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GEORBLA BULLETIN
BOOK SUPPLEMENT
Problems Before Real
Some
PROBLEMS BEFORE UNITY:
Willebrands, Sheehan, Mail-
leux, Hovda, Abbott, Weigel,
Boyer, Leeming, Delahunt.
Helicon. $3.50
BY REV. LEONARD F.X.MAY-
HEW
It is a formidable task to re
tail all the splendors of this
small book. It contains, in a
condensed and readable form,
an unbeatable summary of the
present state of the ecumeni
cal movement on all sides of
the denominational fence - Cat
holic, Protestant and Orthodox.
Each of the chapters consists
of a paper presented at a con
ference on Christian unity held
in 1961 at the motherhouse of
the Friars of the Atonement,
Graymoor, N.Y. Father Paul
Wattson, the founder of the
Atonement Friars, was a cha
mpion of the cause of Chris
tian unity. While still an Epis
copalian, he established the
Chair of Unity Octave, which
he later introduced and popula
rized among Catholics. Each
year in his memory an award
is given “in recognition of dis
tinguished contributions in the
field of Christian Unity.” The
1961 recipient of this award was
Father Charles Boyer, S.J.The
presentation coincided with a
conference on the subject of
Christian Unity which brought
together outstanding Catholic
ecumenical figures from Eur
ope and the United States.
The results of this important
conference have been compiled
in the present volume.
In a short but moving Fore
word, Augustine Cardinal Bea,
Chairman of the Secretariat for
the Promotion of Christian Un
ity, states succinctly what must
be the overriding awareness for
all involved in ecumenical work:
“Indeed, we are not dealing with
an objective whose complete re
alization is near, but even so,
it is no less urgent to carry
on the work with ardor and en
ergy, inspired by the very Di
vine Heart of the Founder of the
Church.”
The scholars responsible for
the papers contained in this
symposium are all experts
whose thought defies easy sum
marization and whose reason
ing may, for the uninitiated, en
tail some rough sledding. The
recompense, however, in terms
of solid information and thought
provoking proposals, both the
oretical and practical, will
be commensurate with the ef
fort expended. The editors
would have made me a happier
reader, if they had translated
the Latin phrases and avoided
more of the very many typogr
aphical errors.
Msgr. J. G. M. Willebrands,
in the opening chapter on “Cat
holic Ecumenism,” analyzes
the general problems and consi
derations inherent in striving
for union among Christians. He
presents the biblical and theol
ogical data of the divinely wil
led unity and universality of
the Church, God's Kingdom on
earth, and defines the ecumen
ical problem as succinctly as
I have encountered it: in act
ual fact ” the situation of the
Church in relation to the whole
of mankind does not accord with
her theological prerogative” to
collect all men into a corpo
rate, visible unity animated by
the Spirit of Christ.
Common regard for the Bible
as the vehicle of the Word of
God is the outstanding bond am
ong Christians. Father Walter
M. Abbott, S. J. documents the
growing cooperation among
Catholic and non-Catholic bibl
ical scholars, dating from the
impetus given Scriptural st
udies by Pius XIL Of great
interest is his detailed account
of the growing desire for and
movement toward a common
translation of the Bible, which
would be used and accepted by
all English-speaking Christ
ians. Closely related to the role
of the Bible in ecumenical en
deavors is the growing liturgi
cal awareness Jaoth among Cat
holics and in many non-Catho
lic communities. Father Shawn
G. Sheehan proposes that incr
eased liturgical understanding
will bring a heightened consci
ousness of the Church as a
living organism, unified and un
iversal by its very nature. From
this there will result a deeper
concern about the existence of
disunity among Christians and a
freedom from narrow partisan
ship. In a rather technical trea
tment Father Gustave Weigel,
S. J. reaches to the heart of the
theological concern for unity
with a discussion of the nature
of the Church of Christ and the
conditions of membership in it.
Paul Mailleux, S.J. contri
butes an extremely interes
ting paper on various theolo
gical trends among the East
ern Orthodox Churches, some
of which, at least, may event
ually lead to easier reunion with
the See of Peter. His treatment
necessarily brings up the posi
tion of the Papacy and the re
lations between the Bishop of
Rome and his fellow bishops,
a subject which the Vatican
Council is expected to treat
and elucidate substatially.
Father Charles Boyer, S.J.,
the recipient of the Graymoor
award, offers a brilliant and
much needed analysis of the
current and rather varied tre
nds among Catholic ecumenists.
Father Bernard Leeming, S.J.
does the same service for the
non-Catholic ecumenical move
ment with a very detailed pre-
SOME QUESTIONS
THE FISHERS OF MEN by
Michele Saponaro.
For some years to come there
will be no dearth of books about
the Apostle to the Gentiles,
St. Paul. His writings breathe
forth the soul I of a man who
will not be denied a hearing
by seekers of wisdom. The
Roman Governor Festus was but
the first of many men who have
come under the spell of Paul's
words, even when written. An
impressive number of studies
of Paul have been published
during the past few years. The
approach of Saponaro is not
that of a study so much as
that of a novel-like historical
account by one whose imagin
ation has been captured by Paul.
