Stratégie Missionnaire du Saint-Siège sous Léon XIII (1878-1903). Centralisation romaine et défis culturels by Claude Prudhomme

Abstract

478 BOOK REVIEWS when repeatable, private penance is tending to give way to public, communal penance in many quarters ofthe Roman Church. However ironic it may be, I believe that the author succeeds in showing that the pivotal period of the Irish penitentials has some valuable lessons for the present pivotal period in the history of the development of the sacrament of penance. He demonstrates an insightful reading of the texts and an imaginative interpretation of their (of course limited) contemporary significance. Having said this, I must add that it is disappointing to read a book published in 1995 that shows such little awareness of the careful work that is being done on the textual history of the penitentials. None of the works of the leading scholar in this field (Professor Raymund Kottje) are even listed in the bibliography . Connolly's book is not the book to read if one wants to gain any critical, historical knowledge of the penitentials, Irish or otherwise. It is, however, a reflective , insightful meditation on the theology of the penitentials, and a perceptive guide to their limited significance for today. Pierre J. Payer Mount Saint Vincent University Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada Stratégie Missionnaire du Saint-Siège sous Léon XIII (1878-1903)- Centralisation romaine et défis culturels. By Claude Prudhomme. [Collection de l'École Française de Rome, 186.] (Rome: École Française de Rome, Palais Farnèse. 1994. Pp. iv,621. Paperback.) This very long and detailed study of the missionary movement during the pontificate of Leo XIII is a substantial contribution to the mission history of the nineteenth century. Its major theme is the centralization, Romanization, and "papal-ization" of the missionary movement at this time. The book is divided into three major parts. The first describes the Congregation of the Propaganda during Leo's pontificate. The author provides not only the names ofthe prefects and secretaries of the Congregation but also of its members and consultors and describes both their tasks and how they came to be chosen. He has an interesting description of the ordinary path a Roman cleric would take in pursuit of an ecclesiastical career. He also shows with striking detail the bonds that existed between the various Congregations themselves and between them and the Pope,for the cardinals ofthe Propaganda were the Pope's chosen men and they invariably served on more than one Congregation. This guaranteed loyalty, uniformity , and Romanization in every detail. The second part of the book deals with the activity of the Propaganda during this time, describing how they developed a tradition of mission theory, controlled missionary action through questionnaires, synods, and apostolic delegates, assigned territories and chose mission congregations to serve there, and controlled the work of the missionary societies and the appointment of heads of the mission. Loyalty to the Pope, BOOK REVIEWS 479 submission to Rome, and uniformity in doctrine were expected of all missionaries —this permeates all decisions and communications. The third part of the book addresses the missionary strategy of Leo XIII as expressed by him and the Congregation. The centralization and "papal-ization" of missionary activity was pursued even though there were many obstacles along the way. The author treats well and in detail the struggles Rome had with Portugal over the Padroado in Asia and Africa, with the European Powers following the Berlin Conference on Africa in 1885, with France over the Religious Protectorate in China, and with Italy over the protection of missionaries in China and Africa. The author suggests that Leo's preferred interest was union with the Eastern Churches,but Leo also was concerned that missionary expansion should fit into his global plan for the Church. While centralization developed greatly during this period, there were two checks on its development: Rome could not persuade France to give up its religious protectorate in China and thus had to abandon its plan for an apostolic delegation; and Rome could not persuade the Society for the Propagation of the Faith to move its offices from Lyons to Rome and to entrust the distribution of funds to the Propaganda. These were minor setbacks when compared with the major accomplishments in this area. The author...