Reviews & Comments

"Here is the essential book for anyone first making the acquaintance of one of the leading theologians of the twentieth century. Clear, accessible, and readable, Dr. Morrill's book introduces the important contributions of Bernard Cooke in several areas. This first encounter with Bernard Cooke is such a pleasure that it will assuredly not be the last."
—Gary Macy, John Nobili, SJ, Professor of Theology, Santa Clara University

"The Essential Writings of Bernard Cooke is more than biography, anthology, or theological introduction: Bruce Morrill arranges moments from Cooke's unpublished memoir to ground selections from Cooke's five decades of theological scholarship. The experiential context of Cooke's convictions reveals how, for him, sacramentality and prophetic proclamation unite tradition and human experience. The result is an exemplar of Cooke's 'down-to-earth theology': an integration of the personal and the theoretical, the tradition with its concrete historical embedding, that demonstrates as well as describes Cooke's theological method. This book, with its pastoral as well as academic acumen, will orient and inspire readers in their own integration of scripture, sacraments, and human relationships. It is an engaging theology meant for every Christian."
—Kimberly Belcher, assistant professor of liturgical studies, University of Notre Dame

"A unique and beautifully written book interweaving the personal experiences and theological reflections of a great twentieth-century theologian. Morrill skillfully uses Cooke's life story to frame his 'down to earth' sacramental theology, drawing the reader into a deeper appreciation of Cooke and the intellectual yet grounded Catholicism he loved."
—Julie Hanlon Rubio, professor of Christian ethics, St. Louis University

"What a gift this volume is to the church and academy! Bruce Morrill skillfully weaves together Bernard Cooke's engaging personal narrative and prophetic contributions to the Catholic theological tradition in an accessible volume. Cooke's writing remains as timely as it is lucid and inspiring, and the context Morrill provides for these essential texts further highlights the importance of this great theologian's thought for our own time and for many years to come. This book is a must-read resource for a new generation of ministers, scholars, and educators who seek to understand their faith better in the post-conciliar age."
—Daniel P. Horan, OFM, author, Postmodernity and Univocity: A Critical Account of Radical Orthodoxy and John Duns Scotus (Fortress Press, 2014)