Christian Love
"This collection provides direct access to some of the most distinctive and influential biblical and Christian statements on love. It situates these through succinct accounts of the circumstances in which they occur and the help of insights from a wide variety of scholars. The volume could be very useful as a text for classes not only on the subject of Christian love but as an overview of basic directions of Christian thought over the centuries. It is also accessible enough for more general reflection for Christians as individuals or in groups." --Horizons"With a judicious use of secondary sources and penetrating personal commentary, Bernard V. Brady introduces the reader to the major texts dealing with Christian love from the Scriptures through all the periods of church history down to the present. Students and teachers alike will learn much from the work of this very talented pedagogue." --Charles E. Curran, Elizabeth Scurlock University Professor of Human Values at Southern Methodist University and author ofCatholic Social Teaching 1891-Present"This a fine collection of representative writings from the most important figures in the history of Christian love, as well as a helpful collection of contemporary approaches to this central topic in theology. Bernard Brady has done a valuable service to the field in making these fundamental resources readily available for students and faculty alike." --Stephen J. Pope, chair, Theology Department, Boston College"'I love, therefore I am.' With these words Bernard Brady begins a remarkable journey through the history of Christian love, and an able guide he is! Starting with love's presentation in the scriptures, Brady introduces us to Augustine, Bernard of Clairvaux, Abelard and Heloise, Julian of Norwich, Thomas Aquinas, Martin Luther, Soren Kierkegaard, and other major writers in the Christian tradition of love. Carefully researched and engagingly written, Brady's book will become a treasured resource for anyone wanting to explore how Christians have thought about love. Most importantly, Brady shows why the universal human vocation must be the vocation to love." --Paul J. Wadell, St. Norbert College