Salvation in Henri de Lubac - by Eugene R Schlesinger (Hardcover)

About the Book

"This study provides a compelling account of the major works of Henri de Lubac, one of the most influential theologians of the twentieth century, and argues that soteriology provides a lens through which their inner unity can be discerned. Salvation in Henri de Lubac presents an overview of de Lubac's major works in light of his own statements that a mystical vision animated them all. De Lubac's mystical theology hinges upon a vision of salvation, understood as humanity's incorporation into the triune God through the cross and resurrection of the incarnate Christ. From his writings on the supernatural and theological epistemology, to his treatments of the spiritual interpretation of Scripture, ecclesiology, sacramental theology, and the theology of history, the mystery of the cross looms large, gathering these disparate topics into one focal center while also allowing their distinct contours to remain. By attending to de Lubac's work in this light, Eugene R. Schlesinger brings important themes from French language scholarship into the English-speaking conversation and clarifies the nature of de Lubac's ressourcement. It is not a method, nor a sensibility, but the outgrowth of a conviction: in the mystery of Christ a definitive and unsurpassable gift has been given, one that constitutes the meaning of the world and its history, one whose riches can never be exhausted. Schlesinger claims that unless we understand de Lubac and his work in light of his own motivations and emphases, we risk distorting his contribution, reducing him to a proxy in the struggle for post-conciliar Catholic self-definition."--

Book Synopsis

This study provides a compelling account of the major works of Henri de Lubac, one of the most influential theologians of the twentieth century, and argues that soteriology provides a lens through which their inner unity can be discerned.

The writings of Henri de Lubac have left an indelible mark on Catholic theology, preparing the ground for, giving shape to, and explaining the seminal event of twentieth-century Catholicism: the Second Vatican Council. Like the Council itself, though, de Lubac remains a contested figure, difficult to classify.

Salvation in Henri de Lubac presents an overview of de Lubac's major works in light of his own statements that a mystical vision animated them all. De Lubac's mystical theology hinges upon a vision of salvation, understood as humanity's incorporation into the triune God through the cross and resurrection of the incarnate Christ. From his writings on the supernatural and theological epistemology, to his treatments of the spiritual interpretation of Scripture, ecclesiology, sacramental theology, and the theology of history, the mystery of the cross looms large, gathering these disparate topics into one focal center while also allowing their distinct contours to remain. By attending to de Lubac's work in this light, Eugene R. Schlesinger brings important themes from French language scholarship into the English-speaking conversation and clarifies the nature of de Lubac's ressourcement. Schlesinger claims that unless we understand de Lubac and his work in light of his own motivations and emphases, we risk distorting his contribution, reducing him to a proxy in the struggle for post-conciliar Catholic self-definition.

Review Quotes

"A significant feat . . . Schlesinger's compelling exposition has advanced our understanding of de Lubac's overriding theological concern, namely, the mystery of Christ, and will further Lubacian scholarship." --Anglican Theological Review

"Salvation in Henri de Lubac offers an insightful point of entry into de Lubac's theology and confirms Schlesinger as one of the leading interpreters of de Lubac's thought." --The Heythrop Journal

"Makes a formidable contribution to de Lubacian secondary scholarship and to the question of the ressourcement figure's primary focus. . . . Perhaps the greatest implication is that this book shows how de Lubac does theology within a hermeneutic of continuity, not rupture." --Modern Theology

"By demonstrating the significance of the theological motif of salvation for de Lubac, Schlesinger offers a helpful means of ordering and relating different components of his theology." --Ecclesiology

"Schlesinger . . . has written a book that is academically thorough yet at the same time accessible and clearly written. It would provide both an excellent introduction for anyone wanting to find their way into de Lubac's thought and also a great deal to inform and engage those already familiar with it." --Theology

"Schlesinger's mastery of de Lubac's corpus and the relevant secondary literature is impressive, and his presentation of de Lubac's thinking on a variety of subjects are judicious and illuminating. . . . The book belongs on the shelf of any serious student of de Lubac and in the footnotes of de Lubac scholarship for years to come." --Reading Religion

"Schlesinger's careful study of de Lubac's writing, with sixty-three pages of endnotes, is important for his contribution to both soteriology and ecclesiology." --Theological Studies

"In this excellent study, Schlesinger joins his voice to a new generation of de Lubac scholarship that seeks to discern a vital artery giving a single pulse to de Lubac's very diverse corpus of writings. Schlesinger's knowledge of de Lubac and the scholarship around him is unparalleled, and his synthetic vision offers a powerful new understanding of this master of the ressourcement." --Kevin L. Hughes, author of Constructing Antichrist

"This is an important work, unlocking de Lubac in a fresh way that resituates him within the flow of twentieth-century theology and suggests a different way of conceiving his relation to Vatican II." --Philip McCosker, co-editor of Cambridge Companion to the "Summa Theologiae" of Thomas Aquinas

"Schlesinger's Salvation in Henri de Lubac challenges us to see a soteriological vision as the golden thread running through the theologian's many works. This is a substantial contribution to our discussion and will be welcomed by any concerned with theology in our day." --Lewis Ayres, author of Augustine and the Trinity

About the Author

Eugene R. Schlesinger is an assistant professor in the Department of Religious Studies at Santa Clara University. He is the author of Ruptured Bodies: A Theology of the Church Divided and Sacrificing the Church: Mass, Mission, and Ecumenism.