Ecumenical authority

TO MAKE YOU UNITY-MINDED
By Fr. HERBERT KELDANY
APPROACHES TO CHRISTIAN UNITY, by C. J. Dumont, 0.P., translated by Henry St. John, O.P. (Dar ton, Longman, and Todd, 25s.).. MOST aptly for this year's octave of prayer for Christian unity there appears in English the first book by one of the leading authorities on the subject, who has hitherto been too little known in Britain.
Considering the important part he has played in studying and expressing the Catholic standpoint about them, it is not too much to describe Pere Dumont, O.P., as one of the dozen or so world authorities on ecumenical questions.
Over 40 of his stimulating meditations have been translated by the Provincial of the English Dominicans, Fr. Henry St. John, 0.P., himself no mean authority as is indicated by his introductory chapter. If they are read as widely as they deserve to be they will have the same sort of effect in making us unity-minded as the meditations of the late Pere Charles, Si., had in making us mission-minded.
His insights
F,ACH short chapter treats of
an aspect of Christian unity, either in relation to the big feasts of the year or the liturgical seasons, the theological virtues of faith, hope, and charity, or the various ways in which we may pray and work for unity.
But today this does not do justice to the insights and practical guidance which derive from Pere Dumont's studies, correspondence, and participation in widespread discussion; it is these that make
the book so practical.
For years the Editor of Istina, a theological journal of the highest order dedicated in the first place to the Eastern Church but latterly taking in the ecumenical movement as a whole, as well as of the slighter but invaluable Vers Chretienne in which these pages first appeared-and which may be ordered from Duckett's for 12s. 6d. -Pe.re Dumont has worked out the theology of Catholic ecumenism,
His position
HERE are some of the points he discusses: May we pray for the unity of the Church?; can only a miracle bring about the unity of Christians?; the virtue of hope; the difference between visible unity and unity of grace; always with patience and confidence in the effects of charity and without for a moment minimising the difficulties, either on the side of Catholics or others, His position may be summed up in his awn wise words; "The aim of Catholic ecumenism will be to intensify and deepen. among our separated brethren, their will to cleave to the mystery of Christexcluding nothing from, and also adding nothing to, what can be known of it."
Fr. St. John in his introduction looks forward to the training of students among the laity who will he as well equipped to discuss these questions as the members of the Catholic Evidence Guild are to discuss their subjects. But he insists that prayer is a more urgent contribution to the cause of Christian unity than any other, and one all can make not only during the Octave but at all times.
Three things appear to make this likely: the introduction of Pere Dumont's thought to the Englishreading world; the scope of these generous meditations; and the fact they are the first publication of a new firm of publishers with a strong religious interest.