Karl Rahner’s Spiritual Theology

February 26, 2026 Presenters: Fr. Richard Lennan and Professor Peter Joseph Fritz This presentation explores the life and legacy of Karl Rahner, emphasizing his role as a spiritual theologian who bridged the gap between academic theology and lived spirituality. Fr. Lennan and Prof. Fritz discuss Rahner’s core conviction that primordial grace is the inescapable "atmosphere we breathe" in everyday experience ( Alltäglichkeit ). The lecture traces Rahner’s intellectual journey from his studies with Martin Heidegger to his influential role as a peritus at Vatican II, highlighting his contributions to documents like Dei Verbum and Lumen Gentium. Key theological concepts such as the supernatural existential, the incomprehensible mystery of God, and a theology of risk are applied to modern ethical issues, including a Christian argument for nuclear disarmament informed by the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7). Ultimately, the speakers frame Rahner’s work as a theology of hope that views the human person as a "hearer of the word" destined for the eternal discovery of God. Handout for this event: https://bit.ly/3OFk6BG For more information on the book Karl Rahner: Spiritual Theology https://bit.ly/4aOnm56 Publisher's website: https://www.paulistpress.com/Products... More from Fr. Lennan: Tilling the Church: Theology for an Unfinished Project https://litpress.org/Products/6743/Ti... Priestly Ministry and the People of God: Hopes and Horizons https://orbisbooks.com/products/pries... More from Prof. Fritz: Religion, Protest, and Social Upheaval https://fordhampress.com/religion-pro... Freedom Made Manifest: Rahner's Fundamental Option and Theological Aesthetics https://www.cuapress.org/978081323119... Learn more in a CSTM Crossroads online course in Prayer and Spirituality: https://bit.ly/2MUEr4N If you would like to contribute to programming from the CSTM, visit https://bit.ly/cstm-innovation