Witnesses to the Living God: Three Paradigms for Approaching the Politics of <i>Nouvelle Théologie</i> *

The figures associated with nouvelle théologie were shaped by, and in turn gave shape to, their own chapter of the modernist crisis, which Étienne Fouilloux defines as “the rereading foundational message [of gospel] light [nineteenth-century] scientific advancements.”1 Insofar this crisis dogmatic authority religious experience called into question relationship human action to spiritual versus temporal spheres, “politics” has often been construed along lines Blondelian genealogical critique.2 As one prominent text puts it, advocacy for a “return mystery” includes diagnosing modern division sacred secular, well posing philosophical theological resources overcome such division.3 Their various attempts at conciliating Catholic heritage epistemological existential concerns day, however, earned them unhappy label “new” from contemporaries—it should also be borne mind that they used against adversaries well—producing several overlapping layers controversy amidst ecclesiastical circles France-Belgium Rome. Thus, many approaches view “new theologians” singular reactionary movement which, though silenced vindicated Vatican II. Sarah Shortall's remarkable new study these figures, Soldiers God Secular World,4 ought disrupt limited narrative make waves across disciplines: on hand, historiography, philosophy, theology relating twentieth century; other, burgeoning domain political theology, reflects ongoing negotiations contingent between two terms. And, word, “contingency” is precisely major achievement. She examines mobilization discourse advance idealized visions by disavowing claiming adherence body thought witnesses values transcend structures. shining moments monograph are where she shows characters within polarizing debates started shared premises, thereby demonstrating profound ambiguity its potential generate imaginations social, common, authoritative, legitimate. In doing so, transcends material confines her investigation penetrates rhetorical nucleus wide range Christian thought, ancient modern. Shortall accepts established discipline, viewing sources collaborated networks respective orders, Jesuit (Bouillard, de Lubac, Montcheuil, Fessard, Daniélou) Dominican (Chenu, Montuclard, Congar). Keenly aware how separation church state, or had very real consequences, innovatively legitimate methodological differences orders tended support different accents modus vivendi witness contemporaneous about organization both French international society. Skillfully situating thinkers relation specific amongst theologians, may ‘contingent’ approach,5 makes unique among recent identify societal horizon portray authors théologie. While not work “political theology” Schmittian sense concepts order transferred sphere other,6 distinguished examination discipline emerging century, flourished tool theologians adapt contexts sought provide guidance Church whose was being increasingly occluded hegemony debate. Her achievement can elucidated comparison other works pose entry points understanding politics théologie, namely those Jon Kirwan Fouilloux. They offer what “generational” “terminological” approaches, respectively. former tends filiations single source, struggle reconciling immanence traditions Church.7 For selection essays regarding modernity characteristics, Patricia Kelly's Ressourcement Theology: A Sourcebook ranged alongside Kirwan's here,8 number added Jürgen Mettepenningen's useful delineation four historical phases spanning Saulchoir affair 1935 close II 1965.9 Distinct approach Fouilloux's book Christianisme et eschatologie.10 Consciously mirroring earlier Incarnation eschatologie Bernard Besret,11 relates relevant viewed social implications through definition evocative concepts. neither nor set out write an orientation directed questions per se, announced title work, point around interests subject matters converge most poignantly, thus raising need distinguish approaches. Within convergence, three basic aspects impacting production twentieth-century serve points: legacy Maurice Blondel, handling Vichy nexus journal thought. agree Blondel important figure inspiration théologie.12 But views link lens Blondel's critique modernism insistence interpenetration natural supernatural orders,13 places significance spearheading non-external vision collective life, driven common evolution towards consciousness Christ.14 Indeed, assessments impact more general project telling. Kirwan, use spirit given age uncover authentic tradition meet needs.15 Shortall, read register. method tendency conflate communal impulse Catholicism collectivist projects.16 How arrive emphases treatment Valensin, mentor Henri Lubac Gaston Fessard others. With his brother, Auguste Valensin wrote famous 1912 article “On Doctrine Immanence” Dictionnaire apologétique la foi catholique. Swiftly condemned ecclesial censors justification eighteenth-century methods,”17 synthesis Valensin's tutelage under during licentiate philosophy Aix-en-Provence (1897-1899). states line influence, summarized “inherent insufficiency acting world,”18 corollary certain envisaged projects “social engagement.”19 does treat details engagement, apart referencing seminal involvement Semaines sociales 1904 personalist