Karel Vladimir Truhlar
Encyclopedia
Karel Vladimir Truhlar was a Slovenia
n Jesuit, theologian and poet
of Czech origin.
He was born as Karel Truhlař to Czech parents in Gorizia
, which was then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire (now in Italy
). He grew up in a Slovene-speaking environment. In the 1920s, he moved with his family to the Kingdom of Yugoslavia
. He studied theology at the University of Ljubljana
and at the Pontifical Gregorian University
in Rome
. In 1941, he returned to Ljubljana
. He continued studying theology, where he entered the Theological seminary. During World War II
, he deepened his theological and philosophical studies, especially through the writings of Romano Guardini
and Vladimir Solovyov
. In 1945, he went to the Catholic seminary in Prague
, where he taught dogmatic theology
. In 1946, he entered the Jesuit order. After 1948, he left Czechoslovakia
and went to Rome, where he taught at the Gregorian University.
He became influenced by the Catholic theologian Karl Rahner
, thinker Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
, and Christian mystics
, who became the object of his theological reflection. In his writings, Truhlar started from the concreteness of human existence and accentuated the experience of the Absolute in it.
Truhlar also wrote poetry, in which many mystical elements can be found. His poetical work was praised by the famous modernist poet Edvard Kocbek
, who also wrote a preface to one of Truhlar's collections of poems.
He died in the South Tyrol
ian village of Lengemoos
, Italy.
After 1990, Truhlar's poetry, which was previously known only to small circles of the Slovenian Catholic underground, received a positive re-evaluation by many renowned literary critics. Among others, Truhlar's mystical thought influenced the philosopher and poet Gorazd Kocijančič.
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
n Jesuit, theologian and poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
of Czech origin.
He was born as Karel Truhlař to Czech parents in Gorizia
Gorizia
Gorizia is a town and comune in northeastern Italy, in the autonomous region of Friuli Venezia Giulia. It is located at the foot of the Julian Alps, bordering Slovenia. It is the capital of the Province of Gorizia, and it is a local center of tourism, industry, and commerce. Since 1947, a twin...
, which was then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire (now in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
). He grew up in a Slovene-speaking environment. In the 1920s, he moved with his family to the Kingdom of Yugoslavia
Kingdom of Yugoslavia
The Kingdom of Yugoslavia was a state stretching from the Western Balkans to Central Europe which existed during the often-tumultuous interwar era of 1918–1941...
. He studied theology at the University of Ljubljana
University of Ljubljana
The University of Ljubljana is the oldest and largest university in Slovenia. With 64,000 enrolled graduate and postgraduate students, it is among the largest universities in Europe.-Beginnings:...
and at the Pontifical Gregorian University
Pontifical Gregorian University
The Pontifical Gregorian University is a pontifical university located in Rome, Italy.Heir of the Roman College founded by Saint Ignatius of Loyola over 460 years ago, the Gregorian University was the first university founded by the Jesuits...
in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. In 1941, he returned to Ljubljana
Ljubljana
Ljubljana is the capital of Slovenia and its largest city. It is the centre of the City Municipality of Ljubljana. It is located in the centre of the country in the Ljubljana Basin, and is a mid-sized city of some 270,000 inhabitants...
. He continued studying theology, where he entered the Theological seminary. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he deepened his theological and philosophical studies, especially through the writings of Romano Guardini
Romano Guardini
Romano Guardini was a Catholic priest, author, and academic. He was one of the most important figures in Catholic intellectual life in 20th-century.- Life and work:...
and Vladimir Solovyov
Vladimir Solovyov (philosopher)
Vladimir Sergeyevich Solovyov was a Russian philosopher, poet, pamphleteer, literary critic, who played a significant role in the development of Russian philosophy and poetry at the end of the 19th century...
. In 1945, he went to the Catholic seminary in Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
, where he taught dogmatic theology
Dogmatic theology
Dogmatic theology is that part of theology dealing with the theoretical truths of faith concerning God and his works, especially the official theology recognized by an organized Church body, such as the Roman Catholic Church, Dutch Reformed Church, etc...
. In 1946, he entered the Jesuit order. After 1948, he left Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
and went to Rome, where he taught at the Gregorian University.
He became influenced by the Catholic theologian Karl Rahner
Karl Rahner
Karl Rahner, SJ was a German Jesuit and theologian who, alongside Bernard Lonergan and Hans Urs von Balthasar, is considered one of the most influential Roman Catholic theologians of the 20th century...
, thinker Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
Pierre Teilhard de Chardin SJ was a French philosopher and Jesuit priest who trained as a paleontologist and geologist and took part in the discovery of both Piltdown Man and Peking Man. Teilhard conceived the idea of the Omega Point and developed Vladimir Vernadsky's concept of Noosphere...
, and Christian mystics
Mysticism
Mysticism is the knowledge of, and especially the personal experience of, states of consciousness, i.e. levels of being, beyond normal human perception, including experience and even communion with a supreme being.-Classical origins:...
, who became the object of his theological reflection. In his writings, Truhlar started from the concreteness of human existence and accentuated the experience of the Absolute in it.
Truhlar also wrote poetry, in which many mystical elements can be found. His poetical work was praised by the famous modernist poet Edvard Kocbek
Edvard Kocbek
Edvard Kocbek was a Slovenian poet, writer, essayist, translator, political activist, and resistance fighter. He is considered as one of the best authors who have written in Slovene, and one of the best Slovene poets after Prešeren...
, who also wrote a preface to one of Truhlar's collections of poems.
He died in the South Tyrol
South Tyrol
South Tyrol , also known by its Italian name Alto Adige, is an autonomous province in northern Italy. It is one of the two autonomous provinces that make up the autonomous region of Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol. The province has an area of and a total population of more than 500,000 inhabitants...
ian village of Lengemoos
Ritten
Ritten is a comune in South Tyrol in the Italian region Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol.-Territory:The 111 km² community is named after the high plateau , the Ritten or the Renon, on which most of the villages are located...
, Italy.
After 1990, Truhlar's poetry, which was previously known only to small circles of the Slovenian Catholic underground, received a positive re-evaluation by many renowned literary critics. Among others, Truhlar's mystical thought influenced the philosopher and poet Gorazd Kocijančič.