Justification as Argued by Newman by Stanley L. Jaki (review)

318 BOOK REVIEWS justification as Argued by Newman. By STANLEY L. ]AKI. New Hope, Ky.: Real View Books, 2007. Pp. viii+ 286. $22.00 (paper). ISBN 978-0-97905774 -8. Fr. Stanley Jaki's monograph on BL John Henry Cardinal Newman's 1838 Lectures on justification is an impassioned, comprehensive, keen, and timely treatment of Newman's classic. (Newman reissued the lectures as a Catholic in 1874; references will be to the edition by Longmans, Green, and Co., 1900.) The recent beatification of Newman renders all of Jaki's commentaries on Newman timely, but this monograph is especially so in light of recent ecumenical dialogues. Growing is the number of those appreciative of the ecumenical intent and import of Newman's classic. At the same time, Jaki's commentary is timely as a well-researched and well-argued alternative to certain interpretations of the Lectures which, though undertaken in search of the good of Christian unity, risk false irenicism. Always with one eye on this risk, which he confronts throughout with the support of Newman's own pen, both directly and indirectly, Jaki intends chiefly to usher the reader into the pith and marrow of Newman's text, tracing his intention and method as well as expounding the book's contents. Under Jaki's guidance, one hears Newman, in his literary mastery, logical acumen, and genuine humanity, laud God the Father as he who pardons past offenses and really cleanses the wretched, accomplishing both by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit into hearts on account of the one sacrifice and many petitions of Christ. Jaki's central thesis is that Newman aims above all, as the first and second lectures make clear, to defend the ontologically real character of justification, and, secondly, to denounce the doctrine of a sheer nonimputation of sin. Helpfully, Jaki cautions Newman's reader, while wading into the Lecture's speculations concerning a rapprochement between moderates on both sides, not to forget the two opening lectures. In literary style, theological acumen, and human solicitude, Jaki shows himself a good student of his erudite master, competent to suggest where the teacher may have wandered from the path. Still, in tone and focus, Jaki departs somewhat from Newman's equanimity (relatively speaking) and vantage point. Before discussing the strengths of the text, I wish to indicate these weaknesses. First, Jaki's rhetoric is heated; one is reminded of Augustine against Pelagius or Nazianzus against the Arians. It is to be lamented that the flares punctuating Jaki's insights may deter from reading his fine work some who might benefit from its theological solidity and scholarly breadth. What are these flares? Jaki writes harshly at times, almost vilifying Luther and his recent advocates. To be sure, Jaki anchors his remarks in textual evidence and is not without respectable company. Among others, there comes to mind St. Thomas More, who judged Luther's doctrine a cause of dissolute behavior: "As for the doctrine of this unhappy sect, and the behavior, also, of the beginners of the same, they are such that, as every sensible person well perceives, do teach and give rise to their evil deeds" (Dialogue concerning Heresies, rendered in Modern English by Mary BOOK REVIEWS 319 Gottschalk [New York: Scepter Publishers, Inc., 2006], §8, p. 424). Especially on account of Luther's conception of divine predestination, not unrelated to his thesis "iustificatio sofa fide," More pronounces Luther's doctrine "the very worst and most harmful heresy that ever was thought up; and, on top of that, the most insane" (ibid., §11, p. 453). In the hands of many whomJaki hopes to convince, his adjectives for Luther, as used in the titles of thirteen chapters ("antirational," "unscriptural," "paradoxical," etc.), albeit tame in comparison with More's slings, may betray him. Of course, one must not neglect to note that the sense of these very slings was traced by Newman's own pen: "Surely it is a paradox to maintain that the only safeguard of the doctrine of our being accepted freely and without price, is that of our hearts being left odious and offensive to God" (Lectures, III, sect. 8, n. 3 Uohn Henry Newman, Lectures on the Doctrine...