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Light in Darkness: Hans Urs von Balthasar and the Catholic Doctrine of Christ’s Descent into Hell is unavailable, but you can change that!

“He descended into hell.” Hans Urs von Balthasar, one of the most influential theologians of the twentieth century, placed this affirmation of the Nicene Creed at the heart of his reflection on the world-altering events of Holy Week, asserting that this identification of God with the human experience is at the “absolute center” of the Christian faith. Yet is such a descent to suffering really...

contrary to us. And he hath taken the same out of the way, fastening it to the cross: [emphasis added]/And despoiling the principalities and powers, he hath exposed them confidently in open show, triumphing over them in himself. Perhaps the most significant Scripture passage of all with regard to Christ’s death on the cross as the locus of redemption is His final word from the cross, Consummatum est (Jn 19:30), “It is finished,” or better, “It is completed” or “It is consummated.” A dying man has
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