To Be Perfect Is to Have Changed Often: The Development of John Henry Newman's Ecclesiological Outlook, 1845–1877 by Ryan J. Marr

Abstract

Reviewed by: To Be Perfect Is to Have Changed Often: The Development of John Henry Newman's Ecclesiological Outlook, 1845–1877 by Ryan J. Marr Christopher Cimorelli To Be Perfect Is to Have Changed Often: The Development of John Henry Newman's Ecclesiological Outlook, 1845–1877 BY RYAN J. MARR Lanham, MD: Lexington Books-Fortress Academic, 2018. 238 pages. Hardback: $100, E-book: $95. ISBN (hardback): 978-1-9787-0057-4, ISBN (E-book): 978-1-9787-0058-1. Ryan Marr, who earned his Ph.D. in historical theology from Saint Louis University and currently serves as the director of the National Institute for Newman Studies (Pittsburgh, PA), has written an outstanding study treating Newman's ecclesiology from the time of his conversion to Roman Catholicism in 1845 to his 1877 Preface to the Via Media. The great temptation for many readers and even scholars of Newman is to perceive and uphold a uniform ecclesiological outlook during his time as a Catholic. Marr, however, through rigorous historical and systematic analysis delineates Newman's ecclesiological shifts and developments, often in response to contemporary affairs, both personal and ecclesial. For example, developments of Newman's understanding and idea of the church are discernible in his work during the time of the Rambler controversy, including his publication of On Consulting the Faithful in Matters of Doctrine, as well as in his thought prior to and in the wake of the First Vatican Council (notably [End Page 118] in the Grammar of Assent). Before giving an overview of the text's argument and structure, as well as indicating its contributions to Newman studies, I will briefly attend to its audience and composition. As the publication information indicates, Marr's study is primarily intended for an academic audience, and it will particularly appeal to students and scholars in the fields of church history, systematic theology, and Newman studies. Even with Marr's extensive research—delving into primary literature of Newman and his interlocutors, letters, archival material, current events, etc.—his study is eminently readable and approachable, incorporating useful analogies elucidating even the most technical of concepts. This style brings the content to life, facilitating its applicability to the present context. The chapters are well-structured, featuring introductory and concluding sections that reinforce the integrity of the overall argument. Therefore, it would be appropriate for a plethora of milieus: scholarly research, graduate theology courses, and even upper-level undergraduate seminars dealing with modern theology and history, to name a few. Given the historical analysis undertaken in this study, as well as the plentiful references, some readers would have preferred footnotes to chapter endnotes. However, given the number of citations and length of individual entries, the endnotes are quite reasonable. Marr ultimately contends that Newman's ecclesiology circa Development was somewhat ultramontane in character but became more balanced between 1845 and 1877 and sensitive to the entire people of God and the different "offices" present in Christ's body, the church. This development was facilitated by Newman's ongoing study, confronting of challenges, and efforts in response to current affairs, whether in England or Rome. In terms of methodology, Marr, in good historical fashion, wishes to pay "closer attention to Newman's writings within their historical context . . . by resisting the temptation to allow Newman's narration of his spiritual journey to serve as the primary lens for understanding his life and writings" (xx). This more critical approach to Newman studies owes something to the work of Frank Turner, but it remains disciplined in its handling of the evidence and avoidance of speculative conclusions. It is thus able to build on the insights of a number of scholars in the area of Newman's ecclesiology, such as Avery Dulles, John Coulson, Edward J. Miller, John R. Page, Francis A. Sullivan, Benjamin King, and others. The main body of Marr's study is comprised of five chapters. Chapter one delineates the "moderate Ultramontanism" that characterized Newman's first forays into the development of doctrine and early years as a Catholic, in which the need for an infallible teaching authority was his primary focus. Chapter two investigates the "Rambler Affair" in which Newman had to respond to challenges regarding his...