Distributed Like Bread: Hans Urs von Balthasar (Ciraulo)

Theologian Hans Urs von Balthasar (1905-1988) was one of the most important Catholic voices of the twentieth century. In his view, a priest is called to imitate the Eucharistic Christ, who gives himself with abandon for the life of the world. He should aspire to be as common and as humble as bread, available to be blessed, broken, and distributed. Through his availability, God Himself becomes present to the world and the world becomes present to God.

This concise book presents Balthasar’s theology of discernment and vocation in a way that responds to current questions regarding the viability of the priestly and religious vocations today. Balthasar offers indispensable resources for understanding the relationship between personal freedom and vocation, showing how one becomes a person precisely through the reception of a definitive mission, a mission that makes a person truly ecclesial and thus open to both God and to others.

While the book is particularly focused on the priesthood, it will be of interest to priests, religious, and all those discerning God’s call. A short epilogue looks at Balthasar as a model for the theological vocation.