This book seeks to answer the question, "What is holiness?" What do we talk about when we talk about holiness? We might describe many things as holy, but as Socrates says, what is "the essential aspect, by which all holy acts are holy?" Sanctum Sanctorum gives an account of the holy from within the Christian participatory tradition, and argues that holiness is included in a special category of divine names that Christian metaphysics calls "transcendentals" (which are five: being, one, truth, goodness, and beauty). Moreover, holiness stands in a hierarchical relationship to the other five transcendentals, as the culmination or concentration of the rest. Only by understanding holiness as the "head" of the transcendentals, as "the" transcendental, can one account for all the complexity the idea of the holy conjures. Therefore, holiness is the transcendental of the transcendentals. It adds the aspect of reverence to existence and, as such, it is constituted by the formula sanctum sanctorum (Holy-of-holies) which extends from the divine nature through the triune life to all creation.
Industry Reviews
“In Sanctum Sanctorum, Justin Roberts asks a question that lies at the heart of the relation between philosophy and theology—a question that, curiously enough, few have explored or even asked, but which any theologian must ask, namely: What is the relation between the traditional transcendentals—ens, unum, verum, bonum, pulchrum—and the sacred?”
—John Betz, University of Notre Dame
“The scholarship is impressive, historically speaking, while systematically speaking, we are offered sustained insight into the issues at stake. It is erudite and wisely steady, and full of lucid thoughtfulness (I commend his reflections on evil and the grotesque, as well as those on reverence). An excellent book: very warmly recommended.”
—William Desmond, Villanova University
“Justin Roberts retrieves divine holiness by insisting it is the transcendental of the transcendentals. Just as white light contains multiple colors, so holiness is the hidden secret that contains the other transcendentals. Building on the participatory ontology of the patristic-medieval tradition, Sanctum Sanctorum articulates how it is that created beings participate in God’s superessential holiness. This is a remarkable study, faithfully yet creatively and boldly building on the broad tradition of the church.”
—Hans Boersma, Regent College, Vancouver, Canada
“This book pulses with theological energy, as Roberts pursues the greatest task: the praises of the thrice-holy God and, in a related though secondary way, the praises of his creation which reflects him. The voices of a dazzling array of the ecumenical Christian tradition's most eminent figures play leading roles in Roberts's journey of discovery.”
—Matthew Levering, Mundelein Seminary
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