocalypse are commanded to eat the Word (in the form of a scroll). This Father...

The silence required of the Christian is not fundamentally and primarily of human making. Rather, believers must realize that they already possess within themselves and at the same time in God the quiet, hidden “chamber” into which they are to enter (Mt 6:6) and in which they are with the Father. This is perhaps analogous to how the unsuspecting “little ones” have “angels in heaven who always see my heavenly Father’s face” (Mt 18:10). Our earthly cares and preoccupations are always on the...

If we want to hear something we must prepare ourselves to perceive by being still. If we ourselves are talking, or if our own thoughts, wishes and concerns are speaking within us, the noise they make will render us unable to hear. Hence directions for meditating always begin by requiring us to create inner stillness and emptiness as a means of making room for what is to be received. Mention is made of “turning off”, of “concentrating” the scattered consciousness, of entering upon the...

With Dr. Anthony Lilles, we discuss section 2 of Hans Urs von Balthasar's Christian Mediation. The post Christian Meditation with Dr. Anthony Lilles pt. 2 – “Balthasar: Beauty, Goodness, Truth” Podcast appeared first on Balthasar.

With Dr. Anthony Lilles, we discuss the first chapter of Hans Urs von Balthasar's Christian Mediation. Balthasar: Beauty, Goodness, Truth is a series of conversations with noted theological scholars about the life and teachings of Swiss theologian Hans Urs von Balthasar who is considered to be one of the most important Catholic intellectuals and writers of the twentieth century. The post Christian Meditation with Dr. Anthony Lilles pt. 1 – “Balthasar: Beauty, Goodness, Truth” Podcast...

Everything about Jesus is Word. This includes his silence before human tribunals, his being scourged and spat upon. Above all, his death after that great, inarticulate cry followed by the icy muteness of the corpse. No Word of God is more eloquent than this extreme condition of his mortal being. For if we did not have this Word and this self-expression on God’s part, we would not know that in the midst of all gloom “God is love”, a statement that no other religion in the world has dared to...

Hence, basically, Christian meditation can be nothing but loving, reflective, obedient contemplation of him who is God’s self-expression. He is the very explanation of God and his teaching to us. “Anyone who goes beyond this does not possess God, but anyone who remains within this teaching possesses the Father as well as the Son” (2 Jn 9). This “remaining” means believing, and this faith is granted eyes to look through the man Jesus and see the divine: “Anyone who [really] sees me sees the...

It is not we who force a knowledge of the Absolute for ourselves by means of techniques under our control. Of his own accord God freely reveals himself, explains himself in his Son and gives us a Word that satisfies our hungering soul. We learn that man has been created in God’s image and likeness (Gen 1: 27) so that God can one day place in his creature the perfect image (2 Cor 4: 4; Col 1: 15) and complete likeness (Heb 1: 3) of the Invisible One. The man Jesus Christ is not subsequently...

The dimensions of Christian meditation develop from God's having completed his self-revelation in two directions: God speaks out of his own depths and, speaking as a man, he discloses at the same time the depths of man. Christian meditation can begin only where God reveals himself as a man and, consequently, where this man reveals God to his very depths. Hence this point of departure may not be bypassed. And this meditation can take place only where the revealing man, God's Son, Jesus...