Henri de Lubac - Biographical Information

Henri de Lubac, S.J. (1896-1991) was a French Jesuit and one of the greatest theologians of the twentieth century. Born in Cambrai, France on February 20, 1896, he joined the Society of Jesus in Lyon on October 9, 1913. He served in the French army during the First World War, suffering severe wounds in combat. He was educated at the Jesuit Houses of study at Jersey and Fourvière, and then earned his doctorate in theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.

De Lubac was ordained a priest on August 22, 1927, pursued further studies in Rome until 1929, and then became a faculty member at Catholic Faculties of Theology of Lyons, where he taught history of religions until 1961. His pupils included Jean Daniélou and Hans Urs von Balthasar.

In 1942 he co-founded, with Daniélou, Sources chrétiennes, a series of patristic texts with translations. During the Second World War he fought against Naziism and anti-Semiticism through his writings; he would recount those efforts and the efforts of the Church at large in Christian Resistance to Anti-Semitism: Memories from 1940-1944. He was finally forced to leave Lyon because of his involvement in the Resistance; he took refuge in Vals, near Puy.

During the 1950s de Lubac came under suspicion from the Vatican for his teachings about the supernatural and grace. He was eventually obligated to stop publication of his works because of doctrinal objections against his controversial book, Surnaturel. However, he continued his prolific output of other work, including studies on atheism, Buddhism, medieval biblical exegesis, ecclesiology, and the sacramental nature of Catholicism.

He became a member of the Academy of Moral and Political Sciences in 1957 and a faculty member at the Catholic Institute of Paris two years later. He would then participate in Vatican II as a peritus, or theological expert, from 1962-5. The Oxford Dictionary of the Catholic Church states: "De Lubac was one of the thinkers who created the intellectual climate that made possible the Second Vatican Council, largely by opening up the vast spiritual resources of the Catholic tradition which had been cramped by post-Tridentine 'baroque' theology."

De Lubac was created cardinal deacon by Pope John Paul II on February 2, 1983 and received the red biretta and the deaconry of S. Maria in Domnica, February 2, 1983. He died on September 4, 1991, Paris and is buried in a tomb of the Society of Jesus at the Vaugirard cemetery in Paris. His reflections on his life and writings are captured in his book, At the Service of the Church: Henri de Lubac Reflects on the Circumstances that Occasioned His Writings

Source: Ignatius Insight Author Page.

Introductions to Henri de Lubac, SJ

• Getting started with the work of Henri de Lubac, S.J., by Carl Olson (Insight Scoop February 9, 2008).
• Henri de Lubac: In Appreciation, by Avery Cardinal Dulles. America September 28, 1991.
• Henri de Lubac: A Brief Introduction, by Peter J. Leithart. April 8, 2006.
• De Lubac's writings in English translations, by Tracy Rowland. An overview of some of the currently available writings of Cardinal Henri de Lubac (1896-1991) - translated into English by Ignatius Press.

Articles on Henri de Lubac

Henri de Lubac in Communio: International Theological Review

• Chantraine, Georges SJ. "Beyond Modernity and Postmodernity: The Thought of Henri de Lubac". 17, no. 2 (1990): 207-19.
  
• Chantraine, Georges SJ. "Cardinal Henri de Lubac (1896-1991)." 18, no. 3 (1991): 297-303.
• Coffele, Gianfranco. "De Lubac and the Theological Foundation of the Missions." 23, no. 4 (1996): 757-775.
• D'Ambrosio, Marcellino. "Henri de Lubac and the Critique of Scientific Exegesis." 19, no. 3 (1992): 365-88.
• Forte, Bruno. "Nature and Grace in Henri de Lubac: from Surnaturel to Le mystère du surnaturel." 23, no. 4 (1996): 725-37.
• Healy, Nicholas J. "Henri de Lubac on Nature and Grace: A Note on Some Recent Contributions to the Debate." 35, no. 4 (2008): 535-564.
• Körner, Bernhard. "Henri de Lubac and Fundamental Theology." 23, no. 4 (1996): 711-24.
• Lubac, Henri de. "On the Death of Cardinal Danielou." 2, no. 1 (1975): 93-95 NC.
• McPartlan, Paul. "The Eucharist, the Church and Evangelization: The Influence of Henri de Lubac." 23, no. 4 (1996): 776-85.
• Moulins-Beaufort, Eric de. "The Spiritual Man in the Thought of Henri de Lubac." 25, no. 2 (1998): 287-302.
• Moulins-Beaufort, Eric de. "The Spiritual Man in the Thought of Henri de Lubac." 25, no. 2 (1998): 287-302.
• Moulins-Beaufort, Eric de. "Henri de Lubac, Reader of Dei Verbum." 28, no. 4 (2001): 669-94.
• Murphy, William F. Jr. "Henri de Lubac's Mystical Tropology." 27, no. 1 (2000): 171-201 SH.
• Riches, Aaron. "Church, Eucharist, and Predestination in Barth and de Lubac: Convergence and Divergence in Communio." 35, no. 4 (2008): 565-598.
• Sicari, Antonio. "'Communio' in Henri de Lubac." 19, no. 3 (1992): 450-64.
• Tilliette, Xavier, S.J. "Henri de Lubac: The Legacy of a Theologian." 19, no. 3 (1992): 332-41.
• Voderholzer, Rudolf. "Dogma and History: Henri de Lubac and the Retrieval of Historicity." 28, no. 4 (2001): 648-68.
• Walsh, Christopher. "De Lubac's Critique of the Postconciliar Church." 19, no. 3 (1992): 404-32.
• Walsh, Christopher. "Henri de Lubac in Connecticut: Unpublished Conferences on Renewal in the Postconciliar Period." 23, no. 4 (1996): 786-805.
• Wood, Susan. "The Nature-Grace Problematic Within Henri de Lubac's Christological Paradox." 19, no. 3 (1992): 389-403.

Additional Articles on De Lubac

• De Lubac and Lonergan on the supernatural, by Raymond Moloney. Theological Studies September 2008.
• "Returning to the Real", by Fr. James V. Schall. [On correspondence between de Lubac and Etienne Gilson]. The University Bookman Volume 45, Number 1 (Winter 2007).
• Sacramentum unitatis ecclesiasticae: The eucharistic ecclesiology of Henri de Lubac, by Lisa Wang. Anglican Theological Review, Winter 2003.
• Henri De Lubac And The Roots Of Communion Ecclesiology, by Dennis M. Doyle. Theological Studies June, 1999.
• Rahner and de Lubac on Nature and Grace, by S. Joel Garver.

Blog Posts

• Sic et Non: Thoughts on Henri de Lubac’s Thomistic Retrieval (I) | Sic et Non: Thoughts on Henri de Lubac's Thomistic Retrieval (II) The Well at the World's End

