Claude Dagens

This article by Monsignor Claude Dagens, member of the Académie française, constitutes a personal testimony and theological reflection devoted to the Orthodox theologian Olivier Clément. Drawing on specific memories from the 1970s, the author traces the influence exerted by Clément on his own spiritual and intellectual formation. The central idea is that Clément embodied a singular mystagogical charism, capable of connecting the great patristic Tradition to contemporary questions, particularly in the face of the spiritual crisis opened up by May 1968. The theological contribution of the article lies in the highlighting of two major axes of Clément's thought: the Irenaean "recapitulation" of human history in the risen Christ, and the role of the Holy Spirit as an active power at the heart of history. The article also underscores the ecumenical significance of this work, which was widely received in Catholic circles.