Sacred Signs

by Romano Guardini, Peter Kwasniewski

In this profound little work, originally published in 1911, Fr. Romano Guardini speaks with poetic wisdom about the fundamental language of symbols out of which the Sacred Liturgy is woven. When we speak this language fluently, we can offer ourselves, body and soul, more completely to the Lord.

Genres: Theology, Nonfiction, Religion, Catholic, Philosophy, Christian, Faith

58 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1922

About the author

Romano Guardini was a Catholic priest, author, and academic. He was one of the most important figures in Catholic intellectual life in the 20th century.

Guardini was born in Verona, Italy in 1885. His family moved to Mainz when he was one year old and he lived in Germany for the rest of his life. After studying chemistry in Tübingen for two semesters, and economics in Munich and Berlin for three, he decided to become a priest. After studying Theology in Freiburg im Breisgau and Tübingen, he was ordained in Mainz in 1910. He briefly worked in a pastoral position before returning to Freiburg to work on his doctorate in Theology under Engelbert Krebs. He received his doctorate in 1915 for a dissertation on Bonaventure. He completed his “Habilitation” in Dogmatic Theology at the University of Bonn in 1922, again with a dissertation on Bonaventure. Throughout this period he also worked as a chaplain to the Catholic youth movement.

In 1923 he was appointed to a chair in Philosophy of Religion at the University of Berlin. In the 1935 essay “Der Heiland” (The Saviour) he criticized Nazi mythologizing of the person of Jesus and emphasized the Jewishness of Jesus. The Nazis forced him to resign from his Berlin position in 1939. From 1943 to 1945 he retired to Mooshausen, where his friend Josef Weiger had been parish priest since 1917.

In 1945 Guardini was appointed professor in the Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Tübingen and resumed lecturing on the Philosophy of Religion. In 1948, he became professor at the University of Munich, where he remained until retiring for health reasons in 1962.

Guardini died in Munich on 1 October 1968. He was buried in the priests’ cemetery of the Oratory of St. Philip Neri in Munich. His estate was left to the Catholic Academy in Bavaria that he had co-founded.

Reviews

[G · Rating 2 out of 5]

Von heiligen Zeichen. Piezas breves de poética litúrgica. Muy desparejo. Algunos fragmentos parecen iconografía de gran calidad estética al estilo de lo que más tarde escribió Agamben. Debe ser que hay una raíz compartida de autores europeos poético-nebulosos como Heidegger. Otros fragmentos parecen literatura edificante para la juventud de la época, una catequesis simplista llena de sensiblería y aberraciones filosóficas. Sospecho que se trata de una estrategia comunicacional para competir contra el reclutamiento de la Hitlerjugend. Llega a decir: “No escapes a tu destino, persevera. No preguntes siempre el por qué y el para qué” (página 36 de la edición argentina, ensayo sobre la llama de la vela). Esto está mal. La primera frase parece autoayuda paulocoelhiana. Más todavía, la segunda choca contra el tono del resto del libro que es una clara exhortación a la reflexión sobre todo lo que se cruce, lo cotidiano y los grandes temas, lo pequeño y lo inefable. También cansa la apelación romántica al sentimiento. Quizás lo más interesante sea el personalismo como filosofía de época, aplicado a la reflexión sobre signos sagrados. No se trata de un atributo residual, sino de la infraestructura de este compilado de microensayos teológicos.

[WTD JR · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very beautiful look at many aspects of the Church, meaning and his own revelations. For example, he explains that churches are built in an east to west direction. He explains the historical and religious reason for this. From there, Romano Guardini relates how changing sides of the Missal for the readings.


Short but fascinating. Romano Guardini writes with a beautiful simplicity that is endearing.

[Patrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

great series of short, pithy essays on liturgical elements by one of the most important, and overlooked/forgotten liturgists of the 20th century. highly recommended!

[Jeremy Tabensky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful poetics on the heart posture that could intravenously turn the liturgy into chrysalis.
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On another note, where is the place “modern” meditation literature? Does it belong on a bed side that won’t be picked up? Or the bookshelf collection? It was a wonderful mediation. Has it left me changed? I’m not so sure. Whimsical? Wondering? Definitely. What’s saddening is not knowing where this sits on the shelf. It’s lovely to have. Would be good to meditate on. But would we?

[Emma Geis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great reminder of the Holy and Sacred that we all should be attentive to as we draw closer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

[Kazango · Rating 4 out of 5]

A helpful introduction to many of the most important symbols in the Church’s liturgical life. It is not long, so readers should not be put off by that. The translation is well done, and there are very few OCR artifacts in the edition that I read. I would strongly recommend this book both for new Catholics, prospective ones, and even those veterans who perhaps have forgotten some of their catechesis.

[Sam Fink]

A short book that is less spiritual than I expected.