The 'Word' was at the heart of John Henry Newman's endeavors as a preacher and writer, and the 'Word made flesh' was the primary object of his faith as a Christian. In this collection of essays, theologians, philosophers, historians and literary scholars reflect on Newman's engagement with the 'Word' and relate his thought to contemporary developments in their disciplines. The topics discussed include Newman's understanding of the nature of faith and the church, his standing as an ecumenist and a philosopher, and the significance of his literary and theological work in relation to postmodernism. This collection constitues a thoroughgoing and critical analysis of Newman's reputation as a master of the 'Word', both written and proclaimed, and of his status as a thinker of contemporary significance.

This book is perhaps one of the most misunderstood works of Catholic theology of our time. Critics contend that von Balthasar espouses universalism, the idea that all men will certainly be saved. Yet, as von Balthasar insists, damnation is a real possibility for anyone. Indeed, he explores the nature of damnation with sobering clarity. At the same time, he contends that a deep understanding of God’s merciful love and human freedom, and a careful reading of the Catholic tradition, point to the possibility—not the certainty—that, in the end, all men will accept the salvation Christ won for all. For this all-embracing salvation, von Balthasar says, we may dare hope, we must pray and with God’s help we must work. The Catholic Church’s teaching on hell has been generally neglected by theologians, with the notable exception of von Balthasar. He grounds his reflections clearly in Sacred Scripture and Catholic teaching. While the Church asserts that certain individuals are in heaven (the saints), she never declares a specific individual to be in hell. In fact, the Church hopes that in their final moments of life, even the greatest sinners would have repented of their terrible sins, and be saved. Sacred Scripture states, “God ... desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all” (1 Tim 2:4–5).

What is the secret of John Henry Newman's enduring appeal? It perhaps lies in the freshness, persuasiveness, and brilliance of his descriptions of Christianity. Newman, who is to be beatified by Pope Benedict XVI later this year, often uses the word realization" rather than "faith" or "belief" to describe the process of becoming a Christian. To him, a realization is a moment when "one opens one's heart to a truth." He continues to enthrall us because through him we come to recognize Christianity not as a languid assent to a series of propositions, but as a vivid encounter with concrete realities. This collection of his sermons-the ones Newman himself felt were his best-is the ideal introduction to one of the greatest writers in the Christian tradition. "If there is one comprehensive thing that can be said about Newman's writings, it is that he has a 'voice;' it is his own and no-one else's. To me, at least, it is a voice that never falls to start up, radioactive from the page, however musty the physical book." -From the foreword by Muriel Spark Vincent Ferrer Blehl, SJ, (1921-2001) was the Postulator of the cause of Newman's canonization, and the author of several books and articles about Newman's life and work. The novelist Muriel Spark (1918 - 2006) said that "it was by way of Newman that I turned Roman Catholic." She later remarked that "it wasn't until I became a Roman Catholic . . . that I was ale to see human existence as a whole, as a novelist needs to do.""

Reprint of the original, first published in 1874.

“Considering the high gifts, and the strong claims of the Church of Rome and its dependencies on our admiration, reverence, love, and gratitude, how could we withstand it, as we do; how could we refrain from being melted into tenderness, and rushing into communion with it, but for the words of Truth itself, which bid us prefer it to the whole world? ‘He that loveth father or mother more than Me, is not worthy of Me.’ How could we learn to be severe, and execute judgment, but for the warning of Moses against even a divinely-gifted teacher who should preach new gods, and the anathema of St. Paul even against Angels and Apostles who should bring in a new doctrine?” Aeterna Press