Peter Henrici
Encyclopedia
Peter Henrici, born the 31 March 1928, at Zurich
(Switzerland
), is a Swiss Jesuit priest, renowned Blondelian
philosopher and professor (1960–1993) at the Gregorian University. He was Auxiliary Bishop of Chur
from 1993 to 2007.
of the Catholic
theologian Hans Urs von Balthasar
. Henrici joined the Society of Jesus
and began to practice his profession in 1947. After studies in philology
at the University of Zurich
, he pursued further studies in philosophy
and theology
at different universities in Rome
, Munich
and Lyon
. He was ordained as a priest in 1958, and in 1965 he made his final religious profession as a Jesuit.
, Rome, where he also served as Dean of the Faculty of Philosophy up to his appointment as Auxiliary Bishop of Chur. He was one of the much sought after professors at the Gregorian. His occasional lecture courses were often given to classes that were packed to overflowing. In the 1990–91 'A Philosophical Discourse for Theology' in the Faculty of Theology, for example, he gave a thrilling overview of the contributions of philosophy to Christian theology beginning from the doctrine of analogy in Plato and coming down to Heidegger. Again, in the 1990 graduate seminar on 'Methods of Interpreting a Philosophical Text,' with a chapter from Blondel's L'Action (1893), he gave hands-on training in the methods of Internal and External Structure, Lexicology, Metaphorology, Internal and External Sources, Redaktionsgeschichte, Wirkungsgeschichte, and Deutungsgeschichte (self- and other-interpretation).
Since 1993, he served as Visiting Professor at the Theologischen Hochschule, Chur, and honorary professor at the University of Zurich
. In 2008 he was named honorary professor of the Theologischen Hochschule, Chur.
in Chur
(Switzerland) and Titular Bishop of Absorus. Henrici was one of the two auxiliary bishops appointed to Chur in an attempt by the Holy See
to defuse the crisis caused by the conservative policies of Bishop Wolfgang Haas
.
His resignation as Auxiliary Bishop was accepted by Pope Benedict XVI on 5 February 2007, on the ground of age.
, and Pierre Favre.
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
(Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
), is a Swiss Jesuit priest, renowned Blondelian
Maurice Blondel
Maurice Blondel was a French philosopher.Blondel developed a "philosophy of action” that integrated classical Neoplatonic thought with modern Pragmatism in the context of a Christian philosophy of religion...
philosopher and professor (1960–1993) at the Gregorian University. He was Auxiliary Bishop of Chur
Chur
Chur or Coire is the capital of the Swiss canton of Graubünden and lies in the northern part of the canton.-History:The name "chur" derives perhaps from the Celtic kora or koria, meaning "tribe", or from the Latin curia....
from 1993 to 2007.
Biography
Born in 31 March 1928 at Zurich, Henrici happens to be a cousinCousin
In kinship terminology, a cousin is a relative with whom one shares one or more common ancestors. The term is rarely used when referring to a relative in one's immediate family where there is a more specific term . The term "blood relative" can be used synonymously and establishes the existence of...
of the Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
theologian Hans Urs von Balthasar
Hans Urs von Balthasar
Hans Urs von Balthasar was a Swiss theologian and priest who was nominated to be a cardinal of the Catholic Church...
. Henrici joined the Society of Jesus
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
and began to practice his profession in 1947. After studies in philology
Philology
Philology is the study of language in written historical sources; it is a combination of literary studies, history and linguistics.Classical philology is the philology of Greek and Classical Latin...
at the University of Zurich
University of Zurich
The University of Zurich , located in the city of Zurich, is the largest university in Switzerland, with over 25,000 students. It was founded in 1833 from the existing colleges of theology, law, medicine and a new faculty of philosophy....
, he pursued further studies in philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
and theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
at different universities 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...
, Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
and Lyon
Lyon
Lyon , is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located at from Paris, from Marseille, from Geneva, from Turin, and from Barcelona. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais....
. He was ordained as a priest in 1958, and in 1965 he made his final religious profession as a Jesuit.
Professor at the Gregorian University
From 1960 to 1993 Henrici taught History of Contemporary Western Philosophy at the Pontifical Gregorian UniversityPontifical 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...
, Rome, where he also served as Dean of the Faculty of Philosophy up to his appointment as Auxiliary Bishop of Chur. He was one of the much sought after professors at the Gregorian. His occasional lecture courses were often given to classes that were packed to overflowing. In the 1990–91 'A Philosophical Discourse for Theology' in the Faculty of Theology, for example, he gave a thrilling overview of the contributions of philosophy to Christian theology beginning from the doctrine of analogy in Plato and coming down to Heidegger. Again, in the 1990 graduate seminar on 'Methods of Interpreting a Philosophical Text,' with a chapter from Blondel's L'Action (1893), he gave hands-on training in the methods of Internal and External Structure, Lexicology, Metaphorology, Internal and External Sources, Redaktionsgeschichte, Wirkungsgeschichte, and Deutungsgeschichte (self- and other-interpretation).
Since 1993, he served as Visiting Professor at the Theologischen Hochschule, Chur, and honorary professor at the University of Zurich
University of Zurich
The University of Zurich , located in the city of Zurich, is the largest university in Switzerland, with over 25,000 students. It was founded in 1833 from the existing colleges of theology, law, medicine and a new faculty of philosophy....
. In 2008 he was named honorary professor of the Theologischen Hochschule, Chur.
Auxiliary bishop of Chur
In 1993, Henrici was named Auxiliary BishopBishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
in Chur
Chur
Chur or Coire is the capital of the Swiss canton of Graubünden and lies in the northern part of the canton.-History:The name "chur" derives perhaps from the Celtic kora or koria, meaning "tribe", or from the Latin curia....
(Switzerland) and Titular Bishop of Absorus. Henrici was one of the two auxiliary bishops appointed to Chur in an attempt by the Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
to defuse the crisis caused by the conservative policies of Bishop Wolfgang Haas
Wolfgang Haas
Wolfgang Haas is the first archbishop of the Archdiocese of Vaduz in Liechtenstein. He was ordained a priest as well as incardinated in Chur on April 7, 1974. At the request of the bishop of Chur Johannes Vonderach, Haas was appointed to the position of coadjutor bishop of Chur on March 25,...
.
His resignation as Auxiliary Bishop was accepted by Pope Benedict XVI on 5 February 2007, on the ground of age.
Publications
Henrici has numerous publications to his credit, among which Hegel und Blondel (1958), a reworking of his doctoral thesis; Aufbrüche christlichen Denkens (1978), as also many translations, among others of the works of Jean Danielou, Maurice BlondelMaurice Blondel
Maurice Blondel was a French philosopher.Blondel developed a "philosophy of action” that integrated classical Neoplatonic thought with modern Pragmatism in the context of a Christian philosophy of religion...
, and Pierre Favre.
- Hegel und Blondel: Eine Untersuchung uber Form und Sinn der Dialektik in der 'Phanomenologie des Geistes' und der ersten 'Action'. Pullach bei Munchen: Berchmanskollege, 1958.
- Introduzione alla metafisica: ad uso degli studenti. Rome: Editrice Pontificia Università Gregoriana, 1989.
- Guida pratica allo studio: con una bibliografia degli strumenti di lavoro per la Filosofia e la Teologia. 3rd rev. ed. Rome: Editrice Pontificia Università Gregoriana, 1992. (A Practical Guide to Study, tr. Ivo Coelho. Rome: Editrice Pontificia Università Gregoriana, 2004.
- Bibliografia 1956–1993. Rome: Editrice Pontificia Università Gregoriana, 1993.