Gerd‐Rainer Horn
- Published in print:
- 2008
- Published Online:
- January 2009
- ISBN:
- 9780199204496
- eISBN:
- 9780191708145
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199204496.003.0003
- Subject:
- Religion, Theology
This chapter concentrates on new departures in the realm of Catholic theology and philosophy in the age of fascism, communism and world war. In a concentrated effort to overcome the stifling effects ...
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This chapter concentrates on new departures in the realm of Catholic theology and philosophy in the age of fascism, communism and world war. In a concentrated effort to overcome the stifling effects of neo‐Thomist scholasticism, the latter a by‐product of the crisis of modernism within the Catholic Church, progressive Catholic thinkers promoted a return to the sources (ressourcement), which allowed them to revalidate the original dynamism characteristic of Thomism. At first careful to introduce new theologies in traditional garb, the cataclysm of fascism and world war liberated the energies of progressive thinkers and cast aside their inhibitions. A theology of the laity, for example, finally saw the light of day, no longer needing to hide behind murky definitions of the Church as the ‘mystical body of Christ.’ Brief summaries of Jacques Maritain's Christian humanism, Emmanuel Mounier's personalism and the theology of labor by Marie‐Dominique Chenu round off this chapter.Less
This chapter concentrates on new departures in the realm of Catholic theology and philosophy in the age of fascism, communism and world war. In a concentrated effort to overcome the stifling effects of neo‐Thomist scholasticism, the latter a by‐product of the crisis of modernism within the Catholic Church, progressive Catholic thinkers promoted a return to the sources (ressourcement), which allowed them to revalidate the original dynamism characteristic of Thomism. At first careful to introduce new theologies in traditional garb, the cataclysm of fascism and world war liberated the energies of progressive thinkers and cast aside their inhibitions. A theology of the laity, for example, finally saw the light of day, no longer needing to hide behind murky definitions of the Church as the ‘mystical body of Christ.’ Brief summaries of Jacques Maritain's Christian humanism, Emmanuel Mounier's personalism and the theology of labor by Marie‐Dominique Chenu round off this chapter.
Benjamin J. King
- Published in print:
- 2009
- Published Online:
- September 2009
- ISBN:
- 9780199548132
- eISBN:
- 9780191720383
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199548132.001.0001
- Subject:
- Religion, Church History
John Henry (later Cardinal) Newman is widely known to have been devoted to reading the Church Fathers. By exploring which Fathers interested Newman most and when, using both published and archive ...
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John Henry (later Cardinal) Newman is widely known to have been devoted to reading the Church Fathers. By exploring which Fathers interested Newman most and when, using both published and archive material, this book demonstrates the influence of the various Alexandrian theologians in different periods of Newman's life. In each of these periods, the book draws a causal connection between the patristic theology Newman was reading and his own developing theology, revealing how key events in these periods changed the theologian's interpretation of the Fathers. The book argues that ultimately Newman tailored his reading of the Church Fathers to fit his own needs. Seemingly ‘trying on’ the ideas of different Fathers in turn, Newman began with those who predated the Council of Nicaea in the late 1820s, moving on to the post-Nicenes during his research into Christological controversies in the mid-1830s, and finding Athanasius the best fit in the 1840s. By the 1870s, his reading of Athanasius was tailored to Catholic tastes and, measuring Origen up with the interpretations made by Aquinas, Newman found him a better fit than he had in the 1840s. A careful comparison of Newman's translations of Athanasius from 1842–44 and 1881, not previously undertaken, demonstrates that in 1881 it is not so much Aquinas as the neo-Thomism of the teachers of Leo XIII whom he read back into Athanasius.Less
John Henry (later Cardinal) Newman is widely known to have been devoted to reading the Church Fathers. By exploring which Fathers interested Newman most and when, using both published and archive material, this book demonstrates the influence of the various Alexandrian theologians in different periods of Newman's life. In each of these periods, the book draws a causal connection between the patristic theology Newman was reading and his own developing theology, revealing how key events in these periods changed the theologian's interpretation of the Fathers. The book argues that ultimately Newman tailored his reading of the Church Fathers to fit his own needs. Seemingly ‘trying on’ the ideas of different Fathers in turn, Newman began with those who predated the Council of Nicaea in the late 1820s, moving on to the post-Nicenes during his research into Christological controversies in the mid-1830s, and finding Athanasius the best fit in the 1840s. By the 1870s, his reading of Athanasius was tailored to Catholic tastes and, measuring Origen up with the interpretations made by Aquinas, Newman found him a better fit than he had in the 1840s. A careful comparison of Newman's translations of Athanasius from 1842–44 and 1881, not previously undertaken, demonstrates that in 1881 it is not so much Aquinas as the neo-Thomism of the teachers of Leo XIII whom he read back into Athanasius.
Hans Boersma
- Published in print:
- 2009
- Published Online:
- May 2009
- ISBN:
- 9780199229642
- eISBN:
- 9780191710773
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199229642.001.0001
- Subject:
- Religion, Theology, Church History
In the decades leading up to the Second Vatican Council, the movement of nouvelle théologie caused great controversy in the Catholic Church. The interpretation of the movement continues to be a ...
