Thomistic Institute – Prof Marianne Schlosser

On Monday 13th May, the Oxford Thomistic Institute will be hosting Professor Marianne Schlosser, of the University of Vienna, to give a lecture entitled: “A friend particularly near to me”: St Bonaventure’s influence on the theology of Joseph Ratzinger. The lecture will begin at 7.30pm in the aula, and will be followed by refreshments. All are welcome.

Abstract: Joseph Ratzinger was convinced that “behind every great theologian there is a saint“ in the background. If this is true, there might be several saints behind Ratzinger himself, but one of his “particularly dear friends” is Bonaventure of Bagnoregio. The friendship began with Ratzinger’s habilitation thesis (completed in 1955), that focused on Bonaventure’s conception of revelation, on metaphysics and salvation history. Ratzinger not only intended a medieval research study, but first of all a contribution to fundamental theological questions. He made an important contribution to the understanding of Bonaventure, on the one hand, and on the other, the Seraphic doctor’s thoughts had a great influence on his own theological work, such as his commentary on Dei Verbum or his concept of theological science. The continuing relevance of Bonaventure was highlighted by Pope Benedict XVI in particular in his catecheses (2010), describing Bonaventure’s profile (and obviously his own ideal): prayer and intellectual endeavour – instead of being a “manager”; reason and faith to search of theological insight; stability and dynamism as a minister of the Church; the virtue of hope rather than belief in a utopia; and non-voluntaristic ‘primacy of love’: wisdom and holiness.

Venue: Democracy Endangered: The Case of Brazil Array ( [lat] => 0 [lng] => 0 )