Fr Gawronski's monumental and highly readable study presents a synthesis of Balthasar's work in this field, of great importance to all those concerned with inter-faith dialogue: the encouter of Christianity with Asia.

Word and Silence: Hans Urs Von Balthasar and the Spiritual Encounter Between East and West

History

Gawronski, Raymond

World

Bloomsbury T&T Clark

As the tremendous theological achievement of Hans Urs von Balthasar becomes better known in the English-speaking world, it becomes easier to see the relevance of his work for one of the most important cultural events of our time: the encounter of Christianity with Asia. Balthasar regarded the dialogue with Buddhism in particular as of greater long-term significance for Christianity even than the ancient dialogue with Greek thought, which decisively shaped the history of Christendom. Fr Gawronski's monumental and highly readable study presents a synthesis of Balthasar's work in this field, of great importance to all those concerned with inter-faith dialogue. Balthasar shows that, for the Christian, God is himself Word, a Word uttered in the eternal interpersonal dialogue which is the very being of God. The obscure longing of Platonic 'eros' gives way before the flowering of a bridal mystery in which the Word weds Silence. This is the centrepiece of Christian self-understanding, and basic for any fruitful encounter with other religious traditions. From the fullness of the Trinity, God's incarnate Word is received by the perfect Hearer, Mary, who becomes the symbol of a creation that must pass through the silence of the tomb into the transformed spaces of the Holy Spirit. The silence of humility is the way of prayer, which allows the seed-word to be sown and to bear fruit in the lives of the saints. Here the figure of the saint, embodying a mission from God, is compared by Balthasar to that of the sages of the non-biblical traditions, including the Boddhisattva. Concerning the encounter with Asia, Balthasar wrote, 'The question is: does selflessness mean emptiness or Trinitarian love? The dialogue is possible.' It is possible and it may not be avoided. Upon it hangs the future of civilization.

Eerdmans Pub.Co.

Asked about the dialogue between Asian and Christian mysticisms, Hans Urs von Balthasar wrote: “The dialogue is possible. The question is: ‘does selflessness mean emptiness, or (trinitarian) love.’” Word and Silence is an ascent to the fullness of the Christian vision, from the depths of natural and Christian wisdom and under the guidance of this great master of contemplative theology of our time. It offers an overview of the human condition, and then broadens to explore the fullness of God’s revelation, which overflows the deepest longings of the human heart, fully embracing the human as human, and leading it into the heart of God. “What one of the greatest theologians of our century--Hans Urs von Balthasar--says about what the world’s religions mean for one another as pluralism intensifies their interaction--no other study comes close to the depth with which Word and Silence addresses that subject.”--Huston Smith, author of The World’s Religions “In this luminous book, Father Raymond Gawronski demonstrates the fruitfulness of Balthasar’s distinctive Christology, Mariology, and nuptial mysticism for a genuine Catholic theology of world religions; and in the process, he sheds much-needed light upon the mysteries of sexuality and gender, the spirituality of obedience, and the beauty of holiness.”--Carol Zaleski, Professor of World Religions, Smith College; co-author of Prayer: A History “The Epistle to the Hebrews tells us that while ‘in many and various ways God spoke of old to our fathers,’ in ‘these days he has spoken to us by a Son.’ Meanwhile, at the heart of that word, spoken in and through the Son, sits the ‘wordless word’ of Christ’s death and descent into hell. This paradox--that in revealing himself to us in both word and deed God makes His final word a wordless deed--lies at the center of this spellbinding and beautifully written book. As Raymond Gawronski succinctly puts it, ‘The Word weds silence, as it were.’ This book is no less relevant now than when it was first published in 1995. Indeed, not only is this one of the best books on Balthasar to date, it should also be required reading for anyone interested in the important dialogue between Christianity and the East.”--Rodney Howsare, Professor of Theology, DeSales University; author of Balthasar: A Guide for the Perplexed

Word and Silence: Hans Urs von Balthasar and the Spiritual Encounter Between East and West (3rd edition)