Books About Henri de Lubac

	T&T Clark Companion to Henri de Lubac by Jordan Hillebert. T&T Clark; 1 edition (June 29, 2017). 520 pages. The T&T Clark Companion to Henri de Lubac introduces the life and writings of one of the most influential theologians of the 20th century. A highly controversial figure throughout the 1940s and 50s, Henri de Lubac (1896 - 1991) played a prominent role during the Second Vatican Council and was appointed cardinal by Pope John Paul II in 1983. His work, which covers an impressive range of theological, philosophical and historical inquiries, has left an indelible mark on modern Christian thought. This volume, including contributions from leading Catholic, Protestant and Anglican scholars of de Lubac's work, introduces readers to the key features of his theology. By placing de Lubac's writings in both their immediate context and in conversation with contemporary theological debates, these essays shed light on the theological ingenuity and continuing relevance of this important thinker.
	The Eucharist as a Countercultural Liturgy: An Examination of the Theologies of Henri de Lubac, John Zizioulas, and Miroslav Volf by Yik-Pui Au (Author), Pan-Chiu Lai (Foreword). Pickwick Publications (April 14, 2017). 194 pages. Since its institution, the Eucharist has been celebrated in all churches regardless of denominational differences. Yet its importance should not be just confined to the Christian communities; it can have transformational power in the cultural milieu. In this book, Yik-Pui Au argues that the Eucharist can be a countercultural liturgy that upholds the identity and values of Christianity by countering cultural currents that are contrary to the Christian faith. Au takes an interdisciplinary approach comprised of church history, ritual theory, and theology of culture to examine systematically the countercultural functions of the Eucharist interpreted by three modern theologians, Henri de Lubac, John Zizioulas, and Miroslav Volf, representing the Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant traditions respectively. The comparative evaluation of this cross-tradition analysis supports Au's argument that even though culture is complex and changing, the countercultural function of the Eucharist remains valid. Despite its complexity, culture can be transformed by the Eucharist and it can also challenge and renew our understanding of the Eucharist. She suggests that due to its richness, the countercultural function of the Eucharist cannot be exhausted by one tradition. It is the task of theologians to help the church continually venture to explore and vivify this function ecumenically.
	Between Apocalypse and Eschaton: History and Eternity in Henri de Lubac by Joseph S. Flipper. Fortress Press (May 1, 2015). 344 pages. Between Apocalypse and Eschaton examines the systematic theology of Henri de Lubac, SJ, one of the most significant Catholic theologians of the twentieth century. While much of the recent work on de Lubac centers on the controversies surrounding his theology of the supernatural, Between Apocalypse and Eschaton argues that eschatology is the key to de Lubac's theological project and critical to understanding the nouvelle theologie, the group of theologians with whom de Lubac was associated. At the time, intra-Catholic controversies arose around the nouvelle theologie as part of a broader anxiety over the loss of the eternal in twentieth-century Europe. The German occupation of France in World War II was the backdrop for a renewed apocalyptic and eschatological thinking among French Catholics. The nouvelle theologiegenerated a debate over the meaning of "the end" that was critical to understanding the theological, spiritual, and political fissures in the postwar period. After World War II, de Lubac's writings increasingly focused on the theology of history and eschatology. The present work returns focus to this often neglected aspect of de Lubac's work.
	De Lubac: A Guide for the Perplexed (Guides for the Perplexed) by David Grumett T&T Clark; 1 edition (November 3, 2007). 200 pages. Henri de Lubac is a dominating figure in the renewal of catholic theology in the twentieth century, opposing neo-Thomist orthodoxy with a pluriform and historical notion of tradition based on the creative reappropriation of patristic sources. De Lubac's adult life encompasses the whole of what Eric Hobsbawm has called the 'short' twentieth century, extending from the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, in which he fought, to the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the year in which he died. De Lubac commenced his theological training in exile in England, played a key role in the nouvelle théologie associated with the Jesuit scholasticate at Fourvière in Lyons, assumed a leading part in catholic resistance to the Vichy regime, was silenced in the aftermath of Humani generis in the 1950s, rehabilitated as a peritus (theological adviser) to the Second Vatican Council, and raised to the cardinalate in 1983. This introduction to De Lubac will therefore also provide an overview of the whole of twentieth century French catholic theology. De Lubac's work extends beyond narrow theological boundaries. Because of this breadth of interest, some areas of his work, such as his political theology and study of Buddhism, have previously received little attention. In bringing figures from other intellectual disciplines into dialogue with Christian scripture and tradition, however, De Lubac reveals the theological significance of their positions as well as demonstrating the insufficiency of their ambivalent attitudes to faith.
