Hans Urs von Balthasar is widely recognized as perhaps the greatest Catholic theologian of the twentieth century. No writer has better revealed the spiritual greatness of the revelation to which the art of the Church and the historic liturgies bear witness. Yet students and non-specialist readers often find Balthasar daunting and difficult. A Key to Balthasar is the ideal introduction to his work. It unlocks the treasure of his theology by focusing on the beautiful, the good, and the true. These are the three qualities of being around which his great trilogy - The Glory of the Lord; Theo-drama and Theo-logic - revolves. Though brief, it captures the essence of what Balthasar wished to say.

Key to Balthasar and Sigrid Undset: Reader of Hearts

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Von Balthasar wrote a theological trilogy, upon which Father Nichols has published a commentary. He describes 'This little book \[based on a series of lectures, as\] more impressionistic, as well as containing some responses to the more frequently lodged objections to Balthasar's work.' (p.10, n.1). Taking the 'Key-words' 'Being', 'Form', 'Freedom' and 'Logic', Nichols examines von Balthasar 'and the Transcendentals', 'the Beautiful', 'the Good' and 'the True' respectively. Father Nichols achieves his purpose with a well constructed and written exposition. The reader needs to be well versed in theology to appreciate the book's contents. The publishers claim that it 'is the ideal introduction to his work' for 'students and non-specialist readers'. However, it would be more useful to someone unfamiliar with von Balthasar if, first, there was a short biographical note, and, secondly, though there are comprehensive notes accompanying each chapter, there was a systematic bibliography. Also, the 'Index of Names' is not complete. Father Nichols does not share the publishers' qualified view that '...von Balthasar is widely recognised as perhaps the greatest Catholic theologian of the twentieth century'. His knowledge and insights of his subject make this a valuable contribution to understanding von Balthasar and his contribution to personal holiness and prayer (p.115).

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