Christ's Descent into Hell

John Paul II, Joseph Ratzinger, and Hans Urs von Balthasar on the Theology of Holy Saturday

Lyra Pitstick

• Publisher: Eerdmans
• Year: 2016
• Print ISBN: 9780802869050
• eBook ISBN: 9781467444927
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Christian Denominations

Pope John Paul II and Joseph Ratzinger (now Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI) both held Hans Urs von Balthasar in high regard. Many assume that their praise of Balthasar indicates approval of his controversial theology of Holy Saturday, but this book by Lyra Pitstick shows that conclusion to be far from accurate.
            Pitstick looks at what John Paul II, Ratzinger, and Balthasar have in fact said regarding the creedal affirmation that Christ “descended into hell,” and she shows that there are radical differences in their views. She then addresses a number of important questions that follow from these differences.
            This careful, concise exploration of what three of the twentieth century’s most famous Catholic theologians had to say about Christ’s descent into hell provides an accessible take on a difficult point of theological debate.

Table of contents

• List of Tables
• Acknowledgments
• Note to Reader
• Introduction
• 1. Balthasar on the Descent
• 2. Ratzinger on the Descent
• 3. Ratzinger on the Descent after His Election as Benedict XVI
• 4. John Paul II on the Descent
• 5. A Significant Sidenote on Schönborn
• 6. The Crux of the Problem: Who Is Right?
• 7. The Crux, Continued:John Paul II’s and Ratzinger/Benedict XVI’s Praise of Balthasar
• Benedictus Deus’ Definition
• Roman Catechism (Catechism of the Council of Trent)on Christ’s Descent
• Catechism of the Catholic Church on Christ’s Descent
• Pope John Paul II’s Catechesis on Christ’s Descent
• The Passion and Triumph of Eternal Spring
• Bibliography