The Church of the Word Incarnate: an Essay in Speculative Theology: Volume 1: the Apostolic Hierarchy

The monumental work of renowned twentieth-century Swiss ecclesiologist Charles Journet, The Church of the Word Incarnate is among the most comprehensive and spiritually profound studies of the mystery of the Church. Presented here for the first time in English translation is Journet’s complete five-volume “essay in speculative theology,” in which he undertakes a Thomistic presentation of the Church in light of her four causes—efficient, material, formal, and final—corresponding to her four marks of apostolicity, catholicity, unity, and sanctity. In this first volume, Journet examines the apostolic hierarchy—the Twelve chosen by Christ, along with their successors and collaborators—as the Church’s immediate and instrumental efficient cause. After an initial consideration of the prior stages involved in the divine institution of the Church, Journet devotes much of the rest of the volume to the apostolic hierarchy itself and to its unified exercise of its distinct sacramental and jurisdictional powers, from which the Church’s existence in the world flows. The volume concludes with his reflections on apostolicity as both a property and sign of the true Church.

Table of Contents:
Introduction by Roger Nutt.xv Translator’s Note.xliii Editor’s Preface to the 1998 French Edition.xlv Editor’s Introduction to the 1998 French Edition..xlix Author’s Preface.lv Chapter 1: The Phases of the Act Generative of the Church, or the Successive Divine Regimes of the Church I. The Regime Prior to the Church II. The First Regime of the Church III. The Existing Regime of the Church IV. The Future Regime of the Church Chapter 2: The Apostolic Hierarchy I. The Function of the Apostolic Hierarchy II. The Two Powers of the Apostolic Hierarchy III. The Church as Issuing from the Hierarchy Excursus 1: On Three Ways of Defining the Word “Church” and on the Corresponding Ways of Assigning Her Causes.60 Chapter 3: The Power of Order Considered as Ministerial Cause of the Church I. Christian Worship: The Central Axis of the Present Church II. The Cultic Power Common to All Members of the Church III. The Power of Order, or the Hierarchic Cultic Power IV. The Maternal Function of the Hierarchy Excursus 2: Some Recent Views Concerning the Sacrament of Order.127 Chapter 4: The Power of Jurisdiction: The Second Ministerial Cause of the Church I. The Origin of the Jurisdictional Power II. Division into Extraordinary or Exceptional Jurisdiction and Permanent or Regular Jurisdiction III. The Extraordinary Jurisdiction or Apostolate Excursus 3: The Three Kingships of Christ.200 Chapter 5: The Permanent Jurisdiction or Pontificate I. The Chief Divisions of the Jurisdictional Power II. First Division of the Permanent Jurisdiction: Declaratory Power and Canonical Power Excursus 4: Is There an Instrumental Jurisdiction?.223 Excursus 5: The Accusation of Legalism Made by the Orthodox.249 Chapter 6: Clarifications Regarding the Relations Between the Canonical Power and the Political Power I. The Analogical Character of the Canonical Jurisdiction II. The Essential Exigencies of the Church in Her Relations with the State III. The Regime of Secular Christendom IV. The Regime of Sacral Christendom Chapter 7: Second and Third Divisions of the Permanent Jurisdiction I. The Accidental Division: The Degrees of Jurisdictional Assistance II. The Material Division: Speculative and Practical Messages of the Church Excursus 6: The Condemnation of Galileo .466 Chapter 8: Fourth Division of the Permanent Jurisdiction: Particular and Universal Jurisdiction I. Preliminary Considerations: Apostolate and Episcopate II. The Particular Jurisdiction Proper to Bishops III. The Universal or Sovereign Jurisdiction Excursus 7: The Primacy of Peter in the Gospel.625 Excursus 8: The Election of a Pope.632 Excursus 9: The Loss of the Pontificate.637 Excursus 10: The Origins and Transmission of Political Power .640 Chapter 9: The Unity and the Action of the Hierarchy I. The Unity of the Hierarchy II. Indirect Action of the Hierarchy in the World III. The Direct Action of the Hierarchy on the Church Excursus 11: The Hierarchy in Möhler’s Book on Unity in the Church .682 Chapter 10: Apostolicity: Property and Note of the True Church I. Apostolicity Considered as Property II. Apostolicity Considered as a Mark of the True Church III. The Apostolicity of the Church Was Prophesied Excursus 12: Apostolicity—The Reason for Newman’s Conversion to Catholicism.735 Appendix I: Selections from Two Speeches by Pius XII on the Relationship Between the Church and the Political Community Appendix II: The Hierarchical Powers of the Apostles, the Pope, and the Bishops Subject Index .779 Index of Names .831 Analytical Table of Contents.845

