Theology Books

Book SynopsisThe interpretation in this book of the uniqueness of The Catholic Church and its Magisterium is nonetheless progressive as he understands that truth is something that no-one has a monopoly on. The Catholic Church must listen to other traditions and learn from them.Trade ReviewThe book's 10 chapters include important addresses or articles by Cardinal Kasper during his years of international church leadership.... Christians can thank God for the Holy Spirit's working in the midst of the modern ecumenical movement, and for skillful scholars and ministers like Cardinal Kasper who assist us to be more deeply engaged together in the common pilgrimage toward full, visible unity. * Catholic Explorer *Kasper is also very helpful in addressing the difficult question of relations with the Eastern churches, including the filioque clause, the future of the Eastern Catholic churches and the problem of the autocephaly of the Orthodox national churches....As a theologian who is also a cardinal of the Roman Curia, Kasper shows considerable ability to push the tradition and at the same time to interpret some of the more difficult positions...rich in wisdom for pursuing Jesus' call :that all may be one. * America: The National Catholic Weekly *The well-known German theologian and Cardinal Prefect of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity pulls together a series of reflections that provide an overarching vision for ecumenical work in the present moment. Given the nature of his role in the Vatican Curia, as well as the different dialogue partners with whom he is engaged, the book is remarkably forthright in illustrating his hopes while accounting for the very real obstacles to unity. One of the many strengths of his book is the international vantage he now enjoys in coming to his conclusions, though his notes betray a rather Eurocentric gleaning of the literature...it should also be read by every ecumenical officer or persons with an interest in fostering unity among faiths. -- Patrick J. Hayes * Catholic Library World *No living Catholic theologian is more qualified than Cardinal Kasper to comment on the current state of ecumenical relations. In summary, when the current dean of ecumenical theology on the Catholic side speaks out on the present perceived impasse on ecumenism, all will so well to listen.... Kasper is wise in his assessment that "full communion will not be achieved by convergence alone, but even more by conversion. -- Daniel E. Doyle * Horizons *Kasper's very positive book is an invitation to continue this conversation with the Cardinal and, because of his position in the Vatican, with the Roman Catholic Church as such. -- Christopher Hill * Theology *Happily, however, although Walter Kasper's words command attention on the basis of his prominent position alone- he is head of the Catholic Church's Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity- in him we have a theologian of high caliber whose works have been widely read for years and can be reviewed on their own merits. "...I... warmly recommend Kasper's book to all those who want to understand the mind of the Catholic Church's foremost ecumenist and one of her most prominent contemporary theologians, and also to understand the contemporary debates of ecumenical theology. * Touchstone: Journal of Mere Christianity *Table of Contents1. The Current Situation in Ecumenical Theology; 2. Its Nature and Purpose; 3. Communion: The Guiding Principle; 4. Open Questions in Ecclesiology; 5. A Rapprochement between East and West; 6. The Joint Declaration on Justification; 7. Petrine Ministry; 8 Spiritual Ecumenism; 9 Contemporary Pluralism

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Book SynopsisExamines the developments of the cult of The Virgin Mary in the early centuries of Christianity and asks at what point its earliest origins can be identified. This book offers insights into the catacomb figures, the traditions of the Dormition, of Assumption, the pagan basis of the Theotokos title and the association of Mary with wisdom.Trade Review"McGuckin argues deftly that, while Mary may have annexed certain attributes of Isis, she never lost her uniquely Christian office as intercessor...an excellent volume" Reviewed by Mark Edwards in Church Times, May 2008Table of ContentsThe Status of Mary in the New Testament; Mary in the Apocrypha; Marian Art in the Catacombs; The Cult of Mary in the Fourth Century; The Pagan Foundations of the Cult of Mary; Why Did the Cult of Mary Develop So Late?; Cyril of Alexandra; The Life Giving Spring; Pope John's Devotion to Mary.

