Douglas Dales - Böcker

Scholar, ecclesiastic, teacher and poet of the eighth century, Alcuin can be seen as a true hidden saint of the Church, of the same stature and significance as his predecessor Bede. His love of God and his grasp of Christian theology were rendered original in their creative impact by his gifts as a teacher and poet. In his hands, the very traditional theology that he inherited, and to which he felt bound, took new wings. In that respect, he must rank as one of the most notable and influential of Anglo-Saxon Christians, uniting English and continental Christianity in a unique manner, which left a lasting legacy within the Catholic Church of Western Europe. This book is intended for the general reader as well as for those studying, teaching or researching this period of early medieval history and theology in schools and universities.

This is a thorough study and exposition of the last work for which St Bonaventure was responsible before his death in 1274. The Collations on the Hexaëmeron, also called The Illuminations of the Church comprises lectures that he gave in Paris in 1273 to Franciscan and other students and masters in the university there. They were recorded by two independent witnesses and one version, the definitive one, was prepared for publication and approved by Bonaventure.This is one of the most interesting, original and important texts of medieval theology and it has been well translated and edited in a new edition. The purpose of this study is to examine the precise context for the approach that Bonaventure took, to place this work as the culmination of his spiritual theology, and to provide the reader with a lucid epitome of the contents of the text, drawing out their significance for theology and prayer in the life of the Church today.

St Dunstan of Canterbury (909-88) was the central figure in the development of English church and society after the death of King Alfred. Douglas Dales traces Dunstan's life beginning with his education at the great monastery of Glastonbury of which he became abbot. He was a central figure at the court of the kings of Wessex but was banished, partly because of his hostility to the king's mistresses, and went to exile in Flanders. After his return he was appointed Archbishop of Canterbury. During the twenty-eight years of his primacy he carried out one of the major developments of the century, the reformation of the monasteries. This book aims to examine him not merely as a prelate and royal advisor, but to see other aspects of his life: his skills as a craftsman caused him to be adopted as the patron saint of goldsmiths; some of his work as calligrapher and artist survives to this day; the coronation service which he drew up still lies at the heart of this service for English monarchs today; he was famed for his musical skills; above all, the sanctity of his name and the fame of his miracles kept Dunstan's memory alive. Douglas Dales' re-examination of the life and times of Dunstan sets his achievements against the social and religious background of the day, at a time when new forces were emerging that would shape the future of England and the English Church for centuries to come.

Written to commemorate the 750th anniversary of St. Bonaventure's death in 1274, Divine Indwelling is the fourth of Douglas Dales' comprehensive studies of the theology of St. Bonaventure. Deification, the belief that God can be directly known through Jesus Christ by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, is becoming increasingly important in current theological thought, and unites Eastern and Western Christianity. This book explores deification in Bonaventure's distinctive teaching, and through close study of his various writings, reveals that deification is an important and uniting theme within his thought.As with the preceding books, Divine Indwelling acts as a bridge into the thought of Bonaventure, whilst addressing the spiritual needs of the modern Church. Beginning with the New Testament texts that support belief in the divine promise of deification, Douglas Dales reveals Bonaventure's deep belief that deification is an immediate spiritual reality and the vocation for any Christian.

Written to commemorate the 750th anniversary of St. Bonaventure's death in 1274, Divine Indwelling is the fourth of Douglas Dales' comprehensive studies of the theology of St. Bonaventure. Deification, the belief that God can be directly known through Jesus Christ by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, is becoming increasingly important in current theological thought, and unites Eastern and Western Christianity. This book explores deification in Bonaventure's distinctive teaching, and through close study of his various writings, reveals that deification is an important and uniting theme within his thought.As with the preceding books, Divine Indwelling acts as a bridge into the thought of Bonaventure, whilst addressing the spiritual needs of the modern Church. Beginning with the New Testament texts that support belief in the divine promise of deification, Douglas Dales reveals Bonaventure's deep belief that deification is an immediate spiritual reality and the vocation for any Christian.

According to St Basil, the monk’s whole life should be a season of prayer, both public prayer and private prayer. That is what the monks of Mount Athos are there to do. That is the basis of their entire way of life. Athos is sometimes called ‘the mountain of silence’, but as one living Athonite has written, ‘here you can hear the hum of unceasing prayer.’ The book explores all dimensions of this mystery, beginning with the deceptively simple question ‘what is prayer?’ Subsequent papers consider various aspects of prayer as practised on Athos both in public and in private: the prayer of the church and the prayer of the cell, prayer when working, prayer when painting icons, the musical tradition of prayer and the poetic tradition, culminating in the Jesus Prayer or prayer of the heart which is the foundation of the current renewal of monasticism on Athos. Most of the papers in this book were delivered at a conference held by the Friends of Mount Athos in Cambridge in March 2019.

For five centuries, Christianity in Britain was shaped by a distinctive and attractive blendof Celtic and Roman spirituality. Learned, cultured and gentle in its exercise of authoroty, this was a golden age which climaxed in the extraordinary flowering of religious devotion and creativity in the tenth century. The legacy of Anglo-Saxon spirituality is visible in many areas of our religious and political life today as its values permeated every area of life. Called to be Angels introduces us to the key figures of our Christian past: Pope Gregory, whose special love for the English people laid the foundation for the Church in England, Bede, Boniface, Cuthbert, Caedmon, Alcuin, Dunstn, Aelfric and others. This warm and inviting book opens the way for a spiritual home-coming and many will recognize in its pages that the Christian qualities they cherish belong to a splendid and ancient native tradition.

This prayer collection provides a rich selection of devotional material that will deepen understanding of the central truths of our faith and nurture spiritual growth. Chosen for their timelessness and beauty, these are prayers that can be memorized and used over and over again. Many of them have inspired and sustained Christian worship for centuries. Compiled as a gift companion to "This is My Faith", though a volume that can also stand alone, "Prayers of Our Faith" will make an ideal confirmation gift for candidates of all ages.

Archbishop Michael Ramsey was arguably Anglicanism's saint of the 20th-century. Clever, humble, shy, full of sympathy and with a great wit, his outstanding gift was that he made God real for people. It is said that when he read a Bible lesson, it was as if every word was on fire, and his robust saintliness was tangible, even in telephone conversations. This study explores what made him such a remarkable figure. Drawing on his published and unpublished writings and on the many personal recollections of him, "Glory" (a favourite expression of his) explores his theological understanding, his vision of the Church, or worship and the Christian life. A complementary volume to Owen Chadwick's biography, it is arranged around themes that were central to him: the meaning of the cross, the Church's life, the primacy of worship and the Church's unity. A record of a Christian leader for all students of church life.

This guide to the Christian faith is ideal for those preparing for confirmation. Arranged in three parts: "Becoming a Christian", "Belonging to God" and "Belonging to the Church", it is appropriate for personal reading and as a basis for a confirmation course. In uncomplicated language it takes the reader from the first step of making a choice for God and lays a solid foundation of teaching that will hold good for the whole of life.

Alcuin of York was one of the most significant figures of the Anglo-Saxon Church alongside Bede and Cuthbert. This introductory selection from his extensive writings includes Alcuin's prayers, poetry and prose.

Rowan Williams freely admits to the profound influence of Michael Ramsey, one of the greatest Archbishops of the 20th century and a man of great spiritual depth who inspired a generation of Anglicans. Apart from one or two exceptions, his books are out of print, and many will welcome this new selection of his writings. Arranged around the church's year, it explores all the great themes of the Christian faith and is ideal for devotional reading, for study and for sermon preparation.