Yves Congar and church reform

The Loyola Institute hosted a Lent 2023 Series on the work of theologian Yves Congar entitled ‘Authentic, Effective Reform in the Church: Reading Yves Congar Today’.

These lectures are now available to watch on the Loyola Institute YouTube channel » and will also be published in Doctrine and Life during the summer.

Dr Cornelius Casey, Dr Fáinche Ryan and Dr Gemma Simmonds presented on Congar’s thought, demonstrating the relevance of his theology to the synodal process

Dr Con Casey, former director of the Loyola Institute TCD lectured on the topic of true and false reform in the Catholic church, exploring the question, ‘What is true reform?’ The same topic was also addressed by Dr Gemma Simmonds CJ, Director of the Religious Life Institute at the Margaret Beaufort Institute of Theology in Cambridge, whilst Dr Fainche Ryan addressed the issue of whether reform was actually possible and the conditions that were necessary for change to happen including ‘prophecy and patience’.

“The call for reform strikes terror in the hearts of many,” says Dr Fáinche Ryan, adding, “Yet reform is precisely what is being called for in the current synodal process; change, adaptation, growth, a pruning to allow the Holy Spirit to be heard, in our times, and in our various cultures. The People of God are constantly tasked with listening afresh to the Holy Spirit.”

The French Dominican Yves Congar’s (1904-1905) True and False Reform (first published 1950; revised edition 1968) is an excellent teacher in this journey of continual renewal, Dr Ryan believes. “Rooted in 2,000 years of Christian theology, Congar has learnt to distinguish between Tradition and traditions (practices added on, but not essential), between what he terms ‘true’ and ‘false’ reform.” she says and notes that Congar sees the Church through a theological lens. Change is called for to better reflect God to the world, a world that is God’s good creation.

The three lecturers show how Congar forefronts the vitality and innovations of the world, and only secondarily the problems, the negative developments that the world may present. In 1968 France Congar noted that the challenges to the church had become more radical, touching the very roots of the church and its faith, says Dr Ryan quoting Congar when he says, people ‘”are intellectually and culturally torn out of a Catholic framework, perhaps even out of a religious framework, and thrown into a world which, by its vitality and its innovations, imposes its problems upon us’” (pp. 3,4).

This is Ireland today, she explains, adding that “In seeking to contribute to the synodal process, to educate people so we might contribute to synodal and ecclesial reform, the Loyola Institute proposed a rereading of Congar’s ever relevant work.”

Photo: Dr Gemma Simmonds CJ, Director of the Religious Life Institute at the Margaret Beaufort Institute of Theology in Cambridge, Dr Michael Kirwan SJ, Director of the Loyola Institute, Trinity College Dublin and Dr Fáinche Ryan, Assistant Professor of Systematic Theology at the Loyola Institute.

Photo thanks to Tablet/ Sarah Mac Donald