An orthodox teacher of scholarship and sanctity

The Spirituality of Friedrich Von Hfigel by Joseph P. Whelan (Collins £3.75) THIS is a scholarly work and needs to be studied in depth but it is well worth the effort. It is not a biographical study; it, in the author's words, "confines itself to Von Hilgers writings, and it considers those writings under the specific rubric of spiritual doctrine, of spirituality." Nor is the author directly concerned with Von Hilgel's role in the 'modernist' crisis.
Bishop Butler points out in the foreword "that it is important to assure the reader from the start, of the massive orthodoxy of his teaching as set forth here by Father Whelan." The latter points out that "Our primary interest will be not to indicate the history of Von Hiigel's thought but to identify and organise the governing elements of his spirituality. together with as much of its detail as space permits." As a result there is extensive quoting of the Baron's own words.
The book reveals Von Hugel as a great lover of God whom he sees as immanent in the world and at the same time transcendent. Thus be writes "People put God so far away in a sort of mist somewhere. I pull their coat-tails. God is near. He is no use unless he is near." In contrast he also writes "The joy of religion resides, surely, in the knowledge, the love, the adoration of one truly distinct from, whilst immensely penetrative of ourselves."
Christ is at the very centre of his spirituality "For a person came and lived and loved, and did and taught, and died and rose again. and lives on by his power and his Spirit for ever within us and amongst us . .."
Father Whelan points out that "Harmony-in-tension is central to Von Hfigel's spirituality." It is not possible to do justice to this book in a short review, there is in it so much solid spirituality, for ex ample Von 1-liigel's attitude towards prayer, the Church and the papacy. It is a revelation of a man's scholarship and his sanctity.
Maurice Nassau, Si.