Faithful to the Future - by Brother Emile of Taizé (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Faithful to the Future examines the true nature of Christian Tradition and particularly how it implies a fidelity not only to the past but to the future as well - tradition appears to be inseparable from creativity and reform. Congar's sense of the future and his conviction that something very important is happening in history led him to re-emphasize forgotten dimensions of Christian tradition, especially those that value the human person. When Congar reflected on Church authority and how it is best exercised, he was not thinking about a power that curtails freedom. Seeking to rediscover what is specific to Christianity, he described authority as a reality that is at the service of growth, where paying attention to the unknown and the unexpected is of the utmost importance. Congar was one of the greatest artisans of Vatican II and his writings are characterized by the urgent call for the reforms made necessary by a changing world, and by an understanding of catholicity - a sense of the Church that is not sectarian, but that lives and thinks "according to the whole". This volume explores the four themes that are prominent in Congar's writings, namely tradition, reform, catholicity and authority. The book does not assume a detailed knowledge of Congar's writings but addresses a difficulty that is frequently encountered in the present time - no one better than Yves Congar has shown that the Church is not a "system".

Review Quotes

"Brother Emile's synthesis of the essential Yves Congar makes this great friar-theologian's work accessible to many who will not have known him from Vatican II or had the blessing of immersing themselves in his writings. It would be an excellent book for an adult education course, also in introductory courses on contemporary theology or on the church." --Cistercian Studies Quarterly

"This is a clear and valuable way into the thought of one of the great theologians of a past generation. It is also a timely discussion of issues that may take different forms but which do not go away." --Paul Ballard, UK, Theological Book Review

"Readers who know Congar well will be delighted to rediscover this theological giant through Brother Émile's fresh and careful exposition of his work. Those discovering Congar for the first time will find this book a helpful guide to the theology of this seminal thinker." --Modern Believing

About the Author

Brother Emile was born in Canada in 1956. He joined the Taizé community in 1976. At Taizé, he frequently leads Bible studies and workshops and teaches theology in the community in France.He has written on the otherness of God, the Eucharist and the Early Christians, Paul's letter to the Colossians. Brother Emile met Yves Congar for the first time at Taizé in 1977 and has studied his thought for many years.