Jean Daniélou (1905–1974)

“And never the twain shall meet”: Kipling’s famous line might well describe current conventional wisdom on the relationship between church and state. To political bodies skeptical of the virtues of religion and to religious communities suspicious of the tolerance of government, a harmonious—let alone symbiotic—association seems the stuff of either utopia or dystopian dreams. In the face of these apprehensions, Jean Daniélou asserts that man’s social nature and religious nature show more are interdependent. As a result, “the essence of civilization [is] to allow man to reach his full development, and that this development applies also to the religious dimension.” Thus, religion—specifically, prayer—must be a constitutive element of society. As timely now as when first published in 1967, Prayer as a Political Problem is an indispensable manual for seeking to improve and sanctify the secular order, even as they await in hope the coming of the Kingdom of Heaven. show less

A great first essay about the church fathers, a dull but solid second essay about the history of the liturgy, and an atrociously boring annotated bibliography of mid twentieth century history of christian thought posing as an essay to round it off.

Outside of the writings of St. Thomas Aquinas, by far the best book on angelology ever written, going back to the sources of all we know about angels. Not personal stories of angel encounters, but a thorough collection of the writings of church fathers and the books and people that influenced their thoughts. If you're looking for soft and fuzzy, look elsewhere.

From the works of these early Fathers of the Church, the late French Cardinal Jean Daniélou has drawn forth threads of knowledge and wisdom which he has here woven into a lucid and bright tapestry that shows us who the ministering angels really are, and how—in every instant and in every way—they are working for your salvation and mine.