Balthasar and Prayer

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This study renders an original and constructive Catholic theology of prayer drawing on the work of Hans Urs von Balthasar (1905-1988). Travis LaCouter explores the trinitarian, Christological, ecclesial, anthropological, and eschatological dimensions of prayer in Balthasars theology, and shows how these combine to give a powerful account of prayers proper theological scope and purpose. There is also a critical dimension of prayer which is arguably underdeveloped in some of Balthasars key texts, but which LaCouter shows to have significant dialogical potential with contemporary accounts of parrhesia since Foucault. This approach demonstrates the centrality of prayer to Balthasars entire theological system and does so in a way which itself constitutes an exercise in Catholic systematics. This study is also distinctive for establishing a method of proceeding through Balthasars sprawling oeuvre (and the similarly vast secondary literature) by arguing for three categories of texts in Balthasars writings and, separately, three waves of Balthasar readers. Thus, this study is a resource not just for those interested in prayer but for anyone interested in reading Balthasar today.

Reviews

In this ground-breaking study, LaCouter offers a brilliantly eloquent and razor sharp analysis of one the modern traditions great theorisers of prayer. Everyone credits Balthasar with making one of the strongest turns to prayer in modern theology, but this is the most extensive and doctrinally rigorous investigations to date in English-language scholarship of how the drama of prayer actually plays out in Balthasars famously prayerful theology. The unashamedly doctrinal structure of the book is used creatively to leverage unseen aspects of Balthasars theorisation of prayer, chart its reception by modern theology, and respond patiently and comprehensively to some of Balthasars most formidable critics. Balthasar and Prayer is, simply speaking, a foundational work for anyone interested in modern theology. -- Ashley Cocksworth, University of Roehampton, UK
Balthasar and Prayer not only deftly elucidates the nature of prayer as trinitarian, Christological, and eschatological, but also makes sense of Balthasars sprawling corpus, its complex reception, and how the thematic of prayer animates the deep structures of his thought. In this bold and masterful performance, LaCouter enacts the very parrhesia he recommends! -- Jennifer Newsome Martin, The University of Notre Dame, USA

Author Bio

Travis LaCouter is a Visiting Lecturer at the College of the Holy Cross, USA.