Symbol and Sacrament: Sacramental Reinterpretation of Christian Existence

by Louis Marie Chauvet, Patrick Madigan (Translator), Madeleine M. Beaumont (Translator)

This work comes at an opportune a time in which many complain that contemporary theology lacks a general theory of sacraments. Chauvet charts a reorientation in sacramental theology from the scholastic treatments, which appropriated the metaphysical categories of causality and substance to develop an essentially instrumentalist appreciation of grace, in favor of an approach through the category of symbol." In this approach the subject is as much "grasped" (and transformed) by the symbolic representation as is the object being interpreted. Chauvet commands a wealth of scholarship which he deploys to powerful effect. His work in developing a foundational theology of sacramentality will remain the standard for years to come. "

Genres: Theology

592 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 1994

Reviews

[Duane Alexander Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

A most excellent book, re-assessing the Thomistic theology of the sacrament in the light of 20th C. developments in the philosophy of language.