Nouvelle Théologie
Encyclopedia
Nouvelle Théologie is the name commonly used to refer to a school of thought in Catholic theology that arose in the mid-20th century, most notably among certain circles of French and German theologians. The shared objective of these theologians was a fundamental reform of how the Catholic Church was approaching theology — namely, the movement reacted against the dominance of Scholasticism
and the scholastically-influenced manuals of theology, criticism of the Modern Era by the Church, and a defensive stance towards non-Catholic faiths. This movement was at the root of the Second Vatican Council
.
Nouvelle Théologie theologians, in response, sought a return of Catholic Theology to (what they perceived was) its original purity of thought and expression. To accomplish this, they advocated a 'return to the sources' of the Christian Faith: namely, Scripture and the writings of the Church Fathers
. This methodological move is known by its French name, ressourcement (French, "return to the sources"). Along with this, the movement adopted a systemic openness to dialogue with the contemporary world on issues of theology. They developed also a renewed interest in biblical exegesis, typology, art, literature and mysticism.
While the name 'Nouvelle Théologie' is today considered the standard designation for the movement, it was originally a pejorative label given the movement by its opponents (usually attributed to the Dominican theologian Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange
). The pejorative connotation stems from the critique that theologians of the movement did not 'return to the sources' but deviated from the long-standing theological tradition of the Catholic Church, thus creating a 'new theology' all their own – a claim they denied. Instead, theologians of the movement generally preferred to call their movement "Ressourcement". Yet, their own label enjoyed less popular coinage than that of their opponents. Over time, as 'Nouvelle Théologie' has gained widespread usage, the debate over the movement’s proper name has largely become a marginal note.
The theologians usually associated with Nouvelle Théologie are Henri de Lubac
, Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
, Hans Urs von Balthasar
, Yves Congar
, Karl Rahner
, Hans Küng
, Edward Schillebeeckx
, Marie-Dominique Chenu
, Louis Bouyer
, Étienne Gilson
, Jean Daniélou, Jean Mouroux and Joseph Ratzinger (now, Pope Benedict XVI
).
Some of the ideas involved in the Nouvelle Théologie had been condemned by Pope Pius XII in his enyclical Humani Generis
. These are for example rejecting the traditional dogmatic formulations that emerged throughout Church history as a result of scholastic theology, re-interpreting Catholic dogma in a way that was inconsistent with tradition, falling into the error of dogmatic relativism and criticizing biblical texts in a way that deviated from the principles of biblical hermeneutics outlined by his predecessors (principally Leo XIII). Pope Pius XII warned that the movement approached the error of modernism
, a heresy vehemently condemned by Pope St. Pius X.
Theologians from this school of thought had a significant influence on the reforms brought about in the Catholic Church by the Second Vatican Council
(1962-1965). In the aftermath of the Council, the movement became divided into two camps, splitting in effect into left and right wings, over the interpretation and implementation of the Council, with Rahner, Congar, Schillebeeckx, Küng, and Chenu founding the more progressive theological journal Concilium in 1965, and de Lubac, Balthasar, Ratzinger, and others founding the theological journal Communio
in 1972.
Scholasticism
Scholasticism is a method of critical thought which dominated teaching by the academics of medieval universities in Europe from about 1100–1500, and a program of employing that method in articulating and defending orthodoxy in an increasingly pluralistic context...
and the scholastically-influenced manuals of theology, criticism of the Modern Era by the Church, and a defensive stance towards non-Catholic faiths. This movement was at the root of the Second Vatican Council
Second Vatican Council
The Second Vatican Council addressed relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the modern world. It was the twenty-first Ecumenical Council of the Catholic Church and the second to be held at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. It opened under Pope John XXIII on 11 October 1962 and closed...
.
Nouvelle Théologie theologians, in response, sought a return of Catholic Theology to (what they perceived was) its original purity of thought and expression. To accomplish this, they advocated a 'return to the sources' of the Christian Faith: namely, Scripture and the writings of the Church Fathers
Church Fathers
The Church Fathers, Early Church Fathers, Christian Fathers, or Fathers of the Church were early and influential theologians, eminent Christian teachers and great bishops. Their scholarly works were used as a precedent for centuries to come...
. This methodological move is known by its French name, ressourcement (French, "return to the sources"). Along with this, the movement adopted a systemic openness to dialogue with the contemporary world on issues of theology. They developed also a renewed interest in biblical exegesis, typology, art, literature and mysticism.
While the name 'Nouvelle Théologie' is today considered the standard designation for the movement, it was originally a pejorative label given the movement by its opponents (usually attributed to the Dominican theologian Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange
Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange
Réginald Marie Garrigou-Lagrange, O.P. was a Catholic theologian and, among Thomists of the scholastic tradition, is generally thought to be the greatest Catholic Thomist of the 20th century. Outside the ranks of Thomists of that sort, his reputation is somewhat more mixed. He taught at the...
). The pejorative connotation stems from the critique that theologians of the movement did not 'return to the sources' but deviated from the long-standing theological tradition of the Catholic Church, thus creating a 'new theology' all their own – a claim they denied. Instead, theologians of the movement generally preferred to call their movement "Ressourcement". Yet, their own label enjoyed less popular coinage than that of their opponents. Over time, as 'Nouvelle Théologie' has gained widespread usage, the debate over the movement’s proper name has largely become a marginal note.
The theologians usually associated with Nouvelle Théologie are Henri de Lubac
Henri de Lubac
Henri-Marie de Lubac, SJ was a French Jesuit priest who became a Cardinal of the Catholic Church, and is considered to be one of the most influential theologians of the 20th century...
, Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
Pierre Teilhard de Chardin SJ was a French philosopher and Jesuit priest who trained as a paleontologist and geologist and took part in the discovery of both Piltdown Man and Peking Man. Teilhard conceived the idea of the Omega Point and developed Vladimir Vernadsky's concept of Noosphere...
, Hans Urs von Balthasar
Hans Urs von Balthasar
Hans Urs von Balthasar was a Swiss theologian and priest who was nominated to be a cardinal of the Catholic Church...
, Yves Congar
Yves Congar
Yves Marie Joseph Congar was a French Dominican cardinal and theologian.-Early life:Born in Sedan, in northeast France, in 1904, Congar's home was occupied by the Germans for much of World War I...
, Karl Rahner
Karl Rahner
Karl Rahner, SJ was a German Jesuit and theologian who, alongside Bernard Lonergan and Hans Urs von Balthasar, is considered one of the most influential Roman Catholic theologians of the 20th century...
, Hans Küng
Hans Küng
Hans Küng is a Swiss Catholic priest, theologian, and prolific author. Since 1995 he has been President of the Foundation for a Global Ethic . Küng is "a Catholic priest in good standing", but the Vatican has rescinded his authority to teach Catholic theology...
, Edward Schillebeeckx
Edward Schillebeeckx
Edward Cornelis Florentius Alfonsus Schillebeeckx was a Belgian Roman Catholic theologian born in Antwerp. He taught at the Catholic University in Nijmegen. He then continued writing. In his nineties, he still wanted to finish a major book about the Sacraments.He was a member of the Dominican Order...
, Marie-Dominique Chenu
Marie-Dominique Chenu
Marie-Dominique Chenu was a progressive Roman Catholic theologian and a founder of the reformist journal Concilium. He entered the French Province of the Dominican Order in 1913. His earlier theological work was on St. Thomas Aquinas, employing an historical method...
, Louis Bouyer
Louis Bouyer
Louis Bouyer was a French Lutheran minister who converted to Catholicism in 1939. During his religious career he was a scholar who was relied upon during the Second Vatican Council....
, Étienne Gilson
Étienne Gilson
Étienne Gilson was a French Thomistic philosopher and historian of philosophy...
, Jean Daniélou, Jean Mouroux and Joseph Ratzinger (now, Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
).
Some of the ideas involved in the Nouvelle Théologie had been condemned by Pope Pius XII in his enyclical Humani Generis
Humani Generis
Humani generis is a papal encyclical that Pope Pius XII promulgated on 12 August 1950 "concerning some false opinions threatening to undermine the foundations of Catholic Doctrine"...
. These are for example rejecting the traditional dogmatic formulations that emerged throughout Church history as a result of scholastic theology, re-interpreting Catholic dogma in a way that was inconsistent with tradition, falling into the error of dogmatic relativism and criticizing biblical texts in a way that deviated from the principles of biblical hermeneutics outlined by his predecessors (principally Leo XIII). Pope Pius XII warned that the movement approached the error of modernism
Modernism (Roman Catholicism)
Modernism refers to theological opinions expressed during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, but with influence reaching into the 21st century, which are characterized by a break with the past. Catholic modernists form an amorphous group. The term "modernist" appears in Pope Pius X's 1907...
, a heresy vehemently condemned by Pope St. Pius X.
Theologians from this school of thought had a significant influence on the reforms brought about in the Catholic Church by the Second Vatican Council
Second Vatican Council
The Second Vatican Council addressed relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the modern world. It was the twenty-first Ecumenical Council of the Catholic Church and the second to be held at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. It opened under Pope John XXIII on 11 October 1962 and closed...
(1962-1965). In the aftermath of the Council, the movement became divided into two camps, splitting in effect into left and right wings, over the interpretation and implementation of the Council, with Rahner, Congar, Schillebeeckx, Küng, and Chenu founding the more progressive theological journal Concilium in 1965, and de Lubac, Balthasar, Ratzinger, and others founding the theological journal Communio
Communio
Communio is a federation of theological journals, founded in 1972 by Joseph Ratzinger, Hans Urs von Balthasar, Henri de Lubac, Walter Kasper, Marc Ouellet, Louis Bouyer and others. Communio, now published in fifteen editions , has become one of the most important journals of Catholic thought...
in 1972.
External links
- Garrigou-Lagrange, ReginaldReginald Garrigou-LagrangeRéginald Marie Garrigou-Lagrange, O.P. was a Catholic theologian and, among Thomists of the scholastic tradition, is generally thought to be the greatest Catholic Thomist of the 20th century. Outside the ranks of Thomists of that sort, his reputation is somewhat more mixed. He taught at the...
. "Where is the new theology leading us?", English translation of the French article, “La nouvelle théologie où va-t-elle?”, Angelicum 23 (1946): 126-145.
- Garrigou-Lagrange, ReginaldReginald Garrigou-LagrangeRéginald Marie Garrigou-Lagrange, O.P. was a Catholic theologian and, among Thomists of the scholastic tradition, is generally thought to be the greatest Catholic Thomist of the 20th century. Outside the ranks of Thomists of that sort, his reputation is somewhat more mixed. He taught at the...
. "The Structure of the Encyclical Humani generis", Translated from the Italian "La sintesi tomistica, (Brescia, Queriniana, 1953). pp. 541-54" by A. Aversa.
- Pope Pius XIIPope Pius XIIThe Venerable Pope Pius XII , born Eugenio Maria Giuseppe Giovanni Pacelli , reigned as Pope, head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City State, from 2 March 1939 until his death in 1958....
. "Encyclical Humani generis", Concerning some false opinions threatening to undermine the foundations of Catholic doctrine (dated 12 August 1950), on the Vatican website.