Primacy of Christ
The Patristic Patrimony in Joseph Ratzinger/Benedict XVI’s Analogy in Theology
Imprint: Pickwick Publications
What comes to mind when you hear the term "primacy of Christ"? Perhaps that Jesus is number one, or that he is the Lord of the universe? Using the wealth of our tradition on Christ's primacy, this book compels us to pause and search the profound depths of our basic Christian claim on the universal preeminence of Christ. Upholding the writings of Joseph Ratzinger/Pope Benedict XVI as exemplary representation of how the early Christian awareness of Christ's primacy helps us to interpret the present age, this book displays a symphonic harmony between our ancient Christian heritage and the ongoing conversations about the authentic interpretation of Scripture, the human person, the last things, and the church. Central to this symphonic harmony of our tradition is the use of analogy whereby the incarnation helps us to better understand the similarity between the created things and the mystery of God. To better understand how Ratzinger uses the writings of the fathers of the church to draw us more deeply into the depths of Christ is what the correctives offered to some scholars in this book intends to accomplish. What emerges is the ecumenical significance of Joseph Ratzinger's contribution to the modern debate on analogy of being (analogia entis), identifying Christ's primacy as the point of synthesis between analogia entis and analogia fidei.
Vincent Anyama is a Catholic priest of the Diocese of Dallas, serving as the Vice-Rector at St. Mary’s Seminary in Houston, Texas, and Adjunct Professor of Systematic Theology at St. Thomas School of Theology in Houston. He was ordained as a Catholic priest in 2009, served in three parishes, and finished his doctorate work at the Gregorian University in 2018.
“To think with the fathers of the church is indeed the ‘stamp’ of Ratzinger’s theology; it is also the invitation of his theology. Hence the value of Fr. Anyama’s contribution. Helping us grasp the patristic depth of Ratzinger’s work, particularly his use of analogy, Primacy of Christ invites further theological work equally alert to the necessary resonance of the fathers. Anyama helps us read Ratzinger better, which itself is a valuable theological contribution.”
—Joshua J. Whitfield, author of Pilgrim Holiness: Martyrdom as Descriptive Witness
“Through his helpful reading of one of the greatest theological minds of our time, Fr. Vincent aptly engages Joseph Ratzinger (Benedict XVI) in this important conversation and advances the discussion of analogy and the primacy of Christ with lucid prose and keen vision. Fr. Vincent’s work will be a necessary foothold to any future research and further aid the understanding of the patristic patrimony of analogy in theology.”
—Justin J. Kizewski, pastor, Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin (Diocese of La Crosse)
“In a welcome example of unpretentious theological precision, Father Vincent Anyama examines Joseph Ratzinger’s appropriation of the fathers of the church in his theological approach to the analogies of being and faith. Drawn to these issues by his early exposure to Söhngen, Przywara, and Barth, this study shows how this led Ratzinger to the patristic sources that decisively inform his own synthesis of the relations between history, metaphysics, and the biblical revelation. Simply excellent.”
—Daniel E. Flores, Bishop of Brownsville, Texas
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