Humanum Book Honored

Humanum final

Mystery and Sacrament of Love: A Theology of Marriage and the Family for the New Evangelization, by Marc Cardinal Ouellet, received third-place honors in the Marriage category of the 2016 Catholic Press Association Book Awards, as announced on June 3 during the CPA’s annual convention in St. Louis.

The volume is available from William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., as part of the Institute’s Humanum Imprint.

Ouellet book cover

From the publisher:

Marriage and the family are at the forefront of the burning questions being debated by civil society and the church today. Cultural changes in our increasingly secularized society have dire consequences in the family sphere, requiring a Christian response that is faithful to the Church’s tradition, says Marc Cardinal Ouellet.

In Mystery and Sacrament of Love Ouellet clearly expounds a theology of marriage and the Catholic Church’s understanding of the sacrament celebrated between spouses and God. Developed with influences from Pope Francis, the theological intuitions of Vatican II, the contributions of Saint John Paul II (the “pope of the family”), and the innovative thought of Hans Urs von Balthasar, Ouellet’s study lays the foundations for a faithful resurgence of well-being for families in our contemporary day and age.


REVIEWS

Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap.
— Archbishop of Philadelphia
“Rich in substance and comprehensive in scope, Cardinal Ouellet’s superb study of the theology and sacramentality of marriage is perfect for addressing today’s most urgent issues in Catholic life. . . . An invaluable resource in recovering a faithful understanding of marriage, family, and the new evangelization.”

Peter Casarella
— University of Notre Dame
“This beautifully translated edition of Cardinal Ouellet’s book illuminates the contemporary crisis of married love by focusing on the profoundly nuptial dimension of the Christian sacraments. . . . If you are searching for a clear way to connect the theology of John Paul II with the new tasks for the Church put forth by Pope Francis, then this book is a must-read. You will most likely be surprised at how closely the two programs converge.”

Eamon Martin
— Archbishop of Armagh
“A magisterial panorama of Church teaching on marriage and the family. . . . In a culture that easily bypasses serious reflection on marriage, Cardinal Ouellet uses a new key — that of nuptial trinitarian anthropology — to open up for readers a fresh and penetrating perspective on his subject, thereby presenting the Church with new pastoral insights, deep academic perception, and great ecclesial wisdom.”

Terrence Prendergast, S.J.
— Archbishop of Ottawa
“This rich theological reflection builds on the resources of the Church’s tradition and sees a spirituality of the couple grounded in and issuing from the liturgical celebration of marriage. . . . To peruse this book is to enter an architectural marvel wherein one sees trinitarian Love descending and touching earth and the lives of individuals, especially those called to matrimony. I recommend it with enthusiasm.”