Divine Craftsmanship: Preliminaries to a Spirituality of Work

Jean Hani, professor emeritus at the University of Amiens - where he taught Greek civilization and literature - has long labored to recover and illuminate various aspects of Christianity. His findings have been presented in several works: The Symbolism of the Christian Temple, The Divine Liturgy, and The Black Virgin (all published by Sophia Perennis), as well as Aperçus sur la Messe, La Royauté, Du Pharaon au Roi Très Chrétien, and a collection of articles entitled Mythes, Rites et Symboles. His aim has been to integrate the latest findings in the history of religions with the perennialist spiritual perspective of such writers as René Guénon and Frithjof Schuon. In what way can human beings attain that Harmony whereby they become mediators between Heaven and Earth? In the mysterious language of symbols we can rediscover the sense of vocation that reflects Divine Activity. For God is, in reality the sole Artisan. All the traditional crafts are imitatings after God, Who unceasingly creates and maintains the world. And in the end it is this that constitutes to sole foundation for the dignity of work. That is why this book seeks to bring us to an interior knowledge of God as Divine Artisan. Chapters include: The Divine Scribe; Christ the Physician; The Warrior God; The Divine Potter; God the Weaver; God the Architect and Mason; The 'Son of the Carpenter'; Pastor et Nauta; God the Fisherman and God the Hunter; The Celestial Gardener; The Master of the Harvest ; The Master of the Vineyard; The Spirituality of Work and the Body Social.