Literature & Fiction

History & Criticism

Second Spring Books

Asked about the dialogue between Asian and Christian mysticisms, Hans Urs von Balthasar wrote: "The dialogue is possible. The question is: 'does selflessness mean emptiness, or (trinitarian) love.'" Word and Silence is an ascent to the fullness of the Christian vision, from the depths of natural and Christian wisdom and under the guidance of this great master of contemplative theology of our time. It offers an overview of the human condition, and then broadens to explore the fullness of God's revelation, which overflows the deepest longings of the human heart, fully embracing the human as human, and leading it into the heart of God.
 "What one of the greatest theologians of our century--Hans Urs von Balthasar--says about what the world's religions mean for one another as pluralism intensifies their interaction--no other study comes close to the depth with which Word and Silence addresses that subject."--Huston Smith, author of The World's Religions
 "In this luminous book, Father Raymond Gawronski demonstrates the fruitfulness of Balthasar's distinctive Christology, Mariology, and nuptial mysticism for a genuine Catholic theology of world religions; and in the process, he sheds much-needed light upon the mysteries of sexuality and gender, the spirituality of obedience, and the beauty of holiness."--Carol Zaleski, Professor of World Religions, Smith College; co-author of Prayer: A History
 "The Epistle to the Hebrews tells us that while 'in many and various ways God spoke of old to our fathers,' in 'these days he has spoken to us by a Son.' Meanwhile, at the heart of that word, spoken in and through the Son, sits the 'wordless word' of Christ's death and descent into hell. This paradox--that in revealing himself to us in both word and deed God makes His final word a wordless deed--lies at the center of this spellbinding and beautifully written book. As Raymond Gawronski succinctly puts it, 'The Word weds silence, as it were.' This book is no less relevant now than when it was first published in 1995. Indeed, not only is this one of the best books on Balthasar to date, it should also be required reading for anyone interested in the important dialogue between Christianity and the East."--Rodney Howsare, Professor of Theology, DeSales University; author of Balthasar: A Guide for the Perplexed
 A native of New York, Fr. Gawronski entered the Maryland Province of the Society of Jesus in 1977, after studies in East Asian culture, and then graduate study in comparative religion with Huston Smith at Syracuse University. His doctoral studies were undertaken in Rome, and included work in Eastern Christian spirituality, which led in turn to a lifelong commitment to the theology of Hans Urs von Balthasar. He was professor of theology at Marquette University for thirteen years, during which time he helped design the Spirituality Year program for the St. John Vianney Seminary in Denver, where he then served as professor and spiritual director for eight years. He has published and lectured widely on issues of culture and spirituality, and has for years served as an active retreat master, annually leading the full Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. He is currently professor of dogmatic theology at St. Patrick's Seminary in Menlo Park, California, where he also gives spiritual direction.

Word and Silence: Hans Urs von Balthasar and the Spiritual Encounter Between East and West

Angelico Press/Second Spring

Fr. Raymond Thomas Gawronski , S.J. What made the early Jesuits such resolute missionaries? Why were they so unswerving in the face of impossible odds? A good part of the reason was the training they received from the founder, St. Ignatius Loyola. No one has ever devised a more effective spiritual discipline for Christians. Now, Father Gawronski shows us how those Spiritual Exercises can work just as well for us. At once simplifying and amplifying the techniques of St. Ignatius, Father Gawronski leads us to pray and meditate, just as we would if we went on a retreat. Countless thousands of television viewers already know Father Gawronski from EWTN. Here's your chance to spend a retreat with him as he opens up the secrets of St. Ignatius for every Christian.

A Closer Walk With Christ: A Personal Ignation Retreat

Religion & Spirituality

Thomas, Raymond Gawroaski

Christian Books & Bibles

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Books by Gawronski, Raymond

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Gawronski, Raymond. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Word and Silence: Hans Urs Von Balthasar and the Spiritual Encounter Between East and West

Word and Silence: Hans Urs Von Balthasar and the Spiritual Encounter Between East and West

Word and Silence: Hans Urs von Balthasar and the Spiritual Encounter Between East and West (3rd edition)

Word and Silence: Hans Urs von Balthasar and the Spiritual Encounter Between East and West

A Closer Walk With Christ: A Personal Ignation Retreat