Skip to product information
1 of 7

Introducing Communio Theology

Introducing Communio Theology

by Tracey Rowland

Format
Regular price $34.95 USD
Regular price $34.95 USD Sale price $34.95 USD
SAVE 0% Sold Out MADE IN USA

Winner of the CMA 2026 Book Award for Reference/Academic Studies

Founded in the early 1970s by Henri de Lubac, Hans Urs von Balthasar, and Joseph Ratzinger, among others, the Communio school of theology emerged as a response to the theological currents following the Second Vatican Council. More a dynamic sensibility than a school of thought in the strict sense, Communio theology seeks to harmonize critical theological pairings—nature and grace, Scripture and Tradition, faith and reason—through dialogue rooted in deep international friendships and shared commitment to the Church.

In Introducing Communio Theology, Tracey Rowland offers an accessible yet profound exploration of this influential theological movement. Delving into the contributions of key Communio scholars over the past fifty years, she examines pressing theological questions such as the reception of Vatican II, the understanding of Tradition, scriptural inspiration and exegesis, moral theology in the modern world, feminism, the nature of priesthood, contemporary ecological concerns, and the causes of secularism within the cultures of modernity and postmodernity.

With clarity and insight, Rowland illuminates the enduring relevance of Communio theology for the Church of today, inviting readers into this rich tradition of thought to nourish the intellectual lives of Catholics for generations to come. 

Details

Publisher: Word on Fire Academic
ISBN: 978-1-68578-163-7
Binding: Hardcover
Page count: 396
Dimensions: 6.25 x 9.25 (in)
Thickness: 1.36 (in)
Made in: United States
Language: English
Release date: Dec 01, 2025

About the Author

Tracey Rowland

Tracey Rowland holds the St. John Paul II Chair of Theology at the University of Notre Dame (Australia). She received her PhD from the Faculty of Divinity, University of Cambridge, and her STL and STD degrees from the Pontifical Lateran University. She also holds degrees in law and government from the University of Queensland and philosophy from the University of Melbourne. She was a member of the Ninth International Theological Commission and is currently a member of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences. In 2020, she won the Ratzinger Prize for Theology. She is the series editor of Joseph Ratzinger: Collected Works. 

Shipping & Returns

When will my order ship?

  • When items are in-stock, orders placed before 8am CT should ship out that same business day from our Illinois warehouse. 
  • Depending on your shipping address and the shipping method you select at checkout, in-stock items should arrive between 7-10 business days.
  • If your order contains a preordered/backordered item, no items in your order will ship until the preordered item becomes available (i.e. your order will ship all at once.)

 

Do you ship internationally?

  • We offer two international shipping methods, Passport and DHL. Passport has all taxes and duties included in the shipping cost. DHL is delivered duties unpaid, and you may be responsible for taxes and duties when your package is delivered. 
  • International orders are subject to unpredictable delays by customs, and are subject to security mandates, duties, and other fees upon receipt.  
  • Please allow international orders a significant amount of flexibility in timeframe to receipt. 
  • We do accept international returns, but we are unable to generate return labels for international shipments. 

 

Can I make changes or corrections to my order?

  • Please contact us as soon as possible—ideally within 2 hours of placing your order—at 866-928-1237 or sales@wordonfire.org with your order correction details. We’ll work quickly to see if any edits to your order are still possible.
  • Once an order has shipped, we are unable to cancel it.

Return Policy

For non-damaged, standard returns:

Our products may be returned if they were purchased within the last 90 days, are unused, and are still in their original packaging. Original shipping costs are already collected by the shipper, and therefore the original shipping costs are not refundable.

We will provide a pre-paid return label to you. The maximum shipping cost covered will be $20. If the return shipping costs in excess of $20 to ship it to us, that will be deducted from the refund amount. (Meaning, if one orders 30 bibles and changes their mind after receiving them, it would not be good stewarding of our donor-provided funds for the ministry to cover that return shipment.)


Exceptions and limitations:

  • Bulk books (evangelization pricing): Books sold in pre-boxed quantities are evangelistic in nature and priced as low as possible, and we cover the original shipping cost. For that reason, we are unable to cover return shipping costs for bulk books. If you choose to return a bulk book, return shipping will be the customer’s responsibility in that case.
  • Seasonal titles (including Advent and Lenten Gospel Reflections): Seasonal titles are final sale and are not eligible for returns or refunds.


For damaged items: 

For damages to the item that are significant in nature, such as missing pages, large gashes in the cover, major creases in the cover, or dents, etc, please email us at sales@wordonfire.org for a no-cost replacement. For minor damages, like a nick or otherwise tiny blemish, or a slightly bent inward corner, or a slightly flaked embossing, these returns may be accepted but the return shipping will not be covered in order to be good stewards of the donor provided funds that make our non-profit ministry possible. For items that are shipped in protective packaging, such as the Leather Bible, note that the outer box is meant to absorb damage in shipping, and the box should not be considered the product itself, and the box is not replaceable.

 

How can I set up my return? 

Please email us to set up your return at sales@wordonfire.org. 

Your order record will be retrieved by the system based on the email address you used to make the purchase. For this reason, please have the email address or the order number (example: Q######) handy when beginning the return process. We are able to accept international returns, but we are unable to generate return shipping labels from countries outside the United States.  

 

View full details
Portrait of a middle-aged woman with shoulder-length brown hair, wearing black glasses, gold earrings, and a beige scarf, smiling gently at the camera.

About the Author

Tracey Rowland holds the St. John Paul II Chair of Theology at the University of Notre Dame (Australia). She received her PhD from the Faculty of Divinity, University of Cambridge, and her STL and STD degrees from the Pontifical Lateran University. She also holds degrees in law and government from the University of Queensland and philosophy from the University of Melbourne. She was a member of the Ninth International Theological Commission and is currently a member of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences. In 2020, she won the Ratzinger Prize for Theology. She is the series editor of Joseph Ratzinger: Collected Works. 

What People Are Saying

D.C. Schindler headshot

“This is a book we have been waiting for, and no one could have written it better than Tracey Rowland. It is an accessible introduction to the history and distinctive theological positions of the Communio thinkers, clearly explained by someone intimately acquainted with the deepest inspirations of this movement and with the broader context of the Church and world out of which it emerged.”

—D.C. Schindler, Editor of the English-language edition of Communio: International Catholic Review

Larry Chapp headshot

“Rowland’s new book ‘introducing’ readers to Communio theology is far more than an introduction—it gives us a robust account of the Communio theological project that is deeply pertinent to our times.”

—Larry Chapp, Retired Professor of Theology, DeSales University

Vincent Strand headshot

“With Introducing Communio Theology, Rowland leads her readers into the rich depths and soaring heights of Communio theology. This book is indispensable for anyone who wants to understand the shape of Catholic theology today and to see a path toward its renewal.”

—Vincent Strand, SJ, Assistant Professor, The Catholic University of America

Tibor Gorfol headshot

“Rowland’s book is not simply a guide to a leading Catholic school of thought but also an introduction to the contemporary theological landscape. Written with an engaged, sometimes even harsh passion for truth, this is a theology unconformed to the age; yet it is much more than a countercultural protest—it’s an invitation to become Catholic in all the dimensions of culture.”

—Tibor Görföl, Associate Professor, University of Pécs

Add to cart