Nouvelle Théologie - New Theology

This title offers an introduction to the most influential movement in Catholic theology in the 20th century which prepared the ground for the Second Vatican Council. La nouvelle theologie - New Theology - was the name of one of the most dynamic and fascinating movements within Catholic theology in the 20th century. Although first condemned by Pope Pius XII. in 1946 and later in his encyclical Humani generis in 1950, it became influential in the preparation of the Second Vatican Council. The movement was instigated by French Dominican Yves Congar with his Dominican confreres Marie-Dominique Chenu and Louis Charlier and linked with the Dominican academy at Le Saulchouir (Tournai), but soon taken over by Jesuits of the same generation of theologians: Henri de Lubac, Jean Danielou, Henri Bouillard and Yves de Montcheuil. They laid strong emphasis on the supernatural, the further implementation of historical method within theology, the ressourcement (back to Scripture, liturgy and Fathers), and the connection between life, faith and theology. Many of them were participating as periti in the Second Vatican Council, which finally accepted the striving of the new theology.Hence, the original perception of the New Theology as novitas would become an auctoritas in the field of Catholic theology. On the basis of research of archives and literature Jurgen Mettepenningen shows in his book the different theological positions of both Dominican and Jesuit protagonists, the development of their ideas in close relationship with the theological view and the sanctions of the Roman Catholic Church, and the great importance of the generation of the discussed Dominican and Jesuit theologians and their New Theology. He proves that the protagonists of both the first and the second phase of the nouvelle theologie constituted together the generation of theologians necessary to implement the striving of the modernist era within the Church at the time of Vatican II.

'A highly informative survey of the historical development and catalytic texts of nouvelle théologie. By drawing on lesser-known figures and extensive research, Mettepenningen sheds new light on its inner dynamics and diversity. A significant and timely contribution to the understanding of a key movement in modern theology whose principles and contradictions continue to shape the church today.' - David Grumett, Department of Theology, University of Exeter, UK., 'In a virtuoso performance of the historical theologian's art, Jurgen Mettepenningen brings into play both published and unpublished sources in at least five languages. Â He offers English-speaking readers as rich an acoount of nouvelle theologie as the present state of the archival sources allows. Â From its origins in France between 1935 and 1950, he brings the story of nouvelle theologie up to its subsequent internationalization and then assimilation at the Second Vatican Council. Â He joins an historian's eye for relevant detail with a theologian's religious sensibility. Â His often provocative judgments are always rooted in the sources. Â Nouvelle Theologie - New Theology is a timely and important contribution to the story of Catholic theology in the twentieth-century.' - William L. Portier, Mary Ann Spearin Chair of Catholic Theology, University of Dayton, OH, USA, 'This work by Dr Jürgen Mettepenningen, a Louvain-trained theologian, represents a valuable contribution to the history of twentieth century Catholic theology.It carefully charts the development of nouvelle théologie from the crisis of Modernism to the Second Vatican Council. An important study, it should be of interest to theologians and historians of the period and will undoubtedly contribute to ongoing research on nouvelle théologie and the history of Vatican II.' - Gabriel Flynn, Dublin City University, Mater Dei Institute, Ireland

Dr Jurgen Mettepenningen is a research fellow in the Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium.