Confession: 2nd Edition

Front Cover
Ignatius Press, Mar 22, 2017 - Religion - 296 pages

In this second edition of her profound book on confession, which theologian Hans Urs von Balthasar calls "one of her most central works", Adrienne von Speyr discusses the moral and practical aspects of this sacrament  in great depth. The most complete spiritual treatise on confession ever written, the book covers conversion, scruples, contrition, spiritual direction, laxity, frequency of confession, confessions of religious and lay people, and even confessions of saints. 

The most intriguing element in von Speyr's understanding of confession, fully developed in this volume, is its trinitarian and christological basis. The Cross is the archetypal confession, and Christian sacramental confession is thus an imitation of Christ in the strict sense. Confession examines the enormous fruitfulness of this dogmatic basis from many perspectives, giving a wealth of suggestions that both the theological expert and the layman will find very helpful. Its practical applicability to one's own confession emerges from every page.

 

Contents

FOREWORD by Father John Riccardo
9
THE SEARCH
15
CONFESSION IN THE LIFE
26
THE CONFESSION ON THE CROSS
58
THE FOUNDING OF CONFESSION
72
THE CHURCH AND CONFESSION
100
THE PENITENT
115
TYPES OF CONFESSION
131
THE ACT OF CONFESSION
166
LIVING FROM THE GRACE
221
THE OFFICE OF CONFESSOR
241
THE CONFESSION OF THE SAINTS
290
Copyright

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About the author (2017)

Adrienne von Speyr  (1902-1967) was a Swiss medical doctor, convert to Catholicism, a mystic, wife and author of over 60 books on spirituality and theology. She collaborated closely with the renowned theologian Hans Urs Von Balthasar, her confessor for 27 years, and they co-founded the Community of Saint John. Her numerous writings, published by Ignatius Press, are recognized by leading theologians and writers as a major contribution to the mystical and spiritual writings of the Church. Among her most important works are Book of All Saints, Confession, The World of Prayer, Handmaid of the Lord, and The Passion from Within

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