	Surnaturel: A Controversy at the Heart of the Twentieth-Century Thomistic Thought (Faith and Reason: Studies in Catholic Theology and Philosophy) by Serge-Thomas Bonino (Author) Sapientia Press Ave Maria Univ (July 1, 2007). 362 pages. Product Description Serge-Thomas Bonino's Surnaturel: A Controversy at the Heart of Twentieth-Century Thomistic Thought contains four sections, guided by Bonino's insight that if in the year 2000 no one is any longer a Thomist in quite the same way he would have been in 1900 or 1945, it is partly because of Fr. de Lubac; In the first section, Etienne Fouilloux describes the arc of Henri de Lubac's career up to the publication of his Surnaturel; Georges Chantraine, S.J., describes de Lubac's Surnaturel; Henry Donneaud, O.P., describes the early Thomistic response to the book; and Rene Mougel depicts Jacques Maritain's position on the topic. In the second section, focusing on Thomas Aquinas and the medieval period, Michel Bastit inquires into the relationship of Thomism to Aristotle; Jean-Miguel Garrigues explores the grace of Christ; Serge-Thomas Bonino, O.P., describes the variety of medieval positions on nature and grace as seen in theological accounts of limbo; and Jean-Pierre Torrell, O.P., masterfully summarizes nature and grace according to Aquinas. The third section engages late-scholastic developments: Laurence Renault treats William of Ockham; Jacob Schmutz explores the shifting expositions of concurrence (divine and human causality) between the thirteenth and the seventeenth centuries; and Marie-Bruno Borde, O.C.D., presents the position of the Salmanticenses. Lastly, section four inquires into contemporary developments: Georges Cardinal Cottier, O.P., discusses natural mysticism and the theology of the religions; Gilbert Narcisse, O.P., traces the theme of grace in contemporary theology; Benoit-Dominique de La Soujeole, O.P., explores the situation of contemporary ecclesiology; and Bishop Andre-Mutien Leonard notes the value of the concept of;pure nature; within theological discussions. Reviews Henri de Lubac's 1946 Surnaturel set off a storm of controversy. Serge-Thomas Bonino's 2009 Surnaturel is likely to do the opposite. This carefully edited collection of essays will be met with gratitude across the theological spectrum. Meticulously translated by Robert Williams and Matthew Levering, the volume continues the discussion on pure nature and natural desire, initially set off by de Lubac's controversial book. The superb essays of this volume deal not just with de Lubac's own theological position, but also with his interpretation of St. Thomas, with medieval approaches to the issue of the supernatural, and with contemporary implications of the issue. For all those interested in de Lubac and in questions surrounding the nature-supernatural relationship, this book offers a wealth of insight. --Hans Boersma, Regent College, Vancouver, Canada Thomists of various stripes famously disagree about how to interpret Aquinas thought on the question of the final ends of man. Is man naturally proportioned to the supernatural life of grace, and if so in what sense? This superb volume of essays is essential reading for anyone interested in the controversy surrounding Henri de Lubac's Surnaturel, his questionable understanding of Aquinas on this issue, and the theology of grace and nature more generally. The volume shows on multiple fronts in a dispute that is both charitable and academically rigorous why there is not yet acquired consensus on the historical and theological theses of Surnaturel, and many of the essays give nuanced critiques of de Lubac s views. This book will be theologically controversial, and influential, for some time to come. --Fr. Thomas Joseph White, O.P., Regent College When the Jesuit theologian Henri de Lubac published Surnaturel in 1946, he irrevocably altered the Thomist understanding of grace. Even more, he changed Thomism itself, which now gives Thomas priority of place over his later commentators by embedding him in the patristic tradition he knew so well. Finally, and most crucially, man is now seen as inherently open to the supernatural. No longer is grace seen as topping out nature, like icing atop a layer cake. Unfortunately, de Lubac had made his case so convincingly that problems soon followed in his overpowering wake. After Vatican II, grace came to be seen as so intrinsic to man that the supernatural gifts of revelation, the Church, and the sacraments seemed, at best, merely symbolic reminders of an already realized redemption. Clearly the time has come, after the doldrums of the post-Vatican II Church, for a reassessment of Surnaturel, magnificently supplied here in this fascinating collection of essays by noted Carmelite, Dominican, Jesuit and lay scholars. Every chapter displays the art of the medieval disputatio to thrilling effect. As with medieval theology at its best, these contributions are all vigorously agued; but they are also uniformly charitable. This book is truly graceful in so many senses of that word. --Edward T. Oakes, S. J., Dominican House of Studies, Washington, DC
