A Key to Balthasar

Hans Urs von Balthasar is widely regarded as one of the greatest Catholic theologians of the twentieth century. Few writers have so powerfully revealed the spiritual grandeur of divine revelation or shown how the Church’s art and historic liturgies bear witness to its beauty and depth. Yet for many students and nonspecialist readers, Balthasar’s vast body of work can appear daunting and inaccessible.

This volume offers an ideal introduction to Balthasar’s theology. Written by Aidan Nichols, it unlocks the heart of Balthasar’s thought by focusing on the three transcendentals—the beautiful, the good, and the true—around which his great theological trilogy revolves: The Glory of the Lord, Theo-Drama, and Theo-Logic.

Though concise, the book captures the essence of Balthasar’s theological vision, presenting his insights with clarity and fidelity while remaining accessible to educated readers encountering his work for the first time. It serves both as a trustworthy guide for beginners and as a lucid synthesis for those seeking a coherent overview of Balthasar’s lifelong project.

About the Author

Aidan Nichols, O.P., is a Dominican friar and theologian of Blackfriars, Cambridge. He holds a PhD from the University of Edinburgh and has lectured at the University of Cambridge. He previously served as the John Paul II Memorial Visiting Lecturer at the University of Oxford and as a Fellow of Greyfriars, Oxford.

Fr. Nichols is one of the most prolific theological writers in the English language and is widely recognized as a leading authority on the theology of Hans Urs von Balthasar. His many works are noted for their clarity, depth, and fidelity to the Catholic intellectual tradition.