NEWMAN'S VISION OF THE CHURCH

By Fr. Herbert Keldany
NEWMAN THE THEOLOGIAN, by J. H. Walgrave,, O.P. Tramfated by A. V. Littledale (Geoffrey Chapman, 35s.).
AN outstanding feature of theology today is the awareness of the need to define the nature of the Church founded by Jesus Christ for the salvation of all men, and not only to define it but to know how it has been understood and misunderstood hitherto. Such is the concern of many thinkers, both Catholic and nonCatholic, who have been stimulated by the approach of the second Council of the Vatican. This question was to have been treated in full by the first Vatican council nearly a century ago, but the outbreak of war in Italy brought it to a close.
Reasoning
CARDINAL NEWMAN was not one of those present in Rome for the meeting, but he had written a book bearing on the subject which has had as great an influence on thought in this field as Darwin's "Origin of the Species" had in natural science. In the "Development of Doctrine" Newman worked out the reasons for the gradual growth in understandand defining the nature of the Church down the centuries. Hermas in his "Shepherd" saw the Church becoming younger and more beautiful as time went by. Newman showed that her features while becoming clearer in no way betrayed her true nature, which is to be at once real and mystical.
All his writing
A T LAST we can read in English a thorough estimate not only of Newman's theology but of all his writing by a learned disciple of St. Thomas.
Fr. Walgravc is a Flemish Dominican who teaches in the Catholic University of Louvain, well known for its lead in psychology as well as theology. This is important for the author recognises the subtlety of Newman's thought and sets about his task with great thorough
e result is a book which may
thorough ness.
a decisive part in turning the scales towards Newman's canoni
sation author says he looked for "the single idea that informs such a variety of works", and declares that he found the centre of gravity in Newman's vision of the Church.
This, put shortly, is that the Holy Ghost puts into effect the promise made by Christ to his Church to guide her for all time by using all the ordinary factors of history.
Interpreting
HUMAN beings contribute to the development of the Church; thus the instinct of the faithful is infallible in matters of faith, but too often on the defensive and so negative, again theologians are sometimes tempted to be too rationalistic. That is why theology and popular devotion both need to be corrected by an infallible authority.
In the same way events which lead up to an infallible definition contribute to the outcome, but its acceptance only becomes binding when it is expressed in a solemn definition.
The ultimate decisions of the coming Council, which are busily being prepared now, provide an illustration of the process. This reasoned view of the Church understanding and expressing herself more clearly down the ages can help us not only to value Newman's teaching but to interpret contemporary events.