Ecumenical formation : Yves Congar's personal testimony

Abstract

There is no better ecumenical learning or formation nowadays than to seek direct encounter with someone of a high ecumenical calibre and related life-long experience. This paper intends to highlight and appraise some aspects of the French ecumenist Yves Congar's theological endeavour in the light of his personal testimony, and their relevancefor today's ecumenical learning. Since the theological productivity of Congar (1904-1995) is massive, more than 1,800 books, articles, and translations, there shall be no attempt of a comprehensive assessment of his work. 1nstead, this paper presents seven fundamental points in the French Dominican's ecumenical learning experience. These include his willingness: (i) to abide by a strong faith and to testify an attitude of openness towards any other, (ii) to consolidate a mutual deepening of one's traditions, (iii) to carry out personal sacrifices as a commitment towards Christian unity, (iv) to be 'aware of' and to show 'concern towards' others, (v) to insist on the 'fullness' and the 'purity' of the Church, (vi) to exercise a careful re-reading of other traditions, and (vii) to enhance creativity in the development of ecumenical thought. In view of these main ideas, this article concludes that ecumenical formation and learning implies and testifies to nothing else except fidelity and faithfulness.