Pontifical University of the Holy Cross, Rome, June 7, 2023
Speaker: Filip Veber (Faculty of Theology of the University of Ljubljana)
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Before analysing Ratzinger’s theological epistemology, we posed the question of what theology is, and proposed three dimensions. Firstly, theology is the word about God, it is the word with which we proclaim the great works of God. Second dimension: theology is a dialogue (dia-logos, literally dia – “through” and logos – word, speech, reason). What is theology, if not a continuous dialogue between God and his people? St. Paul affirms that it is the Holy Spirit in our hearts (Rm 5:5; 8:15; 8:26) who leads into the dialogue with God. Third dimension: theology is Theo-logia, the (W)word, Logos of God (Heb 1:1-2). The only begotten Son (Jn 1,18) is the primary exegete of the Father not only with His words, but even more with His works and His whole being, is the theology incarnate, where he whom no one has ever seen, has become visible to us.
After that we outlined what is “kneeling theology”, as Ratzinger’s theological epistemology can be called, because of its profound spiritual mark. This expression refers to Hans Urs von Balthasar, who spoke about the dialectic between kneeling and sitting theology and about theology and holiness as “sisters in spirit” who inextricably belong together. Ratzinger is firm: «The man who learns to believe learns also to kneel. And faith no longer familiar with kneeling would be sick at its core» from which it follows the connection between prayer and theological research «where theology has to radiate prayerful search». In this we also outlined the ecclesial character of Ratzinger’s theology, and its connection with the liturgy.
In this last part we outlined some dimensions of the “epistemological seriousness and rationality of faith” which is so central for Ratzinger, together with his notion of “hermeneutics of faith”. Then we looked at some passages from Ratzinger’s trilogy Jesus of Nazareth, Introduction to Christianity and Deus Caritas est where the character of theological epistemology of Ratzinger as “kneeling theology” is the most evident.
