A Trinitarian anthropology : Adrienne von Speyr and Hans Urs von Balthasar in dialogue with Thomas Aquinas

In this magisterial work, Michele M. Schumacher seeks to promote dialogue between disciples of the Swiss theologian Hans Urs von Balthasar (d. 1988) and those of the church's common doctor, St. Thomas Aquinas (d. 1274) on a critical theological question. How are analogies and metaphors from the philosophy and theology of the person (anthropology) rightly used to address the mystery of the Trinity? She does so by considering the specific setting of Balthasar's theology: the inseparability of his work from that of the Swiss physician and mystic Adrienne von Speyr (d. 1967). Most Balthasar scholars have not addressed in any significant manner the figure and influence of von Speyr, perhaps owing to the unsystematic nature of her more than 60 volumes (approximately 15,000 pages) of mystical theology. In addition, there is the even more lengthy work of Balthasar himself. A Trinitarian Anthropology explores von Speyr's vast mystically - and biblically-inspired theology, and the significant connections between her teaching and his. Schumacher systematically exposits the Trinitarian theological anthropology of von Speyr, as it emerges through her vast corpus, in parallel with a development of the same theme in Balthasar's work. She uses as the basis for her work a key theme of Balthasar's anthropology: the mystery of "difference-in-unity." Balthasar presents this mystery of the theology of the person in terms of certain Spannungen or tensions: the body and the soul; the individual and the community; man and woman; nature and grace; and person and mission. Finally, the volume exposits Aquinas' own doctrine on theological discourse, in view of initiating a dialogue with his disciples. This it does not only by responding to many of their challenges to Balthasar and their criticisms of his work, but also by demonstrating, in a spirit of Catholicism, the congruity (unity-in-difference) between Balthasar's doctrine and that of St. Thomas. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Michele M. Schumacher is a private docent in the theology faculty of the University of Fribourg in Switzerland. PRAISE FOR THE BOOK "An admirable display of scholarship. Schumacher shows a thorough acquaintance with all of the writings of Balthasar, von Speyr and the neo-Thomist tradition lately voiced in the literature." -Edward T. Oakes, professor of Systematic Theology, Mundelein Seminary Contents Acknowledgments Abbreviations Introduction 1. Analogies of the Trinity: St. Thomas Aquinas, Hans Urs von Balthasar, and Adrienne von Speyr The Historical Context of the “Tension” between the Theology of Balthasar and that of St. Thomas The Analogy of Being and the Psychological Model of the Trinity: St. Thomas Aquinas A Trinitarian Analogy of Freedom: Hans Urs von Balthasar An Analogy of Surrender: Adrienne von Speyr A Trinitiarian “Resolution” of Human “Tensions” or Polarities 2. The Difference-in-Unity of Faith’s Object and Act: A Speyrian Methodology of Gift Encountering Gift Discerning the Unity of Adrienne’s Mission and Theology of Mission under Balthasar’s Regard A “Theodramatic” Hermeneutic: The Theologian’s Openness to the Divine “Ever-More” Faith: A Participation in the Revelatory Disposition of Christ Adrienne, the Mystic: Balthasar’s Model “Theologian” The Fruits of Adrienne’s Faith as a Gift for the Church 3. The Nature-Grace Difference-in-Unity: The Expansion of Human Liberty to the “Measure” of the Divine (Theological Persons) Introduction: The Question of Human Fulfillment St. Thomas on Human Fulfillment: Human Participation in Divine Knowledge and Love A Balthasarian Understanding of Human Fulfillment: Human Surrender within Divine Surrender A Speyrian Understanding of the Image of God: Nature and Grace Human Perfection in Divine Communion as Viewed by Adrienne von Speyr The Mystery of Grace and Merit from the Perspective of the Mutual Immanence of Christ and the Christian Breaking Boundaries from Within: The Expansion of Human Nature by Christ in the Christian The Expansion of the Christian’s Assent to the “Proportion” of God’s Surrender Mary-Church or Person as Response: An Anticipation of Balthasar’s “Theological Person” Conclusion: Breaking the Boundary between Nature and Grace 4. The Body-Spirit Difference-in-Unity: A Speyrian Theology of the Body Introduction to a Speyrian Theology of the Body The Body-Spirit “Tension” in Balthasar’s Work The Heart of Adrienne’s Theology of the Body: The Incarnation as a Revelation of Trinitarian Love Adrienne’s Incarnational Perspective: A Corporal-Spiritual Unity Sacraments as the Archetypal Form of Human Life: The Example of Christian Marriage The Eucharist of the Father and the Son: Our Inclusion in Trinitarian Love The Eucharist of Believers: A Corporal-Spiritual Participation in Christ’s Mission Mary-Church, the Body of Christ 5. The Individual-Community Difference-in-Unity: The Trinitarian Face of Redemption and the Ecclesial Existence of the Christian An Introduction to the Individual-Community Difference-in-Unity in the Works of Adrienne von Speyr and Hans Urs von Balthasar The Trinitarian Difference-in-Unity Revealed in “Alienation”: Balthasar’s Redemption by Substitution The Love Command at the Service of Divine Communion: Toward a More Adequate Theology of Redemption The Redemptive Gift of Surrender Abiding in Love: Communicating Love Received Conclusion: Redemption as a Mystery of Reciprocal Surrender Postscript: An Alternative Interpretation of Christological “Abandonment” 6. The Man-Woman Difference-in-Unity: A “Trinitarian” Theology of the Sexes Introduction: Sexual Differentiation Viewed from the Perspective of Christ’s Assumption of Human Nature Balthasar’s Regard from Above in His Treatment of the Difference in-Union of the Sexes The Complementarity of the Sexes within the Sublime Order of Redemption as Viewed by Adrienne von Speyr The Natural “Tension” between the Sexes and Their Reciprocity in View of Grace “Masculine” and “Feminine” Forms of Surrender The Transition between the “Feminine” and “Masculine” Qualities of Love in Christ “Masculine” and “Feminine” Missions Conclusion: Sexual Differentiation and Divine Differentiation 7. A Critical Appraisal of the Trinitarian Anthropology of Adrienne von Speyr as Appropriated by Hans Urs von Balthasar The Trinitarian Dynamic Called into Question: Analogical and Metaphorical Descriptions of the Godhead Confusion of the Divine and Human Natures in Christ? A Distortion of the Catholic Balance between Philosophy and Theology? A “Loss” in the Godhead? The Center of the Whole: Descent or Surrender? The Grounding of the Analogy between Creator and Creature: The “Distance” Implied in Surrender General Conclusion: Difference-in-Unity: An Invitation to Dialogue in theSpirit of Catholicism Analogical and Katalogical Reasoning: Balthasar and St. Thomas An Analogy of Reciprocal Surrender: Divine “Enrichment” or Human Fulfillment? A Challenge for Balthasarian Scholars: Situating His Appropriation of Adrienne’s Doctrine within the Tradition The Question of Interpreting Adrienne von Speyr’s Presumably Mystical Experiences Bibliography Index of Names Subject Index In this magisterial work, Michele M. Schumacher promotes dialogue between disciples of the Swiss theologian Hans Urs von Balthasar (d. 1988) and those of the church’s common doctor, St. Thomas Aquinas (d. 1274) on a critical theological question. How are analogies and metaphors from the philosophy and theology of the person (anthropology) rightly used to address the mystery of the Trinity? Schumacker Systematically Exposits The Trinitarian Theological Anthropology Of Von Speyr, As It Emerges Through Her Vast Corpus, In Parallel With A Development Of The Same Theme In Balthasar's Work. ... Finally, The Volume Exposits Aquinas's Own Doctrine On Theological Discourse, In View Of Initiating A Dialogue Wiwth His Disciples. -- Publisher's Description.