The Meaning of the World Is Love guides readers through the landscape of divine love, which is our home. The path of love is the path of self-gift—as well as of beauty, goodness, and truth—and it is the only way to genuine fulfillment.
Copies of The Meaning of the World Is Love can be ordered at https://ignatius.com/the-meaning-of-the-world-is-love-mwlp/
or www.amazon.com/Meaning-World-Love-Balthasar-Commentary/dp/1621643514/?tag=woonfi-20
or www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-meaning-of-the-world-is-love-richard-clements/1141298090?ean=9781621643517
Here's what some reviewers have said about The Meaning of the World Is Love:
"Romantics swoon at the mention of love, but the Christian mystics know its price. Balthasar searched out the Trinitarian source of such costing love, traced its distributaries in Christian living, and ended by finding in it another name for the mystery of being itself. Richard Cements' commentary deftly guides us, with great discretion, to read Balthasar's work in a way that joins up the parts and lets us gain a view of the whole."
— Aidan Nichols, O.P., Author, Balthasar for Thomists and Rome and the Eastern Churches
"We are indebted to Richard Clements for providing this entry point into Balthasar's profound theology of love. A virtual treasure trove of theological and spiritual insights is found here, from which all may draw enrichment for both meditation and study."
— Margaret Turek, S.T.D., Professor, St. Patrick's Seminary and University; Author, Atonement: Soundings in Biblical, Trinitarian, and Spiritual Theology
"A lucid, compelling answer to the seminal question 'Why is there something rather than nothing' through the lens of Balthasar's theology of love. We are compelled to ask why an Absolute would create mere finite shadows of itself. The evident answer is that the Absolute is perfect self-giving love. This book is an excellent practical entryway into Christian philosophical theology."
— Robert Spitzer, S.J., Ph.D., President, Magis Center of Reason and Faith; Author, God So Loved the World
"Love not only moves the world but gives it its form—and thereby gives shape to all cultural institutions. Balthasar teaches this with unmatched depth and breadth. Clements performs for us the profound service of gathering and integrating an abundance of the great theologian's texts. An extraordinarily rich and helpful book!"
— David L. Schindler, Editor, Communio: International Catholic Review (U.S. Edition)
"An absolute breath of fresh air and a bracing reminder of the true genius of Balthasar as both a theologian and a master of the spiritual life. The topics are varied and yet deeply united, since Clements deftly arranges them in order to draw out Balthasar's deep Trinitarian underpinnings. And the commentaries by Clements are insightful and often illuminating in surprising ways. This work is a delight to read and will lift your soul to God."
— Larry Chapp, Retired Professor of Theology, DeSales University
Copies of The Meaning of the World Is Love can be ordered at https://ignatius.com/the-meaning-of-the-world-is-love-mwlp/
or www.amazon.com/Meaning-World-Love-Balthasar-Commentary/dp/1621643514/?tag=woonfi-20
or www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-meaning-of-the-world-is-love-richard-clements/1141298090?ean=9781621643517
Here's what some reviewers have said about The Meaning of the World Is Love:
"Romantics swoon at the mention of love, but the Christian mystics know its price. Balthasar searched out the Trinitarian source of such costing love, traced its distributaries in Christian living, and ended by finding in it another name for the mystery of being itself. Richard Cements' commentary deftly guides us, with great discretion, to read Balthasar's work in a way that joins up the parts and lets us gain a view of the whole."
— Aidan Nichols, O.P., Author, Balthasar for Thomists and Rome and the Eastern Churches
"We are indebted to Richard Clements for providing this entry point into Balthasar's profound theology of love. A virtual treasure trove of theological and spiritual insights is found here, from which all may draw enrichment for both meditation and study."
— Margaret Turek, S.T.D., Professor, St. Patrick's Seminary and University; Author, Atonement: Soundings in Biblical, Trinitarian, and Spiritual Theology
"A lucid, compelling answer to the seminal question 'Why is there something rather than nothing' through the lens of Balthasar's theology of love. We are compelled to ask why an Absolute would create mere finite shadows of itself. The evident answer is that the Absolute is perfect self-giving love. This book is an excellent practical entryway into Christian philosophical theology."
— Robert Spitzer, S.J., Ph.D., President, Magis Center of Reason and Faith; Author, God So Loved the World
"Love not only moves the world but gives it its form—and thereby gives shape to all cultural institutions. Balthasar teaches this with unmatched depth and breadth. Clements performs for us the profound service of gathering and integrating an abundance of the great theologian's texts. An extraordinarily rich and helpful book!"
— David L. Schindler, Editor, Communio: International Catholic Review (U.S. Edition)
"An absolute breath of fresh air and a bracing reminder of the true genius of Balthasar as both a theologian and a master of the spiritual life. The topics are varied and yet deeply united, since Clements deftly arranges them in order to draw out Balthasar's deep Trinitarian underpinnings. And the commentaries by Clements are insightful and often illuminating in surprising ways. This work is a delight to read and will lift your soul to God."
— Larry Chapp, Retired Professor of Theology, DeSales University
The Book of Love: Brief Meditations contains eighty-five brief, accessible, easily readable reflections on various aspects of love, including the following:
We human beings are all homo viator: people on a journey. We are all on a journey ad Amorem, a journey toward Love. Drawing upon some profound insights regarding love from a variety of thinkers, including Hans Urs von Balthasar, Josef Pieper, Thomas Aquinas, Pope John Paul II, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, and C. S. Lewis, Clements skillfully guides readers of The Book of Love a little farther along the path toward Love.
Copies of The Book of Love: Brief Meditations can be purchased at www.amazon.com/dp/B0BVSXX6P9/ or www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-book-of-love-richard-clements/1143075672?ean=9798888700198
- the essence of divine love as the selfless gift of self, given and received, as revealed by Jesus Christ
- the various types of love, including God’s love for us and our love for God, self-love, marital love, parental love, friendship, love of one’s neighbor, and love of one’s “enemies”
- the four key elements of genuine love
- suggestions for living out those four key elements in one’s daily life
- discerning and fulfilling one’s unique mission of love in the world
We human beings are all homo viator: people on a journey. We are all on a journey ad Amorem, a journey toward Love. Drawing upon some profound insights regarding love from a variety of thinkers, including Hans Urs von Balthasar, Josef Pieper, Thomas Aquinas, Pope John Paul II, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, and C. S. Lewis, Clements skillfully guides readers of The Book of Love a little farther along the path toward Love.
Copies of The Book of Love: Brief Meditations can be purchased at www.amazon.com/dp/B0BVSXX6P9/ or www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-book-of-love-richard-clements/1143075672?ean=9798888700198
© Richard Clements