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In the decades leading up to the Second Vatican Council, the movement of nouvelle théologie caused great controversy in the Catholic Church. The interpretation of the movement continues to be a matter of scholarly debate. This book argues that a return to mystery was the movement's deepest motivation. Countering the modern intellectualism of the neo-Thomist establishment, Jesuits from Lyons–Fourvière and Dominicans from Le Saulchoir turned to the Great Tradition for inspiration. There they found an approach to theology that did not suffer from the later neo-scholastic separation between nature and the supernatural. The nouvelle theologians were convinced that a ressourcement of the Church Fathers and of medieval theology would point the way to a sacramental reintegration of nature and the supernatural. This book begins by setting the historical context for nouvelle théologie with discussions of significant theologians and philosophers like Möhler, Blondel, Maréchal, and Rousselot. The exposition then moves to some of the most characteristic elements of the ressourcement movement: its reintegration of nature and the supernatural (de Lubac, Bouillard, Balthasar, and Chenu), its reintroduction of the spiritual interpretation of Scripture (de Lubac and Daniélou), its approach to Tradition as organically developing in history (Daniélou, Charlier, de Lubac, Congar), and its communion ecclesiology that regarded the Church as sacrament of Christ (de Lubac and Congar). Boersma argues that in each of these areas, the nouvelle theologians advocated a return to mystery by means of a sacramental ontology.Less
In the decades leading up to the Second Vatican Council, the movement of nouvelle théologie caused great controversy in the Catholic Church. The interpretation of the movement continues to be a matter of scholarly debate. This book argues that a return to mystery was the movement's deepest motivation. Countering the modern intellectualism of the neo-Thomist establishment, Jesuits from Lyons–Fourvière and Dominicans from Le Saulchoir turned to the Great Tradition for inspiration. There they found an approach to theology that did not suffer from the later neo-scholastic separation between nature and the supernatural. The nouvelle theologians were convinced that a ressourcement of the Church Fathers and of medieval theology would point the way to a sacramental reintegration of nature and the supernatural. This book begins by setting the historical context for nouvelle théologie with discussions of significant theologians and philosophers like Möhler, Blondel, Maréchal, and Rousselot. The exposition then moves to some of the most characteristic elements of the ressourcement movement: its reintegration of nature and the supernatural (de Lubac, Bouillard, Balthasar, and Chenu), its reintroduction of the spiritual interpretation of Scripture (de Lubac and Daniélou), its approach to Tradition as organically developing in history (Daniélou, Charlier, de Lubac, Congar), and its communion ecclesiology that regarded the Church as sacrament of Christ (de Lubac and Congar). Boersma argues that in each of these areas, the nouvelle theologians advocated a return to mystery by means of a sacramental ontology.
Hans Boersma
- Published in print:
- 2009
- Published Online:
- May 2009
- ISBN:
- 9780199229642
- eISBN:
- 9780191710773
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199229642.003.0001
- Subject:
- Religion, Theology, Church History
This introductory chapter characterizes the nouvelle théologie leading up to Vatican II as a movement of ressourcement of the Tradition, interested in recovering a sacramental ontology that ...
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This introductory chapter characterizes the nouvelle théologie leading up to Vatican II as a movement of ressourcement of the Tradition, interested in recovering a sacramental ontology that maintained the co-inherence of sign and reality. In connection with a number of different theological topics, the nouvelle theologians were interested in reaffirming historical realities of the created order as divinely ordained sacramental means leading to eternal mysteries. Thus, the movement's protest against the scholasticism of neo-Thomism did not signal a desire to replay the Modernist Crisis, but rather a desire to return to mystery. With Catholics and Protestants being common heirs to problems arising from the separation between nature and the supernatural, nouvelle théologie offers great potential for ecumenism. The chapter provides a historical overview of the various controversies surrounding nouvelle théologie and concludes with an outline of the remainder of the book.Less
This introductory chapter characterizes the nouvelle théologie leading up to Vatican II as a movement of ressourcement of the Tradition, interested in recovering a sacramental ontology that maintained the co-inherence of sign and reality. In connection with a number of different theological topics, the nouvelle theologians were interested in reaffirming historical realities of the created order as divinely ordained sacramental means leading to eternal mysteries. Thus, the movement's protest against the scholasticism of neo-Thomism did not signal a desire to replay the Modernist Crisis, but rather a desire to return to mystery. With Catholics and Protestants being common heirs to problems arising from the separation between nature and the supernatural, nouvelle théologie offers great potential for ecumenism. The chapter provides a historical overview of the various controversies surrounding nouvelle théologie and concludes with an outline of the remainder of the book.
Benjamin John King
- Published in print:
- 2009
- Published Online:
- September 2009
- ISBN:
- 9780199548132
- eISBN:
- 9780191720383
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199548132.003.0006
- Subject:
- Religion, Church History
Comparing Newman's earlier translation of Athanasius's anti-Arian works in A Library of the Fathers (1842–44) with his ‘free’ translation of Select Treatises (1881), this chapter charts the ...
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Comparing Newman's earlier translation of Athanasius's anti-Arian works in A Library of the Fathers (1842–44) with his ‘free’ translation of Select Treatises (1881), this chapter charts the increasingly ‘Latin’ ways in which Newman came to read Alexandrian theology. It begins by showing that in Rome in 1846–47, Newman was challenged to make his reading of the Fathers accord specifically with the theology of the Roman schools. But Newman engaged with scholastic theology only from the 1860s, so that by the 1870s his theological style coincided with the interests of the new Pope, Leo XIII. In ‘Causes of Arianism’ (1872), Origen is seen through Aquinas's eyes. In his freer translation of Athanasius, moreover, it is not so much Thomas Aquinas but the neo-Thomism of the teachers of Leo XIII whom Newman read back into Athanasius.Less
Comparing Newman's earlier translation of Athanasius's anti-Arian works in A Library of the Fathers (1842–44) with his ‘free’ translation of Select Treatises (1881), this chapter charts the increasingly ‘Latin’ ways in which Newman came to read Alexandrian theology. It begins by showing that in Rome in 1846–47, Newman was challenged to make his reading of the Fathers accord specifically with the theology of the Roman schools. But Newman engaged with scholastic theology only from the 1860s, so that by the 1870s his theological style coincided with the interests of the new Pope, Leo XIII. In ‘Causes of Arianism’ (1872), Origen is seen through Aquinas's eyes. In his freer translation of Athanasius, moreover, it is not so much Thomas Aquinas but the neo-Thomism of the teachers of Leo XIII whom Newman read back into Athanasius.
Edward T. Oakes
- Published in print:
- 2011
- Published Online:
- January 2012
- ISBN:
- 9780199552870
- eISBN:
- 9780191731037
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199552870.003.0019
- Subject:
- Religion, Theology
This chapter argues that, for all his debt to the ressourcement theology that he learned at the Jesuit theologate in Lyon, Hans Urs von Balthasar is in fact quite nuanced in his appropriation of the ...
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This chapter argues that, for all his debt to the ressourcement theology that he learned at the Jesuit theologate in Lyon, Hans Urs von Balthasar is in fact quite nuanced in his appropriation of the theology of that school, especially of Henri de Lubac's theology of the supernatural. Indeed, he is not just nuanced but also often critical of de Lubac. Even more, for all of his important work in patristics, Balthasar can be quite critical of the project of the church fathers to bring Platonism and the worldview of the Bible into harmony. In both these areas, Balthasar finds himself much more in agreement with the insights of contemporary neo‐Thomism than is usually recognized by contemporary scholarship.Less
This chapter argues that, for all his debt to the ressourcement theology that he learned at the Jesuit theologate in Lyon, Hans Urs von Balthasar is in fact quite nuanced in his appropriation of the theology of that school, especially of Henri de Lubac's theology of the supernatural. Indeed, he is not just nuanced but also often critical of de Lubac. Even more, for all of his important work in patristics, Balthasar can be quite critical of the project of the church fathers to bring Platonism and the worldview of the Bible into harmony. In both these areas, Balthasar finds himself much more in agreement with the insights of contemporary neo‐Thomism than is usually recognized by contemporary scholarship.
Mark D. Jordan
- Published in print:
- 2016
- Published Online:
- May 2017
- ISBN:
- 9780823273782
- eISBN:
- 9780823273836
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Fordham University Press
- DOI:
- 10.5422/fordham/9780823273782.003.0007
- Subject:
- Religion, Theology
Over many centuries, under many regimes of Christian power, Thomas Aquinas’s Summa theologiae has suffered the misfortunate of becoming an enforced text. Its authority has depended in many cases on ...
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Over many centuries, under many regimes of Christian power, Thomas Aquinas’s Summa theologiae has suffered the misfortunate of becoming an enforced text. Its authority has depended in many cases on misinterpretation. From the beginning, its structural innovations were undone by excerpting and rewriting. With Tridentine Thomism, its fortunes were tied to centralized notions about Roman Catholic orthodoxy. Later still, with neo-Thomism, Thomas’s book was conscripted by a variety of modern disciplines for projects very different from Thomas’s own. Faced with this motley history of reception, a contemporary may be tempted to ask whether the Summa has succeeded or failed. It is more useful to ask whether and how its structure might still work as moral teaching.Less
Over many centuries, under many regimes of Christian power, Thomas Aquinas’s Summa theologiae has suffered the misfortunate of becoming an enforced text. Its authority has depended in many cases on misinterpretation. From the beginning, its structural innovations were undone by excerpting and rewriting. With Tridentine Thomism, its fortunes were tied to centralized notions about Roman Catholic orthodoxy. Later still, with neo-Thomism, Thomas’s book was conscripted by a variety of modern disciplines for projects very different from Thomas’s own. Faced with this motley history of reception, a contemporary may be tempted to ask whether the Summa has succeeded or failed. It is more useful to ask whether and how its structure might still work as moral teaching.
