Customer Reviews

The Splendor of the Church

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The ideas that de Lubac expresses in The Splendor of the Church largely impacted the second Vatican Council. de Lubac's main thesis is that the hierarchy as well as the laity is the Church, not just the hierarchy. He discusses this in depth as well as the Church's role as the bride of Christ. His final chapter is on the Church and Our Lady. This contains a lot of good insight and many profound things to contemplate. I think anyone with a desire to learn more about the theology of the Church as an entity should read this. It is a classic of de Lubac.

After reading The Splendor of the Church I can not understand why Henri De Lubac was rehabilitated by Pope John Paul when his ideas had been condemned by the Infallible Magisterium of the Church prior to the Vatican II council. The previous reviewer is right in that this theologian, being a Modernist (Modernist Heresy), had a great influence on the council and its results....and the resulting loss of Catholic identity and confusion that prevaled after the council due to the "reforms." If you do read this book, be sure to read what the Popes taught on the nature of the Church prior to Vatican II. They are in direct contradiction to what De Lubac teaches. My own advice is to stay away from this theologian...lest you pick up heretical ideas. Stick with the Thomists and the Scholastic Theologians, otherwise you may be in danger of losing the faith. Its your choice. But why slum around when there are such orthodox treasures to to mine in the Church.