There is today a dramatic reexamination of structure, authority, dogma -- indeed, every aspect of the life of the Church is held up to scrutiny. Welcoming this as a sign of vitality, Avery Dulles has carefully studied the writings of contemporary Protestant and Catholic ecclesiologists and sifted out six major approaches, or "models," through which the Church's character can be understood: as Institution, Mystical Communion, Sacrament, Herald, Servant, and, in a recent addition to the book, as Community of Disciples. A balanced theology, he concludes, must incorporate the major affirmations of each. "The method of models or types," observes Cardinal Dulles, "can have great value in helping people to get beyond the limitations of their own particular outlook and to enter into fruitful conversation with others... Such conversation is obviously essential if ecumenism is to get beyond its present impasses." This new edition includes a new Appendix and Preface by the author.

"Cardinal Avery Dulles's A History of Apologetics provides a masterful overview of Christian apologetics, from its beginning in the New Testament through the Middle Ages and on to the present resurgence of apologetics among Catholics and Protestants. Dulles shows how Christian apologists have at times both criticized and drawn from their intellectual surroundings to present the reason-ableness of Christian belief."--BOOK JACKET.

Part I - Cardinal Dulles's Legacy in His Words. Part II - Cardinal Dulles's Legacy in His Witness.

Winner of a 2020 Catholic Press Association book award (first place, anthology). Cardinal Avery Dulles, S.J. (1918–2008), was one of the leading American Catholic theologians of the twentieth century. Published in partnership with America Media, this collection of Dulles’s essential work from America magazine includes more than five decades of writing that showcases his wide-ranging interests in ecclesiology, salvation history, pastoral theology, and contemporary literature and reflects the Jesuit’s warm personality and astute insights on the Church in an era of great change. Avery Dulles: The Essential Writings from America Magazine includes occasional and formal writing, book reviews, reflections, and extended essays from America. Known as a synthesizer of Catholic thought from disparate traditions and theological positions, Dulles is perhaps best known for his book Models of the Church, one of a number of important academic works he wrote. Dulles was the author of twenty-five books and produced hundreds of articles for America and other journals. In these selections from America, Dulles reflects on theological questions such as the relationship between faith and reason, as well as events like the Second Vatican Council that affected average Catholics. Avery Dulles also includes the late cardinal’s exploration of the teachings of John Paul II and the authority of the episcopacy—solidifying our understanding of Dulles as both a towering figure and a mediating voice in American Catholicism.

Faith, since the earliest Christian theologians, has been regarded as the fundamental Christian virtue--the prerequisite for hope, charity, and good works. In this book, Avery Dulles examines the biblical foundations and history of theological reflection on faith, from the Greek and Latin fathers to such modern giants as Tillich, Rahner, and Lonergan. Further, Dulles presents his own systematic synthesis, reflecting on such topics as the nature and object of faith; the certitude of faith; the birth, growth, and loss of faith; and faith and salvation. The result is a refreshingly relevant theology of faith for our day.

"The past three decades have witnessed a decline in the number of Roman Catholic priests in Europe and North America, the result of resignations from the priesthood and of fewer people entering seminaries. A major cause contributing to this situation has been the ambiguity surrounding the role and identity of the priest in light of new theological paradigms. This book attempts to restore clarity to that matter by drawing primarily, although not exclusively, on the teachings of the Second Vatican Council, postconciliar theology and the pronouncements of Pope John Paul II." "The first chapter probes the relationship of the priest to Christ and the church. This is the basic theme of the book, since the manner in which the relationship is perceived colors all aspects of priestly life. The following three chapters examine the three forms of ministry the priest renders to the community: the ministry of the word, of worship and of pastoral care. The book ends with a consideration of the most fundamental role of the priest: a disciple of Jesus. So the book comes full circle, returning to the primary relationship of the priest to Christ and to the church as a community of disciples."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved