True and False Reform in the Church

Pope John XXIII, who read True and False Reform during his years as papal nuncio in France (then Archbishop Angelo Roncalli ), opened the Second Vatican Council by describing its goals in terms that reflected Congars description of authentic reform: reform that penetrates totheheart of doctrine as a message of salvation for the whole of humanity, that retrieves the meaning of prophecy in a living church, and that is deeply rooted in history rather than superficially related to the apostolic tradition.The council was called to update the churchs capacity to explain itself to the world and to revitalize ecclesial life in all its unique local manifestations.Congars masterpiece fills in the blanks of what we have been missing in our reception of the council and its call to true reform.