Cosmic Liturgy: The Universe According to Maximus the Confessor (Communio Books.)

Maximus the Confessor, saint and martyr, is the theologian of synthesis: of Rome and Byzantium, of Eastern and Western theology, of antiquity and the Middle Ages, reexcavating the great treasures of Christian tradition, which at that time had been buried by imperial and ecclesial censure. Von Balthasar was an authority on the Church Fathers—Irenaeus, Origen, Gregory of Nyssa, Evagrius Ponticus, Augustine, and above all, Maximus the Confessor. This masterpiece on Maximus broke new ground at that time. Subsequent editions included new material from decades of research. This is the first English translation of the latest edition of this acclaimed work. This book presents a powerful, attractive, religiously compelling portrait of the thought of a major Christian theologian who might, for this book, have remained only an obscure name in the handbooks of patrology. It is based on an intelligent and careful reading of Maximus’s own writings. Here the history of theology has become itself a way of theological reflection. This Book Presents A Powerful, Attractive, Religiously Compelling Portrait Of The Thought Of A Major Christian Theologian Who Might, For This Book, Have Remained Only An Obscure Name In The Handbooks Of Patrology. It Is Based On An Intelligent And Careful Reading Of Maximus's Own Writings. Here The History Of Theology Has Become Itself A Way Of Theological Reflection. God. The Dark Radiance ; Divine Unknowing ; A Thrice-praised Unity ; Transformations Of The One -- Ideas. Ideas In God : A Critique Of Pseudo-dionysius ; Ideas And The World : A Critique Of Origenism -- The Syntheses Of The Cosmos. Being And Movement ; Generality And Particularity ; Subject And Object ; Intellect And Matter -- Humanity And Sin. History And The Parousia ; Paradise And Freedom ; Passivity And Decay ; Existence As Contradiction ; The Dialectics Of Passion ; The Sexual Synthesis -- Christ The Synthesis. Setting The Question ; The Terminology ; The Synthetic Person ; Healing As Preservation ; The Syntheses Of Redemption -- The Spiritual Syntheses. Christian Realization ; The Synthesis Of The Three Faculties ; The Synthesis Of The Three Laws ; The Synthesis Of Three Acts Of Worship ; The Synthesis Of The Three Acts ; Now And Eternity -- Appendix : The Problem Of The Scholia To Pseudo-dionysius. Hans Urs Von Balthasar ; Translated By Brian E. Daley. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 389-408) And Indexes. "Maximus the Confessor, saint and martyr, was the theologian of synthesis: of Rome and Byzantium, of Eastern and Western theology, reexcavating great treasures of Christian tradition which had been buried by imperial and ecclesial censure." "This book presents a powerful, attractive, religiously compelling portrait of the thought of a major Christian theologian who might, but for this book, have remained only an obscure name in the handbooks of patrology. It is based on an intelligent and careful reading of Maximus' own writings. Here the history of theology has become itself a way of theological reflection."--BOOK JACKET