	The Eucharist Makes the Church: Henri De Lubac and John Zizioulas in Dialogue by Paul McPartlan. Eastern Christian Publications; 2nd edition (November 1, 2006). 368 pages. Henri de Lubac and John Zizioulas in Dialogue. Forewords by Edward Yarnold, SJ and Metropolitan John (Zizioulas) of Pergamon. This original and wide-ranging study treats many of the deepest theological issues in modern ecumenism, including our understanding of the Trinity and the nature of primacy, in a vigorous and accessible fashion. Reviews Review by Mark E. Chapman. The Ecumenical Review January 1994.
	Everything Is Sacred: Spiritual Exegesis in the Political Theology of Henri de Lubac (Theopolitical Visions) by Brian C Hollon. by Bryan C. Hollon. Wipf & Stock Pub (January 1, 2009). 224 pages. This is the definitive introduction to Henri de Lubacs spiritual interpretation of Scripture. Hollon addresses neglected aspects of de Lubacs theological renewal by examining the centrality and indispensability of spiritual exegesis in his work. In addition to exploring the historical and ecclesiastical context within which he worked, this book brings de Lubac into critical engagement with the more recent theological movements of postliberalism and radical orthodoxy.
	Meet Henri De Lubac by Rudolf Voderholzer and Michael J. (RTL) Miller. Ignatius Press; First American edition (November 30, 2007). 222 pages. This work traces the life and writings of this French Jesuit priest, revealing the importance and brilliance of de Lubac's works, the holiness of his life, and his deep love for the Church, which sometimes persecuted this faithful son and devoted priest. Pope John Paul II, who had the highest esteem for de Lubac, stopped his address during a major talk and acknowleged the presence of de Lubac saying, "I bow my head to Father Henri de Lubac." Subsequently, the Pope appointed the holy and beloved theologian a Cardinal. This book reveals who this great Churchman and theologian was, and the importance of his writings. Related The Cardinal, by Rudolf Voderholzer. (Excerpt from Meet Henri de Lubac: His Life and Work).
	The Suspended Middle: Henri De Lubac And The Debate Concerning The Supernatural by John Milbank. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. (September 21, 2005). 127 pages. French Jesuit Henri de Lubac (1896–1991) was arguably the most revolutionary theologian of the twentieth century. He proposed that Western theology since the early modern period had lost sight of the key to integrating faith and reason — the truth that all human beings are naturally oriented toward the supernatural. In this vital book John Milbank defends de Lubac’s claim and pushes it to a more radical extreme. The Suspended Middle shows how such a claim entails a ‘non-ontology’ suspended between rational philosophy and revealed theology, interweaving the two while denying them any pure autonomy from each other. As de Lubac’s writings on the supernatural implicitly dismantled the reigning Catholic (and perhaps Protestant) assumptions about Christian intellectual reflection, he met with opposition and even papal censure. Milbank’s sophisticated account of de Lubac delineates the French theologian’s relations with other proponents of the nouvelle théologie, such as Hans Urs von Balthasar, and clarifies the subtle but crucial divisions within recent Roman Catholic theology. The most substantial treatment in English of de Lubac’s as yet untranslated Surnaturel and the subsequent debate, Milbank’s Suspended Middle lays down an energetic challenge that every serious student of theology and Christian philosophy will want to engage. Related "The Life and Writings of Henri de Lubac" [Excerpt]
	The Theology of Henri De Lubac: An Overview (Communio Books) by Hans Urs von Balthasar Ignatius Press (October 1, 1991). 127 pages. Hans Urs von Balthasar prepared this overview of the theology and spirituality of Henri de Lubac, whom he calls friend and master, on the occasion of the latters's eightieth birthday. Beginning with personal reflections drawn from the then unpublished pages of "memoirs" which de Lubac placed in his hands, von Balthasar offers a review of all the major works of de Lubac. Von Balthasar illustrates here the wonderful synthetic power for which he is justly known: bringing the range as well as the organic unity of de Lubac's work clearly into view. The main themes of that work remain as important now as when de Lubac first took them up--perhaps even more important. And there is no one better able to discuss these themes than von Balthasar, a master of theology in his own right and de Lubac's great friend for over fifty years. Co-published with Communio Books. "Von Balthasar provides us with an astonishing summary of the massive theological output of Henri de Lubac. Perhaps it would not be an exaggeration to say that here we have one theological giant synthesizing the ecclesiocentric thought of another giant. The book offers a double benefit, for in it we get a glimpse of two great contemporary theologians—de Lubac and von Balthasar." — Fr. Kenneth Baker, S.J., Editor, Homiletic and Pastoral Review

