Cardijn and Congar at Vatican II

Gigacz, Stefan Robert (2017) Cardijn and Congar at Vatican II. Interface Theology, 3 (1). pp. 31-67. ISSN 978-1-925679-19-9

Text Congar and Chenu Friend, Teacher, Brother-pages-1-2,38-74.pdf Download (2MB)

Abstract

This article traces the nearly 40 year relationship between French Dominican theologian, Yves Congar, and Joseph Cardijn, founder of the Jeunesse Ouvrière Chrétienne (JOC) or Young Christian Workers (YCW) movement. As a young monk stationed at the Dominican convent, Le Saulchoir, then located at Kain not far from Tournai in Belgium and Lille in France, Congar preached retreats for JOC leaders during the 1930s. Out of this experience, he began to develop a theology of the laity that he published in a series of significant articles and books after World War II.
This work was interrupted during the 1950s when Congar's writings fell under suspicion from the Vatican Holy Office, leading to his "exile" from Le Saulchoir in Strasbourg and the United Kingdom. The two men renewed their collaboration during the Second Vatican Council with a weekend together at a Swiss retreat house which they spent drafting five conciliar interventions for Cardijn, who was now a cardiinal - three of which he delivered during the fourth and final session of the Council.

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