Tuesday, June 14, 2005
VON BALTHASAR AND SALVATION
by James T. O"Connor
at the Catholic Culture website.
The Swiss theologian defends his thesis with arguments and indications which, by necessity, are of unequal theological significance. They may be enumerated as follows:
1. The testimony of the "mystics" who indicate that "hope for all men is permitted."[20] Among these testimonies the following are cited: a) Mechtilde of Hackeborn, b) Julianna of Norwich, c) Angela of Foligno, d) Mechtilde of Magdeburg, and e) Adrienne von Speyer, whom the author cites several times[21] and whose writings (based on her mystical experiences) on Christ's descent into hell he strongly defends while indicating that his own thoughts on the matter at hand preceded his meeting with her.[22]
How is one to evaluate such testimonies? At worst they can be dismissed as the illusory fruits of an over-active but pious imagination; at best they would fall under the category of what is called "private revelation," the true content of which must always be carefully separated from the subjective elements (personality, age, mode of expression, etc.) of the "seer."[23] In addition to the general observation, it is clear that such "mystical" experiences can contradict one another.
"a) Mechtilde of Hackeborn, b) Julianna of Norwich, c) Angela of Foligno, d) Mechtilde of Magdeburg, and e) Adrienne von Speyer"
Others use Julian of Norwich as well.
This New Age books website includes the books:
The Julian Mystique: Her Life and Teachings
Autore: Frodo Okulam
Twenty-Third Publications, January 1998
The author combines the historical aspect of the life of Julian of Norwich (b.1342) with an in-depth look at her theology. Reflection questions at the end of each chapter allow the reader to bring the life and teachings of Julian into a modern context, making... (Continua)
Take a look at what source immediately follows Julian:
A Life for the Spirit: Rudolf Steiner in the Crosscurrents of Our Time
Redattore: Henry Barnes
Steiner Books, July 1997
Rudolf Steiner Created Anthroposophy -- a new way of being and thinking -- amid the drama and turmoil of the first quarter of the twentieth century. This book follows the biographical path that led Rudolf Steiner from his early student days in Vienna through Weimar... (Continua)
Julian of Norwich is a darling of the New Age. You can find her on many NA websites.
She appears on this Theosophy booklist.
She is quoted on this Anthroposophical website:
Actually that is a contradiction in terms, since the essence of the luciferic is formless expansion and dissipation. But its luciferic character would still have been apparent as it strove to find a voice in the same euphoric style as was current in the world around it. Instead of this happening anthroposophy remained largely concealed, and for this, ironically enough, we have to thank the fact that a great part of its energies were dissipated in internal battles and polemics. Once again, these were fine and necessary. To quote Julian of Norwich:- "Sin is behovely". Dark energies take people to the threshold of awareness and redemption.It would seem that Catholic theology so close to New Age theology that they both find value in the same prophecies.
Prophecy has a place. But prophecy that does not have the approval of the Church does not have a place. What did Adrienne's bishop say of her theology at the time that von Balthasar was deferring to her? Did her prophecy morph Catholic theology as it existed prior to that point in time? In how many of her writings did she speak with the "voice" of another such as the Blessed Virgin in the way she did in her published prayers?
Rosicrucian Christianity depends heavily upon visionary experiences and prophecy and rejects doctrine. It uses Christian terminology to teach Theosophy, ala Rudolf Steiner. It is significant that both von Balthasar and John Paul II's theology are cited as being difficult to understand. In reading the writings of other popes prior to John Paul II, there is no difficulty in understanding what they are saying. They are quite clear. Consider that difficulty to be a warning flag.
