Hans Urs von Balthasar's greatest work or contribution

[SalesianSDB]

Hi everyone. This is my favorite place for orthodox Catholic opinion and you have all been great at helping me out, so I figured I’d come here first.

I’m doing a project on the theologian Hans Urs von Balthasar. For it, I’d like to read his most influential and important work. If he doesn’t have a book that is considered"most important", what topic of theology did he contribute the most to?

I currently have his book Encounter with God and a collection of essays on Mary by him and Ratzinger.

What are your thoughts on this?

Thanks.

 

[Katiethemule]

Hi there,

I am currently reading “Dare we hope that all men be saved”. I don’t know if it could be called his most important work, but the back jacket calls it his most “controversial” which I would regard as a form of importance, at least historically. After the publication of this book, Von Balthasar received a slew of criticism accusing him of universalism and heresy. It continues to baffle and upset many today. It’s a short and straightforward book encouraging Catholics to accept the possibility that all souls will be led to Heaven. To the extent of my knowledge, he is one of the few, if not the only prominent Catholic theologian of the 20th century to put forth that idea.

Hope that helps, best wishes on the completion of your project!

 

[corsair]

von Balthasar can be considered a very "controversial " writer, depending on where you are coming from theologically. I won’t pursue this any further until I drink some more coffee. Really tired today.

 

[godisgood77]

“Razing the Bastions” is an exceptional commentary on where the Church needs to go to fulfill its obligations. This along with the previously mentioned “Dare we hope that all men are saved” are probably where I’d go.

 

[yellow8yellowM]

Hi there,

I am currently reading “Dare we hope that all men be saved”. I don’t know if it could be called his most important work, but the back jacket calls it his most “controversial” which I would regard as a form of importance, at least historically. After the publication of this book, Von Balthasar received a slew of criticism accusing him of universalism and heresy. It continues to baffle and upset many today. It’s a short and straightforward book encouraging Catholics to accept the possibility that all souls will be led to Heaven. To the extent of my knowledge, he is one of the few, if not the only prominent Catholic theologian of the 20th century to put forth that idea.

Hope that helps, best wishes on the completion of your project!

Be careful with “Dare we hope that all men be saved.” If you read this you need to also read Ralph Martins “Will Many be Saved?”

 

[bardegaulois]

I’d really recommend avoiding “Dare We Hope.” It’s his most controversial work, no doubt, but far from his best.

The first work of Balthasar’s that I read was Prayer. To this day, I still think it his best brief work. Yes, I’d start with briefer works before attacking his several-volume trilogy. I believe Balthasar once said that it was the best distillation of his thought. I’d heartily recommend reading this one.

 

[jimmy]

Hi everyone. This is my favorite place for orthodox Catholic opinion and you have all been great at helping me out, so I figured I’d come here first.

I’m doing a project on the theologian Hans Urs von Balthasar. For it, I’d like to read his most influential and important work. If he doesn’t have a book that is considered"most important", what topic of theology did he contribute the most to?

I currently have his book Encounter with God and a collection of essays on Mary by him and Ratzinger.

What are your thoughts on this?

Thanks.

His book *the Moment of Christian Witness *may be helpful to you. Or Dare We Hope that All Men Be Saved?.

 

[M-Dent]

Hi everyone. This is my favorite place for orthodox Catholic opinion and you have all been great at helping me out, so I figured I’d come here first.

I’m doing a project on the theologian Hans Urs von Balthasar. For it, I’d like to read his most influential and important work. If he doesn’t have a book that is considered"most important", what topic of theology did he contribute the most to?

I currently have his book Encounter with God and a collection of essays on Mary by him and Ratzinger.

What are your thoughts on this?

Thanks.

I would recommend the book Hans Urs Von Balthasar - His Life and Work. And see where that leads you.