Jean Danielou's Doxological Humanism: Trinitarian Contemplation and Humanity's True Vocation

Synopsis: In the spring of 1946 Jean Daniélou published an article by the title of Les orientations presents de la pensée religieuse for Etudes. Daniélous article--at least according to his critics--set the program for what would be later referred to as la nouvelle théologie. Though Daniélous influence was definitive at the inception of the movement (loosely understood) and continued up until Vatican II and after it relatively little (especially compared to his close associate Henri de Lubac) has been written about Daniélou in English even in the recent resurgence of interest in nouvelle théologie. This book seeks to fill that gap in part by providing an overview of his theology with extensive reference to his vast corpus of writings by highlighting what seems to be the key to his thought: that all human beings were made for contemplation and that one is only truly human when one exercises this innate calling in a Trinitarian fashion. Endorsements: Marc Nicholass superb study of Jean Daniélou demonstrates that our modern cultural melancholy derives largely from our saintlessness. Yet a surpassing joy awaits all who are willing to embrace the saintly life of prayer and contemplation as Daniélou envisions it. Far from being escapist and otherworldly Nicholas reveals that a liturgical existence is profoundly political. Christian saints humanize the city of man he shows by building the city of God in our midst. --Ralph C. Wood Baylor University Jean Daniélou is one of the less-studied figures in the twentieth-century Catholic movement of nouvelle théologie. Nicholas remedies this by holding him up as a theologian who successfully reintegrates theology and spirituality giving voice to an integral humanism that does true justice to the doxological essence of humanity. Jean Daniélous Doxological Humanism is a patient and careful account of many of Daniélous writings which sheds light on the French Jesuits deepest motivations. --Hans Boersma Regent College Drawing on the resources of the unjustly forgotten Jean Daniélou Marc Nicholas presents an extended argument for a theocentric humanism. Nicholas shows how our ability to affirm the beauty and the dignity of human existence stands or falls with the question of God. For there is not one single human being Daniélou writes who is not destined one day to be transformed in Christ and to contemplate the Trinity. --Nicholas J. Healy Jr. John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family Author Biography: Marc C. Nicholas is an instructor in religion in the Philosophy department at McLennan Community College in Waco Texas.