Matthew K. Minerd, Ph.D.

 On Divine Revelation: The Teaching of the Catholic Faith

(Translation of Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange, De revelatione per Ecclesiam catholicam proposita)

Purchase: Emmaus Academic (Volume 1; Volume 2); Amazon (Volume 1; Volume 2)

In On Divine Revelation—one of Garrigou-Lagrange’s most significant works, here available in English for the very first time—he offers a classic treatment of this foundational topic. It is an organized and thorough defense of both the rationality and supernaturality of divine revelation. He presents a careful yet stimulating account of the scientific character of theology, the nature of revelation itself, mystery, dogma, the grace of faith, the powers of human reason, false interpretations thereof (rationalism, naturalism, agnosticism, and pantheism), the motives of credibility, and much more.

Though written a century ago, On Divine Revelation will restore confidence in theology as a distinct and unified science and return focus to the fundamental questions of the doctrine of revelation. It also serves as a salutary corrective to contemporary theology’s anthropocentrism and concern with what is relative in revelation and religious experience by reorienting our theological attention to what is most certain, central, and sure in our knowledge of divine revelation: the Triune God who has revealed his inner life and salvific will.

Readers will see the great splendor of the gift of divine revelation: radiant with credibility before the gaze of reason and drawing our supernatural assent to the mysteries through the gift of faith. As Fr. Cajetan Cuddy, O.P. observes, “On Divine Revelation . . . is a stunning work of inestimable value. No other subsequent work on this topic has come close to meeting it (much less surpassing it).”

Endorsements

“Fr. Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange O.P. was and is the greatest theologian of the 20th century. Recognizing this fact is not to diminish other theologians of the post-conciliar period who were lionized for lesser talents—but only to understand why his work is now experiencing an extraordinary and welcome revival among a new generation looking for a more stable footing. It’s easy to understand his attraction when you begin to inhabit the sheer comprehensive scope, coherence, and power of his thought, so well communicated here, and throughout his corpus. We owe a great debt to Matthew Minerd for so masterfully translating Garrigou-Lagrange’s monumental two-volume work on Divine Revelation—a work of such exquisite depth and wisdom that one could confidently rebuild and refresh the entirety of Catholic theological education upon these forgotten and fecund foundations. We see here in these volumes, as if held high in a magnificent monstrance, the triumph of truth itself.”
Dr. Chad Pecknold
Associate Professor of Systematic Theology
The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC

“One does not have to be a Thomist to appreciate the brilliance and perspicacity of these tomes. They are among the timeless classics of a faith seeking understanding and will still shine brightly when many other works will be forgotten.”
Dr. Ulrich Lehner
William K. Warren Professor of Theology
University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN

“It is impossible to grasp what was going on in theology, whether Catholic or not, in the first half of the twentieth century without appreciating how central to it were the debates around divine revelation, the act of faith and apologetics. Even those Catholics who parted ways with neo-scholasticism cannot be properly understood without a sense of the balanced and intricate account honed by such significant and influential figures as Fr. Réginald Garrigou-Lagrange OP. Combining linguistic skill with extensive knowledge of the Thomist tradition, Dr. Matthew Minerd has put a wider theological public in his debt by making available this fine and accurate translation of Garrigou-Lagrange’s De Revelatione. A broader readership can now begin to rediscover not only the importance of this text as a point of reference for the history of theology but also its insights for the theological task today.”
Fr. Simon Francis Gaine, OP
Pinckaers Professor in Theological Anthropology and Ethics
Pontifical University of St. Thomas (Angelicum), Rome

“This is a monumental effort of making Garrigou-Lagrange’s fundamental theology more accessible to students and scholars alike. Garrigou-Lagrange upholds what so much of theology has abandoned over many decades: an understanding of revelation as divine speech, locutio Dei. These two volumes are valuable complements to other fundamental theologies, which, together and in dialogue with each other, can offer a more holistic understanding of divine revelation, its possibility, and credibility. In addition, the translation and re-publication of this masterpiece, along with other works by Garrigou-Lagrange, will undoubtedly affect the dynamics of twentieth-century Catholic historiography for the better: the Dominican master cannot be caricatured, ignored, or dismissed as a relic from a bygone era. He continues to teach today!”
Dr. Andrew Mezaros
Professor of Systematic Theology
Pontifical University, St. Patrick’s College, Maynooth, Ireland

“We theologians today often fancy ourselves sophisticated, learned, and subtle. But how can we be so if we ignore the great theologians of the early twentieth century and eschew the scholastic tradition that they furthered? Garrigou-Lagrange’s text De revelatione is a treasure that, until the publication of this splendid translation, few could access. We have much to learn from this master, much to emulate, even if we take issue with him here or there. He defines his terms, establishes his starting claims, and clearly argues his case. If we today juggle two or three concepts about some topic, Garrigou-Lagrange works with not a few more, both distinguishing and uniting. Nor does he simply entrap us in a labyrinth. By his manifold consideration of each topic and his global vision of the whole, he presents to us a grand example of theological wisdom. This text, challenging and rewarding, promises abundant fruit for those who labor in its field. Dr. Minerd has done a great service in rendering this tome into clear and articulate English. Let us hope that young scholars and seminarians pick it up and read.”
Dr. Christopher J. Malloy
Associate Professor of Theology
The University of Dallas, Dallas, TX 

“Whether one agrees or disagrees with him, Garrigou-Lagrange’s treatise on divine Revelation is one of the most important and influential texts of twentieth century apologetics. It sets forth the common position of classical Thomism on issues such as the preambles and mysteries of faith, the nature of divine revelation and faith, the motives of credibility, and related topics. A great deal of theology both before and after this text is a reaction to the principles and positions set forth here.”
Fr. James Brent, O.P.
Assistant Professor of Philosophy
Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception at the Dominican House of Studies, Washington, DC

“Though published nearly a century ago, the relevance of Fr. Garrigou-Lagrange's De Revelatione perdures. In the work, Fr. Garrigou-Lagrange masterfully lays out the first principles of the defensive branch of fundamental theology called apologetics and proceeds to give an account of how one ought to consider the very possibility of revelation. Far from a topical handbook with ad hoc replies to various and sundry objections to the faith, the work attempts to provide a speculative account of apologetics, understood as a part of sacred theology. In this regard, it is not only important as an introduction to the understanding of the faith, that is, for beginners, but also for advanced students in theology. Aside from delineating the important role that prophecy and miracles play as extrinsic motives of credibility (often considered passé in our times), Fr. Garrigou-Lagrange emphasizes the properly supernatural character of faith, which requires an elevation through grace that perfects, without destroying, the deepest longings of the human heart. In providing us with a careful translation of Fr. Réginald Garrigou-Lagrange's De Revelatione, Matthew Minerd has performed an important service for the Church and for contemporary Catholic theology.”
Dr. Joshua Lim
Tutor in Theology
Thomas Aquinas College, Santa Paula, CA