Books by Henri De Lubac

	Vatican Council Notebooks: Volume 2 by Henri de Lubac. Ignatius Press; Annotated edition (October 5, 2016). 536 pages. "Surprising news!" With these words, Fr. Henri de Lubac,S.J., whose orthodoxy had been so vigorously attacked, responded to the announcement of his selection to participate in the 2nd Vatican Council. His participation as a theologian and expert would make a lasting impact on the Council, and his insights and comments are recorded in these long-awaited volumes. This is the second Volume of De Lubac's Notebooks, which trace the two years of preparation, the four conciliar sessions, and the three periods between sessions. The eminent theologian de Lubac is a sure guide for the reader, introducing us to the theological ferment of the Council and helping us to grasp what was at stake in the often animated debates. De Lubac does not hesitate to express clearly what he thinks of the theologians around him, of the new concepts appearing because of the Council, or of the problems he judges to be most serious for the Christian faith. These Notebooks invite us to a greater historical and theological understanding of the Council.
	Vatican Council Notebooks: Volume One by Henri de Lubac. Ignatius Press These Notebooks trace the two years of preparation for the 2nd Vatican Council, the four conciliar sessions, and the three periods between sessions. They give us the opportunity to assist at the discussion of the schemas (initial drafts of conciliar texts), but also, during the meetings of the theological commission and the sub-commissions, at the elaboration and correction of the texts submitted to the Council fathers. The eminent theologian de Lubac is a sure guide for the reader, introducing us to the theological ferment of the Council and helping us to grasp what was at stake in the often animated debates.
	Medieval Exegesis: The Four Senses of Scripture by Henri de Lubac. Eerdmans (September 1, 2009). 800 pages. Originally published in French as Exégèse médiévale, Henri de Lubac’s monumental, multivolume study of medieval exegesis and theology has remained one of the most significant works of modern biblical studies. Examining the prominent commentators of the Middle Ages and their texts, de Lubac elucidates the medieval approach to biblical interpretation that sought “the four senses” of Scripture, especially the dominant practice of attempting to uncover Scripture’s allegorical meaning.
	History and Spirit: The Understanding of Scripture According to Origen by Henri de Lubac. Ignatius Press; First Thus edition (April 2007). 507 pages. Origen (185-ca. 254), one of the most prolific and influential of the early Church Fathers, is best known to us for his Scripture exegesis. Henri de Lubac's History and Spirit is a landmark study of Origen's understanding of Scripture and his exegetical methods. In exploring Origen's efforts to interpret the four different senses of Scripture, de Lubac leads the reader through an immense and varied work to its center: Christ the Word.
	Corpus Mysticum: The Eucharist and the Church in the Middle Ages by Henri de Lubac S.J. (Author), Gemma Simmonds C.J. (Translator). University of Notre Dame Press; 1 edition (September 1, 2007). 360 pages. One of the major figures of twentieth-century Catholic theology, Henri Cardinal de Lubac was known for his attention to the doctrine of the church and its life within the contemporary world. In Corpus Mysticum de Lubac investigates a particular understanding of the relation of the church to the eucharist. He sets out the nature of the church as communion, a doctrine that influenced the thinking of the Second Vatican Council. With the publication of Corpus Mysticum, this important text of contemporary Catholic ecclesiology and sacramental theology is available for the first time in an English translation. Its publication fills a significant gap in the range of de Lubac's works available to English-speaking scholars. It will be an important resource in the widespread and ongoing ecumenical discussions among Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox theologians. "This translation of Corpus Mysticum is a gift to medieval historians, liturgists, ecclesiologists, and any Christian interested in a profoundly prophetic reading of one of the central mysteries of her or his religion. This is one of a very few books that has formed our present consciousness of who we are as Catholics and Christians. To preserve access to it will significantly aid our attempts to move into a future to some extent already foreshadowed in de Lubac's study of the past." —Gary Macy, University of San Diego
	More Paradoxes by Henri de Lubac. Ignatius Pr (March 2002). 131 pages. Following up his first book, Paradoxes of Faith, containing wonderful, short reflections on themes of Christianity and the spiritual life, this second book presents more thought-provoking gems that once again illustrate the magnificent language, clarity, spiritual understanding and shrewd discernment of the great theologian and spiritual writer Henri de Lubac, S.J. These insights by Father de Lubac on a variety of subjects are rich and profound meditations, aphorisms and pieces of wisdom that express the freshness, incongruities and challenges of life. This is a book of inspiration by a master of the spiritual life that provides excellent material for prayer and meditation, as well as great homily ideas for the clergy.
