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Text: English, Dutch (translation)
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Intelligent and invigorating offering of research into the nature of Christian ministry by our leading Catholic theologian,
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This review is from: Ministry: Leadership in the Community of Jesus Christ (Paperback)
The Reverend Father Schillebeeckx here attempts to gather into one cohesive whole a variety of writings and speeches from a variety of venues, much as the Reverend Father Leonardo Boff did with Church, Charism and Power: Liberation Theology and the Institutional Church. Unfortunately such collections from various sources present an informational disconnect and a jarring discontinuity to the unsophisticated reader and thus these rather mild texts presented an opportunity for uncomprehending reactions. One must wonder therefore why the rush to publish, if these two dedicated and religious theologians (the former a Dominican preacher and professor, the later a Franciscan friar) were under no contractual obligations.Certainly the Reverend Father Schillebeeckx attempted to republish this material in a more unified and cohesive and clear manner in his later The church with a human face: A new and expanded theology of ministry but met with the same obstinate unwillingness to read with comprehension or not to read at all. Just as he was under no contractual obligation to write it, no one is obliged to read it outside certain enlightened and serious seminaries. But do not condemn these wise and well-researched words from the gracious pen of this Doctor of Theology without having read them. Father Schillebeeckx recognizes this shortcoming in continuity in his Foreword, in which he explains this gathering of a quater century's worth of work, and his attempts to forge a unified whole. He concludes this Foreword, written upon his anniversary of ordination to the priesthood, with these words: "A theologian knows that what he says will not be welcome to everyone. However, convinced as he is of the liberating power of the truth (including the historical truth) which he is honour bound to pursue, he does not have the right to impose censorship in advance on his own insights: he is obliged to make public the results of his investigation. Historical arguments can be countered only by historical arguments to the contrary. (p. vi)" Thus we find in these pages the brilliant and Reverend Father writing freely, and can trace the evolution of his historical research over a quarter century, in some of the most interesting phases of our Church history. He begins his exploration of the charism of ministry in the Church with an introduction to chruch leadership, then follows with an historical examination of the New Testament communities, developing the theme of apostolicity. The second section considers the First and Seocnd Christian Millenia, including the development of our liturgy and the Council of Chalcedon. This section closes with the modern view of priesthood developed in the sixteenth century and the Council of Trent, from which we receive a bit of what is still called Tridentine (although not all that is now considered Tridentine comes from this Council which gave its name). The Third section explores continuity and divergence between these two millenia, and the functions of ministry in the Church community, including the sacramental ministry. The following section examines tensions between the actual church order and alternative practices. Thus we here find a long explanation of the history of celibacy, and a mention of the historical role of women in Church ministry. We also find a consideration of the inevitable historically conditioned means of salvation in the Church order. This may not constitute the historico-critical method mentioned in the recent Jesus of Nazareth, but shows how history, and culture, have affected our expression of Christian ministry. "A Brief Hermeneutical Intermezzo" follows which I, as one who loves to read ancient, Scriptural and Joycean texts, found very helpful, and from which I hope to quote shortly. The final section offers hope for the future of our ministry within a living community, including a thorough presentation and evaluation of the 1971 Synod of Bishops speaking on ministry, the 1980 letter of Latin American priests to Rome, and further brief, bright and hopeful prospects for the future. The endnotes by the way are interestingly presented in their original, and thus contain extensive quotes in Latin and in French, so prepare your dictionaries for these excellent citations of primary sources! The quote I wish to draw from the Intermezzo is really a lesson in how to read, much more profound even than Ezra Pound's own ABC of Reading. As a teacher of reading and of writing, as a reader myself, of ancient Patristics and of Mr. James Joyce, I found this section especially worthwhile, and quotable: "In this short chapter I want to introduce a few reflections in order to forestall possible objections which could be made to the perspectives I shall present on the future (Chapter VI). 1. Someone might object to everything that has been said so far (and in fact to the whole of this book): have you not read history with an eye to the present problems associated with the ministry? My answer is, 'Of course.' But at the same time I deny what is suggested here. That is the only way in which history can be read. Even the person who claims to read old documents in a 'neutral' way cannot think away his own present; he is wrong if he thinks he can. In that case he is simply not aware of his own interests. Whether consciously or unconsciously people look at historical documents in the light of present-day questions, suppositions and hypotheses. The critical problem is whether one simply looks to history to confirm one's own already established views or whether one allows them to be put to the test by history. "Anyone who reads a book which was perhaps written two thousand years ago is himself addressed by the book; in that case he reads it in light of his own questions and hypotheses, whether or not he is aware of the fact. ( . . .) (p. 100)" This Intermezzo only grows better, and the careful reader of this too brief citation will notice the number one, which of course implies a number two. The second consideration within this Intermezzo draws from this question (notice the Thomistic stylings by this fellow Dominican priest and preacher!): "2. In this connection the problem of Christian obedience in faith and 'loyal opposition' is also relevant." But I have already quoted far too much from this excellent book, and the Thomistic response to this objection would please even Saint Thomas Aquinas, the Angelic Doctor, himself. I urge you therefore to read this very good book. Excellent fare for lectio divina or for reading in community and in class.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Ministry: Leadership in the Community of Jesus Christ,
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This review is from: Ministry: Leadership in the Community of Jesus Christ (Paperback)
I am being careful not to loan this book to anyone in case they don't return it. Schillebeeckx writes of matters of great theological importance but in such a way that it is difficult to put the book down once you begin. I realise it is a study text but gripped me like a novel. Another one to always have handy
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