Matthias Joseph Scheeben and Czech Catholic Theology 1861–2023

Abstract The study aims to clarify how widespread and to what depth Scheeben’s dogmatic-theological legacy affected Czech Catholic theologians from 1861 to the present day. The research indicates that there was a widespread awareness of both the person and the work of the German professor among clergy as well as laity from 1861 till 1948. The most accentuated themes were the Holy Spirit and grace, Mariology and the Eucharist. Czech theologians highly appreciated Scheeben’s linking dogmatics and spirituality, e. g. Christians’ life as a participation in the Trinitarian life. From 1948 on, the knowledge of Scheeben’s work diminished due to restrictions on the theological reflection during the Communist regime (till 1989), even though some Czech authors who lived and published in exile considered the Cologne professor in certain aspects as a predecessor of Vatican II. In the recent decades, Scheeben’s legacy has been highlighted only by a few Czech authors and is becoming known more through translations of foreign publications.