Life out of death: Meditations on the Easter mystery

by Hans Urs von Balthasar

English, German (translation)

Genres: Theology, Christianity

63 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1984

About the author

Hans Urs von Balthasar was a Swiss theologian and priest who was nominated to be a cardinal of the Catholic Church. He is considered one of the most important theologians of the 20th century.

Born in Lucerne, Switzerland on 12 August 1905, he attended Stella Matutina (Jesuit school) in Feldkirch, Austria. He studied in Vienna, Berlin and Zurich, gaining a doctorate in German literature. He joined the Jesuits in 1929, and was ordained in 1936. He worked in Basel as a student chaplain. In 1950 he left the Jesuit order, feeling that God had called him to found a Secular Institute, a lay form of consecrated life that sought to work for the sanctification of the world especially from within. He joined the diocese of Chur. From the low point of being banned from teaching, his reputation eventually rose to the extent that John Paul II asked him to be a cardinal in 1988. However he died in his home in Basel on 26 June 1988, two days before the ceremony. Balthasar was interred in the Hofkirche cemetery in Lucern.

Along with Karl Rahner and Bernard Lonergan, Balthasar sought to offer an intellectual, faithful response to Western modernism. While Rahner offered a progressive, accommodating position on modernity and Lonergan worked out a philosophy of history that sought to critically appropriate modernity, Balthasar resisted the reductionism and human focus of modernity, wanting Christianity to challenge modern sensibilities.

Balthasar is very eclectic in his approach, sources, and interests and remains difficult to categorize. An example of his eclecticism was his long study and conversation with the influential Reformed Swiss theologian, Karl Barth, of whose work he wrote the first Catholic analysis and response. Although Balthasar's major points of analysis on Karl Barth's work have been disputed, his The Theology of Karl Barth: Exposition and Interpretation (1951) remains a classic work for its sensitivity and insight; Karl Barth himself agreed with its analysis of his own theological enterprise, calling it the best book on his own theology.

Balthasar's Theological Dramatic Theory has influenced the work of Raymund Schwager.

Reviews

[Joseph Wolf · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can read this book in a couple days and have wisdom to ponder for weeks (or likely longer). This book left an impression on me when I read it in college and it did not disappoint when I revisited it. It's more than a little dense at times, but never have I found a more moving explanation of why Jesus had to die and how that dying has changed the world, both physical and metaphysical. Although all the book is great, I especially love the opening reflection. von Balthasar says that all people feel the desire to leave a permanent impression on a transient world. This seems fruitless, but he shows that Jesus is the solution to our longing. Jesus' mission "is not about detaching oneself from the transitory things... but, conversely, about sowing the seed of eternity into the field of the world and letting the Kingdom of God spring up in this field." And so Jesus' death and resurrection does not just give us hope for some distant eternal life. Our current life, our daily living is also transformed and by God's self-sacrificial love. We are invited to participate in his eternal love today. What a gem of a book.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Hans Urs von Balthasar's treatment of Life and Death. The relationship that he developed between the two was fascinating and extremely human. I related to the need to establish something that will endure with my existence, a fear of death, and the reality that impending death makes my life and time on Earth more valuable. I also enjoyed the contemplative way in which the meditations were written as it allowed me to simply sit down and think with Balthasar. I certainly enjoyed this two-hour experience. It is only 90 pages, and I will be visiting this book again.

[Andrew Talbert]

Set it down for a bit, so I’m not sure I can give it a fair and comprehensive assessment. No stars for now. Balthasar has a style that can require… familiarization. He certainly drags the reader through the sacramental(-ontological) import of the death and resurrection and grounds it in the life of the Trinity. I’ll need to read again. By far my favorite quote: “By the complete surrender of one human nature in Christ’s death, which envelops our dying and leads it along to perfection, powers to love and to achieve are released in our nature that will unfold into God’s eternity.” If he threw in something about the Eucharist and the Trinity in the quote you’d have a decent synopsis.

[Brother Gregory Rice, SOLT · Rating 5 out of 5]

"He has these keys because he himself was dead and in Sheol but, in addition to this, because he bore the death of all in himself and therefore has authority over the entire realm of the dead. Just as his earthly life was polarized toward this general death, his eternal life remains eucharistized by it."

This just about sums it up. A typical Balthasar sentence-pair that suddenly leaves you treading water and re-reading the pages before. The imagery is always captivating though.

This is a very short book, a greater taster for his stuff.

[Pastor Don · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don't agree with all here but it was a short and engaging look at Christ's death and the life that brings to us all through faith.

[Pedro Henrique · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gostei bastante.

[Andre Filho · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful and deep at the beginning. At the end, maybe because I'm not well grounded on catholic theology it got too confusing. Overall, a precious little book which I plan to re-read soon.