Mystique, glory and cross: Theological Encounter between H. U. von Balthasar and Adrienne von Speyr

Abstract

Christian Mystique’s culmination is to be found in the reciprocal relation between glory (resurrectioin) and cross. Result of this relation is the true christian happiness, the paschal joy, and the engagement in the world. Hans Urs von Balthasar has expressed this basic intuition in his great work “The Glory of the Lord. A Theological Aestetics”. He hasformulated this point of view under the influence of his relationship with the convert mystical woman Adrienne von Speyr . His dialogues with this mystical woman from Basilea (Switzerland) enriched deeply his theological thinking. After twenty years of Urs von  althasars’death it is highly interesting to explore this matter in order to understand better his theology.