ideas—equality persons, labor unions; short, criticism Action française.20 Particularly last significant Kirwan: française Maritain's Humanisme Intégral (1936) Lubac's rejection integralism.21 specify how, exactly, “subjective method” results concrete options developing conceptions ecclesiology. identifies inflection influence collaboration Yves Montcheuil. There reader, so say, published 1934,22 stemmed conference 1931, but key disputed Pedro Descoqs, teachers, 1909-10.23 Jewish convert, throughout 1920s direct dialogue Blondel,24 deeply concerned combating integralists aligned themselves française.25 misses crucial connection heart who mentored would rightly suggests condemnation 1926 stage evidenced Surnaturel thesis via Valensin,27 logic forged Descoqs redeployed succeeding thinking careers théologie—especially years prior standard 1942 landmark. Key redeployments clandestine Témoignage chrétien, conceived regime Chaillet. Cautioning un-Christian just because it penchant hierarchy utter pastoral failure, maintained; purely achieve vaguely similar ideals blunts Church's eschatological witness.28 Fouilloux, engagement way. Without denying importance, fact signals contemporary, Léon Bloy. Bloy resource fashioning “eschatological pessimism,” privileged terminological prism particularly ecumenical strands. passage first issue Dieu vivant, organ 1945-1955, Claudel placed next Origen Augustine. Together readers Bible moral register, invitation living reflection higher world.29 However, pessimistic contemporary world. novelist, Marcel Moré identified “living flesh absolute.”30 Drawing theme positive value suffering, commonplace nineteenth-century literature rich biblical imagery,31 Bloy's 1887 1897 novels, Le Désespéré La Femme pauvre depicted terms humiliation poverty hopelessness, serving mirror Christ's incarnation ideal locating witness. Such attitude fit growing interest Kierkegaard 1930s 40s ostensibly “philosophies du désespoir” Sartre, Bataille, Camus.32 vivant circle could juxtapose “poverty” related forms organization, above all capitalism communism, concretely, “engagement.”33 depictions, took function corresponded condition world dominion sin. “Liminaire” 1950 eternal Mendant, Poor One” irrupts destitution.34 Jesuits Jean Daniélou Louis Bouyer develop notion pages journal.35 Impressed perception imminent end history following devastating financial succession World Wars,36 pessimism was, according account, fundamental Christian, luminaire 20 reads, “All rest—his life much intellectual mystical life—is nothing than ‘addition’ [surcroît], series ‘points view’ stem secret, life.”37 starting understood distinguishing itself, shows, Marxist philosophies based rational optimism progress.38 This clarifies debates. One concept Constantinianism, define hope salvation institutions … victory Lamb ‘Christian civilization’, suppose act if laws society protect us ‘the Robber’.”39 typologies clarify clear shot bow leftist engagements post-Vichy era. And Besret pointed show, without recrimination.40 Not only Georges Didier aim particular,41 Chenu developed materiality Catholique less continuation capitalism.42 To dissenting represented Louvain-based Gustave Thils, vastly underappreciated Transcendance ou incarnation? bemoaned opposition eschatology optimism. Thils warned “transcendence accommodates itself regrettable naturalism.”43 Christological form, “Le au Christ humilié,” valuation sedimentation polarized France abroad. Nothing, perhaps, regime, collapsed Third Republic governed Nazi occupation May 1940 August 1944. Pitched unifying national revolution, governing stationed bio-political effort “natural,” seeking impose every level society, motherhood immigration.44 notable ambiguities guide pivotal entanglements therewith: interplay political, seemingly inexorable distinction supernatural. It quarrel over carried context war. intrigued alleged commitments hierarchical propaganda. Making clever Thomas Aquinas Charles Péguy contempt disorder, allure came down vocabulary: family, effort, sacrifice, nation.45 notes enticement Pétain's rhetoric.46 Viewing brief extension economic collapse experienced 1930s, presents resistance defining time.47 great Corpus mysticum (1944), scathingly coded written rule regime,48 interpreted Modernist crisis. call men unite whole rediscover our civilization.49 uses categories primarily fitted contours crucible years. Important perspective is, like historical-theological investigations key. leans heavily public terminology Catholicism. Textuality literary Fathers played role assenting Catholics. interprets circumstances. Claiming, did stifled false transposition eucharistic miracle community physical elements bread wine high Middle Ages, upshot: true cannot founded external institutions. Yet, led episcopacy lend full 1941. Pauline echo, Catholics exhorted obey newly authority—how times changed since Leo XIII's bitter obedience secular increasing tide anti-clericalism!50 presaged mysticum, political-theological cut ways. resist, launched arguments illegitimacy correlative legitimacy resisting it. There, opening second journal, translation letter none Karl Barth read: “In France, war must continue level. Under no pretext peace armistice Hitler.”51 contends Pierre Chaillet, waged weapon eschatology. strategy blunt claim “natural” redefining provisional.52 hierarchizing equation “political,” framed authoritative fatherhood state character responses sin divine pedagogy race.53 patristic54 enabled priests resort office vis-à-vis people exuding universal mercy, open communication European churches, and, significantly, disclosing information crimes central-European concentration camps discovered reported time.55 javelins lanced way Nazism resembled neo-pagan religion, prizing blood race markers election. cooperators subtly dangerous communism outright denied transcendental realities.56 Implicit claim, then, suggestion liberalism, fascism derived same conceptual root, violation primacy supernatural.57 pastors, draw upon sourced transcendence compel audience form collaborative pockets forms.58 manages refracts onto side, complex swamp tripartite governance immediately liberation. early planning place began print 1945, Montcheuil communism.59 Eschatology rears head again: “homogenous empty time,” revolution accomplished progressive means, poses liberate divisions. For—and voice rehabilitates effectively here, absence Boersma volume edited Flynn Murray60—divisions eschatologically, give government reciprocity, force.61 why, return highlighted above, Danielou saw model Church.62 Beleaguered paganism forces secularization, themes martyr, angelic, monastic—and state—served focal renewed archetypical pathways carrying externality Crucially, correspond neatly debate, dissonance especially chrétien prized. Again, frames wider rediscovery spirituality nourished militant Church, simply nostalgic medieval configurations vague recovering belief metaphysical realities. offers regard complements contingencies Vichy. posed located south, drew remainders occupied Paris denounce “degraded Christianity structure, lost faith.”63 Even starkly, Satan presenting Jesus “plan christianisme incarné,” Christ, resistances desert temptations, prefers “christianisme crucifié.”64 address degradation incarnationalist collaborators Vichy, redefined term “Christianity” itself. If models emptied transcendence, then search preserve resist capturing presence totalizing became, name few, Gregory Palamas, Nyssa, exegesis Psalter, interpretation Islamic mysticism.65 note fault-line fall strictly camps. An Congar bemoan prevalence even contacts board Esprit, Emmanuel Mounier, content relied spheres.66 Once presented independent yet retreated private sphere, unavailable become enlisted externalism totalitarian causes. caveat mind, distinct ways Dominicans produced provides fruitful tension approaching questions. divide seen nowhere clearer vantage production. Clandestine manuscript circulation, intimate letters, recrimination libel, entries, lecture notes, inquisitions sometimes intervention Vatican, fresh journals series, linguistic modulation pass—or some cases, openly oppose—censorship: demonization Pascendi (1907), inaugural Theology faculty University Lyon 1929, up 1944 Preponderant freshly periodicals. paraphrase apt evaluation, there few means time censorship paper rationing. immense identity group. Revue thomiste 1946 Fourvière condemned, hallmark dates controversy. that, 1953, Hans Urs von Balthasar translated Raser les bastions (a condensed version Schleiftung der Bastionen, year later), signaling Manifestly rupturing insular posture radically “open-door open-window” Church.67 Notable monographs period either facsimile editions particular supplemental directly attached thereto. flagship enterprises community, initiative establish response Four play roles emerge théologie: des Sciences philosophiques théologiques (1907-present), Chrétien (1941-1944), Quinzaine (1950-1953), ecumenical—though piloted Daniélou, Jesuit—Dieu (1945-1955). terminal preceding parentheticals indicate controversial, sustained, critiques addressing realities; long typically take case Quinzaine, United States America greatest threat global Cold War.68 Letters cofounders grew 1903 expulsion France; initial periodicals exile literature.69 travails hands secularizing overt polemical aims, consciously terrain reigning Thomist time, thomiste. latter atrophying, wished tighter grasp present studies possibility disciplines.70 hands, takes significance. 1907 founding represents diversifying Thomism stage, presages Chenu's radical departure Rome-based “baroque Thomism,”71 articles magisterial Une école (1937) XIIe siècle (1951).72 Deeply inspired Johann Adam Mӧhler's (1796-1838) “Revelation” inscription history,73 championed cultural, linguistic, integrator emulated science.74 Chenu, science made impression priority dialogue. His XIIIe double-helix surprising partner: economics. accident, he supposed, Aquinas's so-called Feudal Revolution; too concluded, flourish materialistic analyses improve conditions life. Marxism, goes saying, chief analyses, found coopting ideologies liberalism rights result severely insufficient person community.75 After all, out, manipulates force alienation.76 Throughout 1940s 50s, Sept, Vie intellectuelle, veritable matter labor. Magali Della Sudda Études L'Action movements Appel jeuenesse étudiante chetienne incorporated collaboratrices—female editors—in contrast elite vie intellectuelle largely male readership, gestures gradual meeting theory practice culture.77 brilliantly distills distinctions period, reflecting