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How does the Church perceive herself? Fr. Louis Bouyer's The Church of God sets out to answer that question, in light of Tradition and theological reflection through the centuries, but especially by drawing on the teachings of the Second Vatican Council. This book is a highly-readable, thorough synthesis of ecclesiology after the Council, presented by one of the greatest theologians of the 20th century. Bouyer, himself a former Lutheran minister, also explores Reformation views of the Church, as well as the Catholic Church's deepened understanding of her distinctive identity and her imperfect but real communion with the Orthodox churches and Protestant ecclesial communities. It offers a foundation for sound ecumenical discussion about the nature of the Church. The Church of God is a major contribution to the ecclesiology of communion fostered by the Second Vatican Council and continued by Pope Paul VI, but especially by John Paul II and Benedict XVI. Indeed, the book reflects the "hermeneutic of reform" Pope Benedict XVI insists should guide the interpretation of Vatican II.
Can't believe I'm the first to write a review of this work. At page 576 of 598 pages, I think I'm in a position to provide something of a sense (I hope) of what it accomplishes. Before getting right into it though, despite the size of this volume(!) and the very long sentences, having been translated from German, this book is eminently readable. In fact, throughout reading it, I had the sense more of surfing or sailing through it. It is difficult to put down, yet chewy. The subject matter is so thoroughly presented and yet flows so well. The logic of Bouyer's thought, melts into the spirit of the subject matter he is discussing. It is in this way, that "his" writing is effective. You likely are already aware that Bouyer is a convert from the Lutheran church. He is so thoroughly Catholic and thoroughly a consumate scholar that this book should be MUST reading for every bishop, priest, teacher christian, protestant, Orthodox person out there. REALLY! There is scarce anyone who has any affiliation to any extent to Christianity that he does not treat in this book.The Book is in 2 parts. Part I is an historical view of the church from the apostles, through the fathers, middle ages, reformation, to present. Ecclesiologies from major players from all christianity are represented. The process is clearly laid out how the church, in trying to deal with the state, ultimately became polluted by it, despite itself, culminating in the protestant reformation, which in turn did the same thing.Part II is a presentation of what the church properly is, and how the Bishops, priests came to be from the apostles, and what they really are. This section (not that the other wasn't) was very elucidating, edifying, superlative, superlative. How the Churches or the Bishops are in commuinion with one another, how councils operate, what they are. Sound dry? WASN'T! Read this, and you will love your church more deeply. But, he pulls no punches either, and lays it on the table, showing also quite clearly where the problems are that ecumenism on every front will have to face, even with the Jews. In this part, he nicely ties in the current state of affairs with the issues developed earlier that have "delayed the parousia". A review cannot do this book justice.BEST BOOK ON ECCLESIOLOGY I COULD IMAGINE!
