Renewing Christianity: A History of Church Reform from Day One to Vatican II by Christopher M. Bellitto
John Vidmar
654 BOOK REVIEWS neglect the more focused enquiries that word used to stand for. For example, metaphysics in Gracia's broad sense is alive and well analytic philosophy, but study of being qua much less widely practiced. Acting as if it just a reductionistic mistake think ofbeingqua increases chances inquiry will be forgotten. Ifthat were happen, we would have fallen prey another kind reductionism. There could said about this book. Its wealth detail breadth learning, model clarity organization provides, make valuable contribution. Practitioners current styles find widening, practitioners traditional helpful seeing what discussions do with ones. It also useful reading for graduate students or advanced undergraduates. The Catholic University ofAmerica Washington, D.C. MICHAEL GoRMAN Renewing Christianity: A History ofChurch Reform from Day One Vatican II. By CHRISTOPHER M. BELLITTO. Mahwah, N.J.: Paulist Press, 2001. Pp. 256. $18.95 (paper). ISBN 0-8091-4028-4. "Reform" loaded word. implies "improvement," not merely "change." C. S. Lewis warned one cannot progress without fixed point toward which heading. He might added reform returning. G. K. Chesterton ridiculed "Reformation" hisAutobiography: "I remember when rJohnston Stephen] was asked whether Church corrupt crying out Reformation, he answered disconcerting warmth, 'Who can doubt it? How horrible must been corruption tolerated so long three priests like John Knox Calvin Martin Luther.'" Christopher Bellino wades into these dangerous waters by trying describe reforms Christian readable volume. has attempted show II come line reforms, generated through centuries both above (through hierarchy) below Church's rank file). result is, I believe, commendable unsatisfactory. book divided five main chapters: Patristic Period Carolingian Renaissance, High Middle Ages, period Avignon Trent, modern age, Such division betrays author's obvious enthusiasm II, does let get best ofhim. reflection debt his mentor (once 655 removed), Gerhart Ladner, whose definition ofreformguidesthe authorthrough ages. Ladner held "the idea free, intentional ever perfectible, multiple, prolonged repeated efforts man reassert augment values pre-existent spiritual-material compound world." author tries put English apply Church. two ways. First, situates context general reforming movements, Herbert Grundmann did groundbreaking work, Religi.ous Movements curiously cite. This advantage an entire age whole, then details (be they heretical orthodox movements) expressions whole. puts technique good use chapters on Ages Reformation. Second, sees personal spiritual, all attempting return original sources: Christ, Scriptures, Fathers. pass judgment satisfied them dispassionately, balanced way (except generalizing Modernists), using verylatest sources. design method tends place "reform" movements-regardless their merits demerits--on same level. Waldenses, friars, mystics, Protestants, Puritans, High-Church Tractarians, Modernists are presented pieces same...
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