This book is the culmination of a long companionship, a final link between a historian familiar with theology and a theologian keen on history. It was in February 1966 that Etienne Fouilloux met the Dominican theologian Yves Congar for the first time. He then began a thesis on the origins of ecumenism. Congar liberally opened his personal archives to him. For fifteen years, Congar did not leave the horizon of Fouilloux. Congar attended the defense of his thesis in 1980. Then, according to the work of the historian, the theologian was never far away, voluntary or involuntary protagonist of many of his studies on the theological crises of the 1930s and 1950s, the Second World War or the Second Vatican Council. In scattered but recurring touches, Fouilloux had already shed light on many aspects of Congar's work, including by publishing Journal d'un theologien. 1946-1956 (Editions du Cerf, 2000). Today, an overall plan and the cement necessary for writing a life story conceal the many stones previously brought to the building and finally constitute a biography of Father Congar. The sum is undeniably greater than the addition of the parts. Sabine Rousseau, Archives de Sciences sociales des religions October-December 2021.

Yves Congar (1904-1995) was one of the chief architects of a remarkable renewal in Roman Catholic ecclesiology in the twentieth century. His vision for ecclesial renewal led to a profound transformation of the Roman Catholic Church, its relationship with other churches and the world. This book considers the contribution made by Congar to that transformation. Situating Congar’s ecclesiology in the context of his whole theology, the book presents for the first time a comprehensive study of two related aspects of Congar's thought - unbelief and the notion of 'total ecclesiology'. Dr Flynn shows how unbelief provides the common inspiration for Congar's thought on the Church and constitutes the raison d’être for his entire programme of ecclesial reform at the Second Vatican Council. This study demonstrates how Congar's 'total ecclesiology' contributes to the restoration of unity and helps to redress unbelief. Congar's vision for the future and his programme for ecclesial renewal, centering on a church committed both to the preservation of its heritage and an openness to true reform, is shown to be still pertinent to the churches in the third millennium, a point accented by Pierre-Marie Gy, OP in his Preface to the work.

This book is the culmination of a long companionship, a final link between a historian familiar with theology and a theologian keen on history. It was in February 1966 that Etienne Fouilloux met the Dominican theologian Yves Congar for the first time. He then began a thesis on the origins of ecumenism. Congar liberally opened his personal archives to him. For fifteen years, Congar did not leave the horizon of Fouilloux. Congar attended the defense of his thesis in 1980. Then, according to the work of the historian, the theologian was never far away, voluntary or involuntary protagonist of many of his studies on the theological crises of the 1930s and 1950s, the Second World War or the Second Vatican Council. In scattered but recurring touches, Fouilloux had already shed light on many aspects of Congar's work, including by publishing Journal d'un theologien. 1946-1956 (Editions du Cerf, 2000). Today, an overall plan and the cement necessary for writing a life story conceal the many stones previously brought to the building and finally constitute a biography of Father Congar. The sum is undeniably greater than the addition of the parts. Sabine Rousseau, Archives de Sciences sociales des religions October-December 2021.

Yves Congar (1904-1995), a French Dominican theologian, was a prophet in the church of the mid-20th century, persecuted in the 1950s only to become perhaps the single most formative influence on Vatican II. This volume provides real insight and fresh hope for those concerned to breathe new life into the church of the 21st century.

Yves Congar was a theological advisor to the preparatory commission for Vatican II, and attended all sessions of the Council (1962-1965) as a theological expert. His daily journal provides a window into the Council's workings and into the development of what would become a series of historical documents and declarations. Theologian Yves Congar op, silenced and exiled in 1955, was in 1960 made a theological advisor to the preparatory commission for Vatican II. From then on, and all through the Council (1962-1965), he was an influential day-to-day participant in its work. His diary provides a window into the Council's workings and the development of what would become a series of historical documents and declarations. It also offers Congar's own down-to-earth and candid perspective on many of the remarkable people and events that shaped the Council.