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A reader of the great late-20th century Hungarian Catholic philosopher
Ladislaus Boros was a Jesuit in his formation and theological foundations who became a forerunner for ideas of God and the universe—including “the ontology of transcendence”—that took hold a generation after his passing in 1981.
As this “Reader” makes clear, Boros explores an ontology of transcendence, and the connaturality of the seeming dichotomies of life and death. The purpose of this selection—from eight of his more than twenty books—is to introduce Boros to a contemporary audience in English, from texts that have been long out-of-print. In these writings he addresses profound questions about what it is to be human—our deepest, even unknown to us, longings, desires, and hopes. This isn’t self-help or devotional writing, but an exploration of the origins and journey of the human spirit in its search for meaning and hope. In doing so, Boros examines the life of Jesus as a fully human being, free in will, yet destined for death, just as are we all.
“I have read, with great joy and impressiveness, passages from what I hope will be a forthcoming book based on the writings of Ladislaus Boros. I look forward to when this is available in book format. It has been rich to read and reflect on new ways of understanding Jesus’ message of living a life of service as well as honouring and trusting the life we have been given. Thank you again for the way you help us to see the bright colourfulness and to hear the full harmonies of the world in LB’s words.” —Dr. Ingrid Sochting, director, University of British Columbia Psychology Clinic
“It is good to hear that you are progressing with your plans for the Boros reader. Your selection of texts makes a lot of sense, and we do believe you have a valuable and great book in the making.” —Robert Cathomas and Helga Jacobsen, editors, Chalice-Verlag, German publishers of all of Boros’ writings
Ladislaus Boros (1927-81) was a Hungarian Jesuit priest, widely acclaimed as one of the brightest stars in the Catholic theological firmament after the Second World War. He published many books of reflection as his life slowly evolved in new spiritual directions. By 1973, he had renounced his religious orders, married, and was laicized. He died in Switzerland before his fifty-fifth birthday. Modern-day mystic Cynthia Bourgeault sparked renewed interest in Boros’ thought in 2021 when she published a new edition, with commentary, of his book, The Mystery of Death.
Lynn R. Szabo is professor emeritus of American Literature and Creative Writing at Trinity Western University in Vancouver. She is the editor of the first comprehensive selection of Thomas Merton’s poetry, In the Dark Before Dawn, a spiritual director, and has served as a facilitator with the National Council of Jewish Women of Canada. She lives in Vancouver, BC.
Jonathan Montaldo was principal editor of The Intimate Merton: His Life from His Journals with Brother Patrick Hart. He also edited the second volume of Thomas Merton’s private journals, published in seven volumes by HarperCollins, under the title Entering the Silence (1945-1959), and served as director of the Thomas Merton Center at Bellarmine University, and associate director at the Merton Institute for Contemplative Living in Louisville, Kentucky. He lives in Mantua, NJ.