	Scripture in the Tradition by Henri de Lubac (Author), Peter Casarella (Introduction). The Crossroad Publishing Company (February 1, 2001). 268 pages. The Crossroad Publishing Company once again makes available this examination of the quality and quantity of the "spiritual understanding" of Scripture that developed during the Christian centuries. Far from believing that modern exegetical insights and abilities make earlier interpretations of Scripture naive curiosity, de Lubac communicates to the modern reader his own appreciation and knowledge of the irreplaceably creative role that exegesis of the church fathers and of medieval theologians played in the survival and formulating of Christianity. Even more fundamentally, he links the process of exegesis to the permanent foundation of Christian thought, demonstrating that all forms of scriptural exegesis are part of the ongoing reflective life of God and the process by which the human race learns to share in this mystery.
	Medieval Exegesis : The Four Senses of Scripture, Vol. 2 by Henri de Lubac. Eerdmans; First American edition (October 4, 2000). 453 pages. Originally published in French as Exégèse médiévale, Henri de Lubac's multivolume study of medieval exegesis and theology has remained one of the most significant works of modern biblical studies. Available now for the first time in English, this long-sought-after second volume of Medieval Exegesis, translated by E. M. Macierowski, advances the effort to make de Lubac's major study accessible to the widest possible audience.
	Augustinianism and Modern Theology by Henri de Lubac (Author), Louis Dupré (Introduction). The Crossroad Publishing Company; Revised ed. edition (May 1, 2000). 312 pages. This companion volume to The Mystery of the Supernatural focuses on the idea of pure nature and its origins in nominalist readings of Augustine.
	The Splendor of The Church by Henri de Lubac. Ignatius Press; New edition edition (January 1, 1999). 384 pages. Considered by many the bright jewel among the many enriching books of Cardinal Henri de Lubac, this work is a hymn to the beauty of the Church, under some of whose leaders for a time he unjustly suffered. The Splendor of the Church is, in a sense, a personal testimony of the great theologian's humility and love of the Church of Christ. It is also a classic work in the theology of the Church. Indeed, de Lubac's profound insights significantly contributed to Vatican II's Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, Lumen Gentium, especially in its treatment on the Church as mystery and as the Sacrament of Christ.
	Medieval Exegesis: The Four Senses of Scripture, Vol. 1 (Ressourcement: Retrieval & Renewal in Catholic Thought) by Henri de Lubac. Eerdmans (April 17, 1998). 489 pages. Originally published in French as Exégèse médiévale, Henri de Lubac's multivolume study of medieval exegesis and theology has remained one of the most significant works of modern biblical studies. Available now for the first time in English, this long-sought-after volume is an essential addition to the library of those whose study leads them into the difficult field of biblical interpretation. The first volume in de Lubac's multivolume work begins his comprehensive historical and literary study of the way Scripture was interpreted by the church of the Latin Middle Ages. Examining the prominent commentators of the Middle Ages and their texts, de Lubac discusses the medieval approach to biblical interpretation that sought "the four senses" of Scripture, especially the dominant practice of attempting to uncover Scripture's allegorical meaning. Though Bible interpreters from the Enlightenment era on have criticized such allegorizing as part of the "naivete of the Middle Ages," de Lubac insists that a full understanding of this ancient Christian exegesis provides important insights for us today.
	The Mystery of the Supernatural by Henri de Lubac. The Crossroad Publishing Company (May 1, 1998). 286 pages. First published in 1965, this book represents a refinement and further development of the core thesis that Henri de Lubac had originally put forward many years earlier in a bold and controversial work in which he first called into question the idea of pure nature.
	Theology in History: The Light of Christ, Disputed Questions and Resistance to Nazism by Henri de Lubac. Ignatius Press (October 1, 1996) 625 pages. The unique insight and impressive scholarship of the eminent French theologian Cardinal Henri de Lubac are clearly evident in this volume of collected articles and essays. An article of great timeliness on the priesthood according to St. John Chrysostom as well as an important study of the long debate over the salvation of Origen are among the texts included in the first section, devoted to patristics and Christian humanism. The second section, comprised entirely of an unpublished work on tripartite anthropology tracing the body-soul-spirit distinction from St. Paul, the patristic tradition, St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas, up to the modern period, will prove an invaluable guide for further study and reflection. The section concludes with a beautiful text entitled "The Light of Christ", a prayerful meditation written during the dark hours of Nazi domination. Section three deals with disputed theological questions such as the internal causes of the disappearance of the sense of the sacred, the mystery of the supernatural, and the development of dogma. He also has a section on Christian resistance to Nazism and anti-semitism, as well as two sections on the thought and writings of several important modern spiritual writers.
	The Discovery of God by Henri de Lubac. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.; First Thus edition (December 18, 1996). 232 pages. The Discovery of God contains the guiding thread of all of Henri de Lubac's work: the idea of God and the life of the spirit.
