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Philosophy Religious

The Ontological and Psychological Constitution of Christ

Volume 7

by (author) Bernard Lonergan

edited by Michael Shields, Frederick Crowe & Robert Doran

Publisher
University of Toronto Press
Initial publish date
Jun 2002
Category
Religious, Christology, Philosophy, Psychology of Religion
  • Paperback / softback

    ISBN
    9780802084743
    Publish Date
    Jun 2002
    List Price
    $58.00
  • eBook

    ISBN
    9781442681958
    Publish Date
    Nov 2005
    List Price
    $136.00
  • Hardback

    ISBN
    9780802036377
    Publish Date
    Jun 2002
    List Price
    $108.00

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Description

Bernard Lonergan's De constitutione Christi was written to accompany a course being taught in Latin at the Gregorian University, Rome during the 1950s and 60s. This little-known treatise, volume seven in the series, is presented in English translation, accompanied by the original Latin text.

 

Here, Lonergan tackles the metaphysical and psychological questions raised by the unique makeup of Christ, who is both fully human and fully divine, according to traditional Christian theology. His analysis falls into two parts: ontological and psychological. In dealing with the ontology of the incarnate Word, Lonergan explores the notion of person, and in doing so provides an interesting treatment of the existential question of personal authenticity raised by Kierkegaard and treated by Lonergan under the heading of Existez. Moving into his psychological analysis, he argues that consciousness is not a matter of introspection, a perception of oneself as object, but rather an awareness of oneself as subject. He then applies this understanding to the self-awareness of Christ, with particular reference to the question of Christ's knowledge of himself as both human and divine.

 

This book is a foundational text in critical areas of contemporary theology; however, it was never widely circulated and has remained effectively unknown to contemporary scholars. With this translation the work will finally be made accessible.

About the authors

Bernard Lonergan (1904-1984), a professor of theology, taught at Regis College, Harvard University, and Boston College. An established author known for his Insight and Method in Theology, Lonergan received numerous honorary doctorates, was a Companion of the Order of Canada in 1971 and was named as an original member of the International Theological Commission by Pope Paul VI.

Bernard Lonergan's profile page

Michael G. Shields is the librarian at the Lonergan Research Institute, Regis College, University of Toronto, and translator of several volumes in the Collected Works of Bernard Lonergan.

Michael Shields' profile page

Frederick E. Crowe is a co-founder of the Lonergan Research Institute and a professor emeritus at the Toronto School of Theology, University of Toronto.

Frederick Crowe's profile page

Robert M. Doran is the Emmett Doerr Chair in Systematic Theology and a professor in the Department of Theology at Marquette University. He is the general editor of the Collected Works of Bernard Lonergan.

Robert Doran's profile page