Henri De Lubac: Christian Theology

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Henri de Lubac was a Christian theologian who studied and discussed his concern with many aspects in the Christian theological context. He had focused on ideas such as the use of the terms ‘natural’ and ‘supernatural’ within Christian theology. His research in this area had lead into de Lubac furthering his studies in the medieval exegesis; as well as, his study in ecclesiology. Some of de Lubac’s work and publishing’s had lead him in troubling situations, in particular his work on the idea of ‘supernatural’ and his publication ‘Surnaturel’. De Lubac’s study and writings of ecclesiology have influenced the Second Vatican Council, and his writings on medieval exegesis helped him regain his acceptance into Christian society. Henri de Lubac’s perspective and position on these topics will be discussed throughout this paper; as well as, the effect his studies had on theology and his theological career.
Born in Cambrai, France in 1896 de, Lubac joined the Society of Jesus in Lyon, in 1913. He had served the French army during World War one, and as a result suffered severe wounds to the head (Milbank, 2005). He was educated at the Jesuit Houses of Study at Jersey and Fourviére, and ordained a priest in 1927. De Lubac taught the fundamentals of theology at the Catholic University of Lyon up until 1961 (Voderholzer, 2008). Along with one of his students, Jean Daniélou, de Lubac founded the sources Chrétiennes, which is a collection of Christian texts (++). Although during his career at the University of Lyon he had a few interruptions. First during World War two de Lubac was forced into hiding due to his part in the French Resistance. Secondly, during most of the nineteen fifties de Lubac was temporarily suspended from teaching at Lyon (V...

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...sire fulfilled. According to Milbank (2005), “de Lubac sought to recover the medieval use of the supernatural paradox (pp. x). He had studied the historical use of ‘nature’ and ‘supernatural’ within Christianity, and he had found that originally the terms ‘nature’ and ‘moral’ were used as contrasts. Where ‘nature’ was seen as the physical creations, and ‘moral’ was the human spirit that was free and contained personal thoughts. De Lubac saw grace and nature as coexisting instead of two separate notions. Where grace brings about nature, and grace fulfills natural desires. De Lubac found the use of ‘nature’ and supernature’ as two separate ideas and terms to be contradictory. It can be argued that humans have a primary purpose and desire to achieve knowledge of god. Yet this longing to accomplish this desire can also be seen as an act of grace, instead of a necessity.

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