Divine Kenosis

To appreciate the theological genius of Hans Urs von Balthasar we must note his inseparable connection with Adrienne von Speyr. Balthasar referred to Von Speyr as the inspirational source of his theological vision and literary achievements. Says Balthasar: 'Her work and mine are neither psychologically nor philologically to be separated: two halves of a single whole which has as its center a unique foundation' (My Work: In Retrospect 105 89).This 'unique foundation' is a mystical apprehension of the immanent Life of the Trinity. At the heart of the Trinity Balthasar and Speyr see a primordial Mystery of Kenosis i.e. self-dis-possession. Balthasar terms this Trinitarian self-expropriation Ur-kenosis since the self-emptying (kenosis) within the Trinity applies not only to Christ but also to the Father and the Holy Spirit. The Father divests himself of himself in the begetting of his Son; the Holy Spirit is the fontal Power of self-abnegation (kenosis) within the Trinity so 'emptied of himself' that he as Spirit is absolutely incognito.DIVINE KENOSIS is an attempt to draw attention to the neo-patristic synthesis and anagogical vision promoted by Han Urs von Balthasar and Adrienne von Speyr. It is also an extension of my personal mission to 'promote a Trinitarian vision of deification and contemplative prayer.'