Prior to an individual's encounter with the love of God at a particular time in history, however, there has to be another, more fundamental and archetypal encounter, which belongs to the conditions of possibility of the appearance of divine love to man.

Saints appear as an example of the lived Christian life throughout his writings. Hans Urs von Balthasar (12 August 1905 Lucerne – 26 June 1988 Basel) was a Swiss theologian and priest (incardinated into Roman Catholic Diocese of Chur) who was to be created a cardinal of the Catholic Church but died before the ceremony.

He is considered one of the most important theologians of the 20th century.