Von Balthasar鈥檚 Godforsakenness of Christ and Reaching out to the peripheries

Abstract

Through a presentation of Hans Urs von Balthasar鈥檚 theology of Christ鈥檚 Godforsakenness, particularly on the Cross and in the descent into hell, in this dissertation it will be shown how Christ reached out and embraced all existential peripheries, and, consequently, how this reaching out is intrinsic to the Christian mission. To reach this aim, this dissertation is divided in three chapters: The first chapter provides us with the necessary background to be able to understand Hans Urs von Balthasar鈥檚 theology. The second chapter offers a rather comprehensive overview of von Balthasar鈥檚 presentation of the Paschal Mystery from a theo-dramatic perspective. In the third chapter, after presenting a synthesis of Pope Francis鈥� discourse on reaching out to the peripheries, von Balthasar鈥檚 theology of Godforsakenness will be proposed as a paradigm for the Church鈥檚 鈥済oing forth鈥� to the peripheries.