The Modern Theology of Tradition by J. P. Mackey (review)

142 BOOK REVIEWS posed to the problems discussed are in terms of complementarities rather than alternatives, in terms of the "both/and" rather than the "either/or." This central theme is a valuable one. It may even be a necessary one if any permanent answer is to be found for the problems of our contemporary world. And Father Lynch handles the essays in a way that could only be called extraordinarily stimulating. Yet the work has shortcomings as well. Some of its broad generalizations stand in need of the statistical or sociological grounding that has come to be (rightly) expected in secular discussions of these same topics. More serious to the trained theologian, Father Lynch's discussion of analogy-he equates it quite explicitly with connaturality and " the gift of sensibility, or awareness" (p. 118, italics his) -can only appear as a disservice to theology and philosophy. It is true that he makes his remarks in a context of existentialism, but even when that allowance is made one must carefully distinguish between the scientific use of analogy and poetic analogies. Another small criticism is that the reader is led to expect more (p. 1~8) in the discussion of a "theatre of public action" than is actually forthcoming. Nevertheless, in spite of these reservations, it can be said again that this is a thoroughly stimulating book. Perhaps it will serve its best function, as Father Lynch himself suggests, if it encourages others to take up the same topics in the same genuinely inquiring spirit. St. Stephen's Priory Dover, Mass. PAUL R. DuRBIN, 0. P. The Modern Theology of Tradition. By J. P. MACKEY. New York: Herder and Herder, 1968. xi, 219 pp. $4.75. Previous to the opening of Vatican Council II, many Catholics were unaware of any great difference of theological opinion concerning the sources of revelation. They had perhaps learned in school that revelation is found in two sources: the written word of the Bible and the additional teachings of the apostles handed down in tradition. Of course, Catholic theologians have long been aware that the process is more complex than this and that the word " tradition " has a broader meaning than " extrascriptural truth." Nevertheless, many theologians in the English speaking world were unprepared for the deep division which appeared in the Council as soon as the schema on the sources of revelation was introduced. Before the debate was cut off with little agreement having been reached, it had become clear that this was one of the crucial questions underlying the different attitudes of the Fathers of the Council. J. P. Mackey's The Modern Theology of Tradition is one of the first BOOK REVIEWS 148 full length studies of tradition to appear in English in recent years. While the debate over tradition and its relation to Scripture has produced a constant stream of writing in French, German, and Spanish, only a few scattered articles have appeared in English together with a few longer works on special aspects of the question; notably, G. Tavard, Holy Writ or Holy Church and J. Murphy, The Notion of Tradition in John Driedo. Father Mackey attempts to synthesize the writing of the past century beginning with the work of Franzelin. He makes it clear from the start that his main concern is with the notion of active tradition, that is, the transmission of revelation; only secondarily does he refer to the content of revelation, the objective tradition. He brings together all the main writing on this subject using both the standard manuals of the period and the more recent monographs and journal articles. Mackey's main thesis is that Franzelin's identification of active tradition with the magisterium of the Church is not an adequate solution to the question. He contends that the essential truth of the matter is found in the writings of Scheeben where active tradition is extended to the whole Church with each of the organs in the Church having its own role to play. Mackey then attempts to set forth the proper role of the Fathers, the great theologians and the ordinary faithful in the transmission of revelation . Finally, the author takes up the questions of Scripture...