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Book SynopsisThe revival of interest in Aquinas has run simultaneously with the rise of interest in Aristotle, on whose philosophy Aquinas based his own. This work brings Aquinas' thought to life and underlines the influence of Aquinas on our contemporary thought.Trade Review[T]he book is a river of thought...I commend this fine work to both light and serious readers. -- Timothy McDermott * The Tablet *McCabe's genuis was for explaining. For the reader new to Aquinas, this makes for an accessible introduction. He does not shy away from technical vocabulary but explains it clearly, translating the key Latin terms with imagination and insight... For anyone interested in Thomas Aquinas, this is the book of the year. -- Andrew Davison * Church Times *Table of ContentsIntroduction by Brian Davies; 1 The Historical Context; 2 Definitions and Descriptions; 3 The Cat and the Mouse; 4 Matter and Form; 5 The Self in the Narrative Mode; 6 Emotions; 7 Human Reasoning; 8 Knowledge; 9 Virtues and Vices; 10 Experience; 11 Imagination; 12 Temperateness.

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Book SynopsisOffers an essay on the nature of humility that revisions this fundamental Christian virtue away from the misunderstandings of both the scholastic tradition and its modern counterparts to locate humility in the ancient sources of the monastic tradition.

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Trade Review"I bowed my head surveying Merton's erudition, captured here in his careful reading of Saint Bernard, aligned with skills that deployed his scholarship as a spur to his students' contemplation. The energy he expended on preparing classes, while maintaining daily life as monk and writer, is extraordinary. No less impressive is the wildly capacious skill-set exhibited by Patrick O'Connell as he introduces and annotates Merton's `notes.' His expert summoning of the entire Merton corpus to bear on whatever Merton text he annotates astounds me. O'Connell wins first honors as the most agile transmitter of Merton's legacy. My admiring his accomplishment here and elsewhere defies adequate expression."Jonathan Montaldo Co-editor of We Are Already One: Thomas Merton's Message of Hope"Anticipating by a number of years the Second Vatican Council's call for religious orders to return to the wisdom of their founders, Merton's in-depth teaching notes, skillfully annotated by Patrick F. O'Connell, show us Merton's intimate knowledge of the works of St. Bernard, St. Aelred, and others, along with his giftedness as a teacher and an interpreter of this rich tradition."Paul M. Pearson, Director, Thomas Merton Center"This book allows the reader to follow Merton as he unpacks the wisdom of the Cistercian heritage. And even though it does require some effort the reward is more than worth the work."Cistercian Studies QuarterlyTable of ContentsTable of Contents Preface vii Introduction xi The Cistercian Fathers and Their Monastic Theology 1 Appendices I-VII 307 Appendix A: Textual notes 397 Appendix B: Table of Correspondences 448 Index 459

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Book SynopsisOn Loving God

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Book SynopsisThe Steps of Humility and Pride

