ACTA facultatis theological Universitatis Comenianae Bratislaviensis is a peer-reviewed scholarly journal, which aims to present the results of scientific activity as professionals and doctoral students working at the faculty, as well as authors from other universities and scientific institutions in Slovakia and abroad in all theological and related disciplines.

ACTA 1/2025

The issue 1/2025 is available in pdf format for download in the Archive.

Contents

St. John Henry cardinal Newman: a sketch of his life and times

Summary: John Henry Newman (1801-1890) was a prominent English convert from the Church of England to Roman Catholicism (1845). He began an Anglican priest and scholar of patristics. As a member of the Oxford (Tractarian) Movement, he championed the Church of England as authentically Catholic without being Roman. After his conversion and ordination to the Catholic priesthood, he was instrumental in establishing the English Oratory – a religious community of secular priest-scholars – in Birmingham. He was as vigorous a Catholic polemicist as he had been as an Anglican polemicist. He was asked to establish the Catholic University of Ireland (1850). Though that endeavor failed, nevertheless it afforded Newman occasion to write the most important philosophy of Catholic higher education ever written, The Idea of a University (1858). Although Newman is remembered primarily as a theologian and especially as an historian of historical theology, he wrote a second philosophical work of profound importance, An Essay in Aid of a Grammar of Assent, in which he seeks to establish a rational basis for the claims of the Catholic Church with the pope as its earthly head to be the one true Church of Jesus Christ. Toward that end, he establishes a groundwork for a realist epistemology and metaphysics. Newman was canonized by Pope Francis (2019). The radical character of Newman’s thought arises from his traditionalism in the non-traditional ages of modernity and post-modernity. He was a great English prose stylist. The article situates Newman in the context of nineteenth-century English and Vatican histories.

doc. Jeffrey Dirk Wilson, PhD.
Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C.
Research Associate Professor of Philosophy

Mariology as a part of the theological thought of J. H. Newman

Summary: The theology of John Henry Newman, the English cardinal and prominent 19th-century theologian, had a significant influence on a wide range of topics in Catholic theology. Although Newman did not focus directly on Mariology, his engagement with Catholic Marian doctrine played a role in his spiritual journey, particularly as he transitioned from Anglicanism to Catholicism. He found theological connections between Marian teachings and his Anglican faith, while also being deeply struck by the Marian devotion practiced within the Catholic Church. Newman recognized the importance of developing an authentic theological doctrine as a whole, with Marian devotion holding a specific and meaningful place within it. He reflected on Mary's experience of faith, which, in his view, led to a profound understanding of her privileges in relation to her maternal mission as the Mother of God. According to Newman, Marian devotion, as an inseparable part of the worship of Jesus Christ, must be in harmony with Sacred Scripture—a principle later reflected in Pope Paul VI’s apostolic exhortation Marialis Cultus. The objections of Anglicans to the dogma of the Immaculate Conception — particularly those expressed by E. B. Pusey in his polemical work Eirenicon — prompted Newman to defend Catholic Marian doctrine and the dogmas associated with it. As a theologian and cardinal, Newman emphasized the Christological and ecclesiological foundations necessary for a proper interpretation of Catholic Mariology.

prof. ThDr. Anton Adam, PhD.
Comenius University Bratislava
Faculty of Roman Catholic Theology of Cyril and Methodius
Department of Systematic Theology

The development of doctrine in the work of J. H. Newman in the light of sensus fidei

Summary: J. H. Newman discovered in an exceptional way the ecclesiological-theological principle of the development of Church doctrine, which is already established in the Scriptures in its foundations and develops in a natural way. Scripture almost anticipates this process into the future, uncovering God's secrets more and more deeply. The whole Church participates in this process as pastorum ac fidelium consensus, which Newman presents on the current example of the preparations for the declaration of the dogma of Immaculate Conception. The reflection can be continued with the question, to what extent the consensus fidelium, deeply rooted in the Church, also has connections towards synodality.

prof. Dr. theol. Gloria Braunsteiner, PhD.
University of Trnava
Faculty of Theology
Department of Systematic Theology

Storytelling as a didactic method in religious education

Summary: The study aims to investigate and compare the effectiveness of the didactic method of storytelling with the traditional expository-reproductive approach in religious education. In the theoretical section, we define the concept of storytelling and outline its historical development from the oral tradition to modern digital forms. We then analyze pedagogical models and didactic principles that allow the use of stories to deepen students‘ understanding, motivation, and value formation, with a particular focus on religious contexts. In the empirical part, we implemented two lessons on the biblical story of the Good Samaritan in a sample of one year of primary school – one by the traditional method with worksheet and the other by the interactive method. We evaluated the effectiveness of both approaches with an anonymous questionnaire test focusing on three levels: retention of facts, understanding of meaning, and application to daily life. The results clearly showed that storytelling leads to higher retention rates, deeper understanding as well as stronger motivation to apply biblical values practically. Based on these findings, recommendations for the integration of storytelling as a standard didactic strategy in religious education are concluded.

doc. ThDr. Tibor Reimer, PhD.
Comenius University in Bratislava
Faculty of Roman Catholic Theology of Cyril and Methodius
Department of Practical Theology

PaedDr. Dávid Martinka
Comenius University in Bratislava
Faculty of Roman Catholic Theology of Cyril and Methodius
Department of Practical Theology

The novitiate, schools of Brothers of christian schools (FSC) and their activity in Močenok

Summary: The Order of the School Brothers (FSC) was founded in France in the 17th century by the nobleman John the Baptist de La Salle. It had gained an excellent reputation over the decades of its operation in Europe and beyond. The Institute came to Slovakia in 1899 (Mojmírovce); at that time, it was a part of Austo-Hungarian Empire. In the study, the author deals with their activities, influence, and their significant work at schools in little town of Močenok in the years of 1928 – 1950 particularly and thus their merit for cultural development of Slovakia and its national awakening and educational rising. The study deals with the inner activities of School Brothers in the congregation matters, too, such as running novitiate house for whole Czechoslovak FSC province, or formation of novices. The paper ends with the violent termination of the schools by the intervention of the communist regime against the Church and their religious congregations in the year of 1950 and creating a concentration monastery for monks, nuns and for regime inconvenient priests.

Mgr. et Mgr. ThLic. Štefan Patrik Kováč
Catholic University of Ružomberok
Faculty of Roman Catholic Theology
Department of Philosophy and History

REVIEW

BLAŠČÍKOVÁ, Andrea – NEMEC, Rastislav.
Cnosti a dobrý život.
Bratislava: Minor, 2024, 86 s.
ISBN 978-80-89888-44-3.

Doc. PhDr. Oľga Gavendová, PhD.

Published/updated on 12.08.2025