The real situation of theology today is that of poverty, a lack of greatness, a lack of great inspiration. The great masters of this century have gone, figures such as Langrange, Henri de Lubac, Yves Congar, Hans Urs Von Balthasar, even Karl Rahner. Now, we are in a period of poverty, a time of desert. If we humbly recognize that we are at a turning point in the history of theology, we can begin to build a better period of theology.
The second point: Back to the masters. It is so sad to lose time with secondary authors. Read St. Irenaeus, read St. Anselm, read the Church Fathers, St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Bonaventure--but do not read all the secondary stuff that floats around our libraries. In Germany there are 7,000 theological titles published every year. Who can read all this stuff without getting indention? It is much better to have read, during theological formation, the Confessions of St. Augustine, than a book about Augustine. A seminarian who has gotten the taste of a great master will be able to discern what is good food, and what is fast food. Much of what is on the theological market is fast food, even junk food.
