Customer Reviews

Reason with Piety, Garrigou-Lagrange in the Service of Catholic Thought

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Fr. Aidan Nicholas, O.P. provides a good introduction to the esteemed Fr. Reginald Garrigou O.P.. Lagrange, the dean of 20th century Roman Thomism. He gives a nice biographical presentation, mixed in with some of the more salient points of Fr. Lagrange's brand of Thomism-- especially his emphasis on God as the only self subistent being. He also explains the major themes of Garrigou's work: Thomistic philosopy of being, the proofs for God, the Theology of the Trinity, Apologetics, Providence, Incarnation, Atonement, Contemplative Prayer etc. According to this realistic, Neo-Thomistic perspective, one begins to grasp the problems with Suarezian and Scotist metaphysics and theology.
Finally, there is a sympathetic treatment of Garrigou Lagrange and the Modernist problem, highlighting how the great Garigou Lagrange defended the Catholic faith against the very real enemy of theological modernism. One can only wish that he had been alive to defend the faith after the Council, but then his brilliant treatment of God's Providence forbids us to seriously entertain such non-Providential fantasies! However, I do wish that the good Fr. Nichols had gone into the Nature/grace (DeLubac) question more deeply, but perhaps for an update on that one could turn to the new book by Lawrence Feingold to be published by the Catholic University of America press in 2010.
For further readings by Fr. Reginald Garrigou LaGrange, O.P., I would recommend "Reality, a Synthesis of Thomistic Thought" written by the master himself, and republished by the Ex Fontibus Co. in 2007. Tan Books has also republished some of his classic works on Mary, the Mother of God, Providence and Grace, Contemplative Prayer etc. We are indebted to Fr. Aidan Nichols for his excellent work in reemphasizing this much maligned contemplative theologian of the Thomistic tradition. Let us pray for Fr. Nichols and the English Dominicans as they prepare England for the Papal visit in September.

Garrigou-Lagrange was a great theologian and a great man. He was a very astute explicator of St. Thomas' doctrines, and all doctrines of the Church. Nichols' review of a small part of his work bears the characteristic of most writers today who review the works of great men: they look down on the greats from a position of superiority and condecension, as if the theological pipsqueakery that dominates Catholic theology these days is superior to all that went before. No reverence, little respect - what a tragedy.

Nichols begins with a summary of Pascendi of St. Pius X, on the modernists, whom Garrigou-Lagrange fought valiantly all his life. A brief, uninformative summary it is indeed. I suppose the difficulty of discussing modernism in the Church is enormous, when one approves heartily of modernists, such as Benedict 16 and John Paul 2, while writing a book about an anti-modernist whose teaching opposed them. And trying to make it look as though these opposing positions are compatible, or do not conflict with each other, simply obscures good descriptions of both modernism and anti-modernism.

Readers who want to know about Garrigou-Lagrange's writings should get his works and go to the source. "Reality: A synthesis of Thomistic Thought" is excellent - his books for laymen are unsurpassed in explaining Thomistic teaching to laymen. "The Savior and His Love for Us" is wonderful, as is "The Mother of the Savior", "Predestination", "Life Everlasting" and others. Again, he explains the doctrines of St. Thomas and the Church in laymen's terms, thoroughly and beautifully. Some of His more technical scholastic works are also reprinted today. Many of these books are available on Amazon - I strongly recommend them.