True and False Reform in the Church

by Yves Congar, Paul Philibert (Introduction)

Archbishop Angelo Roncali (later Pope John XXIII) read True and False Reform during his years as papal nuncio in France and asked, A reform of the church 'is such a thing really possible?" A decade later as pope, he opened the Second Vatican Council by describing its goals in terms that reflected Congar's description of authentic reform that penetrates to the heart of doctrine as a message of salvation for the whole of humanity, that retrieves the meaning of prophecy in a living church, and that is deeply rooted in history rather than superficially related to the apostolic tradition. Pope John called the council not to reform heresy or to denounce errors but to update the church's capacity to explain itself to the world and to revitalize ecclesial life in all its unique local manifestations. Congar's masterpiece fills in the blanks of what we have been missing in our reception of the council and its call to "true reform." Yves Congar, OP, a French Dominican who died in 1995, was the most important ecclesiologist in modern times. His writings and his active participation in Vatican II had an immense influence upon the council documents. With a few other contemporaries, Congar pioneered a new style of theological research and writing that linked the great tradition of Scripture and the Fathers to contemporary pastoral questions with lucidity and passion. His key concerns were the unity of the church, lay apostolic life, and a revival of the church's theology of the Holy Spirit. He was named a cardinal by Pope John Paul II in recognition of his profound contributions to the Second Vatican Council. Paul Philibert, OP, has taught pastoral theology in the United States and abroad. He is a Dominican friar of the Southern Province. His translation of a collection of Congar's essays on the liturgy has recently been published by Liturgical Press under the title At the Heart of Christian Worship. His book The Priesthood of the Key to a living Church (Liturgical Press, 2005) reflects the ecclesiology of Yves Congar and his Vision of the apostolic life of the faithful. "

Genres: Theology, Philosophy, Ecclesiology

400 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

A French Dominican priest who become one of the most influential theologians of the 20th century on the topic of the Roman Catholic Church and ecumenism.

Reviews

[Nathan Suire · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the greatest book on eccelsiology that I have read. Part 2 (Conditions for authentic reform without schism) was worth the whole book. I only wish Congar's section on protestantism was not taken out. Neverthelss, Congar's book is a must read for anyone interested in the nature of church reform, the development of doctrine, schism, ecumenism, and church unity. This should be more widely read.

[Jarrod Dillon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Still relevant today

I picked this up in order to understand Vatican 2 better but I found that what he says remains pertinent even to this day. I’m glad I am made it all the way through.

[Brian Hohmeier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genuinely excellent

[Alan · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the first part of this book, Congar insists that the Church must always be reforming. In the 1950s, at a time when Catholic theology was extremely resistant to any hint of reform, Congar dared to publish a book asserting that reform was good and necessary for the Church. For this he was censured, and removed from his teaching post. But within ten years, the Second Vatican Council was assembled, ultimately vindicating Congar's vision of a constantly reforming Church. Conservative Catholics would do well to reflect on Congar's insistence that the Church cannot remain static. It must be constantly reforming.

In the second part, Congar analyzes the history of reform movements, discerning several principles for how to lead a reform movement without leading to division in the church. Reform must be informed by tradition. It must be sensitive to pastoral realities. But most of all, reform must be slow and patient. Progressive Catholics would do well to reflect on these principles.