Greatest Theologians in our day

[Sirach2]

Yes, I agree, we’ve benefited from his books and tapes, and when he came to our parish to speak, there was standing room only …

He came to my parish a couple years ago, also, and the Church was packed. He did not speak within a mass, however. I was pleasantly surprised that he held my interest, since I have a very hard time watching anything he presents on EWTN, as well as reading his books.

The present series, New Evangelization, would be helpful if he would change his manner of speaking. I tend to tune him out and prefer to listen to Ralph Martin. Hahn just rolls full-speed using heavy rhetoric that I believe even a Protestant would have difficulty staying focused. IMO, he needs to slow down and allow a few seconds between sentences for the listener to absorb his high enthusiasm and concepts.

 

[godisgood77]

He died in 1995, but Yves Congar was the greatest Catholic theologian of the 20th century.

I came in to say Congar. I would also say Hans Urs von Balthasar, Henri De Lubac and Karl Rahner although all three have passed.

 

[aTraditionalist]

Archbishop Fulton Sheen.

Posted from Catholic.com App for Android

 

[Elizabeth502]

Archbishop Fulton Sheen.

Another good choice.

 

[adawgj]

Fr Mitch Pacwa SJ, S.T.B., Phd, Master of Divinity

Fluent in 12 languages half are ancient.

 

[eamonnroma]

Pope Benedict XVI and Blessed John Paul II are without a doubt the giants. I don’t care for Scott Hahn at all and really can’t see the fuss that is made over him. I would place him somewhere in the vicinity of Jimmy Akin.

I agree that Pope Benedict is one of the greatest theologians. I would even say that he might be one of the greatest theologians of all time.

I don’t think that John Paul II can be considered a great theologian. What important theological works did he write, on the level of Benedict I mean.

 

[QNDNNDQDCE]

OK he’s a theologian

I’m not going to fight over a name.

I’d rank him far higher as an apologist than as a theologian though

The Catholic Encyclopedia calls apologetics “fundamental theology.”

 

[Patti_M]

Also, Pope (emeritus) Benedict XVI, besides being a great theologian, can explain theology to us little people. That is a great gift in itself!

I agree with you 100 percent. It is beautiful how he can talk to the young and explain himself so perfectly. Yes, what a gift he is.

 

[Phillip_Rolfes]

I don’t think that John Paul II can be considered a great theologian. What important theological works did he write, on the level of Benedict I mean.

Have you never read “Male and Female He Created Them: A Theology of the Body,” “Love and Responsibility,” or any of his encyclicals or Wednesday catechetical audiences. John Paul II was most certainly every bit as great a theologian as Pope Benedict is; his focus was different, that’s all.

“Theology of the Body” was probably the single most important and influential work written by any Pope in the 20th Century. I don’t know of any of Pope Benedict’s writings that have had the profound impact that that one work of Pope John Paul II’s has had on the Church since it was released.

 

[Origen52]

You seem to have an idea that a theologian is someone who is rather exalted.

Another Catholic who did this was Archbishop Fulton Sheen.

QUOTE]

God will have to forgive me, but every time I’ve seen a picture of archbishop Sheen, or watched one of his programs on YouTube, he comes across to me as a cross between Charlton Heston and pope Alexander VI. Not having been around during his period of popularity, I’ve never understood his attraction. I know this is totally off topic and apologize, but maybe some of you who like him can give me an insight into his appeal.

 

[Origen52]

Have you never read “Male and Female He Created Them: A Theology of the Body,” “Love and Responsibility,” or any of his encyclicals or Wednesday catechetical audiences. John Paul II was most certainly every bit as great a theologian as Pope Benedict is; his focus was different, that’s all.

“Theology of the Body” was probably the single most important and influential work written by any Pope in the 20th Century. I don’t know of any of Pope Benedict’s writings that have had the profound impact that that one work of Pope John Paul II’s has had on the Church since it was released.

We should be grateful that the church had both these men in its hour of great need. Pope John Paul II, was larger than life, in charisma and faith. I look forward to his canonization, he has not performed a miracle for me but during my recent battle with cancer his image arouse within me during a very dark period. He provided me with strength and I believe he did help answer some urgent requests. The image which sustains me is the one of him in his final days bent, but undefeated by Parkinson’s, leaning on the crucifix, proclaiming the gospel to the end.

Benedict is the Mozart of theology, his clarity and devotion to the teachings of Christ are evident in all his writings. I pray that god will allow him to write one more book before he is taken from us.

So let us rejoice in both these men.

 

[Phillip_Rolfes]

We should be grateful that the church had both these men in its hour of great need. Pope John Paul II, was larger than life, in charisma and faith. I look forward to his canonization, he has not performed a miracle for me but during my recent battle with cancer his image arouse within me during a very dark period. He provided me with strength and I believe he did help answer some urgent requests. The image which sustains me is the one of him in his final days bent, but undefeated by Parkinson’s, leaning on the crucifix, proclaiming the gospel to the end.

Benedict is the Mozart of theology, his clarity and devotion to the teachings of Christ are evident in all his writings. I pray that god will allow him to write one more book before he is taken from us.

So let us rejoice in both these men.

I couldn’t agree with you more. I apologize if my previous post gave the impression that I was belittling the work of Pope Benedict XVI. That was certainly not my intention. Mea culpa.