THE work is a translation of I
Discepoli written in the early
fifties by the venerable Italian
novelist, Michele Saponaro. The
historical span of the book is
from the resurrection of Christ
to the death of the last Apostle.
Nevertheless, the bulk at the
book is Paul—his conversion,
preparation for the apostolate,
early ministry terminating with
his confrontation with Peter,-
his later missionary activity
and death at Rome.
History comes alive In this
smooth account of the world's
unusual century and the author's
style carries one along much
as that at the one about whom
he writes. The unnamed tran
slator has done a commendable
task in reproducing the free
flowing and vivid language that
made this’ the most popular
work of Italy.
It may not be out of place to
note that historic realty in many
details that have a doctrinal
implication is lacking. The
author shows no interest in
theology but does make state
ments that indicate a theological
attitude that is not always in
sentation of various Protestant
mentalities and the progress of
the World Council of Churches.
Of special interest to laymen
will be Father Robert W. Hov-
da's excellent and very practi
cal chapter on “The Layman’s
Potential for Ecumenism.”
Prayer, adult education, lit
urgical understanding, social
awareness, greatly improved
catechetics and an intelligent
approach to matters of common
interest to all Christians - all
come up for serious discussion
and practical suggestions.
This book represents a dia
logue of experts, as I have said.
It would be a pity, however, if
it were read only by others
experts or quasi-experts. If the
laity- are to take seriously their
vocation to participate actively
in solving the Church's prob
lems, they need to possess a
solid ground of information
about the terms of these prob
lems. The rarefied discussions
of specialists and the initiatives
of those in high places will only
create living and lasting res
ults when they percolate down
the pastors and their parish
ioners and become part of our
everyday religious concerns.
harmony with Catholic belief
and historical accuracy.
Instances are: Did Mary Maga-
dalen actually see our Lord or
not (p 9)? Was Peter the head
of the Church (p 21 & 250),
or Peter and John (p 260)7
Was Paul an apostle by Christ
or by election of the apostles
(p 130)7 Were the orginial
Twelve chosen, or did James,
Judah and Simon join later
(p 18)7 Did Christ or the
Christian community institute
the Eucharist (p48)7 Was Christ
against sacrifice (p 55)7 Were
women ever admitted to carry
out the Liturgy ( pp 17 ff)7
Is obedience to lawful authority
a matter of expediency (p 253)7
These ideas and others in the
book are almost like brief
musing of the author and in no
way pertain to his main
objective which is to portray the
drama of the apostolic decades.
Imagination is a neccessary
tool for the novel writer and
the author uses it well generally
It is regrettable that in places
he has used it to invent facts
rather than to expand facts.
Instances are; Old Mary Maga-
deten actually see bur. Lord or*
not (p 9)7 Was Peter the head
at the Church ( p 21 & 250),
or Peter and John (p 270)7 Was
or Peter and John (p 270)7
T.T.McNULTY
♦ **
OLIVER, BERNARD. Chris
tian Hope. (Newman. $2.95). A
translation from the French
on various aspects of this vir
tue.
GOLDSCHE1DER, LUDWIG.
A Survey Of Michelaneelo's Mo
dels In Wax and Clay. (New
York Graphis Society. $6). The
text is accompanied by 65 re
productions of details from sta
tues and drawings.
196*
Half
the
world
eats Mm
America’s Overseas Relief Groups are united behind the
Freedom From Hunger Campaign. Your help is needed.
Continue to support the groups in your community
that display the symbol of the golden stalk of wheat.
For information write: Freedom From Hunger Campaign, Washington 6, O. C.
His Eminence,
Francis Cardinal Spellman,
Archbishop of New York,
says of the June Readers Digest
book condensation,
‘This tme story—The Triumph
of Janis Babson—will appeal to
all who admire courage...”
El.DOM—even on the battlefield
—is a human being asked to pass
through an ordeal more demand
ing than that faced, so courageously, by
this little girl. And it will be evident to all
who read the inspiring story of her two-
year battle with leukemia that what sus
tained her, what gave her tha strength to
help others (even while she herself was
dying) was her faith in God.
“This true story will appeal to all who
admire courage, to all who wonder about
the sources of courage, and to all who may
feel that life has treated them harshly. The
Triumph of fanis Babson* was indeed a
triumph—a victory, by the Grace of God,
over death itself. Let any person who feels
heavy-laden read the story of Janis thought
fully and he will draw from it new humil
ity and new strength for daily living.”
aaouushot or «w you
Read The Triumph of Janli Babson
—and more than 40 other articles
and features, condensed to save your
time, in June Reader’s Digest
NOW ON SALE
Fishers Of Men
In Apostolic Age
JL O