Yves Congar facts for kids
Quick facts for kids His Eminence Yves Congar OP |
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|---|---|
| Cardinal Deacon of the Basilica of San Sebastiano al Palatino | |
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| Church | Latin Church |
| Appointed | 26 November 1994 |
| Reign ended | 22 June 1995 |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 25 July 1930 |
| Created Cardinal | 26 November 1994 |
| Rank | Cardinal Deacon |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 13 April 1904 Sedan, Ardennes, France |
| Died | 22 June 1995 (aged 91) Paris, France |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Coat of arms |  |
Yves Marie-Joseph Congar (born April 13, 1904 – died June 22, 1995) was a French Dominican friar, priest, and theologian. He is famous for his important role at the Second Vatican Council. He also helped people become more interested in the Holy Spirit and its role in the lives of people and the church. In 1994, he was made a cardinal in the Catholic Church.
Contents
Early Life and World War I
Yves Congar was born in Sedan, a town in northeast France, in 1904. His father, Georges Congar, worked as a bank manager. During World War I, his hometown was taken over by German forces for a long time. His father was even sent away to Lithuania by the Germans.
Yves's mother, Lucie Congar, encouraged him to write about the war. He kept many illustrated diaries during this time. These diaries were later published and offer a special look at the war from a child's point of view.
Becoming a Priest
A local priest named Daniel Lallement encouraged Yves to join the church. In 1921, Yves moved to Paris to study at a seminary (a school for training priests). There, he learned from important thinkers like Jacques Maritain. He also had a spiritual guide named Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange.
Priest and Prisoner of War
After serving in the French military for a year, Yves joined the Dominican Order in 1925. He chose the religious name Marie-Joseph. He studied theological topics from 1926 to 1931 at Le Saulchoir, a Dominican school in Belgium. He became a priest on July 25, 1930. In 1931, he finished his studies by writing about the unity of the Church.
Teaching and Writing
From 1931 to 1939, Congar taught at Le Saulchoir. He became a professor of theology in 1932, teaching about the Church. He believed that the Church's mission was being held back by old ways of thinking.
In 1937, Congar started a series of books called Unam Sanctam. These books explored the history of the Catholic Church. They encouraged a "return to the sources" of Christian faith to help different Christian groups come together. This book series grew to include 77 volumes. He also wrote many articles and books for both scholars and general readers.
World War II Experience
During World War II, Congar joined the French army as a chaplain (a priest serving in the military). He was a lieutenant. In 1940, he was captured by the Germans and held as a prisoner of war until 1945. He was kept in prisons like Colditz and Lübeck. He tried to escape many times!
Because of his service and bravery, he received several awards. These included the French Legion of Honour and the Croix de Guerre. He also got the Médaille des Évadés for his many escape attempts.
Scholar and Ecumenist
After the war, Congar went back to teaching and writing. He became one of the most important theologians of the 20th century. He focused on how the Catholic Church could work with other Christian groups.
Promoting Christian Unity
Congar was an early supporter of the ecumenical movement. This movement aims to bring different Christian churches closer together. He wanted people to be open to ideas from the Eastern Orthodox Church and Protestant Christianity. He also believed that the Pope should work more closely with other bishops. He thought that regular lay people (non-clergy) should have a bigger role in the Church. He worked closely with Joseph Cardijn, who started the Young Christian Workers group.
Challenges and Recognition
From 1947 to 1956, the Vatican limited what Congar could write. One of his most important books, True and False Reform in the Church (1950), was even banned in 1952. After 1954, he was not allowed to teach or publish. This happened after he wrote an article supporting the "worker-priest" movement in France. He was sent to work in different places like Jerusalem and Rome.
However, his reputation improved in 1960. Pope John XXIII invited him to help prepare for the Second Vatican Council. This was a very important meeting for the Catholic Church. Congar's knowledge was greatly valued during the council. Many people believe he had a huge impact on its decisions. He helped write many of the council's documents. He kept a detailed journal during this time, which was published later.
After the council, Congar felt that some work was still unfinished. He believed the council had started important changes but that more needed to be done. He then focused his work on the theology of the Holy Spirit. His three-volume work on the Spirit is considered a classic. He also served on the International Theological Commission for many years.
Congar continued to teach and write about many topics. These included Mary, the Eucharist, and the Holy Spirit. He also wrote about the split between the Eastern and Western Churches in his book After Nine Hundred Years.
Later Years and Illness
In 1963, Congar was diagnosed with a nervous system disease. This caused weakness and numbness in his arms and legs. In 1985, doctors changed the diagnosis to a form of sclerosis. This made it harder for him to move and write. From 1986, he lived at the Military Hôpital des Invalides in Paris.
Cardinal and Death
In November 1994, Pope John Paul II named him a cardinal deacon. This was a very high honor in the Catholic Church. Yves Congar passed away shortly after, on June 22, 1995. He was buried in Montparnasse Cemetery in Paris.
Media Portrayal
- Yves Congar is one of the main characters in the TV series 14 - Diaries of the Great War. An actor named Antoine de Prekel plays him.
- He also appeared in the documentary series The First World War (2003), in Part 2, "Under The Eagle."
Images for kids
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Yves Congar at the Second Vatican Council in 1964.
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The coat of arms of Yves Congar.
See also
In Spanish: Yves Congar para niños