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Trade Review"Thomas Davis makes an invaluable contribution in his fresh translation of the Meditations and his insightful commentary on William’s account of the contemplative ascent into God, situating the abbot of Saint-Thierry’s spiritual itinerary in his broader theological vision. That ascent is motivated by ardent love and longing to see God’s face, yet paradoxically necessitates a descent into the truth of a person’s deepest self where one comes face to face with one’s utter brokenness and the need to die to self. There one also discovers the truth of one’s unimaginable beloved-ness in the eternal Word. Ascending then through the Incarnation, one’s will is united with God’s love—the Holy Spirit—in the unitas spiritus where one’s life is transformed and one’s spirit is enfolded the ineffable embrace of the Divine Persons of the Trinity."Glenn E. Myers, PhD, Professor of Church History and Theological Studies, Crown College "Father Thomas Davis takes his readers on an extraordinary journey through the depths and heights of William of Saint–Thierry’s spirituality. The revised translation and commentary illuminate the complexity of early Cistercian thought through the lens of William’s poetic imagery. Offering a guided tour through the metaphorical landscape of William’s meditations, Father Davis provides intellectually rich insight, as well as a personal appreciation of Cistercian spiritual practice. This book is a source both for future Cistercian scholarship and for anyone who is drawn to the experiential, authentic nature of monastic prayer.“Dr. des. theol. ​Delphine Conzelmann, University of Basel, Switzerland “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.” So wrote St. Augustine at the beginning of his Confessions, one of the most remarkable prayer-texts in the Christian tradition. Some 700 years later, a closely related insight drove William of St. Thierry to pen the meditative prayers of this book. Blessed with an intimate knowledge of the Bible and the medieval interpretive tradition, a poetic sense of imagery, a refined Christian metaphysics, and an ardent personal faith, William delivered a remarkable text to guide thoughts to God. This new volume gives us a precious new portal into one of Christian history’s outstanding minds."Fr. Joseph Van House, O Cist, Our Lady of Dallas Abbey, University of Dallas "This volume is highly recommended for all who want to deepen their appreciation of medieval monastic spirituality."Catholic Books ReviewTable of ContentsContents Acknowledgments xi Abbreviations xiii Foreword, by David N. Bell xvii The Meditations 1 Preface 3 The Meditations 5 The Beginning of William’s Contemplative Ascent into Intimacy with the Triune Divinity as Presented in His Meditations: A Monastic Commentary 89 Two Protagonists: Meditation 1.1–6 91 Foreknowledge and Predestination: Meditation 1.2–6 94 Divine Foreknowledge as Eternal Wisdom: Meditation 1.7–10 96 Bonding between Eternity and Time: Meditation 1.8 97 Ascending vs Circling: Meditation 1.9 99 Divine Predestination/Intimate Relationship: Meditation 1.11 100 Pride: Meditation 1.12–13 102 Go to Him and be Enlightened: Meditation 2.1–3 104 A Remarkable Scriptural Image and Metaphor: Meditation 2.2–8 107 Divine and Human Darkness: Meditation 2.5–8 108 Imagination in Respect to a Vision of God that Enlightens: Meditation 2.9–12 110 Two Categories of Understanding: Meditation 2.13–15 113 Enlightened Understanding Coming from Above: Meditation 2.14 113 Face and Countenance: Meditation 3.1–5 116 Meaning of the Face 117 Meaning of the Countenance 117 A Succinct Unfolding of the Meditations 118 The Paradigm of Your Countenance 118 Your Love: Meditation 3.6–7 120 Divine Revelation: Meditation 3.7–8 123 Understanding from Reason: Meditation 3.9–11 125 Understanding God: Meditation 3.12–13 127 Understanding the Trinity: Meditation 3.14 128 Embracing the Trinity: Meditation 3.15–16 130 Personal Change via the Lord’s Prayer: Meditation 4.1–5 132 Nine Factors Bringing Personal Change: Meditation 4.6–19 133 1. Opening Personal Inner Depths: Meditation 4.6 134 2. Good Conscience: Meditation 4.10 135 3. Reason in Its Proper Responsibility: Meditation 4.11 136 4. Knowledge of One’s Personal God as the Fruit of Solitude: Meditation 4.12 136 5. A Desire to Taste, See, and Delight in This Personal God: Meditation 4.13–14 137 6. Pursuing the Place Where God Is: Meditation 4.15 138 7. Removing All Types of Idols Formerly Used to Comprehend God: Meditation 4.16 139 8. Becoming Intelligent and