Salvation History and the Religious Life

by Paul Hinnebusch

One of the most frequently used terms in current theology is salvation history. Rich in meaning and importance, it has led to a completely new understanding of the role God can and does play in human affairs. And yet, however seminal this idea may be, it has sometimes been difficult to apply it to the present day. In Salvation History and the Religious Life, Fr. Paul Hinnebusch succeeds admirably in doing this very thing. Focusing his attention on the religious life, he shows how this life can be understood best in terms of salvation history. Outlining the meaning of such history, the author shows how everything God has said and done is as pertinent today as it was when it first occurred. Thus, the covenant with the chosen people, consecration, divine fidelity, charisms and apostolic witness appear in their original light as well as in their vital significance for present-day religious. As a result, the latter can now proceed with new vigor and understanding to the work of their aposto