A Kneeling Theology


Biography

Hans Urs von Balthasar was born in 1905 into a notable patrician family with deep roots in Lucerne, Switzerland. Artistically talented, he originally contemplated a musical calling. After obtaining his doctorate in German letters, however, he embraced the Jesuit vocation and received priestly ordination. Balthasar’s encounter with Adrienne von Speyr in 1940 represented a decisive turning-point in his life. His intellectual, spiritual, and ecclesial collaboration with von Speyr, with whom he would co-found a secular institute in 1945, profoundly influenced every aspect

Photo: Hans Urs von Balthasar in his study (Basle, 1980’s)
Photo: John Paul II and Cardinal Ratzinger congratulate Hans Urs von Balthasar on his reception of the Paul VI Prize (1984)
Hans Urs von Balthasar in his study (Basle, 1980’s) | John Paul II and Cardinal Ratzinger congratulate Balthasar on his reception of the Paul VI Prize (1984).

of his multi-faceted activity as a theologian, retreat-master, publisher, editor, and translator. Already celebrated by the early 1960’s for his path-breaking contributions to theology, Balthasar gained prominence in the wake of Vatican II as an authoritative interpreter of its authentic message and a courageous expositor of Catholic tradition. Named a cardinal by John Paul II, he died just a few days before he was set to receive the purple in Rome. He departed this world on June 26, 1988 in his adopted city of Basle, Switzerland and was laid to rest in his native Lucerne.

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Praise of Glory

Books

Balthasar’s work resembles an inexhaustibly various symphony that develops a single mighty theme: God’s Trinitarian love communicated in the life, death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Everything he wrote serves to praise the radiant glory of that love and to help readers open themselves to its challenging demands. The vastness of his vision is matched by that of his œuvre, which consists of 120 books (plus countless other publications) aimed at reuniting theology and holiness in service of the Church’s mission to bring a secularized world back home to God.

Featured Books by Balthasar

Hans Urs von Balthasar - Unser Auftrag Bericht und Entwurf - Weisung. Einführung in die von Adrienne von Speyr und Hans Urs von Balthasar gegründete Johannesgemeinschaft

Unser Auftrag Our Task

The present volume, Balthasar writes, “was first published (in 1984) because of the wish expressed by our Holy Father, John Paul II, in 1983 that a symposium on Adrienne von Speyr should be held in Rome. It took place in the fall [...]

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Hans Urs von Balthasar - Glaubhaft ist nur Liebe

Glaubhaft ist nur Liebe Love Alone is Credible

In this programmatic volume, Hans Urs von Balthasar asks what is specifically Christian about Christianity. What is the logos that lends Christian teaching its necessity? According to Balthasar, the Patristic Age, the Middle Ages, and the Renaissance located this logos [...]

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Hans Urs von Balthasar - Schwestern im Geist - Therese von Lisieux und Elisabeth von Dijon

Schwestern im Geist. Therese von Lisieux und Elisabeth von Dijon Two Sisters in the Spirit. Therese of Lisieux and Elizabeth of the Trinity

Two Sisters in the Spirit explores the life and work of Thérèse of Lisieux and her near contemporary, Elizabeth of the Trinity. These giants of the Carmelite tradition, Balthasar shows, have complementary missions. Together, they represent the two [...]

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& Letters

Archive

In addition to his many books, von Balthasar authored numerous other texts, many of which have never been published before in English. We’re delighted to present a generous selection of these shorter writings, which you can read online and download for free. Our goal is to provide a resource for both scholars and members of the lay public interested in exploring the often surprising ways in which Balthasar’s intention is illuminated by these less-known gems.

Featured Essays & Letters

Essay

World Communities, a Paradox

The movement which led the Church to approve the new “world communities” (instituta saecularia) with the Apostolic Constitution Provida Mater of 1947 came from below. After early attempts, successful (Ursulines) or [...]

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Letter

Letter to Giorgio Mazzanti

Basle, May 10th, 1976 Dear brother, You have written me a long letter, but I must confine myself to a few words in reply. Thank you very much for your intelligent [...]

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Essay

In Praise of Mozart

Beethoven’s musical brow is always noticeably beaded with the sweat of his inventiveness, and even Bach’s is furrowed with the labour (if not the sweat) of all his [...]

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