Folia Theologica et Canonica 10. 32/24 (2021)
Sacra theologia
FRENCH CATHOLIC INITIATIVES TOWARDS CHRISTIAN UNITY 19 becoming more widespread around the world.22 In addition, the number of members of the “Invisible Monastery” who reported signs of renewed faith and the power of brotherly love for one another increased. In his theological thinking, Michalon saw that both Protestants and Orthodox acknowledged that the Mother Church was the mother of believers. It is a term preserved by every church. The Ecclesia Mater carries its children, gives them life. As Mother Church, she cannot and does not want to rule. A mother never rules over her children - the Sulpician monk confessed23 V. Spiritual ecumenism rises to official level The ecumenical aspirations of Lyon reached Rome, so it is no surprise that Pierre Michalon was invited by the Cardinal Secretary Domenico Tardini (1888-1961) to participate in the work of the Secretariat for Promoting Christian Unity, so that he was most directly involved in the conciliar decree “Unitatis Redintegratio ”. For this reason, even before the conclusion of the Second Vatican Council, an own volume on Christian unity could be published, which, like Catholic ecumenism, that began to unfold in French, Pierre Michalon was the first to present in the months following the publication of the Ecumenical Decree (November 21, 1964) - to Christians and those interested - what the Council says about ecumenism.24 Central to the ecumenical decision of the Second Vatican Council is “The practice of ecumenism ” in which the idea of the spiritual ecumenism of Paul Couturier and Pierre Michalon can be felt.25 Initial, often precarious, Catholic ecumenical initiatives merged at the level of spiritual ecumenism, and this also received Church recognition and support in Lyon. The real pioneer was Paul Couturier, who, under his own influence, was able to spread the Jesus’s intention for unity. His idea was carried forward by the Sulpician Pierre Michalon, who institutionalized and thereby internationalized the great enterprise of spiritual ecumenism. Due to Michalon’s theological preparation and ecumenical vocation, he became a consultant to the II. Vatican Council and was involved in the elaboration of the principles of Catholic ecumenism in the Secretariat for Promoting Christian Unity. The mature ecumenical work meant further enrichment for the Catholic Church in the 22 Cf. Feuillet sur la Priére pour l’Unité, n. 5 (9 février 1958) 2. 23 Michalon, P., Oecuménisme et unité chrétienne, Paris 1968. 19. 24 See Michalon, P, L’unité des Chrétiens, Fayard, Paris 1965 (Chapitre VII. Que dit le concile sur I’oecuménisme?, 87-104). 25 Unitatis redintegratio, chapter II: The Practice of the Ecumenism, cf. https://www.vatican.vay archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_decree_19641121_unitatis-redintegratio_en.html (consulted: February 4th 2022). See also Pierre Michalon’s Practical Statements on Ecumenism: Michalon, R, L’unité des Chrétiens, 105-111 (Chapitre VIII. Que faire?)