 

[Dies_Irae_1]

Hans Kung
Karl Rahner
Cardinal Schönborn

I forgot to add in the rest of the lot :

Schillebeeckx
von Balthasar
de Lubac

 

[jrickrob]

I would definitely agree with a number of number of those mentioned but my personal favorites are Pope Benedict XVI followed by Dietrich von Hildebrand and his wife, Alice. The Hildebrands might be considered moreso as philosophers but I have seen them referred to as theologians also.

 

[Lagrange]

He died in 1995, but Yves Congar was the greatest Catholic theologian of the 20th century.

Yves Congar was part of the Nouvelle Théologie (New Theology) Movement of Henri de Lubac, Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, Hans Urs von Balthasar, Karl Rahner, Hans Küng, Edward Schillebeeckx, Marie-Dominique Chenu, Louis Bouyer, Etienne Gilson, Jean Daniélou, Jean Mouroux, et al. Pius XII condemned the Nouvelle Théologie in his encyclical - HUMANI GENERIS - CONCERNING SOME FALSE OPINIONS THREATENING TO UNDERMINE THE FOUNDATIONS OF CATHOLIC DOCTRINE.

Fr.Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange was the easily the best of the 20 century, even over BXVI. He was the “go to theologian” for the Holy Office leading up to VII. (back when the Church had a Holy Office). He too condemned the above named “modernistic” leaning “new theologians” and called them dangerous to the faith. Sadly, these same men acted as periti (advisors) to many of the bishops of the second Vatican council.

And people wonder what went wrong…

 

[Cat]

Cat;10946515:

You seem to have an idea that a theologian is someone who is rather exalted.

Another Catholic who did this was Archbishop Fulton Sheen.

QUOTE]

God will have to forgive me, but every time I’ve seen a picture of archbishop Sheen, or watched one of his programs on YouTube, he comes across to me as a cross between Charlton Heston and pope Alexander VI. Not having been around during his period of popularity, I’ve never understood his attraction. I know this is totally off topic and apologize, but maybe some of you who like him can give me an insight into his appeal.

He was the right man for the right time. At the time he was on TV, Billy Graham was just getting started, and Evangelical Protestants were beginning to learn the potential of television. So I would say that Archbishop Sheen got a jump on everyone, and used the fairly new medium of television well. You can’t be boring and be on TV! No one will watch.

He had an ability to attract Protestants to his show, and many watched him and said, “Well, he may be Catholic, but he has a lot of good things to say.” (I remember my parents saying this.)

 

[AbLef]

I came in to say Congar. I would also say Hans Urs von Balthasar, Henri De Lubac and Karl Rahner although all three have passed.

The Nouvelle Théologie (New Theology) Movement of Henri de Lubac, Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, Hans Urs von Balthasar, Yves Congar, Karl Rahner, Hans Küng, Edward Schillebeeckx, Marie-Dominique Chenu, Louis Bouyer, Etienne Gilson, Jean Daniélou, Jean Mouroux, et al. were condemned by Pius XII in his encyclical - HUMANI GENERIS - CONCERNING SOME FALSE OPINIONS THREATENING TO UNDERMINE THE FOUNDATIONS OF CATHOLIC DOCTRINE.

Fr.Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange, O.P. was the best theologian of the 20th century, hands down. He was the “go to theologian” for the Holy Office up till VII. Sadly, many of the above named men whose teachings were condemned by Pope Pius XII were periti (theological advisors) at the Second Vatican Council. And we saw how that turned out…

 

[Joe_5859]

Ya… I don’t consider Scott Hahn much of a theologian… I agree with the take that he is more an apologist.

I don’t know that Scott Hahn himself would place him on the list alongside people like Benedict XVI, Von Balthasar, DeLubac, etc. But he is definitely a biblical theologian. Yes, he’s much more well known for his popular Doubleday books, but he’s got lots of great academic pieces that have been published in various journals. His article on “What Laws Were Not Good: A Canonical Approach to the Theological Problem of Ezekiel 20:25-26” does a great job in framing the types of Old Testament law.

In various places, I have encounterd a sort of knee-jerk aversion to Hahn just because he’s popular. But he’s got plenty of academic chops as well.

 

[Phillip_Rolfes]

I don’t know that Scott Hahn himself would place him on the list alongside people like Benedict XVI, Von Balthasar, DeLubac, etc. But he is definitely a biblical theologian. Yes, he’s much more well known for his popular Doubleday books, but he’s got lots of great academic pieces that have been published in various journals. His article on “What Laws Were Not Good: A Canonical Approach to the Theological Problem of Ezekiel 20:25-26” does a great job in framing the types of Old Testament law.

In various places, I have encounterd a sort of knee-jerk aversion to Hahn just because he’s popular. But he’s got plenty of academic chops as well.

Amen! Especially to the “knee-jerk” aversion because of Dr. Hahn’s popularity. It’s sad, really. You’d be hard-pressed to find a Catholic scholar in the U.S. today who is more knowledgeable in the Scriptures, the writings of the Church Fathers, and the relationship between Scripture, Liturgy, and theology.

I’ve been listening to his study on the Gospel of John found on his website. There is a lot of very deep theology there (and hardly a lick of apologetics).

 

[KevJohn]

Fr Gary Gou-Lagrange