THE BRIDE

by S.J. Daniel Berrigan ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 12, 1959

Subtitled Essays in the Church, this is a brilliant intellectual presentation, often almost poetic in style, of a comprehensive vision of the Church as the Mystical Body of Christ, embracing and giving its basic meaning to all of human history. Idea follows idea, and relationships are established among ideas with breathtaking rapidity, combining to produce an overwhelming vision of the Church as identified with Christ, and the members of the Church--in a sense, all mankind and the entire material creation--as reciprocally identified mystically with Christ. A theology of history is developed around this central conception and the life of the Christian is placed in a context of a mission of co-redemption of history. All history is moving toward the Second Coming, when, in total self-consciousness, will be revealed the mystical identity of the Church (the 'Bride of Christ') with Christ Himself, and through the Church, the mystical identity of mankind and all earthly history with Christ. This vision is applied to pagan history, to Israel and to Christianity. In the last-named, ""all things are made new"" and the true meaning of the person, of the Christian's task of suffering, prayer, the Mass and the life of the saints, can be seen in their true historical and trans-historical meaning. Many chapters of this book will make the heads of many readers swim. Towards the end of the book, the heady mood subsides, and the material is easier to digest. On the whole, this is strong meat from both the religious and purely intellectual points of view.

Pub Date: May 12, 1959

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Macmillan

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 1959

Categories: NONFICTION