Herder Book Supplement - A Review by Michael Novak - The Ten Most Significant Catholic Books of 1966

Sep 28, 2026

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Herder Book Supplement offers an editorial review by Michael Novak introducing Bernard Lonergan’s delayed collected essays and explaining the scope of the sixteen papers (1943–1965). It notes biographical context, contrasts early Thomistic settings with later attention to contemporary science, existentialism, and cultural change, and highlights key essays such as “Finality, Love, Marriage” and Lonergan’s account of “conceptualism.” The supplement’s contents also outline a separate survey selecting ten significant Catholic books of 1966.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLiterature

FormatPDF

Pages24

Reading Time37 min

AccessFree to download

Collection: Papers by Bernard Lonergan

A Review by Michael Novak

Shaping the Future

The Ten Most Significant Catholic Books of 1966

HerderFebruary 1967Book Supplement Collection:Papers by Bernard Lonergan A Review by Michael Novak The long-delayed publication of Bernard Lonergan'spublished essays will be greeted with joy by Lonerganbuffs,with curiosity by the many to whom his name hasbecome famous,and with advance resistance by thosewho feel excluded from the club of "those who under-stand."Lonergan is said to have resisted earlier publica-tion in the hopes that his work would not become subjectto sloganeering;his absence from public sight seems,ironically,to have encouraged the very thing he fearedmost. Crowe,S.J.,provides a biographical introduction and adescription of the various settings and situations whichthe papers were designed to meet.The introductions arehelpful,but they are too Thomistic and seminary-orientedin their range.In general,the subjects covered by the firsthalf of the book are diverse and deeply embedded in historicalThomism;thosein the second half are in-creasingly concerned withcontemporary science,ex-istentialism,and culturalchange. The one essay of thefirst eight which deservesimmediate and wide-spread discussion is “Fi-nality,Love,Marriage”(1944),the most thoroughand profound rethinkingof the relationships be-tween the many valuesinvolved in marriage yetachieved by a Catholic. Inexplicably the article,Bernard Lonergan,S.J. which first appeared in Theological Studies,went unde-bated,undiscussed,as if over the heads of moraltheologians. Of the other seven early articles,two concern problemsin logic and geometry of use to specialists like thoseanalysts of logic and language interested in a preciseunderstanding of medieval views.Another is a pedestrianpiece on the doctrine of the Assumption and one is a longreview of a book on the Thomistic conception of howGod acts through secondary causes.Two others are basicts Lonergan's conception of the relationship between thesecular and the holy:“The Natural Desire to See God”and“Theology and Understanding.”The latter is espe-cin¹lv brilliant;it lays promising groundwork both for theqthe development of doctrine,and for the pinsposing meaning from one cultural con-teyher.The former relates philosophy tothy very like Paul Tillich's famous “methodofparadox arising in philosophy finds an Thus,the act of bringing Lonergan's work out into theopen is certain to be beneficial,both for Lonergan and forhis growing audience.Lonergan has missed the debate,the prodding,and the counter-prodding,which wouldhave brought his keen mind into closer touch with thedialog of his time.Too long have his contemporariesheard about him,without hearing him directly. Lonergan has an empirical turn of mind without equalamong contemporary theologians.His thorough masteryof methodological issues imparts to his work a clarity notattained by Rahner,and a profundity not attained byKüng. In Collection,Lonergan is represented_by sixteenessays dating from 1943 to 1965.The editor,Frederick E. HERDER BooK SUPPLEMENT,a quarterly review of majorreligious books,is published in February,April,Septem-ber and November. CONTENTS Collection:Papers by Bernard Lonergan A Review by Michael Novak…… … …… 1Shaping the Future:The Ten Most SignificantCatholic Books of 1966 …… 2Two Approaches to Sexuality:Appraising the Controversial Books by Oraison and Egner … 5Situation Ethics in an Ecumenical Perspective by Karl Rahner……… … …5Meeting God Where He Is:Louis Evely on Brotherhood and Suffering ……Book Reviews ………………………………… ……18 answer in theology.This essay also includes Lonergan'sclearest account of "conceptualism,"the worst insult inhis arsenal. The first eight essays in short,provide an excellentintroduction to Lonergan's critique of traditional Thom-ism;but they are for most people,on that account,of lessinterest than the more recent ones. For these begin to fulfill the promise which the earlierwritings hold out.The long excursions

FAQs

What is the purpose of the Herder Book Supplement review of Bernard Lonergan?

It addresses the delayed publication of Lonergan’s essays and explains why bringing his work into public debate will benefit both Lonergan and readers.

How does the review characterize the shift across Lonergan’s collected papers?

It describes early essays as diverse yet deeply embedded in historical Thomism, while later essays increasingly engage contemporary science, existentialism, and cultural change.

What criteria are used to select the most significant Catholic books of 1966?

The selection excludes popularizations, reference books, and symposia, while aiming to include works that are definitive or seminal—thorough assessments or groundbreaking approaches to enduring religious problems.

Sep 28, 2026

Uploaded by Mia