Creative tension : the spiritual legacy of Friedrich von Hügel

Ellen M. Leonard's study of Baron Friedrich von H?gel's life, thought, and spiritual vision rediscovers this important Catholic voice from the turn of the 20th Century. H?gel was a lay theologian who maintained both his personal equilibrium and his spiritual leadership role during the complex days of the "modernist movement." H?gel sees three elements of religion: the authoritative, historical, and institutional; the critical, speculative, and philosophical; the intuitive, vocational, and mystical. Leonard's study concentrates both on H?gel's writings and spiritual activities. "Ellen M. Leonard's study of Baron Friedrich von Hugel's life, thought and spiritual vision is a rediscovery of an important Catholic voice at the turn of the century. Von Hugel himself saw three elements of religion: "the authoritative, historical, institutional; the critical, speculative, philosophical; the intuitive, vocational, mystical." Despite the fact that he was a friend of those in the modernist movement closely involved in discussions and activities related to the first two areas, his own personal inclinations were largely centered on the third, the spiritual element. This book thus focuses not only on a critical examination of von Hugel's spiritual writings and activities but tries to show how his kind of spiritual thinking and leadership remains highly relevant to us today."--BOOK JACKET Friedrich von Hugel (1852-1925) was an important figure in the Roman Catholic Modernism movement and a pioneer in Catholic ecumenical dialogue. In this book, the author indicates that von Hugel provided a foundation for a comtemporary spirituality that is both ecological and ecumenical in spirit. By Ellen M. Leonard. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 209-223) And Index.