Divine Fruitfulness A Guide through Balthasar's Theology beyond the Trilogy [Hardcover]

Hans Urs von Balthasar is emerging as a colossus of twentieth-century theology. More and more of his works are being translated. But as yet he is mainly known only through his great multi-volume trilogy 'Glory', 'Theo-Drama' and Theo-Logic'. Aidan Nichols has treated each part of the trilogy and the early works in his widely acclaimed 'Introduction to Hans Urs von Balthasar'. In this final volume he explores all von Balthasar's later works. Many of these works are extremely important, although several are as yet untranslated and several as yet almost unknown. Nichols ranges widely and comprehensively, from journal articles to his major works, such as 'Apokalypse der deutschen Seele', to his final short works. The result is a wholly new perspective on von Balthasar, a contextualising of his trilogy and an illumination of his whole life and work.

Introduction

1. Divine Beginnings: Music

2. Divine Beginnings: Art and Religion

3. Divine Beginnings: Theology

4. Divine Discontent: German Thought and Letters

5. Divine Predecessors: The Fathers of the Church

6. Divine Interlocutor: Karl Barth

7. Divine Helpmate: Adrienne von Speyr

8. Divine Preparing: The Elder Covenant

9. Divine Providing: Time and History

10. Divine Climax: The Paschal Mystery

11. Divine Society: The Church, Our Lady, The Saints

12. Divine Living: Prayer and the Religious Life

13. Divine Telling: On Christian Literature

14. Conclusion: Fruitful Reflection

Bibliography

Index