In the new issue Verba Theologica (2/2022) can you find these studies:
Transformations of Implementation and Perception of Synodality in the History of the Catholic Church: Three Czech Synodality
Tomáš PETRÁČEK
The study deals with three specific synodality processes, which the Czech Catholic Church organised in the 19th and 20th century. The first instance is Prague Province Synod in 1860, which was followed by other diocese synods in the second half of the 19th century. The second process consisted in repeated gatherings of Land Syndicate of Catholic Clergy, a professional organisation of clerics, at the turn of the 19the and 20th century, which originally started as an effort to reform ecclesiastical art, but later formulated reform goals regarding ecclesiastical lifestyle as well. The third processes revolved around the Plenary Assembly of the Czech Catholic Church in years 1997 to 2005. The study gives a description of the proceedings and outcomes of respective synodality processes and also offers an analysis of their strong and weak points and in the conclusion it formulates several principles which play decisive role in the success or failure of the whole endeavour.
The Phenomenon of Paradox in the Ecclesiological Vision
of Henri De Lubac
Stanislav OREČNÝ
The study analyzes the significance of paradox in the ecclesiological vision of Henri de Lubac (1896-1991) based on some of his writings. The French theologian presents paradox in an original way in order to find ways of drawing on biblical and patristic insights and to address the issues raised by the modern world for the Church. Paradox allows one to see the union of opposites while maintaining their individual distinctions. From the paradoxical point of view, de Lubac defines the Church as a mystery, keeping her human and divine elements in tension. This Church is relational in the divine, mystical, sacramental, historical, and social dimension. In it, there arise and live the paradoxes of the natural and supernatural dignity of man, of individual and collective salvation, of his temporal-eternal and visible-invisible aspect, of holiness and sin. The “paradoxical” Church is the missionary Church on the road to holiness – the Church that proclaims God’s salvation to all.
An Outline of the Theology of Sacraments According to Ph. J. Rosato: Its Relevance and Potential for Current Ecclesial Context
Ľubomír HLAD.
The year 2021 brought several reasons to remember the Rev. Philip J. Rosato, a Jesuit priest and longtime professor of sacramental theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome (1979-2004). The particular occasion was the tenth anniversary of his death (July 20, 2011) and the eightieth anniversary of his birth (July 7, 1941). The biographical dates also include thirty years since the publication of his most widely read work: An Introduction to the Theology of the Sacraments (Introduzione alla teologia dei sacramenti, 1992). The pastoral visit of Pope Francis to Slovakia (12.9.-15.9.2021) offered an additional reason to remember him. His words on the vocation of Christians not to hoard bread but to share it strikingly recall the essence of Rosatos’ sacramental doctrine. It is the thesis that the foundation of Christian orthopraxis lies in the sacramental liturgy, which is a pneumatic recollection and re-presentation of Jesus‘ prophetic gestures (gestures in favor of justice and gestures of self-giving culminated on Calvary) into which the faithful are grafted. At the same time, they are encouraged by sacramental grace to live in conformity with the ethical dimension of the gesture, walking toward the full realization of the Father‘s kingdom. Rosato‘s sacramental theology, emphasizing the ethical dimension of sacramental grace, was formulated in response to the ongoing sacramental crisis of the Western Church. If the focus of Pope‘s messages are diverse variations on the theme of active protagonism of justice, hope, compassion, reconciliation, solidarity, fidelity, or service that spring from the contemplation of the cross - the founding principle of all the sacraments of the Church and their efficacy - then the theological concept of sacramentality by Ph. J. Rosato receives from his fellow Jesuit a certain implicit recognition. The study is divided into three parts (anamnestic, indicative-explanatory and prognostic); its purpose is to recall the personality of Ph. J. Rosato, his theology and the interpretation of the focal points of his sacramental theology, as well as a prognostic outline of the significance of an ethically designed sacramental theology for the Church in the time of the new evangelization and pastoral conversion.
The Reception of Psalm 110 in Hebrews 5
Róbert LAPKO
Martin SEDLÁK.
This article focuses on the reception of Psalm 110 in ch. 5 of Hebrews. It begins by briefly introducing the general usage and method of identifying OT-quotes, with a brief statistical overview of them in this NT-writing. It then discusses this royal psalm , which is the pillar of Christology throughout the NT, and its application in the Epistle. He discusses the Aaronic and Melchizedek priesthoods. The focus of the present study is the function of Ps 110:4 and its incorporation with the exegesis in ch. 5. It compares the accounts of the human high priest and Christ, analyzing Hebr 5:1-10 in detail. He also suggests other places of application of Ps 110 and the related Ps 2 in the Epistle.
New Inspirations from the Ecological Stimulus of Hildegard von Bingen
Peter VOLEK
This article looks at the inspiration from the ideas of Hildegard of Bingen to change people’s behavior to solve the current ecological crisis. This topic is very actual, it was also addressed by Pope Francis in the encyclical Laudato Si’. Hildegard of Bingen based her works on the visions she had. According to her, the world was created in harmony and in the fullness of life, which manifested itself in nature as greenness (viriditas). It was violated by the first sin of Adam. Jesus’ redemptive work restored this harmony. Every person can restore harmony in nature by striving for a virtuous life, by sins and vices he moves away from it and thereby causes spiritual decline in the soul. It also contributes to the destruction of greenness in nature and the increase in dryness (ariditas). Hildegard of Bingen recommends abandoning extreme anthropocentrism in the relation to the nature and obedience to God. Compared to the encyclical of Pope Francis Laudato Si’, Hildegard considers the cause of dryness and ecological damage not only ecological sins, but all sins, because human actions affect all things all things that are interconnected.