About the Author :
Charles Journey (1891–1975) was a Swiss priest and theologian who taught at the major seminary in Fribourg from 1924 to 1970. He was the author of more than two dozen books and many articles on Catholic theology. Together with Jacques Maritain, he was the founder of the European journal Nova et Vetera. In 1965, Journet was named a cardinal by Pope Paul VI in recognition of his work in ecclesiology.

Review :
“Charles Journet (1891–1975) was one of the most influential theologians of the twentieth century. With his monumental work The Church of the Word Incarnate, the future cardinal (1965) played a major role in determining the development of modern ecclesiology as it was received doctrinally by the Second Vatican Council. In particular, there is comprehensively documented the approach to the Incarnation as the basis for the divine-human constitution of the Catholic Church as the universal sacrament of the salvation of the world in Christ (Lumen Gentium 8), biblically, theologically-historically, and systematically. This first volume deals with the apostolic-hierarchical constitution of the Church and, in particular, with the relationship between episcopal and papal jurisdiction. This topic is particularly current in light of efforts to reverse the determination of a balanced relationship achieved at Vatican II in favor of a purely realpolitik total jurisdiction of the pope separated from episcopal consecration. It is to be hoped that this translation into the modern lingua franca will reach a theological audience that goes far beyond native English speakers and will thus stimulate and enrich an international discussion.” - Gerhard Cardinal Muller, Prefect Emeritus of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith “The Church of the Word Incarnate is without question one of the great masterworks of twentieth century Catholic ecclesiology. With each passing year, our appreciation of the depth and range of Charles Journet’s theological work grows apace. We owe the editor and publisher a debt of gratitude for conceiving the immense project of making this indispensable work available in a new English edition and for bringing it to birth with this elegant first volume, with the promise of further volumes to come. This is truly a publishing event for Catholic theological scholarship.” - Archbishop J. Augustine Di Noia, O.P. Secretary Emeritus of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith “This volume, astounding in its scope and breadth, focuses on the hierarchical and juridical dimensions of the Church. Lest this focus seems outdated due to Vatican II’s reframing of ecclesiology, it should suffice to point out that the juridical structure of the Church is once again at the center of theological reflection due to the movement toward ‘synodality’—proving the necessity of the kind of reflection that Journet undertakes. A vast range of topics receive full treatment here, including such things as Christian worship, cultic power, apostolicity, papal infallibility, the maternity of the Church, coercive power, the Crusades, the status of the Jewish people, prophecy, the Vatican city-state, ecumenism, sacramental grace and character, and much more. Although Journet would revise some of his conclusions in light of Vatican II, it is very often the case that contemporary ecclesiology will need to revise itself in light of Journet.” - Matthew Levering, Mundelein Seminary “The understanding of the history of modern ecclesiology and more importantly of ecclesiology itself have been impeded for English speakers by limited access to Cardinal Journet’s Church of the Word Incarnate. What comes especially to mind, moreover, are the delicate topics of the Church’s role in the salvation of all who are being saved whatever their public relation to the Church, and the mutual relations of the Church and the modern liberal state enunciated by Dignitatis humanae but adumbrated by Journet. Matthew Minerd and Emmaus Academic are greatly to be thanked for bringing this great theologian’s work forward to contemporary appreciation.” - Guy Mansini, O.S.B. Ave Maria University