<abstract xml:lang="en" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Here in the early 21st century, beauty is not what it once was. The Enlightenment
has left beauty a subjective and inconsequential shade, barely resembling its former existence
as a transcendental on par with goodness and truth. Can beauty be restored to what it
once was? And if it can, should it? This article argues that 20th century theologian Hans Urs
von Balthasar not only answers these two questions with a resounding “Yes!” but also gives the
church the tools needed to restore beauty to a place of honor in Christian theology. For von
Balthasar, beauty and glory are one in the same. Further, beauty/glory and love are irrevocably
connected. When we restore beauty to its proper place, we experience God’s love in a proper
way, which in turn leads to sanctification.</p></abstract>

Here in the early 21st century, beauty is not what it once was. The Enlightenment
has left beauty a subjective and inconsequential shade, barely resembling its former existence
as a transcendental on par with goodness and truth. Can beauty be restored to what it
once was? And if it can, should it? This article argues that 20th century theologian Hans Urs
von Balthasar not only answers these two questions with a resounding “Yes!” but also gives the
church the tools needed to restore beauty to a place of honor in Christian theology. For von
Balthasar, beauty and glory are one in the same. Further, beauty/glory and love are irrevocably
connected. When we restore beauty to its proper place, we experience God’s love in a proper
way, which in turn leads to sanctification.

A Transformed Beholder. Objective Beauty as the Impetus for Sanctification in the Theology of Hans Urs von Balthasar

Perichoresis

Here in the early 21st century, beauty is not what it once was. The Enlightenment
has left beauty a subjective and inconsequential shade, barely resembling its...

A Transformed Beholder. Objective Beauty as the Impetus for Sanctification in the Theology of Hans Urs von Balthasar

Published Online: Sep 20, 2012

Page range: 245 - 265

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10297-012-0012-6

Keywords
Beauty, Sanctification, Glory, Sublime, Love

This content is open access.

A Transformed Beholder. Objective Beauty as the Impetus for Sanctification in the Theology of Hans Urs von Balthasar

Published Online: Sep 20, 2012

Page range: 245 - 265

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10297-012-0012-6

KeywordsBeauty, Sanctification, Glory, Sublime, Love

This content is open access.

Keywords
Beauty, Sanctification, Glory, Sublime, Love