St. Augustine's "shake'n bake theology" was a favorite theme of the Augustinian theologian Michael Scanlon OSA. It was his own, down home translation of the Latin phrase "mysterium fascinans et tremendum" - the fascinating but terrifying mystery of Holy God. St. Augustine takes up the theme several times. Here is one example:
By turns I trembled with fear of you
and warmed with hope of you
and rejoiced in your mercy, O Father.
And all these feelings showed forth in my eyes and voice
when your good Spirit turned to us and said,
"O sons of men, how long will you be slow of heart,
how long will you love vanity, and seek after falsehood?"
Augustinus, Confessions, Book 9, chapter 4, section 9
My own understanding of this Augustinian theme was influenced not only by Fr. Scanlon and Rudolf Otto, but as well by the classic essay
Mysterium tremendum et fascinans: liturgical perspectives on the approach to God
by Johan H. Cilliers of Stellenbosch University in South Africa.
Other uses of the theme:
Martin Albl. Reason, Faith and Tradition. Explorations in Catholic Theology.
Robert Barron. Catholicism: A Journey to the Heart of the Faith.
James Martin S.J. Getting closer: Our desires for God come from God and lead us to the divine mystery.
Zegarra Medina & Raul Eduardo. My God, the humble Jesus (Augustine's Confessions 7.18.24) : a reading of De doctrina christiana in dialogue with Paul Ricoeur's hermeneutics.
By turns I trembled with fear of you
and warmed with hope of you
and rejoiced in your mercy, O Father.
And all these feelings showed forth in my eyes and voice
when your good Spirit turned to us and said,
"O sons of men, how long will you be slow of heart,
how long will you love vanity, and seek after falsehood?"
Augustinus, Confessions, Book 9, chapter 4, section 9
My own understanding of this Augustinian theme was influenced not only by Fr. Scanlon and Rudolf Otto, but as well by the classic essay
Mysterium tremendum et fascinans: liturgical perspectives on the approach to God
by Johan H. Cilliers of Stellenbosch University in South Africa.
Other uses of the theme:
Martin Albl. Reason, Faith and Tradition. Explorations in Catholic Theology.
Robert Barron. Catholicism: A Journey to the Heart of the Faith.
James Martin S.J. Getting closer: Our desires for God come from God and lead us to the divine mystery.
Zegarra Medina & Raul Eduardo. My God, the humble Jesus (Augustine's Confessions 7.18.24) : a reading of De doctrina christiana in dialogue with Paul Ricoeur's hermeneutics.
Peace and all good,
friar Bob Showers
friar Bob Showers
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