Naturally Human, Supernaturally God : Deification in Pre-Conciliar Catholicism

**Naturally Human, Supernaturally God** seeks to open a small window upon an interesting case of theological convergence between three of the most important theologians of the pre-Conciliar period of Catholic theology, Rginald Garrigou-Lagrange O.P., Karl Rahner S.J., and Henri de Lubac S.J., each of whom played a vital role in the Second Vatican Council. The differences between these three figures sometimes seem to run so deep as to defy resolution. Yet Cooper argues they were strangely united in a shared conviction: todays church urgently needs to renew its acquaintance with an ancient Christian theme, the doctrine of deification. Naturally Human, Supernaturally God focuses upon a theological subject matter whose provenance not only spans both periods of the twentieth century, but the whole history of Christianity. It seeks to open a small window upon an odd case of theological convergence between three of the most diverse yet important theologians of the pre-Conciliar period, each of whom played a vital role in the Second Vatican Council -- Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange O.P., Karl Rahner S.J., and Henri de Lubac S.J. It is widely acknowledged that the differences between these three figures, and the traditions subsequently associated with them, sometimes run so deep as to defy resolution. Yet, this book will argue they were strangely united in a shared conviction: today's Church urgently needs to renew its acquaintance with an ancient Christian theme, namely, the doctrine of deification. Only in a self-transcending, supernaturally-wrought participation in the life of God do human beings reach their proper fulfillment. These three theologians are significant figures in the modern recovery of the doctrine of deification, receiving its official adumbration in the Christocentric and Trinitarian anthropological vision outlined in Vatican Il's Pastoral Constitution, Gaudium et Spes. This book tells the story of that recovery and the contribution these rather different theologians played, adding an oft-neglected stream to the contemporary discussion of this important topic.--[Source inconnue] Naturally Human, Supernaturally God focuses upon a theological subject matter whose provenance not only spans both periods of the twentieth century, but the whole history of Christianity. It seeks to open a small window upon an odd case of theological convergence between three of the most diverse yet important theologians of the pre-Conciliar period, each of whom played a vital role in the Second Vatican Council—Réginald Garrigou-Lagrange O.P., Karl Rahner S.J., and Henri de Lubac S.J. It is widely acknowledged that the differences between these three figures, and the traditions subsequently associated with them, sometimes run so deep as to defy resolution. Yet, this book will argue they were strangely united in a shared conviction: today's Church urgently needs to renew its acquaintance with an ancient Christian theme, namely, the doctrine of deification. Only in a self-transcending, supernaturally-wrought participation in the life of God do human beings reach their proper fulfillment. These three theologians are significant figures in the modern recovery of the doctrine of deification, receiving its official adumbration in the Christocentric and Trinitarian anthropological vision outlined in Vatican II's Pastoral Constitution, Gaudium et Spes. This book tells the story of that recovery and the contribution these rather different theologians played, adding an oft-neglected stream to the contemporary discussion of this important topic. CONTENTS Acknowledgments Abbreviations Introduction 1. Setting the Scene Deification, a Fruit of Ressourcement 2. Entering The Fray Part I. Réginald Garrigou-Lagrange 3. Deification and the Person of Christ 4. Deification and the Divine Indwelling 5. Deification and Divine Causality Part II. Karl Rahner 6. Deification and Transcendental Experience 7. Deification and Cosmic Christology 8. Deification and Ordinary Life Part III. Henri de Lubac 9. Deification and the Supernatural 10. Deification and Ecclesial Concorporation 11. Deification and Assimilation to God Conclusion Bibliography Index Of Names Index Of Subjects