The Drama of Atheist Humanism	by Henri de Lubac (Author), Mark Sebanc (Translator) Ignatius Pr (October 1, 1995). 593 pages. Henri de Lubac, S.J. traces the origin of 19th century attempts to construct a humanism apart from God, the sources of contemporary atheism which purports to have "moved beyond God." The three persons he focuses on are Feuerbach, who greatly influenced Marx; Nietzsche, who represents nihilism; and Comte, who is the father of all forms of positivism. He then shows that the only one who really responded to this ideology was Dostoevsky, a kind of profit who criticizes in his novels this attempt to have a society without God. Despite their historical and scholarly appearance, de Lubac's work clearly refers to the present. As he investigates the sources of modern atheism, particularly in its claim to have definitely moved beyond the idea of God, he is thinking of an ideology prevalent today in East and West which regards the Christian faith as a completely outdated.
	At the Service of the Church: Henri de Lubac Reflects on the Circumstances That Occasioned His Writings by Henri de Lubac. Ignatius Press; n edition (October 1, 1992). 411 pages. This book includes essays, notes, and reviews reflecting the fundamental ideas and key writings of Henri de Lubac, one of the greatest theologians of the twentieth century. In these pages Cardinal de Lubac explains the origin, meaning, and fate of his works, in the context of his life, studies, personal relationships, as well as his legendary exiles, and his later vindication. At the Service of the Church provides crucial insights into the work of a man who profoundly shaped the Church, including the teaching of the Second Vatican Council. No student of contemporary theology can afford to neglect de Lubac's work and this book gives readers a unique perspective on that work. This volume is also an important source for understanding the renewed theological debates regarding nature and grace, the natural desire for God, and the authentic interpretation of St. Thomas Aquinas.
	Christian Resistance to Anti-Semitism: Memories from 1940-1944 by Henri de Lubac (Author), Elizabeth Englund (Translator). Ignatius Press (April 1990). 261 pages.
	Theological Fragments by Henri de Lubac (Author), Rebecca Howell Balinski (Translator). Ignatius Press (April 1, 1989). 441 pages.
	Catholicism: Christ and the Common Destiny of Man by Henri de Lubac. Ignatius Press (November 1, 1988). 443 pages. With a Foreword by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger/Pope Benedict XVI. This book first appeared just over fifty years ago. It is the pilgrimatic work of one of the 20th century's greatest theologians. Deeply rooted in tradition, it breaks ground and sows seeds which will bear their fruit in the Second Vatican Council's central documents on the Church. Here, Henri de Lubac, one of the giants of 20th century theology, gathers from throughout the breadth and length of Catholic tradition elements which he synthesizes to show the essentially social and historical character of the Catholic Church and how this worldwide and agelong dimension of the Church is the only adequate matrix for the fulfillment of the person within society and the transcendence of the person towards God. This book is a classic that deserves to be read and reread by every educated Catholic.
	Letters of Etienne Gilson to Henri De Lubac (English and French Edition) by Etienne Gilson, Henri De Lubac. Ignatius Pr; First English Edition edition (April 1, 1988). 247 pages.
	Paradoxes of Faith by Henri de Lubac (Author), Sadie Kreilkamp (Translator). Ignatius Press (April 1, 1987). 236 pages. These profound pieces are the fruit of Cardinal Henri de Lubac's lifelong study of the paradoxes of the Christian faith. They are rich and thought-provoking gems, spiritual aphorisms, and meditative reflections, which explore the incongruities and the challenges of the spiritual life. De Lubac’s magnificent language, clarity, spiritual understanding, and shrewd discernment are on display in every chapter, as he discusses a variety of topics including Christian witness, incarnation, suffering, and faith. His mastery of the subjects is the result not only of intellectual study but of a life lived for Christ even in the darkest of times, as when he participated in the underground resistance to the Nazi occupation of France.
	Christian Faith: An Essay on the Structure of the Apostles' Creed by Henri de Lubac. Ignatius Press (May 1, 1986). 353 pages. De Lubac shows that Christian Tradition is a living force and in the Apostle's Creed there is both depth and relevance for today's understanding of the Christian message.
	Brief Catechesis on Nature and Grace by Henri De Lubac. Ignatius Pr; First American edition (May 28, 1984). 308 pages. An English translation of an 1980 Catholic book originally written in French by a renowned theologian, with three major sections and five appendices.
	The Motherhood of the Church: Followed by Particular Churches in the Universal Church by Henri de Lubac. Ignatius Press (January 1, 1983). 364 pages. Priests are called "Father" and the Church is called "Mother". Our "Holy Mother the Church" is a traditional way of speaking among Catholics. But are these outdated, sentimental expressions? Or do they express a deep insight into the nature of the Church as a whole and of ordained ministry in relation to the Church? Is there a genuine theological meaning to the traditional reference to the Church as "she"? Henri de Lubac addresses such questions with his usual profound erudition. He deeply mines the Christian tradition in examining the Motherhood of the Church. Focusing on the Church's Motherhood allows this great theologian to unite two profound truths: the Church is the Bride of Christ and the Church is Christ's Mystical Body. As de Lubac shows, the Church cannot be rightly considered apart from Christ and his saving work, both of which should be understood in light of the mystery of the Church's maternity.
	Eternal Feminine: A Study of the Poem by Teilhard de Chardin Followed by Teilhard and the Problems of Today by Henri de Lubac (Author), René Hague (Translator). Collins (March 15, 1971). 256 pages.