Maurice Eminyan
MELITA THEOLOGICA
Journal of the Faculty of Theology
University of Malta
64/1 (2014) 101–105
Retrieving the Tradition
“The Green Light to Renewal,” in Melita Theologica 26 (1974) 2-6
T
here is no doubt in the mind of any Catholic theologian today, or even in
the mind of most Catholic priests or laymen, that Vatican II has been a most
important landmark in the history of the Church and has introduced a long-awaited
renewal in every aspect of the Church’s life. Some of the changes brought about
during these past ten years have been much more deeply rooted than they seem,
coming as they do from a radical change in mentality and approach. There seems to
be now a new atmosphere in the Church, a new vitality, a new hope and dynamism.
And we all know that Vatican II and Pope John XXIII are mostly responsible
for all this. But how many Catholics, or even students of theology, have asked
for the reason for such a sudden change? Such things do not happen all of a
sudden. What was it, then, that has paved the way for Vatican II in the life of the
Church? We all believe in the Holy Spirit as being alive in the Church of Christ
and guiding her along the pilgrimage of time. But the Holy Spirit, with all his
gifts and charisms, is no replacement for human wisdom and initiative, even in
the Church of God.
When Pius XII issued his Encyclical Divino Afflante Spiritu in 1943 only a
few Catholic theologians and biblical scholars did realize what its aftermath was
going to be. This document, in fact, gave the green light for new methods and
principles of interpreting the Holy Scriptures and thus opened fresh horizons for
keen theologians and biblical scholars.1
One may usefully read on this subject: Karl Rahner et al., The Bible in a New Age (London:
Sheed & Ward, 1965); L. Alonso Schöckel, Understanding Biblical Research (New York: Herder
& Herder, 1963); Roderick Andrew F. MacKenzie, Faith and History in the Old Testament (New
York: Macmillan, 1963); P. Benoit, “Saint Thomas et l’inspiration des Ecritures,” in Tommaso
d’Aquino nel suo VII Centenario: Congresso Internazionale Roma-Napoli 17-24 Aprile 1974
(Rome: Angelicum, 1974), 115-132.
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