Brief Notices

BRIEF NOTICES Theologia Dogmatico-Scholastica. By VALENTINO ZUBIZARRETA. Vitoria, Spain: Procura Provincial de los PP. Carmelitas Descalzos. Vol. I, pp. 560; Vol. II, pp. 615; Vol. HI, pp. 510, with indexes. Archbishop Zubizarreta's manual of dogmatic Theology Ad Mentem S. Thomae Aquinatis has for some years now been familiar among theologians. On the whole it has always been well received among Thomists. This republication is but a reprinting of the fourth edition which first appeared in 1948. This work is notable for completeness, conciseness, and definiteness. The very qualifications of its being a good manual are also the qualities responsible for its shortcomings. The purpose of manuals as they are actually written seems to be two-fold: first, to summarize the background of theological problems i. e. the history of the particular question, opinions on it, and the positive theology pertinent to its solution; and second, to summarize the solution favored by the manualist. The former function can be very helpful to the student of theology; the latter very harmful. For when everything is given in capsule form, attractively wrapped in prefabricated distinctions, the student need only swallow, but never digest. What he gets is a solution prepared in advance; never the problem on which he can theologize. Most helpful as Zubizarreta's work is, it abounds, as any manual must, in illustrations of this very point. For example, in his Christology the familiar and fundamental question is raised whether the Hypostatic Union is formally created or uncreated (vol. III, p. 365) and it is taken care of by a settlement which involves either a clear misunderstanding, or misuse of the text of St. Thomas. Again, to the difficult problem of the motive of the Incarnation definitive answers are given in matters which are much better answered by qualified statements. Similarly, in the question of the infinity of the habitual grace of Christ, the problem is answered in a few lines by the use of distinctions which are so superficial as to be nearly meaningless, and therefore nearly useless. Other examples are to be found throughout the manual. To the very real problem, how does the grace of one sacrament differ from that of another, the answer is, by mode. But what is a modal distinction as applied to Sacramental grace? The student has an answer but no penetration of its meaning. The Mariology of Zubizarreta is necessarily brief. It is also, and on other 146 BRIEF NOTICES 147 grounds, unsatisfactory to many Thomists. For example, its treatment of. the Divine Maternity is, by Thomistic standards, a minimization of the dignity and sanctity of that fundamental prerogative of Our Lady. Other and very important prerogatives of our Blessed Mother are nowhere considered. As a manual Zubizarretta's work is outstandingly good. The point is this: do manuals as they are currently written have a legitimate place in the classroom? If the use of manuals is necessary we might as weH resign ourselves to the fact that the development of theologians who think theologically is highly unlikely. Dictionary of Dogmatic Theology. By PIETRO PARENTE, ANTONIO PIOLANTI, SALVATORE GAROFALO. Trans. by Emmanuel Doronzo. Milwaukee: Bruce, 1951. Pp. 336. $4.50. This volume, recently translated into English, was intended for the use of the layman for whom the longer treatises of dogma were too detailed, yet who sought more than just the simple exposition of the catechism. The authors aim at " presenting the substance of dogmatic doctrine." It may be doubted that the dictionary type of work is best suited to this task, for such a work does not allow one to see dogmatic theology in general outline, to judge of the inter-relation of doctrines, nor to see a great deal more than isolated points of dogma. In a word, no real synthesis can be obtained from such a work. Rather ought one to say, as do the authors in the Preface to the Second Italian Edition, that this volume is a readyreference work for the cultured layman. As such, it has a definite value and purpose. Entries are made not only for points of speculative dogma, but also for positive theology and related matter. The entries are of necessity brief...