In the new issue Verba Theologica (2/2024) can you find these studies:
Hierarchical Magisterium and Academic Theology
David BOUMA
This article explores the relationship between the hierarchical magisterium and academic theology, emphasizing their interconnectedness and the importance of collaboration for the vitality and mission of the Church. The author analyzes the historical development of the role of bishops and theologians as teachers in the Church and points out the need for mutual respect and understanding between bishops and theological faculties. The article also reflects on the current challenges and tensions between the two, especially in the context of academic freedom and the autonomy of theological institutions. The author proposes principles for effective communication and cooperation that should form the basis for a constructive relationship between bishops and theological faculties. Finally, the article stresses the importance of dialogue and mutual aid in overcoming differences and achieving the common goal of strengthening the Church in contemporary world.
God in the Letter to Philemon
Juraj FENÍK
One would be hard-pressed to find references to God in Philemon, for God is barely mentioned in Paul’s shortest letter. Apart from two explicit references which use the noun θεός, the writing contains only two other allusions to God’s activity. While some authors detect a number of echoes of God’s doing in Philemon, this study, adopting a stricter methodology, argues that only four verses (3, 4, 15, 22) can be listed as instances of theological language. By analyzing those references to God, the article summarizes the theology of Philemon and sketches the theological contribution of this letter within Pauline literature.
To Create a True Catholic Climate Again. On the Reception of the Pontificate of Benedict XVI with Special Reference to the Catholic Church in Czech Republic
Tomáš PETRÁČEK
In this study the author examines the historical development of the contemporary papacy with a focus on the role of the Pope within the Catholic Church. In the first part, he analyses the ministry of Pope Benedict XVI in the context of his previous theological and curial career. The focus of the study is an assessment of how he has handled key roles as the head of the Catholic Church. The second part then offers an analysis of possible reasons why Pope Benedict XVI is so popular in the Czech Catholic and more generally Central European context, which contrasts with a more critical reflection on his legacy in his native Germany. It concludes by offering impulses for further reflection, including the question of whether it is appropriate to continue the problematic practice of rapid canonization of popes of the last century.
Theological Aspects of the Celebration of Marriage in the Esztergom Tradition after the Council of Trent
Andrej KRIVDA, Pavol HRABOVECKÝ
This study examines the theological focus of the marriage ceremony in the Esztergom tradition following the Council of Trent. It compares the Esztergom marriage rite, as outlined in the Rituale Strigoniense of 1625 under Cardinal Peter Pázmány, with the Rituale Romanum of 1614. The analysis highlights key textual and ritualistic differences, particularly in marital consent, the blessing of rings, and the use of multiple languages. The study further explores the theological implications of these variations, emphasizing a richer, more sacramental understanding of marriage in the Esztergom tradition, contrasting with the more juridical approach of the Roman rite. The study also explores how the Esztergom ritual’s use of “amare” in Rituale Strigoniense aligns better with contemporary theological views of marriage as a personal, sacramental union of love, especially in light of post-Vatican II teachings..
Fear in ancient Greece and in the Book of Judith: A Comparison
Róbert LAPKO, Dušan DEMJANOVIČ
One of the strongest emotions that condition a person‘s outward actions is fear. The Bible offers examples of a wide range of emotions experienced by characters, from joy to sorrow. More than potential human fear of something that might harm us, however, we recognize in the Bible the fear of God. The Book of Judith, written at a time of strong Hellenistic influence on the Jewish people, provides the reader with a remarkable insight into the actions of characters under the influence of an abundance, lack, or excess of fear. This article attempts to offer just such a perspective on the understanding of the emotion of fear in ancient Greece and its comparison with the Book of Judith.
The Identity of man – Potentiality or Actuality? „Openness“ and „Closure“ of Human Being in the Existentialism of Pavol Strauss
Peter Juan Pablo Mária BAKO
Aristotelian-Thomistic philosophy has long presented man as possessing an unchanging being. The presence of this permanent being guarantees that the individual cannot escape his permanent identity, subjectivity, personal self, or his enduring human nature (essence, definition). We might say that man is essentially and substantially “closed” – without any possibility for ontological change. Existentialism, which proclaims the “openness” of human nature, radically breaks from this position. Essential identity is seen only as a plastic, changeable, impermanent instance – and thus, the product of subjective decisions and temporal creation. The relevance of Pavol Strauss’s philosophical ideas to the current issue lies in the fact that the beliefs of this Nitra-based philosopher are, on the one hand, explicitly Thomistic, while, on the other, his reflections align closely with existentialist ideas. Therefore, Strauss’s unique contribution lies in his original attempt to reconcile the seemingly irreconcilable – to acknowledge an open ontological status of man without disturbing his closed ontological nature. In this sense, he distinguishes between two concepts: actualization and actuality.
