The monumental work of renowned twentieth-century Swiss ecclesiologist Charles Journet, The Church of the Word Incarnate is among the most comprehensive and spiritually profound studies of the mystery of the Church. Presented here for the first time in English translation is Journet’s complete five-volume “essay in speculative theology,” in which he undertakes a Thomistic presentation of the Church in light of her four causes—efficient, material, formal, and final—corresponding to her four marks of apostolicity, catholicity, unity, and sanctity. In this first volume, Journet examines the apostolic hierarchy—the Twelve chosen by Christ, along with their successors and collaborators—as the Church’s immediate and instrumental efficient cause. After an initial consideration of the prior stages involved in the divine institution of the Church, Journet devotes much of the rest of the volume to the apostolic hierarchy itself and to its unified exercise of its distinct sacramental and jurisdictional powers, from which the Church’s existence in the world flows. The volume concludes with his reflections on apostolicity as both a property and sign of the true Church.
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CHARLES JOURNET (1891–1975) was a Swiss priest and theologian who taught at the major seminary in Fribourg from 1924 to 1970. He was the author of more than two dozen books and many articles on Catholic theology. Together with Jacques Maritain, he was the founder of the European journal Nova et Vetera. In 1965, Journet was named a cardinal by Pope Paul VI in recognition of his work in ecclesiology.
What People Are Saying
"Charles Journet (1891–1975) was one of the most influential theologians of the twentieth century. With his monumental work The Church of the Word Incarnate, the future cardinal (1965) played a major role in determining the development of modern ecclesiology as it was received doctrinally by the Second Vatican Council. In particular, there is comprehensively documented the approach to the Incarnation as the basis for the divine-human constitution of the Catholic Church as the universal sacrament of the salvation of the world in Christ (Lumen Gentium 8), biblically, theologically-historically, and systematically. This first volume deals with the apostolic-hierarchical constitution of the Church and, in particular, with the relationship between episcopal and papal jurisdiction. This topic is particularly current in light of efforts to reverse the determination of a balanced relationship achieved at Vatican II in favor of a purely realpolitik total jurisdiction of the pope separated from episcopal consecration. It is to be hoped that this translation into the modern lingua franca will reach a theological audience that goes far beyond native English speakers and will thus stimulate and enrich an international discussion."
"The Church of the Word Incarnate is without question one of the great master-works of twentieth century Catholic ecclesiology. With each passing year, our appreciation of the depth and range of Charles Journet's theological work grows apace. We owe the editor and publisher a debt of gratitude for conceiving the immense project of making this indispensable work available in a new English edition and for bringing it to birth with this elegant first volume, with the promise of further volumes to come. This is truly a publishing event for Catholic theological scholarship."
"This volume, astounding in its scope and breadth, focuses on the hierarchical and juridical dimensions of the Church. Lest this focus seems outdated due to Vatican II's reframing of ecclesiology, it should suffice to point out that the juridical structure of the Church is once again at the center of theological reflection due to the movement toward 'synodality'—proving the necessity of the kind of reflection that Journet undertakes. A vast range of topics receive full treatment here, including such things as Christian worship, cultic power, apostolicity, papal infallibility, the maternity of the Church, coercive power, the Crusades, the status of the Jewish people, prophecy, the Vatican city-state, ecumenism, sacramental grace and character, and much more. Although Journet would revise some of his conclusions in light of Vatican II, it is very often the case that contemporary ecclesiology will need to revise itself in light of Journet."
"The understanding of the history of modern ecclesiology and more importantly of ecclesiology itself have been impeded for English speakers by limited access to Cardinal Journet's Church of the Word Incarnate. What comes especially to mind, moreover, are the delicate topics of the Church's role in the salvation of all who are being saved whatever their public relation to the Church, and the mutual relations of the Church and the modern liberal state enunciated by Dignitatis humanae but adumbrated by Journet. Matthew Minerd and Emmaus Academic are greatly to be thanked for bringing this great theologian's work forward to contemporary appreciation."
