De La Taille and the Incarnation: A Rejoinder

DE LA TAILLE AND THE INCARNATION: A REJOINDER I HE THOMIST, in January, 1954, published an article in which I proposed some criticisms of Father de la Taille's theory created actuation by uncreated Act.1 Those criticisms were directed both at the theory in general and also at three applications made by its author, namely, to sanctifying grace, to the light of glory, and to the Incarnation. This issue of THE THOMIST carries the reply of Father comber, S. J. to my criticisms; a reply which the editors kindly permitted me to read in advance of publication. Other discussions of my criticism have also been published the five years since appearance.2 For my own part, I think that for two reasons such discussion is distinctly valuable. First, de la Taille's theory merits serious attention. In the judgment of some thoroughly competent theologians it constitutes an impressive contribution to theological development. Therefore, the elucidation of points conceded by all to be somewhat obscure in de la TaiUe's own presentation, and the spelling out of the implications of the theory are necessary and useful as aiding the formation of a more or less wise judgment. Secondly, both the theory and discussions centering about it are part of the larger context of modern theological orientation. Clearly the characteristic theological preoccupation for a very long time has been the great mystery of God's dealings with His rational creature, and that creature's stumbling approach 1 Mullaney, T. U., 0. P. The Incarnation: de la Taille vs. Thomistic Tradition, THE THOMIST, XVII (1954), pp. l-41. • Cf. De Letter, P., S. J., "Created Actuation by Uncreated Act," TheologicaJt Studie8, 18, pp. 60-9~. 256 THOMAS U. MULLANEY to God.3 Quite possibly discussion of Father de la Taille's particular theory might help shed light on that broader mystery, because his theory does touch on the fundamental problem of the relation of the natural to the supernatural. Certainly, however, Father Macomber and l-and our readers-will agree that in such discussion between us everything else must be secondary to the two central questions: I) What did de la Taille teach? 2) Is that teaching acceptable in light of certain theological tradition? In this answer to Father Macomber, therefore, I shall not attempt a line by line answer to his criticisms of my original article. To points in his article which seem to be immediately concerned with the procedure of my criticism rather than with the content and validity of de la Taille's theory I shall not attempt a reply.4 This, of course, implies neither a reflection on Father Macomber's treatment of those points nor an implication that I consider them unassailable; I simply hope we can avoid any needless shifting of the focus of discussion. Three distinct criticisms of the theory of created actuation by uncreated Act were urged in my original article, namely that 1) it " denies by implication the distinction between the supernatural and the natural orders; 2) it rests upon a confusion between being and becoming, between formal and efficient causality; 3) it is therefore inherently unacceptable and certainly un-Thomistic." 5 3 To this very general mystery pertain, for example, Mariology, Josephology, Ecclesiology, and sacramental theology, etc., all of which have been for some time areas of very vital discussion and development. • On this ground I shall not answer, for instance, Father Macomber's assertions a) that my original paper was poorly documented; b) that some of my argumentation is obscure, or incomplete, or inadequate; c) that I sometimes poorly state my own position-for example, "Father Mullaney means to say " d) that my terminology amounts to a theological censure, and so forth. Candor urges me to confess that I think these points can be refuted; on the other hand, to go into them might quickly divert discussion from de Ia Taille's doctrine. In any case, since interested readers can make their own judgment on such questions, I shall not deal with these and several other rather minute criticisms of my paper, lest discussion become " bogged down." • Cf. Mullaney, op. cit., p. ~- DE LA TAILLE AND THE INCARNATION 257 Father Macomber...