Devoutly Knowledgeable: Meditation 4.17 140 9. Authentic Listening to God: Meditation 4.18–19 141 The Prayer of Jesus: Meditation 5.1–3 143 Prayer as Being Crucified, Concrucifixus, with the Lord Jesus: Meditation 5.4 144 Concrucifixus and Its Consequences: Meditation 5.5 145 A Treacherous Problem: Meditation 5.6 147 Christ’s Prayer on the Cross: Meditation 5.7–10 147 Love and Truth: Meditation 5.10–12 149 William’s Bonding to the Human and Divine Natures of Christ: Meditation 5.14–15 151 Mutual Anointing and the Amplexus: Meditation 5.15–19 152 Heaven’s Open Door: Meditation 6.1 155 Earthly Heaviness and Human Pride: Meditation 6.2–5 155 Jesus, Incarnate Merciful Love, Is the Open Door into Heaven: Meditation 6.6–7 157 The Proper Way to Think Regarding Heaven and Earth: Meditation 6.8–9 158 Further Thoughts on Heaven: Meditation 6.10–14 159 Heaven Is Likeness to the Creating God: Meditation 6.15 161 The Comprehensiveness of the Incarnation: Meditation 6.16–19 161 The Obedience of Charity and the Charity of Obedience: Meditation 6.18 162 The Pierced Heart of Jesus: Meditation 6.20–22 164 A Yearning to Rejoice with the Saints: Meditation 6.23–27 164 Boldness in Seeking God’s Face: Meditation 7.1 167 Two Aspects of Humility: Meditation 7.2–4 167 Signs of the Divine Face: Meditation 7.6–8 169 To Know by Not Knowing: Meditation 7.9–11 170 The Implication of Being Illumined: Meditation 7.11 173 Good Will, Good Zeal: Meditation 8.1–2 175 The Kiss of Truth and Mercy: Meditation 8.3 176 The Passion of Christ as a Contemplative Spousal Kiss: Meditation 8.4–5 177 The Sacred Heart as Hiding Place: Meditation 8.6 179 Ruminating on the Passion: Meditation 8.7 180 Delightful Love: Meditation 8.8–9 184 The Effects of Christ’s Face upon a Human Face: Meditation 8.10 184 Torment of Hell: Meditation 8.11–14 185 William Descends into His Inner Self: Meditation 9.1–2 187 Rowdy Thoughts Hinder Inner Peace: Meditation 9.3–7 187 Total Openness in God’s Presence: Meditation 9.8–9 189 Experiences of Alternations: Meditation 9.10–11 190 Truth, Accurate Self-knowledge, Comes from God’s Presence: Meditation 9.12–13 191 The Fullness of Love Depends on the Fullness of Faith: Meditation 9.14–17 191 An Intuitive Vision of God: Meditation 10.1–2 193 The Bonding Role of This Wisdom: Meditation 10.3 195 Prayer with Images: Meditation 10.4–10 196 The Incarnate Christ as the Open Door to Eternal Life: Meditation 10.9–12 200 The Theme of Ascent: Meditation 11.1–3 203 The Scriptural Image of Bartimeus of Jericho (Mark 10:46): Meditation 11.4–11 204 Word of God, the Divine Protagonist: Meditation 11.12 206 His Total Destiny, the Discovery of God’s Truth, Is in God’s Hands: Meditation 11.13–14 207 Scrutinizing Intention, Thoughts, Soul, and Spirit: Meditation 11.15–33 208 Intention: Meditation 11.15–20 208 Joints: Meditation 11.21–24 210 Marrow: Meditation 11.25–30 211 A Dialogue between William’s Spirit and His Soul: Meditation 11.31–33 214 Your Love: Meditation 12.1 217 William Addresses His Past Life: Meditation 12.2–8 218 Your Love as an Advocate: Meditation 12.9–10 219 Your Love, an Experience of Love: Meditation 12.11 221 The Life of the Trinity Working in William: Meditation 12.12–13 222 Your Love Expands Conscience: Meditation 12.14–15 223 Way of Ascent: A Will—Great, Enlightened, Ardent: Meditation 12.16–20 224 Great Will 225 Enlightened and Ardent Will: Meditation 12.20–21 227 Your Love Imparts Participation with the Saints: Meditation 12.22 228 Your Love Reshaping Persons: Meditation 12.23–24 228 Your Love Forms Unpretentious Persons: Meditation 12.25–27 229 Eucrasis and the Saints 230 To Love Much: Meditation 12.28–30 231 Meditation Thirteen 234 Bibliography 241

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Book SynopsisA Theology of HopeTrade ReviewI highly recommend anyone interested in ecumenism or Christian and Islamic studies to read this book. Salenson weaves together not only a very good biographical story about Christian and his fellow monks but at the same time discusses how the Christian practices of prayer, lectio divina, eucharistic, sacraments, fasting, feasting, and almsgiving can be deepened by an openness to what Abbot de Chergé called 'radical hospitality' or 'friendship.' Today, as parts of the Church become more closed minded, more sectarian, more inward-looking, we need more words of wisdom from people such as Abbot de Chergé, who provide us with hope in this world which seems to lack hope.Fr. William C. Mills, Author of Encountering Jesus in the Gospels

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