The Cross in Christian Tradition: From Paul to Bonaventure - Softcover

For the past two thousand years, the cross has been a powerful symbol of the Christian faith and an anchor of its symbol system. In this volume, a group of distinguished scholars delves into the theologies and spiritualities of the cross at select moments in the tradition. They examine biblical texts and commentaries, lectionaries, liturgical poetry, sermons, and theological spiritual treatises in: Paul, the early liturgy, Origen, Augustine and Bonaventure.Each chapter provides a window into how particular contexts influenced the interpretation of the cross and how the cross functioned in each unique historical moment. Originally presented at Saint Mary's College, these papers offer a fresh and distinctive approach to the literature on the cross. The authors' historical perspective points to the tradition as a transforming agent for theology and spirituality today.

Elizabeth A. Dreyer is editor of the Called to Holiness series and professor of religious studies at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut. She lectures widely on the Christian tradition, especially medieval mysticism, grace, the Holy Spirit and contemporary lay spirituality. She wrote Holy Power, Holy Presence: Medieval Metaphors of the Holy Spirit, Passionate Spirituality: Hildegard of Bingen and Hadewijch of Brabant; Earth Crammed With Heaven: A Spirituality of Everyday Life; and A Retreat with Catherine of Siena: Living the Truth in Love. With Mark Burrows she edited Minding the Spirit: The Study of Christian Spirituality. She lives in Hamden, Connecticut with her husband, John Bennett.