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Dateline: 5/30/2007

GONZAGA UNIVERSITY NEWS RELEASE
Dale Goodwin, Director
Peter Tormey, Associate Director

Pitstick Publishes First Book, 'Light in Darkness'

Alyssa Lyra Pitstick, a Gonzaga University alumna and adjunct instructor in Gonzaga’s philosophy department, published her first book, “Light in Darkness: Hans Urs von Balthasar and the Catholic Doctrine of Christ’s Descent into Hell.” Pitstick recently was praised as a “first-rate theological talent” in a blog by Rev. Richard John Neuhaus of First Things.

Alyssa Lyra Pitstick's Book Cover, "Light in Darkness" Cover Courtesy Eerdmans.
 Alyssa Pitstick's New Book Cover
Released earlier this year by Eerdmans Publishing Co., Pitstick’s book is the first comprehensive treatment of Balthasar’s theology of Holy Saturday. As professed in the Christian Nicene Creed, Jesus “descended into hell” after dying on the cross. The Catholic Church has traditionally taught that, in this descent, Jesus’ soul joined the souls of the holy men and women who had died before him, and opened to them the gates of heaven. Balthasar, however, interpreted the profession to mean Jesus suffered for our salvation after His death and placed this affirmation at the heart of his increasingly influential reflection on the world-altering events of Holy Week. Pitstick draws on the multiple yet unified resources of authoritative Catholic teaching to challenge Balthasar’s conclusions.

Pitstick holds a master’s degree from Gonzaga, as well as degrees from the Pontifical University in Rome and the International Theological Institute in Austria. In addition to teaching at Gonzaga, she has spoken at the Gonzaga Socratic Club.

For more information on “Light in Darkness,” contact Alyssa Pitstick via e-mail at pitstick@gonzaga.edu.